Just called my local Skoda dealer to get a price for 16 inch steel wheels, as I was thinking of getting a set to put winter tyres on. Parts guy goes off to speak with technician and comes back telling me that Skoda do not recommend fitting 16 inch steels with winter tyres to vRS and I should use 18 inch tyres on my standard rims. Is this right? Anyone else encountered this? From my reading on the forum I had the impression that 16 inch steels were the right way to go for winter tyres. Is this another case of the dealer not knowing what they're talking about? I haven't checked handbook yet but will do that next.

Sarge.

Have you had a look inside your filler cap?

Sizes and pressures for both summer and winter tyres and load!

I would say that is a load of b******ks! There are a lot of forum members running either 16" steel, or an alternative VAG alloy wheel with winter tyres, and I would be willing to bet none have had any problems.

Although you can fit winter tyres on the standard vRS wheel, the cost would be outrageous, plus they will not be anywhere near as effective as a winter tyre on a 16" rim due to the much lower tyre wall height. Also, by the time you have paid out for the tyres to be changed back and forth several times, you could have got yourself a 2nd hand set of VAG wheels of the bay. The other advantage is if you wanted to refurb your vRS wheels you would have a set to use during the process, only downside imho is storage.

Tbh I wouldn't even entertain a new set of steels from the stealers, I got a set of Audi A4 wheels with summer tyres fitted to them, both wheels and tyres are in excellent condition, I paid £130 including postage.

As said - on what basis has this advice been given? Especially seeing as 16s are standard fitment to other models in the range, and the fact they'll still clear the 312mm front brakes anyway. Perhaps that's what they're unsure about, but they at least need to give you reasoning for their advice!

I'm quite sure Skoda wouldn't be supplying a steel wheel fitted with a 205/55/16 tyre as the spare for the vRS if it wasn't suitable

Another good point! See what they say to that

Utter rubbish

plus as said, the spare is a 16!

Caliper clearance is pretty tight on those OEM 16" Elegance wheels, against the 312mm setup. Hadn't realised that before. Suppose the spoke design is quite 'thick'.

Caliper clearance is pretty tight on those OEM 16" Elegance wheels, against the 312mm setup. Hadn't realised that before. Suppose the spoke design is quite 'thick'.

Camera angle - there is more room than you think

Ahh, OK - that first shot makes it look mega tight!

Have you had a look inside your filler cap?

Sizes and pressures for both summer and winter tyres and load!

Nothing in mine about seasonal differences - just lists 17 or 18 inch and whether part load or full load.

Thanks all for the replies. - pretty much tallies with what I expected.

Sarge.

as all the other guys have said, 16 work well, have a hunt on ebay

Do they only work on red cars could that be the problem?

They work on blue cars also:

And black.......

They do fit on the front as well.

But not for long if the R32 upgrade is forthcoming.

as all the other guys have said, 16 work well, have a hunt on ebay

That works well - not seen Leon wheels on a Octy2 before

Just called my local Skoda dealer to get a price for 16 inch steel wheels, as I was thinking of getting a set to put winter tyres on. Parts guy goes off to speak with technician and comes back telling me that Skoda do not recommend fitting 16 inch steels with winter tyres to vRS and I should use 18 inch tyres on my standard rims. Is this right?

I suggest you change dealer to one who knows what they are talking about

Secondly why would you pay more for a set of brand new steel wheels than what you can pick up a set of good condition VAG alloys for?

Hi Guys,

Quick question on the Audi alloys in 16", will the 7j 16h2 Et42 5 spoke rims fit the VRS without any issue?

Cheers

Niall

All of that is within tolerance, yes. Depends from which Audi though? PCD needs to be 5x112.

16" steel wheels from MyTyres fit fine:

16" are 100% fine over 312mm brakes.

For the wheels, the suggested winter wheel from a dealer near me was 16" * 6J as opposed to 16" * 6.5J.

I think your dealer are a bit poor.

16" steel wheels from MyTyres fit fine:

Really like that, running steels with hubcaps. Good lookin' winter spec

We have a set of 17inch wheels with 225/45R17 winter tyres. They seem fine the snow and ice and give good grip the rest of the time aswell.

Which 225/45 winter tyres did you go for? And how much did you pay?

Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme. They were around £100 a tyre each. On VW 17inch alloys. Have a set of chains aswell but not needed to fit them.