If you "only" change your tyres, then there is no requirement to tell your insurance company... it's the fitting of 16" steel wheels and winter tyres that has given rise to all the bad press recently. It's worth remembering that you only need to have winter tyres fitted to the driven wheels, plus you can put your summer tyres into storage until next spring and swap them over again

Personally I'd pt 4 tyres on, otherwise there is the danger of having grip at the front & in a moment of exuberance (ie. false sense of security) find yourself pointing the wrong way, especially in a fairly long car as the Superb. I'd store them in the garage & change them over myself every year. I guess I'd be best asking the insurance co.

cheers

If you "only" change your tyres, then there is no requirement to tell your insurance company... it's the fitting of 16" steel wheels and winter tyres that has given rise to all the bad press recently. It's worth remembering that you only need to have winter tyres fitted to the driven wheels, plus you can put your summer tyres into storage until next spring and swap them over again

No, no, no! Never fit winter tyres to only 2 wheels. You then have a car with radically different traction on the 2 axles, and will likely end up swapping ends under braking.

Got my Superb 4x4 combi and I can breeze through 8 inches of snow on even steep hills on my Conti winter tyres, it is incredible how different it is. My wife also has a Yeti 4x4 on summer Dunlops and whilst it is a dramatic improvement on front wheel drive you are still at risk when turning or braking. I will not have a winter without winter tyres now.

I currently have 3 cars

Honda CRV on normal tyres (well for the next 2 days untill my Superb arrives)

Honda Jazz cvt with new tyres normal

and

A Mitsibushi Delica 4x4 running General grabbers at2's which have about 14mm of tread (what snow !)

I know what i would take in the bad weather but at 22mpg its not for every day use !

it will be intresting to see how i get on with the change from a toy 4x4 (crv) back to a front wheel drive considering that this is my 3rd CRV

the CRV i have to say has been excellent in this bad weather and has never let me down, the wife has managed to get around in the Jazz and i have played in the Deli, went up in the hill the other week and just drove through 3-4 foot snow drifts with out a problem great fun

but all said and done the diffrence in breaking steering acceleration is incredible in the snow and an offroad/winter tyre would be my choice if i had one but as the Superb will be a lease car then not an option at the moment

Andy

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your suggestions, I'll try a couple and see what qoutes they offer. £60 sound ok to me but I have a niggling feeling that the Thermistos will be a special finish, I'll let you know. If I'm organised I might even post a photo before after & cost incurred.

The Missus is still not convinced we should bother with Winter tyres... but the AutoCar report is pretty good & as for the braking 3 times further & vs. winter tyres braking from 25mph - which can stop in less than 20meters at which point the summer tyres are still doing 20mph is surely reason enough to wonder why they aren't compulsary!

As mentioned used them in Germany for a number of years - I should have gone with my gut instinct.

I think I'll be on the lookout for some very soon.

Question though for insurance purposes, do I have to go for the same size wheel & tyre or can I go for the R16 205's? I'd even go for a R16 195 if acceptable.

DO I have to tell insurance company?

Stef

It's £160 inc VAT for a brand new wheel... maybe worth keeping the scratched one as a spare...?

Al.

It's £160 inc VAT for a brand new wheel... maybe worth keeping the scratched one as a spare...?

Al.

Hi Al,

Thanks, Not cheap but I guess not too bad for just 1 wheel. I'll wait till the weather improves and then see what the Wheel Specialists say re. expected success/cost.

Maybe I should just get 4 & then I've got a handy spare set of wheels for some winter rubber

Stef

Hi Al,

Thanks, Not cheap but I guess not too bad for just 1 wheel. I'll wait till the weather improves and then see what the Wheel Specialists say re. expected success/cost.

Maybe I should just get 4 & then I've got a handy spare set of wheels for some winter rubber

Stef

I has 4x 18" Luxon Alloy's with Vredestine Wintracs currently on my 4x4 Superb - and it's a snow-eating monster!

MUCH better traction than my Old's Kia Sportage TItan on 16" Rims with Nankang SV-1 Snow Tyres!

Al.

Hi Al,

Thanks, Not cheap but I guess not too bad for just 1 wheel. I'll wait till the weather improves and then see what the Wheel Specialists say re. expected success/cost.

Maybe I should just get 4 & then I've got a handy spare set of wheels for some winter rubber

Stef

Hi Stef,

Try these guys, I will be getting 3 Bmer wheels done with these before selling, price is 70 per wheel and they completely redo. They drive to your house and do it.

WickedWheels

i was told from a local, very good wheel refurber, that the "Diamond Cut" finish on Luxon and Thermisto alloy's is very hard to replicate and it may never be the same finish... so may have to do the two on the same side of the car to make them look correct..

Al.

Apologies folks, you're absolutely right, not sure what I was thinking by saying winter tyres only need to be fitted to the driving wheels... I think that applies to snowsocks which I was having a discussion about at the same time as posting that message... Winter tyres for all wheels...!

I have the 4x4 and this year got around to snow tyres. Got a set of 4 18" conti's ts830 for 600.

Night and day over last year on normal tyres. Obviously the tyres help, but so does the haldex 4x4. Last year it was more fun and I got stuck a few times. I'm sure I'll get stuck this year too, but given I drove over 4" deep snow this weekend up a hill it's going to take a while...

As to FWD or 4x4, well I've had 4 skodas now. 2xFWD and 2x4x4.

I love the 4x4 because it's easy to drive. I get amazing traction out of tight bends and of course in the wet or fields I can keep going.

In this weather, as one of the posters said I think it's as much about the other person as me.

Which is why when some ejit pulled out on me the other day on a snowy road I simply drove around them. On normal tyres I'd have been in the side/back.

As to if the 4x4 is worth the extra, factor in the extra daily fuel cost, it does add up. That and I think the 4x4 is still a manual? Mine is, I really wish it was dsg, that would be amazing

I like the FWD skoda's btw, more fun to drive, lighter etc...

Still dropping the clutch at 3k (it's winter afterall) on snow is alot of fun, if a little childish

... That and I think the 4x4 is still a manual? Mine is, I really wish it was dsg, that would be amazing .....

The 140bph diesel is available with both 4x4 and DSG, at least in Norway. I´m getting mine in January

no way that 15" is ok.

The 140bph diesel is available with both 4x4 and DSG, at least in Norway. I´m getting mine in January

Good to know, it might make it to the uk, but really I must keep this car for a while

Might have to have a lofoten meet all 6 of us 4x4 owners eh

Sounds good Colin.

Phil.

The 140bph diesel is available with both 4x4 and DSG, at least in Norway. I´m getting mine in January

I have ordered the same in Serbia three weeks ago... When did you order? I still don't have confirmation about build week, and since it is new combination, I don't know what to expect as delivery dates.

I have ordered the same in Serbia three weeks ago... When did you order? I still don't have confirmation about build week, and since it is new combination, I don't know what to expect as delivery dates.

I ordered mine late september. Originally the dealer said I would have it in april (due to 4x4 and panoramic sunroof I guess), but he called in desember and said the car was allready out from the factory and ready to be shipped. He promised to call me when the car is on the boat from Germany.

I ordered mine late september. Originally the dealer said I would have it in april (due to 4x4 and panoramic sunroof I guess), but he called in desember and said the car was allready out from the factory and ready to be shipped. He promised to call me when the car is on the boat from Germany.

I found out about 4x4x and DSG in November, and in Serbia they told me it will be available for ordering, but without price list. In December they told me the prices will be formed for next year, so I ordered anyway hoping it won't be much different than 170PS DSG. And they told me it will be approximately shipped in Februrary, but still no official confirmation from factory. Mine have panoramic sunroof as well as other extras. I was hoping to have it at least in late winter, just to try 4x4 in snow but I am not optimistic after having to wait 3 weeks just to have confirmation.

I am not sure that 4x4 will be noticeable at all without snow