Hi all

I've decided to take the plunge and buy winter tyres for my VRS. I have decided to go for 16" rims on a 205/55/16 but do I need the XL tyres?

Yes.

Yes.

Are you sure? Octys that had 205/55/16 tyres from new didn't have XL, or at least mine didn't.

Edit: Seems as though its a facelift/pre-facelift thing. Facelift VRS has XL tyres, the pre-facelift VRS didn't :S

iirc if you have XL's on as standard you need them on any other tyres as they are type approved for the car. IE putting non XL 18's on could invalidate your insurance. I think it may be a bit of a grey area for smaller wheels and tyres though. I know the speed rating isn't so much of an issue as you aren't likely to be doing 147mph on winter tyres!

I am sure someone else will be along soon who knows more on the subject.

iirc if you have XL's on as standard you need them on any other tyres as they are type approved for the car. IE putting non XL 18's on could invalidate your insurance. I think it may be a bit of a grey area for smaller wheels and tyres though. I know the speed rating isn't so much of an issue as you aren't likely to be doing 147mph on winter tyres!

I am sure someone else will be along soon who knows more on the subject.

Yes I wouldn't recommend putting a lower load index on than the car is supposed to have, higher shouldn't be a problem. Mine does actually have XL 94 tyres on now, but only because I couldn't get the tyres I wanted in a 91.

I was thrown by the facelift version having a higher load index than the earlier VRS though. Is the FL VRS heavier?

Yes I wouldn't recommend putting a lower load index on than the car is supposed to have, higher shouldn't be a problem. Mine does actually have XL 94 tyres on now, but only because I couldn't get the tyres I wanted in a 91.

I was thrown by the facelift version having a higher load index than the earlier VRS though. Is the FL VRS heavier?

It's claimed to be 20kg lighter, though that's mainly down to the fact you don't get a spare wheel as standard(!)

Been recently looking at getting some winter wheels and tyres. Using info from the main sticky winter tyres thread I'll probably go down the road of 6.5Jx16 rims with 205/55/R16 tyres.

However, I did get a list of Skoda recommended winter tyres and rims for a MY12 vRS from Skoda UK, including load index:

205/55/R16 91V on 6Jx16

225/45/R17 91W on 7Jx17

225/45/R17 91V on 7Jx17

205/50/R17 93V on 6Jx17

As mentioned in other threads they recommend 6J rather than 6.5 since you can use most chains on 6J, but only narrower ones on 6.5J.

The interesting thing is the load index. My standard tyres are 225/40/R18 92Y, i.e. extra load index, but for the smaller wheel size and winter tyres they suggest the standard 91 is fine, except for the narrower 17"?

Although they specify V and the general feeling is that winter tyres do not need to match the rating of the vehicle, so long as it is reasonable, say H (130mph). 91H tyres are about £30 per tyre less for Continental, compared to 94V as it seems that many tyres with extra load are only available as V speed rating.

Get these when they come back in stock

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m96b0s629p61894/KUMHO_TYRES_WINTER_SNOW_CAR_KUMHO_KW27_KUMHO_KW_27_-_205_55R16_94V_XL_TL_

Perfect for the Octavia

I have them fitted to some Audi Alloys

I bought them last year when they were only £46 each!

The car went everywhere ALL Winter!!

Get these when they come back in stock

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m96b0s629p61894/KUMHO_TYRES_WINTER_SNOW_CAR_KUMHO_KW27_KUMHO_KW_27_-_205_55R16_94V_XL_TL_

Perfect for the Octavia

I have them fitted to some Audi Alloys

I bought them last year when they were only £46 each!

The car went everywhere ALL Winter!!

Cheers.

Bargain, shame they are £70 now.

Never tried Kumho, always stuck with Continental Sport Contact on my last car, so had been looking at their Winter Contact version, but they are not cheap!

What sort of wear did you get out of your winter tyres, is there still plenty of tread left?

Cheers.

Bargain, shame they are £70 now.

Never tried Kumho, always stuck with Continental Sport Contact on my last car, so had been looking at their Winter Contact version, but they are not cheap!

What sort of wear did you get out of your winter tyres, is there still plenty of tread left?

Front....About 1mm lost in 5000 miles... November to March

Rear...No discernable difference from new

Theres at least 3 more Winters in them

Here they are on the car last Autumn

Front....About 1mm lost in 5000 miles... November to March

Rear...No discernable difference from new

Theres at least 3 more Winters in them

Here they are on the car last Autumn

They look good and sound hard wearing.

What I like about the smaller rim Audi wheels is that many have the thicker spokes to offer a bit of protection for the discs from the salt.

Hi all

I've decided to take the plunge and buy winter tyres for my VRS. I have decided to go for 16" rims on a 205/55/16 but do I need the XL tyres?

Hi

I got a set of continental wintercontact tyres last winter - 205/55/16 from my local kwikfit - I think they were about £60 each fitted to loose wheels - so impressed I also got a full set for my astravan (they were about £70 each as they had to remove the wheels etc). At the time, internet prices were about £130 each plus fitting and winter tyres were in very short supply.

Check with your local kwik fit.

The winter wheels/tyres will be going back on the car and van in a couple of months - they made a huge difference in the winter last year - well worth the money.

Cheers

Dave

Hi

I got a set of continental wintercontact tyres last winter - 205/55/16 from my local kwikfit - I think they were about £60 each fitted to loose wheels - so impressed I also got a full set for my astravan (they were about £70 each as they had to remove the wheels etc). At the time, internet prices were about £130 each plus fitting and winter tyres were in very short supply.

Check with your local kwik fit.

The winter wheels/tyres will be going back on the car and van in a couple of months - they made a huge difference in the winter last year - well worth the money.

Cheers

Dave

Were they 91V, 91H or the 94V (XL) load/speed variant?

Were they 91V, 91H or the 94V (XL) load/speed variant?

I had 91H on my Octavia L&K last year. They're going on my wife's audi this year and I'll have a spare set of the Skoda 6J 16 inch rims as a result if you need 'em

I had 91H on my Octavia L&K last year. They're going on my wife's audi this year and I'll have a spare set of the Skoda 6J 16 inch rims as a result if you need 'em

Have my eye on some I've seen so I'll see how I get on, but Cheers.

I'll let the others on the thread fight over them, they are probably quite a bit closer, I'm guessing they are steels.

Front....About 1mm lost in 5000 miles... November to March

Rear...No discernable difference from new

Theres at least 3 more Winters in them

Here they are on the car last Autumn

I really like these wheels on the vRS. Will be keeping an eye out for some of these as winter wheels

What did you do with the centre caps? are they stickers or resin domed badges?

I have these same wheels on my Superb in the winter but I am not happy with the condition of my current centre caps, (which are aluminium badges stuck over the OE Audi cap)

Hi all

I've decided to take the plunge and buy winter tyres for my VRS. I have decided to go for 16" rims on a 205/55/16 but do I need the XL tyres?

I contacted Skoda in the Czech Republic (didn't bother with SUK) reference tyres on a 6Jx16 wheel (snow chain compatible) and the answer I got earlier this week was:

"... I can confirm you that only combination of rim 6Jx16 ET 50 & tyre 205/55 R16 91H is permitted from the side of “Technical Development†Skoda Auto a.s."

I was surprised at the load rating but if that's what they say! However I'm going to get higher load rated tyres anyway, just doesn't feel right not to.

My centre caps had the raised Audi symbol on them, so I sanded it off and bought some cheap dome stickers from eBay

I dont really like the caps but getting a replacement which is flat to fit is almost impossible

Cheers Chris, looks like it's back to my 2nd choice then - I removed the Audi logo, filled the gap left and painted the cap back to OE grey.

Not ideal but IMO better than with the Audi logo.