I am preparing for winter... decision was to step down from 17" to 16" rims and 205/55 tires.

I wanted to go to RunFlat tires, as I really don't like idea of stepping out of the car during winter. After hours of research, I found that there is only Dunlop Winter Sport M3 in size 205/55/16 with 94 XL weight index. And when happily tried to order, they told me they stoped production of 94 XL and has only 91, which is too low for me. So decision was to try new Dunlop Winter Sport 4D, but no ROF.

That was easier part. Searching for rims was more difficult, at least with fact that I am from Serbia, and not everything is available to this market. First time in my life I discovered that there are "winter" and normal "summer" rims (someone might help by pointing what is difference?). Since I am planing this winter set, w/o question I started searching for winter ones. The best looking (for my taste) I could find, which are available here were Rial Como:

http://bit.ly/pRcXHk

Skoda dealers told me that I have to use supplier catalog and order part which is listed for compliance with my model and it is:

7,0 x 16 ET46 Como 706 CO70646B74-5

However dealers where I was ordering listed me:

7,0 x 16 ET38 Como 706

I refused order, asking for first one. But they told me there is no ET46, and that Rial had agreement with Skoda to offer ET38 instead. They provide me contact of person from Rial who should help addressing all my concerns. They told me that offset difference is 8mm, and it won't pose any problems. There is no use for me contacting Rial, as i have no clue is this serious difference or not. Does anyone has experience with this, and can someone give suggestion what to do?

I have as well stepped down from 17˝ to 16˝ for winter. For the tire I bought Dunlop Winter Sport 4D 205/55/16 XL 94H and paid 132EUR per tire. For the rims I went with Borbet Design CA, cheep (85EUR) rim but is only for winter so I don´t care :yes: . Borbet has homologated ET 38, 45 and 50 for superb II so I bought ET50 because they where only ones on stock. I think that the ET38 is better, because less stones and dirt will fly from under the wheels on the car sides. I would only look for homologation or TUV from manufacture in case police will check your wheels.

I have also replaced center hub caps from eBay for 3EUR and they look great.

EBay link

Bought my winter wheels on eBay. Excellent Audi wheels. They were in very good condition but got local wheel shop to refurb them in grey graphite. Just for a change. And they fitted my existing Continental tyres that I used on a Volvo last winter with new valves and balancing at no extra cost. Just need centre caps now.

I'm running 225/40/18 Wheels and Tyres - Luxon OEM wheels with Vredestine WintracXtreme tyres - last year, it was EXCELLENT.

Stepping down to a 205 width, would allow the vehicle to "Cut through" to firmer ground - a wider tyre would allow it to "float" on top easier - Personally, i think it's swings and roundabouts!

But, in my case, the "look" of the vehicle, was to be maintained. - I'm self employed, and the look of the vehicle i turn up in, is paramount to me.

Remember, if you are fitting non-Skoda rim's, you will have to advise your insurance company - even if you go smaller! - They may not be happy.

Rims were found new on eBay for around £350 with Center caps - Tyres from CamSkill.

You'll find PhilPix on here, also running 225/40/18's with Avon IceTouring.

Al.

Ps. Both PhilPix and myself have a Superb of the 4x4 Variety....

I have as well stepped down from 17˝ to 16˝ for winter. For the tire I bought Dunlop Winter Sport 4D 205/55/16 XL 94H and paid 132EUR per tire.

I've got confirmation my tires are ordered, leaving factory on 9th Sept... Didn't know factory was in Slovenia, I guess that is reason why you got them cheaper, mine was 160 EUR

For the rims I went with Borbet Design CA, cheep (85EUR) rim but is only for winter so I don´t care :yes:

I've got same price for rims, 160 EUR, so I guess they could be found for 130 EUR in EU. There was cheaper alternatives about 100 EUR, but this one was looking OK for that price. Actually it was really hard to find nice rims in 16", most of nice starts at 17"... There was some replicas of original ones, but I am scary regarding quality of lesser known companies and far east imports...

I would only look for homologation or TUV from manufacture in case police will check your wheels.

This ones have all relevant checks and stamps. Anyway here you will have problem with police only if you drive on three wheels... But I did notice Slovenian police is pretty strict from last year. Never been stopped two times in such short time...

Edited 7 September, 201114 yr by rocktheroad

Look, i'm not really in the "switch rims for winter" camp, as the cost does not make sense. I've spoken with a tyre engineer about this from Avon, who basically said it really depends on the driving style of the car owner. The skinny wheels thing is not necessarily useful for all situations. In fact, it can be less useful depending on the amount of fresh snow on track, and large slabs of ice ridden roads, so I've just decided to go with a straight switch to 225/40/18s on Avon Ice Touring STs on mine.It gripped plenty last year up ice blocked alpine hill roads in Italy and the Czech Republic, and I've no doubt it will manage again.

A light right foot and high enough gear always help too.

One of the factors that contributed to smaller wheels is pot holes during winter. In Serbia extreme weather makes roads prone to pot holes. Summers goes to 40C, winters -15C, so there is no good mix of asphalt/tarmac to face all conditions. That makes pot holes forming overnight... I am more confident that higher tire will match better those conditions. And even if I hit rim, I will still have another one for summer.

For me narrower tire is not crucial argument, as there is no much snow here... at least not on road. Not at all like Nordic countries where roads are always cowered with compressed snow.

I'm running 225/40/18 Wheels and Tyres - Luxon OEM wheels with Vredestine WintracXtreme tyres - last year, it was EXCELLENT.

Stepping down to a 205 width, would allow the vehicle to "Cut through" to firmer ground - a wider tyre would allow it to "float" on top easier - Personally, i think it's swings and roundabouts!

But, in my case, the "look" of the vehicle, was to be maintained. - I'm self employed, and the look of the vehicle i turn up in, is paramount to me.

Remember, if you are fitting non-Skoda rim's, you will have to advise your insurance company - even if you go smaller! - They may not be happy.

Rims were found new on eBay for around £350 with Center caps - Tyres from CamSkill.

You'll find PhilPix on here, also running 225/40/18's with Avon IceTouring.

Al.

Ps. Both PhilPix and myself have a Superb of the 4x4 Variety....

Here they are.

Phil.

Hi,

On a related topic, I am also planning winter tyres and have picked up a set of 16" Audi rims for the purpose.

With the tyres, I know it's normal to use a reduced speed rating, but does anyone know whether it's ok to go to H rated - which most of the winter tyres seem to be? I have only found a couple of makes that do V rated and nothing higher than that. I think the standard summer tyres are W rated (on 17" for the 2.0 CR diesel). I think H rated are to 120mph, which seems plenty in the winter!!! But I've been told that the high speed ratings for diesels is also to do with the torque??

Needing the 94 load index already restricts choice and puts up the price, so would be great if I don't need to be limited to V rated as well!

Any views appreciated.

K.

Hi,

On a related topic, I am also planning winter tyres and have picked up a set of 16" Audi rims for the purpose.

With the tyres, I know it's normal to use a reduced speed rating, but does anyone know whether it's ok to go to H rated - which most of the winter tyres seem to be? I have only found a couple of makes that do V rated and nothing higher than that. I think the standard summer tyres are W rated (on 17" for the 2.0 CR diesel). I think H rated are to 120mph, which seems plenty in the winter!!! But I've been told that the high speed ratings for diesels is also to do with the torque??

Needing the 94 load index already restricts choice and puts up the price, so would be great if I don't need to be limited to V rated as well!

Any views appreciated.

K.

To be legal I think you have to stay with the same load index so that it covers the max gross weight of the car across all 4 tyres.

As for the speed index, from what I've read, it seems that the only speed ratings that will fail an MOT inspection are those A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J or K which have speed ratings lower than 70mph. H rated are ok up to 130mph. As our legal limit is 70 you shouldn't have any problems with H. Some tyres fitted by manufacturers are really ridiculous. My wife's A Class has Z rated tyres and we had to replace one for £175 when the car was only 4 weeks old. Further replacements won't be Z rated!

we had to replace one for £175 when the car was only 4 weeks old

Ouch!!

Thank you for your thoughts on the speed ratings - makes sense and really useful

I just ordered a set of Michelin Alpin A4 94V winter tires. These have a high enough speed and load rating for my brand new Superb and they were last years test winner in a test done by several automobile clubs in continental Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Austria). Price was 140 euros each.

Edited 18 September, 201114 yr by andrehj

Always had good experiences with the Vredstein WIntrac Extremes

Always had good experiences with the Vredstein WIntrac Extremes

+1

Had 18" on my Laguna Coupe last winter from late November to mid March including a very white, often deep, trip to Germany. Now got the same again in 16" for the Superb.

morning all, just ordered a set of avon ice touring st's on steel rims from mytyres so hopefully that's me sorted for the next several years.

last year i had a set of goodyear ultragrip 7+ on my octavia 4x4 and they were amazing so the st's have got a lot to live up to, i would have bought the goodyears again but they are now over £170 a corner (with steel rim) and the budget just won't stretch that far.

i'll report back later in the year about how the avon's are performing.

I have the tyre pressure monitoring system, how is this effected when you switch wheels??

I have the tyre pressure monitoring system, how is this effected when you switch wheels??

As long as you press the button to re-calibrate the system, then you will have no problems what so ever.

Al.

As long as you press the button to re-calibrate the system, then you will have no problems what so ever.

Al.

many thanks

Just spoke to Skoda insurance (Allianz in the UK) and they want extra premium for me to run 16" rims with 205/55 winter Contis !!!

Extra cash for me to reduce their risk... Their logic is that these are non-Skoda rims and despite being decent tyres etc, they are still not dealer fitted.

I really fail to get insurance companies.

Just spoke to Skoda insurance (Allianz in the UK) and they want extra premium for me to run 16" rims with 205/55 winter Contis !!!

Extra cash for me to reduce their risk... Their logic is that these are non-Skoda rims and despite being decent tyres etc, they are still not dealer fitted.

I really fail to get insurance companies.

Just another way to make money, much like the 'admin fee' required to put a personalised reg onto a car and thus the insurance certitificate. Hmm = £15 to change a few letters i an electronic document and a first class stamp, not a bad margin at all!

I checked with my insurance - they had no issues, as long as speed rating didnt change, but as I've said already, i am running 18" OEM rims!

Al.

Why of why do insurance companies charge for winter tyres...

Refer you to this BBC article... you should not have to pay extra! Look at the bottom of the page!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11969958

Skoda dealer provided rims and winter tyres for my Suberb V6 Kombi, insurance company relaexed as they were from Skoda.

I'm considering either winter rims and tyres or just swapping my summer tyres and running my 18" rims. If I was to go down to 16" rims, what width and offset is generally used? I imagine it's the same as for the Greenline?

If the insurance try to charge, then I'll probably stick to just swapping the tyres.

I'm considering either winter rims and tyres or just swapping my summer tyres and running my 18" rims. If I was to go down to 16" rims, what width and offset is generally used? I imagine it's the same as for the Greenline?

If the insurance try to charge, then I'll probably stick to just swapping the tyres.

The normal dimension for 16" is 7Jx16 ET45, although I prefer 6.5Jx16, to prevent damaging the rims by kerbs.