Feeling very smug this week.

Fitted my winter tyres to my 2WD 1.2 last Friday.

Was driving in the snow on Saturday up Glen Lochay and been playing in the snow everyday since.

2wd summer dunlops....had no issues in a remote hilly part of yorkshire..2-3ft deep snow, and i drove off and on our close today with no issues'..my focus wouldnt get 5 yards ..

That's okay Tony, always happy to answer questions matey. :yes: To recap, Seat alloys 16" 6.5J with Continental TS830 Winter Contacts at 205/55/16 91H.

Got the wheels off ebay and tyres on special currently at Kwik Fit, about £82 per corner.

Stock wheels will be stored under a breathable car cover I have spare in my back garden. KF do a wheel "hotel" deal as well, where they store your spare wheels for a sum.

Some Skoda dealers have done that as well,I've heard.

I think the winters would be great for the DSG. I had DSG on my last car and that was a bit of a challenge in the snow and ice as I had no control over how the ecu let out the clutch, but that was an earlier incarnation of the system, should be better on the Yeti.

Thanks for that, given us food for thought, we'll have a look around. So far being near the coast we haven't had much snow, but plenty of icy roads where we live, and we were concerned about the possible lack of control with DSG, although no problems so far, think winter tyres may be a wise investment.

Thanks for that, given us food for thought, we'll have a look around. So far being near the coast we haven't had much snow, but plenty of icy roads where we live, and we were concerned about the possible lack of control with DSG, although no problems so far, think winter tyres may be a wise investment.

Tony you won't regret it. And whilst they are on your car your others are not putting miles on! So it is really a no brainer in my book. You might drive around on the snow and ice with normal summer tyres (and feel in control) but come an emergency stop and I can guarantee you that the car won't stop in time. It will just slide into whatever it was you were trying to avoid.

The only thing that worries me is people driving close behind( vans usually), as if I stop quickly, they won't, so gentle on the brakes and big gaps for me.

I try to stick to the 2 second rule and if wet take it to 4 seconds but I wonder what the gap should be for winter conditions?

I try to stick to the 2 second rule and if wet take it to 4 seconds but I wonder what the gap should be for winter conditions?

Maybe we should have stickers made saying: "I've got winter tyres on. Will you be able to stop as quickly as I can?" And maybe some LED Dot matrix letter to say "BACK OFF" if they still have not noticed the snow and keep driving too close.

Maybe we should have stickers made saying: "I've got winter tyres on. Will you be able to stop as quickly as I can?"

If they can read it they will be too close

Mike

If they can read it they will be too close

Mike

True! OK it has to be in BIG HUGE LETTERS then!

Anybody remember those far off days when they put triangular warning signs on the rear of vehicles fitted with servo assisted brakes (disc) brakes - sometimes described as power brakes - or the warning of "air brakes" on HGVs?

Did the people with unassisted drum brakes keep their distance in case you stopped quickly?

Afraid not - I got shunted twice in near "emergency stop" situations.

Good news was I didn't hit the people I was avoiding, and my insurance company used to operate a no blame policy - those were the days, can't see them doing it now!

Do you think they would heed a "Winter Tyres" warning, however sensible it might be to have one?

True! OK it has to be in BIG HUGE LETTERS then!

I could have used that in León, Spain two years ago. -6°C and snowed 5 inches over breakfast. Octy Combi WITH winter tyres - probably the only one in town- and trailer hook on the back. Poor little SEAT behind could not stop and plowed into the hook. Completely demolished his plastic front bumper. No damage to the hook, did not even break the plastic ball cover.

Very polite and apologetic Espaniard wished me a good journey to Portugal and bowed and smiled a lot.

Tony you won't regret it. And whilst they are on your car your others are not putting miles on! So it is really a no brainer in my book. You might drive around on the snow and ice with normal summer tyres (and feel in control) but come an emergency stop and I can guarantee you that the car won't stop in time. It will just slide into whatever it was you were trying to avoid.

Having taken on board all the above, we have ordered some Skoda steel 16" 6J ET50 wheels. Not finally decided on tyres yet, but a bit confused about the indicated speed display being wrong. Not having Sat-nav permanently fitted to compare the real speed, what size 16" winter tyre will get the closest to the true reading. We were thinking about 205 55 16, but being pretty ignorant about tyre sizes etc., how far out is the speedo reading. Jessica is worried that if she is poodling along at indicated 30 in a 30 zone, she will have everyone tailgating her as she is doing a lot less! Tony

Having taken on board all the above, we have ordered some Skoda steel 16" 6J ET50 wheels. Not finally decided on tyres yet, but a bit confused about the indicated speed display being wrong. Not having Sat-nav permanently fitted to compare the real speed, what size 16" winter tyre will get the closest to the true reading. We were thinking about 205 55 16, but being pretty ignorant about tyre sizes etc., how far out is the speedo reading. Jessica is worried that if she is poodling along at indicated 30 in a 30 zone, she will have everyone tailgating her as she is doing a lot less! Tony

Tony I got the 205 55 16 tyres and they are smaller and thus give you the slight speedo error. They are though still Skoda approved and the error is within legal limits.

The 205 60 16 tyres are much better in terms of size and speedo error being much closer to the original 17" wheels.

You do however get over 10 pages in choice on mytyres for the former and a mere two pages for the latter... So a far more restricted choice. But the prices aren't much higher. Go for the 205 60 16 ones in my book. They fill the arches better and will give less error. Next time I will get them for sure.

From the French site (thanks for finding this TP!):

205/55/16 94H

215/60/16 99H

Tony I got the 205 55 16 tyres and they are smaller and thus give you the slight speedo error. They are though still Skoda approved and the error is within legal limits.

The 205 60 16 tyres are much better in terms of size and speedo error being much closer to the original 17" wheels.

You do however get over 10 pages in choice on mytyres for the former and a mere two pages for the latter... So a far more restricted choice. But the prices aren't much higher. Go for the 205 60 16 ones in my book. They fill the arches better and will give less error. Next time I will get them for sure.

From the French site (thanks for finding this TP!):

205/55/16 94H

215/60/16 99H

Thanks for that Johann, I think we'll take your advice. Wheels aren't due in for a week so have time to shop around, thanks again, Tony

225/50 17 = rolling diameter of 657mm Standard on Elegance (and SE?)

205/55 16 = rolling diameter of 632mm (-3.81%)

205/60 16 = rolling diameter of 652mm (-0.76%)

215/60 16 = rolling diameter of 664mm = (+1.07%)

That's why I have gone for 215/60 16 on the basis that the speedo usually overreads by about 3 to 4 %.

To remind people, you need to obtain 16" wheels ideally 6J and with a 5 stud PCD of 112mm. The offset should be between 45 and 50 and if you buy VW group alloys, the standard wheel bolts should still be the right length and have the right profile. The other important thing is to make sure that the centre hole needs to be at least 57.1mm so that the wheel will go over the centre spigot. If the wheels have a larger centre than 57.1mm then you should fit widely available spigot rings of the correct step up size.

My alloys came via Ebay at a total cost of just over £100. They were originally from an Audi A4 Quattro and fit a treat - all of the dimensions are spot on for Yetis.

Tyres are Falken Eurowinters supplied by Mytyres.co.uk and then fitted and balanced by my local tyre chap for £10 a corner.

There was a bit of fiddling about to swap from 'summers' to 'winters' but it was definitely worthwhile based on my experiences this week.

Trev

Edited 3 December, 201015 yr by Trevorminor

225/50 17 = rolling diameter of 657mm Standard on Elegance (and SE?)

205/55 16 = rolling diameter of 632mm (-3.81%)

205/60 16 = rolling diameter of 652mm (-0.76%)

215/60 16 = rolling diameter of 664mm = (+1.07%)

That's why I have gone for 215/60 16 on the basis that the speedo usually overreads by about 3 to 4 %.

To remind people, you need to obtain 16" wheels ideally 6J and with a 5 stud PCD of 112mm. The offset should be between 45 and 50 and if you buy VW group alloys, the standard wheel bolts should still be the right length and have the right profile. The other important thing is to make sure that the centre hole needs to be at least 57.1mm so that the wheel will go over the centre spigot. If the wheels have a larger centre than 57.1mm then you should fit widely available spigot rings of the correct step up size.

My alloys came via Ebay at a total cost of just over £100. They were originally from an Audi A4 Quattro and fit a treat - all of the dimensions are spot on for Yetis.

Tyres are Falken Eurowinters supplied by Mytyres.co.uk and then fitted and balanced by my local tyre chap for £10 a corner.

There was a bit of fiddling about to swap from 'summers' to 'winters' but it was definitely worthwhile based on my experiences this week.

Trev

Just about sums it up, TM, from what I've seen. Except, maybe, that some might opt for the narrower 205/60 option given that it's still very close to the original but the narrower aspect gives it a marginal edge being a winter tyre and we're always advised to go for narrower on snow and ice? As always, I'm only suggesting this, not stating it to be the case. I think the availability and price advantage of the 205/55 option is worth reiterating, with the slight drawback of the 3.87 differential that you draw attention to on this size. Apart from the speedo connotations, I don't know, in practice, how the MPG would be affected (maybe just marginally?) and how many miles would be gained or lost (again, I'm too stupid to work out which). It good to be definite about these things :-)

My only vague uncertainty is whether the 6J x 16 H2 ET50 5/112mm which retails from Skoda dealers at £61.00 inc vat. HAS to go with the 205

............................ ..................And the 7J x 16 H2 ET 45 5/112mm which retails from Skoda dealers at £45.79 inc vat. HAS to go with the 215

(I only know the prices coz I rang a dealer recently)

Is it just that the 215/60/16 referred to above is wider and requires the 7J. And equally that the narrower 205/60/16, suits the narrower wheel?

And are these two relationships cast in stone or is there the possibility that either could fit the other and vice versa (if you know what I mean). Presumably, given the choice, you would match wider tyre with wider wheel and diitto the narrower option? But I just wonder how flexible it is?

Edited 3 December, 201015 yr by oldstan

Just about sums it up, TM, from what I've seen. Except, maybe, that some might opt for the narrower 205/60 option given that it's still very close to the original but the narrower aspect gives it a marginal edge being a winter tyre and we're always advised to go for narrower on snow and ice? As always, I'm only suggesting this, not stating it to be the case. I think the availability and price advantage of the 205/55 option is worth reiterating, with the slight drawback of the 3.87 differential that you draw attention to on this size. Apart from the speedo connotations, I don't know, in practice, how the MPG would be affected (maybe just marginally?) and how many miles would be gained or lost (again, I'm too stupid to work out which). It good to be definite about these things :-)

My only vague uncertainty is whether the 6J x 16 H2 ET50 5/112mm which retails from Skoda dealers at £61.00 inc vat. HAS to go with the 205

............................ ..................And the 7J x 16 H2 ET 45 5/112mm which retails from Skoda dealers at £45.79 inc vat. HAS to go with the 215

(I only know the prices coz I rang a dealer recently)

Is it just that the 215/60/16 referred to above is wider and requires the 7J. And equally that the narrower 205/60/16, suits the narrower wheel?

And are these two relationships cast in stone or is there the possibility that either could fit the other and vice versa (if you know what I mean). Presumably, given the choice, you would match wider tyre with wider wheel and diitto the narrower option? But I just wonder how flexible it is?

With the 7J you can use both size tyres, but with the 6J you can only use the 205 as I understand it from TP's guide.

Mike

With the 7J you can use both size tyres, but with the 6J you can only use the 205 as I understand it from TP's guide.

Mike

Yes, I think that 6J and 215 may be pushing it - that is probably why the 205/55 tyre size is suited to snow chains in that the narrower wheel gives more clearance.

Edited 3 December, 201015 yr by Trevorminor

Yes, I think that 6J and 215 may be pushing it - that is probably why the 205/55 tyre size is suited to snow chains in that the narrower wheel gives more clearance.

Hi,

for Avon tyres as an example (used as they have an easy to follow table) the 6J is the narrowest rim permitted for 215/60 R16 tyres; therefore more suited to the 7J as the upper limit is 7.5J

With the 205/55 it suits a 6.5J rim (not used on Yeti), hence either 6J or 7J can be used as the limits are 5.5J - 7.5J

Avon ZV5

Regards,

TP

I have 6.5J rims on mine for the winters. They are fine with the 205/55/16.

So, it's all slotting in to place.

Speaking just for myself, the car won't come till the worst of the winter's over so I'll have all summer to get them and it'll probably be the Goodyear Ultra Grips with the other options being Michelin, Dunlop, Conti or Vreds and it'll be either the 205 or the 215..... x 60. Can decide nearer the time.

The resources on here are amazing. The power of the people won some bods here some dosh re. the mirrors and clarified things for me and about a million other facts, figures and opinions are here at the touch of a button.....along with the inspired writings of Freshacre, who makes me smile. (There is someone as mad as me!) ..... More please George. Uncle Plumber is always hovering to clear up a point....thanks, TP, and Johann is always on top of things....thanks to all who helped me get sorted.

Interestingly, opinions vary re. the handling of 2 or 4 WD but all seem convinced of the usefulness of the winter tyres, provided you want to spend the money and store the wheels.....I've just got 2WD coming so the tyres seem a winner and as I've got the space for them (after all, who wouldn't want four low level circular coffee tables adorning their front room?, then that's sorted!

I do think though that without the last week or so of bad weather, the minds wouldn't have been quite so concentrated.

And it's pleased 'MyTyres' I wouldn't doubt.

Edited 3 December, 201015 yr by oldstan

Yes the last week has been interesting and certainly has been a focus on the tyre issue. Now I spend way too much on my cars generally and some of the mods some would question in terms of value for money and effectiveness. I've had engine swaps and all sorts on my other car, BUT, putting the winter tyres on the Yeti is the single most effective thing I can recall spending money on for any of my cars.

To be honest I was sceptical a little before, and have given them a pretty fair test of driving on snow with the stock tyres and wheels from Saturday until Wednesday afternoon, then two and a half days with the winters on. I am utterly convinced of how effective they are in snow, ice and slush. Tried some untreated roads round here that are hilly that I would not normally go anywhere near, but not only did the SM get up them, I even managed to stop and pull away again, with no bother, half way up!!

I have to agree loadswine. I've spent money on styling mods and improved handling on cars in the past, so something improves my family's safety and makes me less likely to have an accident or abandon my car seems well worthwhile.

I've only an Octy, so I've had some clearance issues. At least you Yeti owners can let us poor car drivers scrape the ridges off with the underside of our vehicles while you smile to yourselves :yes:

My only vague uncertainty is whether the 6J x 16 H2 ET50 5/112mm which retails from Skoda dealers at £61.00 inc vat. HAS to go with the 205

............................ ..................And the 7J x 16 H2 ET 45 5/112mm which retails from Skoda dealers at £45.79 inc vat. HAS to go with the 215

(I only know the prices coz I rang a dealer recently)

Interesting that the wider wheel is cheaper !!!

tom

Yes the last week has been interesting and certainly has been a focus on the tyre issue. Now I spend way too much on my cars generally and some of the mods some would question in terms of value for money and effectiveness. I've had engine swaps and all sorts on my other car, BUT, putting the winter tyres on the Yeti is the single most effective thing I can recall spending money on for any of my cars.

To be honest I was sceptical a little before, and have given them a pretty fair test of driving on snow with the stock tyres and wheels from Saturday until Wednesday afternoon, then two and a half days with the winters on. I am utterly convinced of how effective they are in snow, ice and slush. Tried some untreated roads round here that are hilly that I would not normally go anywhere near, but not only did the SM get up them, I even managed to stop and pull away again, with no bother, half way up!!

Many thanks to all for the advice after my original query. We've decided to go for 205/60/16 on 6J ET50 steels. To the uninitiated, the wheel/tyre choice is a minefield, and my dealer didn't want to commit to tyre choices. Cheers everyone. Tony

Interesting that the wider wheel is cheaper !!!

tom

'

Might it be that the 7J is the standard fit on the 'E' and 'S' trim and is made in greater numbers? It has the reference 3C.60.601.027 M/N (Mo3C) [slight confusion over the last couple of, bracketed, digits].