Seriously thinking for the winter of putting 16" wheels on my Yeti SE instead of the 17". Reference has been made elsewhere on this forum to Nokian WRG2 winter tyres. Looking at the road tests on test.com, these do not seem to be the best in snow which is what I would like them for. Has anyone any comments? Incidentally I am thinking of using 215x60x16 T rated Nokians and I believe this will mean a 1% difference in speedo odometer readings - should I be concerned about this?

They seam highly rated by people on Tyrereviews Tyre Reviews.co.uk - Nokian WRG2. However If you look at magazine tyre tests they have mixed results. They were the worst winter tyres in the AutoExpress Tyre test (205/55 16), but in another one they came 4th (out of 13 tested) in 195/65 15.

Actually it seems I misinterpreted the test.com results as these rate in reverse - he lower the number, the better the performance. However ther are adverse reports on these tyres on the site although interestingly most of the reviews by UK residents rate them highly in snow. Is there a better performing tyre than these? And is it really worth my while swapping over my 225x50x17 Dunlop summer tyres for the Nokian 215x60x16 for the winter?

With these tests is the reality that actually ALL of the winter tyres are pretty damned good and the differences are at the margins. If we drove our Yeti's like the Stig then clearly 1% difference is an issue but for sensible driving in UK conditions then would not all of them be good?

This is a genuine question as I have no experience of winter tyres but I have been driving for 20 years on standard tyres in the dry, wet and snow and I can't say that the tyres on my car have ever felt different in dry and wet no matter the brand of tyre, I am talking about mid range tyre brands upwards. I think if we read enough test results then there will be so many conflicting answers that we would be paralysed by fear.

If I was in your position, enough people say good things about Nokians to make feel happy about buying them. Don't take a hairpin at 60mph and you will be fine.

Hi survey,

ran G2's on my former Monster last winter in 205/55 R16 94H size. Worked well in all conditions. I personally felt they were a little noisy on rough road surfaces but I think I'm in the minority on this one; would recommend them non the less.

Point to note you need a load index of 94 on a 4x4.

Regards,

TP

Anyone any opinions about using steel wheels rather than alloys for the winter period?

Hi again,

my 205's are fitted on steel rims again with no problems. They were OEM Skoda parts so no issues using the original bolts.

Regards,

TP

The comparative reviews are the only objective evidence available when it comes to making a decision. But lots of other factors come into play like wheel and tyre sizes. Also there are different versions of the same named tyre so you need to be careful I made my choice on a price/performance basis as the tyres were on a 'special' when I purchased them.

My other problem will be that my car came with a 17" space saver spare. Will this be usable in an emergency with the 16" wheels? Presumably with only a 1% difference it should be OK?

With these tests is the reality that actually ALL of the winter tyres are pretty damned good and the differences are at the margins. .......... I think if we read enough test results then there will be so many conflicting answers that we would be paralysed by fear.

Hi

Certainly agree that if you read enough different reviews you end up with confusing results although Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear and, to a lesser extent Michelin, seem well represented.

The German tests (ADAC etc.) seem to be the most exhaustive, but their conditions appear to be more severe than ours, with more emphasis on snow and packed snow than might be appropriate in (the southern half of) the UK.

The user tyre reviews with only a few submissions seem the least reliable where a tyre can be commended or rubbished (sometimes both) in a couple of reviews with no explanation.

I'm leaning towards the view than any main brand cold weather tyre is better than a summer tyre, some being marginally better than others in some aspect or other, with no perfect tyre.

Unfortunately price is a factor at £400+ a set fitted, but the cost of an avoidable accident might be even higher.

Confused Fred

My other problem will be that my car came with a 17" space saver spare. Will this be usable in an emergency with the 16" wheels? Presumably with only a 1% difference it should be OK?

17" space saver spare do you have a photo, not seen such a thing on a Monster yet.

Regards,

TP

17" space saver spare do you have a photo, not seen such a thing on a Monster yet.

Regards,

TP

Unfortunately my wife is out with the car at present but it is described by the dealer at time of sale and on the invoice as a space saver.I believe it is a full-size but slightly narrower wheel. I just cannot understand manufacturers selling a car without a proper full-size spare, particularly for a 4x4. Don't even mention runflats as the problems my son has had with his BMW on these is.....

Unfortunately my wife is out with the car at present but it is described by the dealer at time of sale and on the invoice as a space saver.I believe it is a full-size but slightly narrower wheel. I just cannot understand manufacturers selling a car without a proper full-size spare, particularly for a 4x4. Don't even mention runflats as the problems my son has had with his BMW on these is.....

Hi again survey,

intrigued as my former Monster had a 16" 6J x 16 195/60 R16 spare. Be interested if you have anything different to update the guide.

Thanks,

TP

Hi again survey,

intrigued as my former Monster had a 16" 6J x 16 195/60 R16 spare. Be interested if you have anything different to update the guide.

Thanks,

TP

OK, just checked the car and indeed the spare is in fact a 195x60x16 Continental Premium Contact 2. According to the tyre size calculators this shows it to be 2.59% different to the standard 225x50x17" tyres. Is this safe or a mistake by Skoda do you think? And there was me worrying that the arrangement I was proposing to buy would be 1% adrift!

Hi survey,

no, no mistake it's perfectly fine to get you home on as the Haldex GEN4 is designed to cope with such things. Be much happier trying to get home 900 miles (e.g. travelling from Austria on a Sunday ) if necessary on this then the 'bicycle tyre' thing that came with the Golf

Regards,

TP

Hi survey,

no, no mistake it's perfectly fine to get you home on as the Haldex GEN4 is designed to cope with such things. Be much happier trying to get home 900 miles (e.g. travelling from Austria on a Sunday ) if necessary on this then the 'bicycle tyre' thing that came with the Golf

Regards,

TP

I am amazed that with a 17" wheel as standard that the 'spacesaver' is also not 17". Where is the logic?

I am amazed that with a 17" wheel as standard that the 'spacesaver' is also not 17". Where is the logic?

Basically it takes up to much room in the boot and weighs more. Not at home at the moment so have limited Internet access but I took photos of a standard 17" in the boot a long time back for Anthony 1. Tight fit and lifts the floor up an inch or so; you may notice a fold line near the front edge of the false floor cover, this is there so you can put the cover back down over the standard wheel.

Regards,

TP

Hi

Certainly agree that if you read enough different reviews you end up with confusing results although Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear and, to a lesser extent Michelin, seem well represented.

The German tests (ADAC etc.) seem to be the most exhaustive, but their conditions appear to be more severe than ours, with more emphasis on snow and packed snow than might be appropriate in (the southern half of) the UK.

The user tyre reviews with only a few submissions seem the least reliable where a tyre can be commended or rubbished (sometimes both) in a couple of reviews with no explanation.

I'm leaning towards the view than any main brand cold weather tyre is better than a summer tyre, some being marginally better than others in some aspect or other, with no perfect tyre.

Unfortunately price is a factor at £400+ a set fitted, but the cost of an avoidable accident might be even higher.

Confused Fred

I had a similar experience when buying a new tv a few years ago. I confused myself into a lather, then sat back and weighed up that if you stuck with one of the solid big boys then you will do okay. The difference between a Sony 32" Bravia mark 2 and mark 4 is negligible to the human eye so stop worrying about it. Tyres are the same, avoid the real tosh and you will be okay. The price is an issue, as is the fact that for company car drivers like myself who switch cars every couple of years it does not make sense unless you keep the same model of car each time. If only tyres sizes and ratings were universal.

Should I be worried about mixing alloy wheel nuts and steel wheels? My dealer says Skoda do not recommend this (understood, as dissimilar metals). If I should have to go with steel wheel bolts - any idea how much these are and where to obtain them?

Space saver - apparently the 16" spare is common across the Yeti range; Skoda are comfortable with this despite the 2.59% discrepancy from my 17" wheel! This now makes my proposed 16" combination look really good with only a 1% error!

Should I be worried about mixing alloy wheel nuts and steel wheels? My dealer says Skoda do not recommend this (understood, as dissimilar metals). If I should have to go with steel wheel bolts - any idea how much these are and where to obtain them?

Space saver - apparently the 16" spare is common across the Yeti range; Skoda are comfortable with this despite the 2.59% discrepancy from my 17" wheel! This now makes my proposed 16" combination look really good with only a 1% error!

Don't know about the bolts issue, but I'm running Vredestein Wintracs in 205/60 x 16 on some ET50 alloy wheels, which give me 70.86 mph at indicated 70 mph. Sorry, can't do the percentage on that!

I'm prepared to live with that, as the ride is better and the grip on the wet leaves / mud / slippy stuff etc in the Lakes is better than the summer ones. My spare is the standard 195/55 x 16 Continental on a steel rim. As spare bolts aren't supplied with the steel wheel, I assume that it's OK. Skoda seem that scared about any sort of off the wall fitment, that I can't imagine them chancing it if the bolts needed to be different.

Don't know about the bolts issue, but I'm running Vredestein Wintracs in 205/60 x 16 on some ET50 alloy wheels, which give me 70.86 mph at indicated 70 mph. Sorry, can't do the percentage on that!

I'm prepared to live with that, as the ride is better and the grip on the wet leaves / mud / slippy stuff etc in the Lakes is better than the summer ones. My spare is the standard 195/55 x 16 Continental on a steel rim. As spare bolts aren't supplied with the steel wheel, I assume that it's OK. Skoda seem that scared about any sort of off the wall fitment, that I can't imagine them chancing it if the bolts needed to be different.

Must admit that I hadn't thought about the fact that Skoda use the alloy bolts for their steel spare. Good point although I guess they would argue that the two metals will only be in contact for a short time until the original tyre is repaired.

Regard bolts my dealer was of the opinion when I ordered my steels, that the bolts were the same part number as those I had fitted with the alloys. Ran mine with no known problems; they don't take the weight anyway, thats the central spigot hole is for.

To clarify the dissimilar metal thing then steel is more cathodic then the weaker anodic aluminium. As plumbers we have problems with steel rads as the pipework and valves are more cathodic copper and brass

Regards,

TP

Regard bolts my dealer was of the opinion when I ordered my steels, that the bolts were the same part number as those I had fitted with the alloys. Ran mine with no known problems; they don't take the weight anyway, thats the central spigot hole is for.

To clarify the dissimilar metal thing then steel is more cathodic then the weaker anodic aluminium. As plumbers we have problems with steel rads as the pipework and valves are more cathodic copper and brass

Regards,

TP

Thanks very much for this. If you reckon this is not an issue then that is good enough for me! My wheel supplier has asked for a picture of my wheel bolts and the length to double check they will be OK. As I am using VW Caddy 16" wheels do you think the alloy bolts will be the correct size?

Thanks very much for this. If you reckon this is not an issue then that is good enough for me! My wheel supplier has asked for a picture of my wheel bolts and the length to double check they will be OK. As I am using VW Caddy 16" wheels do you think the alloy bolts will be the correct size?

Would think there probably the same generic steel wheels I've got, will have a look whats stamped on them in terms of any part numbers when I get home later tonight.

Regards,

TP

I have been offered Nokian WRG2 winter tyres 215x60xR16 but T rated. T rating is up to 118mph; is this OK for our Yeti?