Gadgetman may have given us all -via his references to TUV- a clue to our future.

If the EC continues on its' present course almost any deviation from stock or factory supplied accessories may end up being illegal.

There is much to be said for imposing safety based rules but ultimately much of the UK modification market could end up underground.

Tyre size should always be within the parameters, load rating, speed rating and so on all matter but I quite like our set up where some room for individual choice remains.

Gadgetman may have given us all -via his references to TUV- a clue to our future.

If the EC continues on its' present course almost any deviation from stock or factory supplied accessories may end up being illegal.

There is much to be said for imposing safety based rules but ultimately much of the UK modification market could end up underground.

Tyre size should always be within the parameters, load rating, speed rating and so on all matter but I quite like our set up where some room for individual choice remains.

Until then I'm going with the fitting of my quality winter 205/60R16 (Goodyear Ultragrip 7+) tyres and good luck to any insurance company suggesting these are not suitable.

Until then I'm going with the fitting of my quality winter 205/60R16 (Goodyear Ultragrip 7+) tyres and good luck to any insurance company suggesting these are not suitable.

It all seems unlikely but clearly there's no risk sticking to 205/55/R16. I would have done so if I knew in advance what was going to be put on the wheels but I trusted the Skoda dealer to get that bit correct. I'll keep the receipt and I've told the insurance company it's non standard so they won't be able to prove non-disclosure or anything unreasonable on my part plus they have a duty to treat customers fairly. Surely any claim rejected on something which make no practical difference would be judged unreasonable if I ever have cause to use the legal protection they also sold me.

Until then I'm going with the fitting of my quality winter 205/60R16 (Goodyear Ultragrip 7+) tyres and good luck to any insurance company suggesting these are not suitable.

As I say, you're fine in the UK, but if you take your car into an EU country that requires winter tyres you may have some issues with both your insurance and the local authorities if they stop you and check.

Again, this comes from a friend who had this in southern Germany where you have to pay the fine there and then at the roadside before they carted off his car until he fitted the correct tyres for his car as the size didnt allow for chains to be fitted to the driving wheels - he had them but couldnt use them due to fittment of the exact same rolling circumference tyres being fitted.

You can fit what you want. Just dont take it abroad if you do!

It all seems unlikely but clearly there's no risk sticking to 205/55/R16. I would have done so if I knew in advance what was going to be put on the wheels but I trusted the Skoda dealer to get that bit correct. I'll keep the receipt and I've told the insurance company it's non standard so they won't be able to prove non-disclosure or anything unreasonable on my part plus they have a duty to treat customers fairly. Surely any claim rejected on something which make no practical difference would be judged unreasonable if I ever have cause to use the legal protection they also sold me.

My thoughts exactly. If I were sticking 'Ho Chi Ming' tyres on my car at size 275/40R20 tyre load 87 then clearly I'd be an idiot and would expect all I got in the event of an insurance claim. But 205/60R16 Goodyear's which is a gnats whisker away from the original size and I'd like to see the insurance company try to use that as a reason not to pay. In your case you're doubly covered in my opinion as a franchised Skoda fitted them. Bear in mind also that the stock answer given by Skoda UK when asked for tyre size for winters is ask 'Kwik fit' then I think we maybe over-worrying. (accepting the comments in the earlier post providing tyre sizes given by Skoda UK which I'm sure will change depending on the day of the week you ask)

As I say, you're fine in the UK, but if you take your car into an EU country that requires winter tyres you may have some issues with both your insurance and the local authorities if they stop you and check.

Again, this comes from a friend who had this in southern Germany where you have to pay the fine there and then at the roadside before they carted off his car until he fitted the correct tyres for his car as the size didnt allow for chains to be fitted to the driving wheels - he had them but couldnt use them due to fittment of the exact same rolling circumference tyres being fitted.

You can fit what you want. Just dont take it abroad if you do!

Whoops! Going to Bruges in mid December for a couple of days (won a radio competition). Keep your fingers crossed

As I say, you're fine in the UK, but if you take your car into an EU country that requires winter tyres you may have some issues with both your insurance and the local authorities if they stop you and check.

Again, this comes from a friend who had this in southern Germany where you have to pay the fine there and then at the roadside before they carted off his car until he fitted the correct tyres for his car as the size didnt allow for chains to be fitted to the driving wheels - he had them but couldnt use them due to fittment of the exact same rolling circumference tyres being fitted.

You can fit what you want. Just dont take it abroad if you do!

Interesting....... Does then mean that us folk with the marshmallow 215/60 7J winter tyres can't ever go to Europe where snowchains are required? I don't own snowchains and never intend to buy any either. Or is this snowchain business only an issue in certain places or only if you have summer rubber on?

Interesting....... Does then mean that us folk with the marshmallow 215/60 7J winter tyres can't ever go to Europe where snowchains are required? I don't own snowchains and never intend to buy any either. Or is this snowchain business only an issue in certain places or only if you have summer rubber on?

Hi Johann

They will only let you up into the higher bits in Germany,France and Austria (perhapsItaly)if the weather is bad and they stop and check and if no chains no go. Not sure if they can fine you but will not allow you on to your destination.

M&S rated tyres are certainly the rule in Germany but not sure of dates to/from but loads of Brits drive through Germany on ordinary tyres and probably won`t be fined unless they have a mullock and run over Angela Merkel on a slipper Bonn strasse!

Cheers

Peter

Hi Johann

They will only let you up into the higher bits in Germany,France and Austria (perhapsItaly)if the weather is bad and they stop and check and if no chains no go. Not sure if they can fine you but will not allow you on to your destination.

M&S rated tyres are certainly the rule in Germany but not sure of dates to/from but loads of Brits drive through Germany on ordinary tyres and probably won`t be fined unless they have a mullock and run over Angela Merkel on a slipper Bonn strasse!

Cheers

Peter

OK thanks for that...... Well I don't go skiiing and with what you just told me now, even with winter rubber I won't be able to go as snow chains certainly don't fit my size of tyre. Or do they accept snow socks over winter tyres?!?! How daft what that be!!!!!

Snow socks wont cut the mustard in any area that gets heavy snow.

Mate got stopped for having a bulb gone and found to have no spare. €150 fine IIRC, then they starting going around the car for other issues like washer fluid level, spare fluid, triangle, and winters. Thats when they found athough he had them they couldnt take a set of chains which he had. So he had another fine which he couldnt pay at the roadside, so got towed and fined again.

He loves German Traffic Police

As I say, you're fine in the UK, but if you take your car into an EU country that requires winter tyres you may have some issues with both your insurance and the local authorities if they stop you and check.

Again, this comes from a friend who had this in southern Germany where you have to pay the fine there and then at the roadside before they carted off his car until he fitted the correct tyres for his car as the size didnt allow for chains to be fitted to the driving wheels - he had them but couldnt use them due to fittment of the exact same rolling circumference tyres being fitted.

You can fit what you want. Just dont take it abroad if you do!

Handbook says that you can't fit chains to the 17" OEM wheels on the Yeti (except of course that you can).

You get fined in Germany if you don't have winter tyres fitted when road conditions require them and you hold up traffic while you fit chains; in Austria if you are driving between 1st November and 15th April to name two countries.

I don't believe a driver would be fined for having 205/60-16 winter tyres or indeed 215/55-16 as in my case any more than he or she would for having a different speed or weight rating as long as it's within the paremeters of the vehicle.

John

When I next see him I'll ask for more details.

I just remember he said the big issue was the size wasnt correct for his vehicle so he couldnt fit chains as be manufacturers book. I think it was when he had the Vectra - was about 2 years back.