Going to buy a wheel/tyre package from my tyres. My SM doesn't arrive until December but will hopefully sell my dinosaur a period before, thus leaving me without a 4x4 until delivery. Wife has a mk6 Golf so was hopeing to put the winter wheels and tyres on this for the period to keep us mobile should the snow appear. The Golf is currently running 225 45 17 so there is not a lot of room under the arches. I would like to go with the 215 60 16 winter tyres but I just don't think they will fit the Golf without scrubbing, is my only option the 205 55 16. I know from other threads some have this combination and some have changed from it to 215 60 16 (Johann). Does the 205 55 16 look oddly small on the SM?

Any advise or pointers appreciated, the more I think and consider this the more my head hurts.

I should add that from the 205 55 16 to the Golf size is pretty much the same, only -0.38% difference but to the Yeti size there is a -3.79% difference which seems quite a bit.

Edited 2 August, 201114 yr by servicepoint

Hi,

205/60 R16 is not a authorised tyre size, although I believe some have run with this size. The other consideration is the rim size you intend to use if your planning on fitting them on both the Golf and the Yeti.

The Yeti can use either a 6Jx16 rim with the 205/55 tyre or a 7Jx16 rim with either the 205/55 or the 215/60. daft as it sounds the official rims are much cheaper in the 7J size as the 6J has and Audi part number

Have a set of mytyres steel rims for the Fabia, which are OK but not quite the quality of the VAG items. Original Skoda wheel trims don't quite fit as well either.

Ran my previous Yeti on 205/55 R16 fitted to 7Jx16 VAG rims with no issues, although I sold these when I let the last Yeti go.

For comparison

Regards,

TP

Sorry I meant to type 215 60 16 not 205 60 16, I've edited it now.

The Plumber, thanks for the reply and the pictures. Would you recommend 6J or 7J rims, I think MyTyres are 7Js?

Sorry I meant to type 215 60 16 not 205 60 16, I've edited it now.

The Plumber, thanks for the reply and the pictures. Would you recommend 6J or 7J rims, I think MyTyres are 7Js?

Hi,

my choice would be the 7J, however if your intention is to fit them to the Golf as well, I believe you have no option but to go with the 6J (check the Golf's manual).

Other thing I should have mentioned before, a 4x4 Yeti will need tyres with min load index of 94.

Regards,

TP

Hi,

my choice would be the 7J, however if your intention is to fit them to the Golf as well, I believe you have no option but to go with the 6J (check the Golf's manual).

Other thing I should have mentioned before, a 4x4 Yeti will need tyres with min load index of 94.

Regards,

I have went through the Golf manual several times and it gives no information on recommended tyre sizes (useless),perhaps because VW offer so many variations on tyre/wheel sizes for the Golf (the manual does have a page on winter tyres/chains but offers no guidance on size).

The rims on the Golf at present are Seattle 7Jx17 with 225/45 R17. I'm assuming from this that I can go with;

7 x 16 5 x 112.00 x 57.00 ET: 45.00 5-hole steel wheel (9257) offered by MyTyres?

Thanks for pointing out the min load index, I am thinking of going with Nankang Snow SV2 205/55 16 94H, if sizes are suitable, they are about £100 a corner.

TP

Should be OK for the 7J then as long as the standard rims are also ET45 (ish) offset. I believe aerofurb is winter running the Nankang on his Monster but in the 215/60 size, so a PM might get you some feedback.

Just recently placed an order for winters myself (have VAG rims already); gone for 215/60 Hankook W310 at £312 delivered for a set of 4 plus £40 fitting at the local tyre place. Would have liked to have got Nokian's again but there like hens teeth to get hold of these days, plus the Camskill price for the 310's is far cheaper than any other retailer even factoring in fitting.

Regards,

TP

Should be OK for the 7J then as long as the standard rims are also ET45 (ish) offset. I believe aerofurb is winter running the Nankang on his Monster but in the 215/60 size, so a PM might get you some feedback.

Just recently placed an order for winters myself (have VAG rims already); gone for 215/60 Hankook W310 at £312 delivered for a set of 4 plus £40 fitting at the local tyre place. Would have liked to have got Nokian's again but there like hens teeth to get hold of these days, plus the Camskill price for the 310's is far cheaper than any other retailer even factoring in fitting.

Regards,

TP

Have you found your options are better now that you have 16" wheels rather than 17"?

To be honest I would have liked to have went just for tyres if I could have picked up a set of rims but I have failed to come up with any outwith going to VW/Skoda dealer.

I have used Nankang winter tyres before albeit a different model and size and found them to have decent performance and wear,they were excellent in the wet, which our roads mostly are through the winter and very acceptable in the snow, so thats probably pushing me in that direction.

Have you found your options are better now that you have 16" wheels rather than 17"?

Hi,

tyre choice in the 16" 215/60 size as standard on my Monster is much better, with options such as semi off road 4x4 tyres now available (Goodyear Wrangler for example).

215/60 winter tyres although reasonably plentiful in terms of brand availability, have been more expensive in the past year or so over there summer counterparts. The 205/55 would give the best scope for choice and price but as I'm on 215/60 anyway I'm keeping to that size this time round for the winter option.

Regards,

TP

The 16 inch is definitely the way to go for winter.

The stock size is OK and will give you more or less equivalent handling to the summer tyres.

Personally, I would weight the wet and cold handling the highest, snow handling will be OK, very good or at least tolerable with any quality brand. I'm happy with the choices I made, which you can see below.

On the summer selection, I have ordered Michelin Primacy HP in the same size as before. The justificetion being great wet handling, long life, comfort and low energy rolling resistance. We will see if it works out that way. I had a good experience with similar Michelin tyres on my Octy Combi

I have used Nankang winter tyres before albeit a different model and size and found them to have decent performance and wear,they were excellent in the wet, which our roads mostly are through the winter and very acceptable in the snow, so thats probably pushing me in that direction.

Isn't this a case of 'spoiling the ship for a ha'pth of tar'?

Surely a brand new Yeti deserves the best tyres you can get, not a less capable 'budget' tyre.

I know from other threads some have this combination and some have changed from it to 215 60 16 (Johann). Does the 205 55 16 look oddly small on the SM?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but to my eyes they just looked wrong on my car:

But I realise in this photo the dirty wheelarch does exacerbate their smallness. When you look at them with a black background they look ok (below also my wheels just with my other set of centre caps):

I just prefer the chunkey look of the 215s personally.

Isn't this a case of 'spoiling the ship for a ha'pth of tar'?

Surely a brand new Yeti deserves the best tyres you can get, not a less capable 'budget' tyre.

I have read some excellent reports on the Nankangs and for the small amount of driving I shall do in winter I have bought those for use on my 170 Elegance and don't consider I have spoilt the ship !! Quote - "decent performance and wear,they were excellent in the wet, which our roads mostly are through the winter and very acceptable in the snow" sounds good enough for me. Also I never push the car anywhere near its performance limits under any circumstances.

Also it just doesn't bother me (like a few people) re steel wheel appearance etc. during the winter. The alloys can happily remain under cover during the foul corrosive weather and will make the car look pretty on fine summer days. I'm proud of my Yeti but not that proud.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but to my eyes they just looked wrong on my car:

I just prefer the chunkey look of the 215s personally.

Johann, You are absolutely right. The smaller wheels makes it look like a pregnant rollerskate.

BTW, I don't like the look of the 17" 50 aspect either. It is amazing how quite small dimensional changes make a big visual impact.

Johann, You are absolutely right. The smaller wheels makes it look like a pregnant rollerskate.

BTW, I don't like the look of the 17" 50 aspect either. It is amazing how quite small dimensional changes make a big visual impact.

Car design is a very subtle thing. For example the hideous Ford Fusion. By just adding about an inch of black plastic around its wheelarches it just looked miles better (albeit still awful).

Fusion without.

Fusion with.

But in general filling a car's wheelarches completely does create the best look. Hence most concept cars have about 20" wheels on a Golf sized car - that never see the light of day! Eg:

Isn't this a case of 'spoiling the ship for a ha'pth of tar'?

Surely a brand new Yeti deserves the best tyres you can get, not a less capable 'budget' tyre.

Not at all, unless someone can rubbish the test reports on these tyres! I'm not for a second declaring these to be the best winter tyres available, we know their not but for the money they are very good performance and value. Expensive is not always best, thats why I'm buying a Yeti!!

My previous experience of Nankangs were on an Impreza RB5 with 285hp, considerably greater performance than a Yeti and they served very well in all conditions, wet,snow,ice and dry roads.

Johann you pictures are very good and informative and pose me quite a dilema, the 205 55 16 don't look great at all but will serve on the Golf until the Yeti arrives and then the Yeti whereas the 215 60 16 look better but will not go on the Golf.

I do think the look of the smaller wheels on Johanns car looked slightly exaggerated due to the wheel rims being black. If they were on standard alloys they may not look so out of place.

Not at all, unless someone can rubbish the test reports on these tyres! I'm not for a second declaring these to be the best winter tyres available, we know their not but for the money they are very good performance and value. Expensive is not always best, thats why I'm buying a Yeti!!

My previous experience of Nankangs were on an Impreza RB5 with 285hp, considerably greater performance than a Yeti and they served very well in all conditions, wet,snow,ice and dry roads.

Point taken.

I must admit that my statement was somewhat of a sweeping generalisation and you can buy good and bad tyres at all price levels. If you are happy with the nankangs, particularly with past experience then, on balance, why not.

Personally, I have had cheap tyre in the guise of Falkens (that were good) and Prestivo (that weren't). At present I'm on Vredestein that IMHO are excellent and mid-price.

Point taken.

I must admit that my statement was somewhat of a sweeping generalisation and you can buy good and bad tyres at all price levels. If you are happy with the nankangs, particularly with past experience then, on balance, why not.

Personally, I have had cheap tyre in the guise of Falkens (that were good) and Prestivo (that weren't). At present I'm on Vredestein that IMHO are excellent and mid-price.

I may be back on come the winter eating humble pie and asking for recommendations for top-end winter tyres!!

I may be back on come the winter eating humble pie and asking for recommendations for top-end winter tyres!!

I don't think you need to got to 'top end' particularly with our generally mild climate.

I have Yokohama W-drive, but also considered Hankook IceBear & Vredestein Wintrack (both unobtainable last January).

What OE (summer) tyre size will you be getting on your Yeti? Why not just get the same size in a winter tyre?

I don't think you need to got to 'top end' particularly with our generally mild climate.

I have Yokohama W-drive, but also considered Hankook IceBear & Vredestein Wintrack (both unobtainable last January).

What OE (summer) tyre size will you be getting on your Yeti? Why not just get the same size in a winter tyre?

This is my dilema, as I mentioned I am selling my 4x4 in readiness for the Yeti arrival in December so I could be without transport in the snow for an unknown period. I'm thinking of buying a wheel/tyre combination that I can put on my wifes Golf for this period keeping us mobile before putting them on the Yeti when it appears. The Golf is on 225 45 17 at present and sits quite low so the 215 60 16 would be very tight. Looks like I will go for the 205 55 16 after these wear out I'll put 215 60 16 on the steel.rims

Has anyone else noticed that MyTyres price changes nearly daily? :wonder:

Has anyone else noticed that MyTyres price changes nearly daily? :wonder:

I did so; last December.

Vredestein Wintrac Extreme here in 17"

See here:

Most impressed at grip and low wear rate

Just recently placed an order for winters myself (have VAG rims already); gone for 215/60 Hankook W310 at £312 delivered for a set of 4 plus £40 fitting at the local tyre place. Would have liked to have got Nokian's again but there like hens teeth to get hold of these days, plus the Camskill price for the 310's is far cheaper than any other retailer even factoring in fitting.

The Hankook's arrived yesterday, very quick and efficient service from Camskill, with regular e-mails on the progress of the order Looking at the date stamps as suspected there from last years winter production but I'd imagine most being advertised currently are.

Not run a Hankook before and to be honest they would not normally be on my list of tyre options but the price was too reasonable to ignore. However they look the part with a good strong tread block so all being well they will do the job and I wanted to avoid the mad scrable I've let myself in for last two winters looking for suitable tyres by not getting on with it sooner.

TP