Gave the front steelies + wintercontacts a test fitting to check everything fits over the calipers (just) and for ride height/steering and all seems ok, before fitting them all tomorrow. There just one problem: the higher tyre and steelies look so ugly.

I love my black alloys and the looks I get off people when driving past. However, I'm not sure how I'm going to cope with looking like someone who's removed their plastic covers deliberately :peek:

Looking at wheel covers but they are £50 for a set and I'm not sure silver will look much better!

Edited 3 November, 201213 yr by Gumby

However, I'm not sure how I'm going to cope with looking like someone who's removed their plastic covers deliberately :peek:

Poverty spec FTW

I for one like the look of steelies. The other day I saw a white brand new polo gti with black steelies on with the outer trim painted red and it looked great.

Just get a cheap and cheerful set of wheel trims. Car will look odd but then do you really care as you are sat inside it. Makes it look a bit stealth (as if someone has added a vRS badge to a cheaper model to make it look more than it is)

Poverty spec FTW

hahaha

I just leave my steeliness as they are! People with a knowledge will know they are winters.

If you put trims on its like you want them on lol

I just leave my steeliness as they are! People with a knowledge will know they are winters.

If you put trims on its like you want them on lol

Thats true, I was really after something to cover up the wheel hub. When i took the front one off this morning it was really rusty so I imagine this won't get any better with some winter rain and salt.

I might just put the bolt covers back on and put a bit of grease over the hub instead to keep the crud out.

Yeh that's a problem, the middle is a bit rusty, I might spray them black this year

Got them all fitted now...torqued up and pressures set.

I've got a couple of questions though if anyone can help?

As the car was resting on the P of the DSG when being jacked up, the engine was really grumbly when I started it back up until I put it into R then it settled down again. is this something i should be worried about?

I then took it out for a quick spin and the steering was much lighter than before. Is this because of the different compound or becuase they are new tyres and need to build up grip?

What size of tyres did you go for?

They will need a bit of wear on them to take off the newness.

george

What size of tyres did you go for?

They will need a bit of wear on them to take off the newness.

george

195/55/15 as these were the ones SUK recommended and the only ones I could find with steel wheel package

Well only 10 mins ago i put my BMW winter tyres and alloys on ebay ! I have just agreed a px price for my 2002 E46 and am going to get a 60 plated 1.6CR TDI Elegance. I decided a few years back to just buy a second set of BMW alloys and fit some winter tyres, each year i just jacked up the car and changed them over, it was also a nice opportunity to give the wheel arch and suspension a good clean. Can a decent set of Skoda alloys not be picked up reasonably cheap ?

Well only 10 mins ago i put my BMW winter tyres and alloys on ebay ! I have just agreed a px price for my 2002 E46 and am going to get a 60 plated 1.6CR TDI Elegance. I decided a few years back to just buy a second set of BMW alloys and fit some winter tyres, each year i just jacked up the car and changed them over, it was also a nice opportunity to give the wheel arch and suspension a good clean. Can a decent set of Skoda alloys not be picked up reasonably cheap ?

I did think about getting winters put on my alloys, but I didn't want to risk getting them damaged when being swapped over, plus don't want them getting covered in salt. It was also cheaper to get steelies.

I think the steel wheels on there own a relativly cheap, but I went for a complete package from tyremen so I didn't have to go about sourcing seperate tyres, then wheels, then getting them put together and fitted

Edited 4 November, 201213 yr by Gumby

Oh, so the steelies going on do not have winter tyres fitted ??? Are you doing it just to protect the alloys ?

Oh, so the steelies going on do not have winter tyres fitted ??? Are you doing it just to protect the alloys ?

Ah no, i meant they steelies DO have the winter tyres fitted. My alloys still have the summer tyres fitted. I've put the steelies with winters on my car. the alloys and summers are in the shed waiting to be cleaned and properly stored next weekend.

Did your insurance Broker or Underwriter confirm in writing the insurance was OK with the narrower than standard tyre fitted on the vRS?

? Did you contact Skoda UK Customer services or was it a Dealership that recommended that tyre size for Winters on a vRS?

george

Did your insurance Broker or Underwriter confirm in writing the insurance was OK with the narrower than standard tyre fitted on the vRS?

? Did you contact Skoda UK Customer services or was it a Dealership that recommended that tyre size for Winters on a vRS?

george

Told my insurance company I was fitting them and asked it would affect the policy in anyway and they said no. However, just rang them again and they are now charging for the change :(

I contacted SUK directly and asked what was the spec for winter tyres on mk11 vrs and thats the size they said.

You have that all covered then.

I think your Insurance Broker is taking the Mick,

what are they charging for, nothing to change if the tyres fitted are OK & the recommended ones.

I would check out the latest stuff on the Winter Tyre stuff & Insurance charges.

http://abi.org.uk/In...ommittment.aspx

Not linking,

google

association motor insurers winter tyres committment

(Give an idea of which ones charge.)

that is interesting to know that is what Skoda recommended for size..

cheers

george

Typical insurance con men, charging for that is just a total rip off, i would not be going with them next year. By having the intelligence to understand the differences between winter and summer tyres you are possibly preventing a future accident claim !!!

I know...got put through to the 'other' call centre where trying to explain what I'd combination I'd put on was next to impossible. After first thinking I was talking about suspension(!!) he then asked if they were steel wheels - which is what the charge might be for.

At least it's now recorded and they've got it noted.

Quick photo I took earlier...hasn't quite got the look of the black gigaro's :think: . I think i'm going to get some flaps next

Mud flaps (front and rear) is the very first thing i am going to fit to my new (to me new) 60 plated TDI Elegance, they stop a lot of damage to the bodywork, it always surprises me how many people do not bother to fit them.

Pirelli Sotto Zero 205 40R17

Would Mk1 fabia 16" standard alloys with 205/45/16 tyres fit a Mk2 fabia as winter wheels ie would they be a good alternative to the Mk2s 205/40/17 tyres and 17" wheels ?

Anyone know if you can fit 195 65 R15's to a Fab2? I currently have 195 55 R15's but the 65's are half the price?