Hello folks,

winter tyres more or less sold out at present, and supplies from europe seem depleted.

Can't get any in my size 205 60 R15, but the owner manual seems to suggest that other size can be fitted for winter tyres.

This info is apparently in "vehicle documents".

No idea what document this might be, but I know i don't have it !

Anyone know reliably what the alternative size is ?

Thanks for any help

Try 185 or 195 R65.

Hello folks,

winter tyres more or less sold out at present, and supplies from europe seem depleted.

Can't get any in my size 205 60 R15, but the owner manual seems to suggest that other size can be fitted for winter tyres.

This info is apparently in "vehicle documents".

No idea what document this might be, but I know i don't have it !

Anyone know reliably what the alternative size is ?

Thanks for any help

Can't help with the size question, but, as you will see from a few messages down (Winter tyres for a 4x4 Octy), I got four winter tyres from MyTyres on the web today, and they are sending them to a tyre dealer in Plymouth, who will fit them for a few quid:

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Ordern&cart_id=3395682.110.11414&typ=D-102942&ranzahl=4&Breite=205&Quer=60&Felge=15&Load=91&Speed=H&weiter=90&Ang_pro_Seite=10&Transport=P&dsco=110

Brian

Edited 29 November, 201015 yr by Brian M

Can't get any in my size 205 60 R15, but the owner manual seems to suggest that other size can be fitted for winter tyres.

225/45R17 ... 205/55R16 ... 205/50R15 ... 195/65R15, and there are 130 cold weather tyres listed in the latter size at mytyres.

Added: the last 3 sizes are listed on the inside of the filler flap on my MK1.

Edited 29 November, 201015 yr by AnotherGareth

Thanks a lot folks for your helpful, speedy replies !

One more question though - I understand tyre ratings, but have no idea about wheel sizes, ratings etc.

How do you assess which steel wheel is compatible with which tyre if i were to buy a set of winter steelies ?

Thanks a lot folks for your helpful, speedy replies !

One more question though - I understand tyre ratings, but have no idea about wheel sizes, ratings etc.

How do you assess which steel wheel is compatible with which tyre if i were to buy a set of winter steelies ?

Ok, so i think i've realised that all that matters is the 205 and 15 numbers for steelies.

Any sources of info out there on which used wheels (ie off what alternative cars) would fit ?

My Skoda dealer wants £50 or so per wheel for new ones

Unfortunately as soon as you think you've cracked it up pops another wee 'can of worms' to complicate matters (as I've found out this last couple of weeks), I think you need to consider:

1. Number of wheel nuts & PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter). Eg 5x112 (number of nuts = 5 and diameter of an imaginary circle drawn through the centres of wheel nuts = 112 mm).

2. Width of the wheel - self-explanatory, generally the wider the wheel the wider the tyres, although winter tyres tend to be narrower so you can get narrower steelies than your alloys (but watch out tyre diameter stays as close as possible by varying the aspect ratio). Eg 205/55R16 has almost the same rolling circumference as 195/60R16.

3. Offset - where the centre of the wheel is compared to the mating surface. Get this wrong and you risk fouling brakes as the wheel sits too far inboard or outboard of where it should.

Much as I hate links this might explain better than I can: http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg4.html

Enjoy

Edited 30 November, 201015 yr by toonfan66

Unfortunately as soon as you think you've cracked it up pops another wee 'can of worms' to complicate matters (as I've found out this last couple of weeks), I think you need to consider:

1. Number of wheel nuts & PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter). Eg 5x112 (number of nuts = 5 and diameter of an imaginary circle drawn through the centres of wheel nuts = 112 mm).

2. Width of the wheel - self-explanatory, generally the wider the wheel the wider the tyres, although winter tyres tend to be narrower so you can get narrower steelies than your alloys (but watch out tyre diameter stays as close as possible by varying the aspect ratio). Eg 205/55R16 has almost the same rolling circumference as 195/60R16.

3. Offset - where the centre of the wheel is compared to the mating surface. Get this wrong and you risk fouling brakes as the wheel sits too far inboard or ourboard of where it should.

Much as I hate links this might explain better than I can: http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg4.html

Enjoy

Thanks Toonfan - yep, a can of worms indeed !

I guess the best bet is finding wheels off an identical car - which will I'm sure be very difficult :'(

Did you manage to get yourself a set of steelies ?

Edited 29 November, 201015 yr by Monkeyboyo

Did you manage to get yourself a set of steelies ?

No, still looking but direct from Audi and from friendly local garage (for partner's A3) a set of 4 new steels are £260! I was a bit surprised and haven't ordered them yet - especially when the tyres are in such short-supply.

I did ask the parts guy at the local Audi dealer what happened to any old wheels (steels or alloys) that come off cars that are upgraded with new alloys and he said they go straight in the skip!

Edited 29 November, 201015 yr by toonfan66

hi, i was initally confused about this too, i went onto the mytyres website and found i could order in 195/65/r15, so i ordered a set of 4 on steelies. got goodyear ultragrip 7+. cost just over £350 delivered. i fitted them on wednesday last week. really pleased so far with the extra grip although we've not had it too bad here yet (high peak).

hi, i was initally confused about this too, i went onto the mytyres website and found i could order in 195/65/r15, so i ordered a set of 4 on steelies. got goodyear ultragrip 7+. cost just over £350 delivered. i fitted them on wednesday last week. really pleased so far with the extra grip although we've not had it too bad here yet (high peak).

Thanks HandyAndy.

I'm looking at that site just now.

I think my 2006 1.9 Tdi 4x4 Estate is what they would describe as a Combi, and of the 4 variations, mine is the 1Z 1896ccm 77 kW BJ.: 03.2005-

although don't know what the IZ, 77KW and BJ refer to

Edited 29 November, 201015 yr by Monkeyboyo

thats the spec i ordered, mine is a 10 plate. i think they should be the same. I also lookied in my service book and on the inside front cover there is a series of codes that spec your car. i saw 1z and figured that must related to the mytyres code. hope this helps

also 77kw is listed on the inside of the fuel 'door'

thats the spec i ordered, mine is a 10 plate. i think they should be the same. I also lookied in my service book and on the inside front cover there is a series of codes that spec your car. i saw 1z and figured that must related to the mytyres code. hope this helps

Thanks very much. That helps a lot

Delivered price up by about £100 since you ordered !

nasty

IZ

1Z is the Mk2 Octavia, 1U is the Mk1 Octavia. This is important because the older cars had 5 bolts on a 100mm circle while the newer cars have 5 bolts on a 112mm circle, so not compatible with each other. This is called the PCD and is normally shown as 5x112.

I think my 2006 1.9 Tdi 4x4 Estate is what they would describe as a Combi, and of the 4 variations, mine is the 1Z 1896ccm 77 kW BJ.: 03.2005-

although don't know what the IZ, 77KW and BJ refer to

That's pretty much the same spec as my car. 195/65R15s will fit very nicely onto appropriate steelies as described elsewhere and the effect on your speedo will be minimal (circumference is less than 2% different if I recall my research last year correctly). Going slightly narrower than your current 205/60s will be better in the snow & ice, and it's a very common size so the tyres are cheaper too. Though given the last week's weather, I'm not sure "cheap" and "winter tyres" should go anywhere near each other. Good luck finding something.

I've got a set of 15" steelies for my 55 plate 1.9TDI 4x4 combi - got them off ebay a couple of years ago. The wheels for the Mark 2 (or A5) Octy are different to the mk1 (or A4) Octy - different PCD size. The Mk V Golf wheels should be the same.

My steelies are 6J x 15 ET47 marked with part number 1K0 601 027C

I run a set of 195/65 R 15 winter tyres on them - makes a significant difference over normal rubber on snow and ice.

Edited 30 November, 201015 yr by humsk