which winter tyres

[fabia55]

I have a set of 15x6 oem steel rims. I've never bought winter tyres before and have no idea what brand/model to get.

So what do you have on your fabia?

My budget is around £200-£250 for four.

I'm looking for one of the following sizes (in order of preference)

• 185-60-15 (same as greenline 2, a good compromise between economy and traction?)
  
• 175-60-15 (smaller rolling cir than above, probably neglegible, but thinner = save fuel?)
  
• 175-65-15 (at 24.1inches vs 23.88inches diameter of the 185-60-15, does it make accerlerating more difficult, but thinner tyre compensates, would it make mileage go up slower?)
  
• 165-65-15 (at 23.58" dia exactly the same rolling circ as oem 195-55-15, but too much stretch?, at 165 wide= thinnest= save the most fuel?)
  
• 175-65-15 (diameter is 24.1 inches, a little too much?)
  

Many thanks

Edited 18 December, 2011 by fabia55

[The Plumber]

Wife's Fabia II 1.2TSI is running 195/55 R15 Bridgestone Blizzak LM30's which are OK but I'm not convinced there as good as Nokians or for that matter Hankooks I've used before/currently running on other cars.

The new official Skoda winter size by the way is 185/55 R15 for the Fabia II but we went with the 195 to match the spare.

Regards,

TP

[fabia55]

thanks for the info TP, i didn't know official size is 185-55-15. Mileage will go up a little quicker then due to less rolling circ to cover the same distance.#

never heard of nokians..sounds like some cheap brand..i'll have a look at hankooks as well

[The Plumber]

thanks for the info TP, i didn't know official size is 185-55-15. Mileage will go up a little quicker then due to less rolling circ to cover the same distance.#

never heard of nokians..sounds like some cheap brand..i'll have a look at hankooks as well

Nokian are winter tyre specialists, headquarters in Finland and the tyres generally made in Russia. Well respected manufacturer and well worth considering.

Oh another winter specialist is the Austrian firm Semperit.

TP

[vRSy]

i used vrededtein wintracs each winter for the 9 years I ws in germany.

Last year I had nankang SV-2 winter tyres which weren't as good as the wintracs, but were still very very good and a bargain as well. Id happily get them again

[Fatbloke]

185/55 15 winter tact H rated remoulds from my tyres. £32 each and I'm on my second winter with them. Absolutely reliable and a bargain!

[Igloo Vindaloo]

The TüV publish a list of approved tyre sizes for the Skodas (here).

You'll need your engine code, but most Fabias are allowed 185/60, 185/55 or 195/55 on the 6JxR15 rims.

Given a free choice I would have chosen 165/70R14 for winter, but they are not allowed on my Greenline because it has tyre pressure monitoring (don't ask why!).

I have just ordered some 185/60R15 are only allowed for certain models and can't be used with snow chains (not that I ever use chains).

So, that basically leaves 185/55R15, which are one of the more expensive tyre sizes.

Then the choice of actual tyre is even more difficult. Until next winter, the manufacturers give you absolutely nothing quantitative to go on - so you have to rely on tests. ADAC (German AA) publish regular tests, although their website seems to be down at the moment. No surprises really - the more they cost, the better they are. Continental, Goodyear, Dunlop, Semperit, Michelin and Perilli getting best marks.

The situation will improve a lot next winter, when the new tyre information regulations come in. Meanwhile, why not just get some Snowsocks?

[Kevsta]

It is something that I always wanted to do but having no where to store them was always a problem. Now I have a garage, the problem was trying to find tyres. The local Kwik Fit where no use, my usual mechanic rang round all his suppliers and got nothing.

In the end I had to use a website and the tyres in the end where shipped from Germany.

My choice is Michelin, use them on both bike and car. Excellent tyres but pricey.

[The Plumber]

The TüV publish a list of approved tyre sizes for the Skodas (here).

Hi,

the latest updated version of this list was published a month ago, been one or two changes to some models;

My link

Regards,

TP

[fabia55]

Went to local tyre place, they can only get Putlas snowwinters 185-60-15 (£55) or Nexen Wingard 195-55-15 (£70)

not sure on these..

edit:

they are Petlas snow winters, not putlas

Edited 19 December, 2011 by fabia55

[Igloo Vindaloo]

Never heard of either of those brands - nor did the ADAC tyre review. I would avoid.

I suggest you try an online dealer - e.g. My Tyres

[fabia55]

me neither, i googled it and can't find anything. however google comes up with petlas tyres so it must be the bad hand writing of the tyre place

[fabia55]

i found it!

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Ordern&cart_id=42724010.110.14754&typ=R-201284&ranzahl=4&Breite=185&Herst=Petlas&Quer=60&Felge=15&weiter=0&kategorie=6&Ang_pro_Seite=20&Transport=P&dsco=110&sowigan=Wi

it's £55 online from mytyres, but does it include fitting, valve/balance... would you have to take the tyres to a garage and pay to get them fitted..

£5 cheaper, but the nexen winguards are £67 online.

edit:

those are petlas snow masters

Edited 19 December, 2011 by fabia55

[Igloo Vindaloo]

For that sort of money, I'd for for Pirelli. Good reviews and lower rolling resistance:

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Ordern&cart_id=42724010.110.14754&typ=R-172474&ranzahl=4&Breite=185&Quer=60&Felge=15&weiter=10&Ang_pro_Seite=10&sort_by=preis_down&Transport=P&dsco=110&sowigan=Wi

[fabia55]

For that sort of money, I'd for for Pirelli. Good reviews and lower rolling resistance:

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Ordern&cart_id=42724010.110.14754&typ=R-172474&ranzahl=4&Breite=185&Quer=60&Felge=15&weiter=10&Ang_pro_Seite=10&sort_by=preis_down&Transport=P&dsco=110&sowigan=Wi

but does the mytyres price include fitting, how does it work, you pay online? and choose a garage for them to deliver to? then pay extra on top for fitting?

looking on their website, i can't see how it's garanteed that a chosen garage will recieve the tyres. if the garages says the tyres haven't arrived but actually have, then you've lost your money (unlike pay after seeing the tyres at my local garage)

second problem, how do you know which garage is safe, trustyworthy and won't damage your wheels

Edited 19 December, 2011 by fabia55

[Pete in Notts]

but does the mytyres price include fitting, how does it work, you pay online? and choose a garage for them to deliver to? then pay extra on top for fitting?

looking on their website, i can't see how it's garanteed that a chosen garage will recieve the tyres. if the garages says the tyres haven't arrived but actually have, then you've lost your money (unlike pay after seeing the tyres at my local garage)

second problem, how do you know which garage is safe, trustyworthy and won't damage your wheels

No it doesn't include fitting. Have them delivered to your home then take them to the tyre fitter of your choice. That's what I did.

[fabia55]

No it doesn't include fitting. Have them delivered to your home then take them to the tyre fitter of your choice. That's what I did.

a bit of a catch then, why do so many people recommedn mytyres if it's not that cheap. i'll go to my local garage then..no need to add £20-£60 on top for fitting (anywhere from £5-£15 each wheel)

and it's not for convenience, as you still have to drive to a local garage to get them fited.

Edited 20 December, 2011 by fabia55

[Can]

They can be cheap your just buying winter tyres at completely the wrong time of year to be quiet honest.

Also it depends if you just want a cheap tyre thats ok ish or a specific brand.

[Moist Von Lipwig]

Prices for winters have gone up and availability is not that great. I would phone round the local tyre places and see what they can do, supplied and fitted. Also check out any online deal they do, there are usually deals if you buy 4 tyres (as most people only buy 2 at a time).

[Pete in Notts]

a bit of a catch then, why do so many people recommedn mytyres if it's not that cheap. i'll go to my local garage then..no need to add £20-£60 on top for fitting (anywhere from £5-£15 each wheel)

and it's not for convenience, as you still have to drive to a local garage to get them fited.

Because Mytyres have a huge choice in most sizes and if you bought them early enough, say Sept/Oct at cheap prices also. I wanted Avon Ice Touring ST in 195/55 x 15 because rightly or wrongly being a UK brand might be more suited to our average UK winter where we don't have snow all season long but a lot of cold wet and icy weather.

I asked local tyre dealers to source them but none of them could so bought from Mytyres in Germany. Fitting and balancing to new steel rims cost me £36.00

And what was stamped on the side wall of the tyre MADE IN ENGLAND! Coals to Newcastle and all that?

[fabia55]

Because Mytyres have a huge choice in most sizes and if you bought them early enough, say Sept/Oct at cheap prices also. I wanted Avon Ice Touring ST in 195/55 x 15 because rightly or wrongly being a UK brand might be more suited to our average UK winter where we don't have snow all season long but a lot of cold wet and icy weather.

I asked local tyre dealers to source them but none of them could so bought from Mytyres in Germany. Fitting and balancing to new steel rims cost me £36.00

And what was stamped on the side wall of the tyre MADE IN ENGLAND! Coals to Newcastle and all that?

not true in all my cases, you still have to add fitting to mytyres prices whereas all my local tyre places include it.

i've just ordered some continental winter contacts for cheaper than mytyres, no need to order 2 or 3 months in advance for any saving and it was same day delivery too, the tyres were here later in the day.

Edited 21 December, 2011 by fabia55

[Sonner]

www.camskill.co.uk

is cheaper than mytyres, though they don't have much stock left.

FYI my local dealership wanted £67 fitted each for 185/55/14 Kleber tyres.

Online i can get the same trye for £47.20 plus 2.99 for delivery, take them to the same garage to be fitted (£10) and pay a total of £60.20

but the main reaosn i order my tyres offline is because i normally have specific requirements that my local tyre fitter can't accomodate for.

[the mad monk]

www.camskill.co.uk

thats if you can get an answer on the phone, tried all day and nobody picked up so i ordered off mytyres instead who answered in about 2 seconds

ordering off mytyres ive saved over £120, minus fitting, so not to be sniffed at, just means a little wait but looking at the temps over the next few days it might be a blessing

EDIT : well after having an email to say theyd be delivered on the 27th ive just had a knock at the door and here they are, might try getting them fitted next week

Edited 22 December, 2011 by the mad monk

[Pete in Notts]

not true in all my cases, you still have to add fitting to mytyres prices whereas all my local tyre places include it.

i've just ordered some continental winter contacts for cheaper than mytyres, no need to order 2 or 3 months in advance for any saving and it was same day delivery too, the tyres were here later in the day.

Continentals were also offered to me by my local tyre fitter but were £90+ each whereas the Avon's were only £65.00 each + fitting so worked out at £71.00 each

I think most UK tyre fitters could get Contnentals as they were running an ad campaign on TV for winter tyres. They would look pretty daft if fitters could not get hold of them after spending £1000's on TV ads.

[fabia55]

Continentals were also offered to me by my local tyre fitter but were £90+ each whereas the Avon's were only £65.00 each + fitting so worked out at £71.00 each

I think most UK tyre fitters could get Contnentals as they were running an ad campaign on TV for winter tyres. They would look pretty daft if fitters could not get hold of them after spending £1000's on TV ads.

the avons were also available but i prefer continentals, only £1 difference in price,