I'm slightly confused by the mass of information that my Superb twindoor 4x4 170bhp handbook seems to be hiding from me....

Can anyone explain what size winter or all season tyres can replace my Continentals 225/40/18s?

The manual indicates that the sizes to be fitted are listed in the car's literature...and I still cannot locate this...Help!

Whilst aware of the advantages of winter tyres, especially on a 4x4, I've yet to hear from anyone with all year/4 season tyres fitted.

Finally, has anyone got comments on driving on the" mainland" whilst using the headlamp switching option?

Regards,

Frustrated of Wiltshire!

If you are looking at changing just the tyres then you need to stick to the same size currently fitted, however ideally you would be using 'winter wheels' with 205/55/16 winter tyres fitted.

(make sure the load index is correct for the Superb before you buy replacement tyres)

I just fitted these Avon Ice Touring 225/40/18s

They are great.

Phil.

It is a fairy tale that 205/55/16 are better for winter streets. It is a matter of fact that traction ist better with broader wheels. Just think about braking in snow, which is most important .

I just fitted these Avon Ice Touring 225/40/18s

They are great.

Phil.

You may have posted this already Phil, so sorry if it's repetition, but where did you source those tyres from?

I've been looking for the same size in advance of my car coming, and also to replace the useless (on snow and ice) Bridgestone Turanza's on our Fabia. I keep seeing people ordering from 'Mytyres' but I'm not keen to use them due to all the bad press they get.

A UK recommendation and a decent quoted price would help.

Thanks,

Mark.

It is a fairy tale that 205/55/16 are better for winter streets. It is a matter of fact that traction ist better with broader wheels. Just think about braking in snow, which is most important .

Would you mind explaining to me why we in Sweden (probably the whole scandinavia) prefers a tyre with the smallest width possible for our wintertires? You might as well explain why the WRC-cars got ice and snow tires thats even smaller in width?

If you cant find it in the manual your local dealer can give you the proper dimensions ranging from the 205/55-16 to your own 225/40-18.

Wich dimension you choose for your wintertires is all up to you.In Sweden there aint anything called all-season tires anymore, due to the fact that they aint good at anything.

I myself got new Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 at 195/60-16" (studded). Nokian sure knows how to make wintertires since they've been in the top 3 (mostly nr 1 at that) in almost all tests done for the past 5 years or so.

Fitting a size not mention by the carmanufacturer aint allowed in all countries, but wintertires got an exception in Sweden atleast.

Driving on non-studded wintertires during all seasons isnt wise, even though they might be for the central-europe market. Ive read a test done in Sweden were they tested a non-studded nordic wintertyre against a proper summertyre during normal summerconditions. The worst thing they found out was that when braking from 100km/h (60mph) to 0, the wintertyre still had a speed of 50km/h (30mph) at the same distance as the summertyre had stopped. That kind of speed is quite leathal if you hit a person.

First of all: It is cheaper and everybody uses the bigger rims in summer time.

2nd: Because WRC Cars need traction in curves for higher speed. maybe? Give the answer to yourself what would be more important for you as a driver with safety concerns. This or better braking (and acceleration)

And I dont know why half of sweden does not read contemporary tyre tests. As I said. Its like an urban myth.

Edited 5 December, 201015 yr by digidoctor

First of all: It is cheaper and everybody uses the bigger rims in summer time.

2nd: Because WRC Cars need traction in curves for higher speed. maybe? Give the answer to yourself what would be more important for you as a driver with safety concerns. This or better braking (and acceleration)

And I dont know why half of sweden does not read contemporary tyre tests. As I said. Its like an urban myth.

I've tried to read your comment above, but I didn't get the cheaper argument right, please elaborate. If you use the summer rims for winter tires you will probably ruin them. And since you seem to have the proof from contemporary tire test where they prove your point, couldn't you enlighten me with a link? What do the Finnish people around here have to to say about this subject? They should know. And what WRC cars do and don't do I can only guess, but I'm pretty sure they do some very heavy acceleration an breaking too...

/Superbjoser

You may have posted this already Phil, so sorry if it's repetition, but where did you source those tyres from?

I've been looking for the same size in advance of my car coming, and also to replace the useless (on snow and ice) Bridgestone Turanza's on our Fabia. I keep seeing people ordering from 'Mytyres' but I'm not keen to use them due to all the bad press they get.

A UK recommendation and a decent quoted price would help.

Thanks,

Mark.

Hi Mark,

I went for winter tyres a bit late in the day and found they were getting as rare as rocking horse poo.

My local garage sourced these for me.

Cost about £140 each fitted balanced and valved.

Phil.

Look for google translator for example. and say goodbye to the urban myth.

http://translate.google.de/#

http://www.focus.de/auto/news/ratgeber-breitreifen-fuer-den-winter_aid_451485.html

http://www.warum-winterreifen.de/wintertipps/winterreifenlexikon/breitreifen.php

http://www.wissen.de/wde/generator/wissen/ressorts/technik/mobilitaet/special_continental_winter/index,page=3579136.html

http://www.continental-reifen.de/generator/www/de/de/continental/reifen/themen/tuning/tuning_reifen/tuning_umruesttipps/warum_br_im_winter/breitreifen_im_winter_de.html

Edited 5 December, 201015 yr by digidoctor

I've tried to read your comment above, but I didn't get the cheaper argument right, please elaborate. If you use the summer rims for winter tires you will probably ruin them. And since you seem to have the proof from contemporary tire test where they prove your point, couldn't you enlighten me with a link? What do the Finnish people around here have to to say about this subject? They should know. And what WRC cars do and don't do I can only guess, but I'm pretty sure they do some very heavy acceleration an breaking too...

/Superbjoser

I am not from Finland, but in my part of Norway I am driving 3 - 4 months a year on snow or ice. My experience through 20 winters of driving is absolutely corresponding to Superbjoser's. During winter time, here in Scandinavia, wide tires is of no use at all. My feeling is that it in loose or especially wet snow wider tires tend to "float" more on top, not reaching the harder surface below.

Here is a test done by the Norwegian Drivers association, translated by Google from Norwegian to some kind of English. I do not know if it is understandable:

http://translate.google.no/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=no&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=no&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.naf.no%2FForbrukertester%2FDekk%2FDekktester%2FVinterdekktest-2010%2F&act=url

It features both studded and non studded winter tires. I guess that the tires in the test made for the central European market is also available in the UK.

Myran

Edited 5 December, 201015 yr by Myran

We are talking about Superb. Not Passat or Audi A6 with 235 or 245 possible wheels.

Superb wheels are VW Golf and Octavia size.

I assume that differences in typre pressure may have more influence than 205 to 225. about 9 %

Edited 5 December, 201015 yr by digidoctor

We are talking about Superb. Not Passat or Audi A6 with 235 or 245 possible wheels.

Superb wheels are VW Golf and Octavia size.

I assume that differences in typre pressure may have more influence than 205 to 225. about 9 %

The test I was referring to had all tires in the dimension 205/55-16, fitted to a Ford Focus during the test.

I have no experience with 205 tires personally, but my current Skoda has Michelin Maxi Ice 225/45-17 fitted, and it does definitely not feel as good as previous cars I had, latest with 195/65-15, same brand and type tires. When my current tires are worn out, the rims will be for sale, and I will invest in new, and more narrow winter tires, like 195/65-16

Perhaps I am wrong, but it might be that the conditions we experience in parts of Scandinavia is somehow different from what you have further south in Europe, so different qualities of the tires are judged differently.

I think the most important thing is to use winter tires, driving on snow or ice with summer tires is considered madness and illegal where I come from.

myran

We are talking about Superb. Not Passat or Audi A6 with 235 or 245 possible wheels.

Superb wheels are VW Golf and Octavia size.

Superb got the same wheels as the VW Passat. That means tyredimension, rimwidth(7" wide on the 16" rim), ET etc. The only difference is the middle cap, nothing else.For the steelrims even the OEM nr is the same.

So a comparison with the Golf or Octavia is not correct.

The reason behind a narrow width on wintertires is to reach the hard surface underneath the loose snow, thus avoiding the aforementioned floating.

Superb got the same wheels as the VW Passat. That means tyredimension, rimwidth(7" wide on the 16" rim), ET etc. The only difference is the middle cap, nothing else.For the steelrims even the OEM nr is the same.

So a comparison with the Golf or Octavia is not correct.

The reason behind a narrow width on wintertires is to reach the hard surface underneath the loose snow, thus avoiding the aforementioned floating.

1.) Superb does not have Passat tyres (size) Just read technical data. 235/40/18 45/17 for passat and 245/40/18 for A4(!) A6

205/55/16 and 225/45/17 40/18 for Superb like Golf/Octavia

I will not repeat from this point any further what is obvious. Accept the facts

2.) We are talking about difference of 9% 205/225 (Octavia/Superb)

Braking is the main safety issue in snow. And I can promise you better braking performance with 225 compared to 205.

1.) Superb does not have Passat tyres (size) Just read technical data. 235/40/18 45/17 for passat and 245/40/18 for A4(!) A6

205/55/16 and 225/45/17 40/18 for Superb like Golf/Octavia

I will not repeat from this point any further what is obvious. Accept the facts

2.) We are talking about difference of 9% 205/225 (Octavia/Superb)

Braking is the main safety issue in snow. And I can promise you better braking performance with 225 compared to 205.

Wide tires tend to "float" on deep snow, and the tread lugs never have a chance to "dig" through to the road surface to gain traction. Narrow tires are a better option in deep snow. The tire acts similarly to a knife cutting through butter; the blade works best when using the narrow edge to push through the butter rather than the wide flat side of the blade.

Your wrong... Accept it... Lol

Edited 5 December, 201015 yr by booski

No hope for you. Picking out one! aspect thats suits your opinion and thinking this is the answer for all. no hope.

No hope for you. Picking out one! aspect thats suits your opinion and thinking this is the answer for all. no hope.

Patronising reply in which you say nothing?

A skinnier tyre will have higher pounds per square inch of load than would a wider tyre - which helps the tyre get to the road surface. But remember that everything is a compromise, and consequently there is no single right answer. Skinnier tyres may get to the road surface better, but once there they would have less traction than would a fat tyre that also gets to that same road surface. So fat tyres work better in some conditions, but worse in others. So we compromse - make the tyre a little skinnier, but not too skinny, and perhaps you hit the "sweet" spot of compromise beteen snow traction and road traction.

205/55/16 is the compromise over 225/40/18 . The fact they cost less even when fitted to steels helps also..

Edited 6 December, 201015 yr by booski

Look for google translator for example. and say goodbye to the urban myth.

http://translate.google.de/#

http://www.focus.de/auto/news/ratgeber-breitreifen-fuer-den-winter_aid_451485.html

http://www.warum-winterreifen.de/wintertipps/winterreifenlexikon/breitreifen.php

http://www.wissen.de/wde/generator/wissen/ressorts/technik/mobilitaet/special_continental_winter/index,page=3579136.html

http://www.continental-reifen.de/generator/www/de/de/continental/reifen/themen/tuning/tuning_reifen/tuning_umruesttipps/warum_br_im_winter/breitreifen_im_winter_de.html

One of your links, a commercial site. In none of the links no comparisons or tests between smaller/broader tires. Found nothing to make me say goodbye to the urban myth. You have now promised a shorter breaking distance with broader tires on snow. Where is the your contemporary test that proves this? And when you talk about picking out one aspects: Why this focus on breaking? For me it's all about making your way home.

/Suberbjoser

I've got 225/40/18 Vredestine Wintrac Xtreme's on my Superb at present - all i can say, is that you pays your money, you takes your choice.

Personally, i needed to keep the "look" of the car correct, and this would not have been possible with 16" steel wheels on an executive vehicle. - these tyres, are fitted to a 2nd set of Genuine Skoda rim's, and of course will come off the car next year, and be replaced with the OEM Conti SportContact tyre. - I wouldn't be without winter tyres (had them for the last few years on last car (BFG All Terrain in size 245/70/16)

I've had no issue with the wide tyres, and in the UK, it's not all too bad!

I did forget to mention that my Superb Estate is a 4x4 which may help, and may also allow me to use the 18" tyre size on the soft-stuff.

Al.

It is a fairy tale that 205/55/16 are better for winter streets. It is a matter of fact that traction ist better with broader wheels. Just think about braking in snow, which is most important .

It is not a fairy tale it has a solid technical base. Wider tires have greater surface contact and less pressure value (kg/ square cm) , while the the narrow tires have the opposite great contact pressure. If you agree that great pressure will give more force to the tire profile to adhere to the slippery road surface than you will accept that there is o solid base for this idea. The only thing that might be slightly affected is the side stability but ESP will deal easily with it.

Also there is a financial issue with this option to be considered . I run on 17" during summer and 16" on winter. A 17" winter tire good quality (Continental TS 830) is + 200 E while a 16" tire plus alloy rim (Dezent RK) is 250 E ish. Easy to change , easy to deposit, excellent efficiency on winter roads.

Edited 22 January, 201115 yr by safari hunter

Hi, if I may enter a comment with my first proper post.

This wider / narrower debate all depends upon what conditions are being considered as both views are right, but coming from different angles.

The way modern studless friction tyres work in snow is that as the tyre approaches the contact area, all the grooves and sipes open up slightly, snow enters the groove, As the tyre gets nearer the contact patch the sipes close up and grip the snow.

If you've ever tried to rub two snowballs together they don't slide, and this is where the grip comes from.

As the tyre leaves the contact area, the grooves open up again and clear the snow from the tread.

Thus in these conditions the wider tyre does have more grip as it rides on the top and has more area to have the better grip effect.

However if the conditions are slush, say, then this material has very little shear strength and it is better to cut through to material where a more stable structure is possible and thus a narrower size to cut down to tarmac, solid snow or ice in the case of studs.

So both views are right for their conditions is my view on this.

Interesting that this site doesn't seem to have the vocal element of nobody needs winter tyres merchants, obviously a sensible lot in here.

Must say this thread has answered the first question why I came to the site, am considering a Combi Elegance which has the 18" wheels, and I wanted to see if 16" would fit as I'd not had any success determining disc sizes, or permitted tyres for any vehicle.

Have the pdf of the owner's manual and this statement " see your vehicle documents" is a real pain tbh.

Why 16" wheels you might ask?

Well reason is I have a pretty new set of 16" Conti WinterContact TS830 in the right size, speed and load rating on my Volvo, and these are excellent.

Secondly the potholes on the roads in some places I go wouldn't look out of place on an Army tank testing ground, and the higher profile is more forgiving. Couple that with a set of steelies, which might look a bit down market, but will withstand almost everything you can throw at them will, I think, be OK. Having been in the position of a light metal alloy rim being dented, all remaining stock having gone and having to air freight a replacement in from California is not an experience I want to repeat, thank you very much for nothing Sheffield Council. :(

Anyway hope all that helps and is of interest.

Now off to the DSG threads to find the next answer.

. . . . Why 16" wheels you might ask?

Well reason is I have a pretty new set of 16" Conti WinterContact TS830 in the right size, speed and load rating on my Volvo, and these are excellent.

Secondly the potholes on the roads in some places I go wouldn't look out of place on an Army tank testing ground, and the higher profile is more forgiving . . . . .

I think I'm with you on this one. I'm also currently running a V50 Powershift and have a Superb Estate SE DSG on order.

I down sized the original V50 wheels from 17" to 16" for the reasons you mention. It's not a racer. I'm also running TS830 tyres this winter and they have been brill. I plan to acquire a spare set of 16" wheels for the Superb to use my existing snow tyres next winter too and will urge my son to do the same with his imminent Octavia vRS. I better buy shares in Click Fit.

I think I'm with you on this one. I'm also currently running a V50 Powershift and have a Superb Estate SE DSG on order.

I down sized the original V50 wheels from 17" to 16" for the reasons you mention. It's not a racer. I'm also running TS830 tyres this winter and they have been brill. I plan to acquire a spare set of 16" wheels for the Superb to use my existing snow tyres next winter too and will urge my son to do the same with his imminent Octavia vRS. I better buy shares in Click Fit.

Be interested to know how you get on sourcing the 16" wheels. Any tips and experience welcome.

V50 Powershift to Superb Estate DSG, great minds and all that.

OT: Assuming you've noticed how V50 prices have sky rocketed recently. Do they actually want to sell any?

I got a new set of 4 16" steel wheels from my Skoda dealer for €225, and this included the 48 hr shipping from VW UK.