CONTINENTAL WINTER CONTACT TS830P on the way.

I have them fitted to the front..........and TS810 to the rear.

Do you need winter tyres ? If you can afford to swap summers to winters (have them stored for example) then it's an absolute yes.

You have an added benefit with winters for sure, so it doesn't matter if you've driven for 40 years without an accident, the question is in the winter do you need them. No brainer.

TPM on my Octavia saved me a lot of hassle -going on holiday fully loaded and heading for M1 for 200 mile dash. TPM light came on, stopped in lay-by but couldn't see a problem so checked with trusty pressure gauge and found nearside rear pressure down by 5 PSI, changed wheel to spare. Without TPM I would have been tanking down the M1 at 75 MPH+ before I felt any problem, don't fancy changing wheels on the hard-shoulder at best and probably ruining the tyre as well.

Spare on Octy was full sized so after changing I could continue my journey at normal speeds and have the puncture repaired (fine nail) at my convenience. Spare on Yeti is a 50 MPH spacesaver, so not so convenient, but I would rather the electronics warned me before the lack of control caught me at speed on the Motorway!

Hi

Mytyres have gave me a price of £463 for a full set of 7J 5x112 ET45 16 inch steel wheels, complete with Vredstein Snowtrac tyres 205/55/16 94H. My local tyre dealer quoted me £457 just for the supply and fit of the tyres. The Mytyres price seems very cheap and I'm wondering if the wheels are any good. Has anyone purchased steel wheels from this company.

I bought a set of winter tyres fitted to 16" steel wheels from MyTyres in December 2010. They're now on the car again for their third winter season. The wheels have been 100% problem free.

The MyTyres wheels do seem to have a slightly different "dish" profile to the VAG steelies, such that the VW T4 centre caps which I was advised would be a good match turned out not to fit securely. I ended up using the VW Caddy "spider" centre caps instead. Have a look at this thread for more info.

In response to the original post, I was always quite skeptical about Winter Tyres. But having had my first baby 4x4 for about 4 months (2 on the original Pirelli Rossos) I have to say that I am impressed with the traction that my Hankook W310s provide.

I got my new alloy wheel and tyre set from Tyremen, and whilst I was a bit reluctant to change to a non-Skoda alloy, I think they look pretty good.

http://sdrv.ms/THcrvy

http://sdrv.ms/Ud7x81

We took the car into North Yorkshire this last weekend which coincided with the first albeit light snow flurries and I was really impressed with the way the car coped with both thick ice and a light covering of snow. Went for a drive over Goathland and found some pretty interesting hills and the grip was amazing.

Hope this helps.

Steve

Edited 4 December, 201213 yr by StevieK

This is for the plumber or anyone else who is savvy with the choice of Yeti wheels. What does the offset number actually mean. For example, ET45 on a 7J 5x112 16 inch wheel. I'm looking for a set of winter wheels but I've seen plenty of 16 inch alloys and steels with offset numbers ranging from ET35 to ET50. Does the offset number have to be exactly ET45 or can it differ in any way? Hope I've explained this properly.

Thanks

Jim

Offset is explained very well here - http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg4.html The difference means an ET48 wheel (like my winter boots) sits 3mm closer into the wheel arch than a stock ET45 wheel of the same width. As my winter wheels are 6.5J width, rather than 7J like the stock 17s, the extra 3mm offset is more than, err, offset, by the reduction in width. Plus if you're running narrower 215 or 205 width tyres you can afford a little extra offset without the danger of the tyre rubbing the wheel arch when cornering.

Thanks Martin. Good advice and I liked the link to carbibles. It's amazing what you learn on this forum.

Thanks again

Jim

If I recall correctly the offset is specified as part of the king pin inclination angle within the suspension design and changes could affect how the car feels as it steers. At a guess a few mm here or there will make little difference. too greater offset could have an effect but as dbg400 states the clearance between the tyre and the wheel arch is reduced somewhat but a slimmer wheel rim combined with smaller tyre compensate.

Edited 4 December, 201213 yr by Hairball

This is for the plumber or anyone else who is savvy with the choice of Yeti wheels. What does the offset number actually mean. For example, ET45 on a 7J 5x112 16 inch wheel. I'm looking for a set of winter wheels but I've seen plenty of 16 inch alloys and steels with offset numbers ranging from ET35 to ET50. Does the offset number have to be exactly ET45 or can it differ in any way? Hope I've explained this properly.

Thanks

Jim

Hi Jim,

just picked this up as I have an evening class at college on Tuesdays (teaching not studying ).

Where possible I would advise sticking with the manufactures specs, as insurance wise your on clearer ground; no deviation. However a few owners have used other VAG group alloys with a ET50 6.5Jx16 profile, which is very close to the ET50 6Jx16 which can be used on the Yeti with 205/55 R16 tyres or the alloys provided by tyremen, which again are close to the approved sizes.

You also mentioned mytyres steel rims. Had a set for one of our Fabia's, they were OK but not quite the quality of the original VAG product and as ejstubbs pointed out the Skoda wheel trims didn't quite fit right. However I'm not trying to put you off, rather convey my own experience with them.

Of note the original Skoda steel rims from online dealers have been creeping up in cost as the months have roled into winter, Rainworth for example are asking approximately £25 more than a couple of months back on their ebay site.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-SKODA-VW-SEAT-SET-FOUR-7J-X-16-STEEL-WINTER-WHEELS-3C0601027M03C-/380406886271?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item5892046f7f

Regards,

TP

First snow here in an already frosty (-1 degrees) Guildford this morning - quite heavy while it lasted.

Was very smug driving to Reading with my Nokian WR-G2s on.

Car still looks a bit 'ghetto' with the black steels (albeit with Skoda-badged VW centre caps), but no slipping whatsoever on the white stuff. Very nice.

Blimey - I live in Guildford and commute to Reading too.

And have gangsta black steels.

*cue twilight zone music*

Living in Guildford and commuting to Reading? My sympathies to you both.

Just to contribute a slightly different stance but same view... Yesterday was the first time ive driven my Yeti in snow without winter rubber in place. Admittedly, my Dunlop Sports are down to 2mm and the alignment is in serious need of doing since having the polybushes done and suspension components changed (was aiming to get it done when the winter tyres went on but I just havent yet had the chance to do either!) and jeez, it was scary. I had to very very quickly get back into the real world and realise it wont brake and turn like it will on winter rubber at -2 degrees but just how different it was in terms of control was totally astounding. Several cars came from side roads and ended up braking well onto the main road where I was driving and it had been raining since 3.30am - having then turned to snow and that then covering over the ice below. Not good. I cant wait to get the alignment done and winter tyres on next Monday after my visit to Shark this coming Saturday. In the meantime, if the snow reappears I'll be taking the Fiesta with its relatively narrow 195 section Michelin PS3 summer tyres on - it gave me more confidence this morning at -4 degrees than the 4x4 Yeti did yesterday. :think:

Concerned about my drive to work early tomorrow morning. Will have to use the Fabia Elegance which is back on it’s summer W rated 205/45 16” sports tyres, as I’m going on from work to collect a Monte Carlo we have on order to replace the Elegance

TP

Concerned about my drive to work early tomorrow morning. Will have to use the Fabia Elegance which is back on it’s summer W rated 205/45 16” sports tyres, as I’m going on from work to collect a Monte Carlo we have on order to replace the Elegance

TP

Just seen the weather forecast.

Oooo Err; be careful and may the Force be with you.

Concerned about my drive to work early tomorrow morning. Will have to use the Fabia Elegance which is back on it’s summer W rated 205/45 16” sports tyres, as I’m going on from work to collect a Monte Carlo we have on order to replace the Elegance

TP

Hi Tim - like to know how will you feel about the 17" wheels on the Monte Carlo compared with your current 16" wheels?

The chiropodist fitted Jana with winters this afternoon. Conti Winter Contact 830s. Just need scrubbing in to be able to assess the benefits over summers in winter.

Living in Guildford and commuting to Reading? My sympathies to you both.

The former is fine, the latter less so.

Guildford - nice place to live but you wouldn't want to visit.

I've really enjoyed reading this topic. Lots of points of view, and nobody getting upset. The world seems to divide into "I get by fine with summer tyres - as long as you're gentle you can get through the snow", and those who wouldn't be without their winter tyres. It seems to me that everyone who has tried winter tyres is a convert, and the Auto Express video makes a compelling case (if you haven't seen it you can watch it here:

). I've run winter tyres for the last two years on my Superb and, although I baulked at the cost, I've just had steel wheels, RIF trims and Hankook winter tyres put on my new Yeti. Ultimately for me it's about the reassurance that I've got the best possible grip in an emergency, as well as being able to get about in the snow in the hilly rural area where I live.

I miss the chunky alloys, but then that's just another reason to look forward to spring!

I agree it't expensive. My winters cost roughly the same as the going rate for a new set of summers, the way I see it it that its like not having to worry about new boots for quite a long time as the summers are not wearing out as they are hibernating in the garage. The extra cost for me is the price of changing as I don't have spare wheels yet. Next spring I might get another set of alloys for the summer boots.

My winters (Conti Winter Contact 830p with rim protection) have only been on a couple of days, the difference in grip is huge compared to the summer Dunlops that have only done 3K miles.

My winters (Conti Winter Contact 830p with rim protection) have only been on a couple of days, the difference in grip is huge compared to the summer Dunlops that have only done 3K miles.

If only I could find out for myself! I've been trying to get a set of Continental TS830 in 215/60 R16 and failed dismally. If anyone knows of some actually in stock (as opposed to advertised as being available) then I'd appreciate a message. Many thanks.

Edited 10 December, 201213 yr by ATCO

Got mine recently from www.mytyres.co.uk

They were delivered within a few days directly from Germany.

I got mine (17") from Event Tyres who send a man in a van out to fit them. They do not cover all areas though. When I called them last Monday they said at the time that the Conti 830p stock was low across the range of sizes.

Good luck on getting some.