There does seem to be an enormous amount of confusion over the issue of changing wheel sizes and what tyre sizes are acceptable to Skoda. Part of this appears to be because Skoda do not readily know whether a particular combination is OK or not. The popularity of winter tyres is likely to be ongoing and hopefully Skoda will get up to speed.

Maybe TP would like to update his useful schedule in the light of my experince as mentioned a few postings ago. Will Fisher of Skoda and also my dealer's different contact with Skoda confirms that my proposed change from my standard 225x50x17" summer tyres to a 205x60x16 winter tyre on 6Jx16 steel wheels is indeed acceptable to Skoda!

You would think it very easy for Skoda UK a member of the German VAG group of companies to approach thier colleagues on Continental Europe and get detailed information very quickly.

You would think it very easy for Skoda UK a member of the German VAG group of companies to approach thier colleagues on Continental Europe and get detailed information very quickly.

Ah! That you would!

The Yeti is my wife's car. My other car is a Mercedes and I use an MB forum. I must say that one can get much more help and practical information from the specialist car forums than from the dealer network or the technical departments of the car manufacturers. It should not be so.

There does seem to be an enormous amount of confusion over the issue of changing wheel sizes and what tyre sizes are acceptable to Skoda. Part of this appears to be because Skoda do not readily know whether a particular combination is OK or not. The popularity of winter tyres is likely to be ongoing and hopefully Skoda will get up to speed.

Maybe TP would like to update his useful schedule in the light of my experince as mentioned a few postings ago. Will Fisher of Skoda and also my dealer's different contact with Skoda confirms that my proposed change from my standard 225x50x17" summer tyres to a 205x60x16 winter tyre on 6Jx16 steel wheels is indeed acceptable to Skoda!

Many thanks for the update survey.

I would assume that the 7Jx16 rim would likewise be acceptable as with the 205/55 tyre.

Regards,

TP

Many thanks for the update survey.

I would assume that the 7Jx16 rim would likewise be acceptable as with the 205/55 tyre.

Regards,

TP

I believe that you may well be correct. I selected my alternative tyre size on the basis of trying to get a smaller wheel size then selecting a tyre giving a profile as close as possible to my standard 17" wheels to keep the odometer pretty well accurate. The narrower tyre from 225 down to 205 is a bonus for snow & mud. Here in Suffolk we have approx. 6" snow. My winter Nokians and wheels arrive later in the week but I have used the Yeti on its Dunlops and it performed without fuss. I can only assume the Haldex kicked in but I was not aware of it!

Edited 29 November, 201015 yr by survey

well,been out today with betty and she had her winter boots on,nokian wr g2 205/55 r 16 94h xl.on 16"wheels.having spent the last few years crapping myself when i went out in my astra which did not like snow, i can say without reservation that the above tyres are FANTASTIC.drove on roads that were deep with snow and slush,hade no grit,and quite deep at times.had NO trouble at all.came to a hill with two stuck cars on it,came to a standstill myself because of them,they waved me past,i pulled away with ease.VERY impressed.great car with great winter tyres.very happy.

mike.

p.s.thanks for your advise mr plumber on choice of tyre from my tyres.

Edited 29 November, 201015 yr by freewheeler

well,been out today with betty and she had her winter boots on,nokian wr g2 205/55 r 16 94h xl.on 16"wheels.having spent the last few years crapping myself when i went out in my astra which did not like snow, i can say without reservation that the above tyres are FANTASTIC.drove on roads that were deep with snow and slush,hade no grit,and quite deep at times.had NO trouble at all.came to a hill with two stuck cars on it,came to a standstill myself because of them,they waved me past,i pulled away with ease.VERY impressed.great car with great winter tyres.very happy.

mike.

p.s.thanks for your advise mr plumber on choice of tyre from my tyres.

Looks as if my Nokians will be a good choice. Thanks to TP again

The WR-G2 are not as snow biased as other tyres, but they do deal very well with dry cold tarmac and slush.

They seemed perfectly happy on snow too last year and are certainly a lot better than summer tyres.

They didn't do so well in the AE test, precisely because they are designed to optimise move slush out of the tread rather than water.

On the other hand they do handle very well and you don't tend to get the wobble you'd find with some tyres.

It's always a case of giving some things and losing on others.

I am expecting my winter tyres/wheels today.

1. Can anyone tell me what pressures I ought to be using as I have changed the wheel size. I would have thought that it would be the same pressure for all 16" wheel set ups plus 0.2 bar. Or should it be the same as my 17" summer tyres plus 0.2bar?

2. I assume that the Nokians are non-directional tyres?

3. Any advice viz. how best to store of my alloy wheel/tyres until the spring?

The figures on the petrol flap seem to imply the same pressures, but I think Skoda say to increase by 0.2 bar for winter tyres.

Your "summer" tyres are best left lying on the floor horizontally, away from too many extremes of temperature and covered up. If on the rims then make sure they are at the right pressure.

The WR-G2 are asymetric not directional. The WR are directional.

I've run the pressures at 2-3 PSI above normal on winters without any issues, so I'd say that sounds about right

In terms or storage, I was told to store them on the tread and rotate them every few months to prevent damage to the side wall if you stack them horizontally.

HTH

Edited 30 November, 201015 yr by cheezemonkhai

The WR-G2 are asymetric not directional. The WR are directional.

I've run the pressures at 2-3 PSI above normal on winters without any issues, so I'd say that sounds about right

In terms or storage, I was told to store them on the tread and rotate them every few months to prevent damage to the side wall if you stack them horizontally.

HTH

cheezemonkhai & Llanigraham - yes, I thought 2-3psi up on the summer normals but remember I am going from a 17" wheel to a 16" albeit the tyre profile keeps pretty well to the diameter of my 17" summers. Would this make a difference to the pressure to use?

Edited 30 November, 201015 yr by survey

I am expecting my winter tyres/wheels today.

Lucky you! Mine are due next week but I could have done with having them on this week. Hey ho.

2. I assume that the Nokians are non-directional tyres?

Post #20 on this thread suggests that your assumption is correct.

Tyres and wheels just been delivered. The Nokian tread pattern doesn't look that dissimilar to my Dunlop summer tyres (I thought they may have been a little more aggressive) but no doubt the secret is in the softness of the rubber.

The size doesn't matter. As I said, check what it says in the flap and increase by the relevan amount.

Re the storage, it shouldn't matter about them being on the sidewalls as there is no great weight being put on them. Certainly at the brother-in-laws in Switzerland they have a storage area for their "spare" tyres in the underground car park, and that has both racks to store wheels on their treads, and posts that you drop the wheels over.

My link

Edited 30 November, 201015 yr by Llanigraham

The size doesn't matter. As I said, check what it says in the flap and increase by the relevan amount.

Re the storage, it shouldn't matter about them being on the sidewalls as there is no great weight being put on them. Certainly at the brother-in-laws in Switzerland they have a storage area for their "spare" tyres in the underground car park, and that has both racks to store wheels on their treads, and posts that you drop the wheels over.

My link

Thanks for your advice. Just fitted the wheels and had a quick drive out. The tyres are a little noisier, deep rumble, but seem fine. The steel wheels seem to fit closer to the brake disc caliper assembly than the alloys but there is no interference, and I also listened with the driver's window open to check for any adverse noises! At present I am using the alloy wheel bolts including the locking bolthead. I appreciate the use of dissimilar materials but is it really going to cause a problem other than the fact that the bolt heads are longer due to their design to sit inside the alloy wheel.

Thanks for your advice. Just fitted the wheels and had a quick drive out. The tyres are a little noisier, deep rumble, but seem fine. The steel wheels seem to fit closer to the brake disc caliper assembly than the alloys but there is no interference, and I also listened with the driver's window open to check for any adverse noises! At present I am using the alloy wheel bolts including the locking bolthead. I appreciate the use of dissimilar materials but is it really going to cause a problem other than the fact that the bolt heads are longer due to their design to sit inside the alloy wheel.

Interesting question that I guess may have been missed.

When using steel wheels in place of your standard alloys, does Skoda recommend using the same wheel nuts, or do they (like Ford) specify a different nut for steels, with a different shape shoulder?

This could be important - and could be picked up by your insurer if something goes wrong.

(And yes, I know you have to use the original nuts with your "spacesaver" steel spare, but then Skoda say you shouldn't use it for a long distance or over 50mph.)

They use the same bolts for alloys and steel wheels

Interesting question that I guess may have been missed.

When using steel wheels in place of your standard alloys, does Skoda recommend using the same wheel nuts, or do they (like Ford) specify a different nut for steels, with a different shape shoulder?

This could be important - and could be picked up by your insurer if something goes wrong.

(And yes, I know you have to use the original nuts with your "spacesaver" steel spare, but then Skoda say you shouldn't use it for a long distance or over 50mph.)

I also pondered about the bolts, particularly the mixing of metals. My supplier ( not VAG) said to use the same bolts and I have done. I do not have wheel trims so the bolt heads are exposed and if you look closely it does appear a little odd to have one bolt per wheel as a locking bolt. Unless I am strongly advised to the contrary I shall keep things as they are.

Incidentally the Nokians seem very good. No problems whatsoever in snow etc.