Currently got 4 225/45/17 Bridgestone 050A tyres on the VRS, but this weekend I'm going to be putting a pair of 205/50/17 snow tyres on the front, as the Bridgestones were laughable in 2mm of snow/slush the other day!

I've got a brand new pair of Avon (I think!) 205/50/17 tyres in the garage from my old Primera, and I'm tempted to put them on the rear at the same time to keep everything the same.

Question is, what are the real world differences between the 225/45's and the 205/50's? I.e., will it be noticably more comfortable, more MPG, more sidewall flex, etc, etc? Cheers.

I have 225/45/17 dunlop sport maxx's on my prorace wheels and 205/50/17 matadors mp46's on my spiders and i prefer how the car drives on the spiders,

Not sure about mpg figures as i don't really take any notice, didn't buy a vrs to worry about mpg

205/50/15? Sounds too small for a VRS. There are calculators you can find through google which will calculate the difference in rolling radius. Also bear in mind the size of your spare, ideally all your tyres would be the same size.

Sidewall flex depends on the tyres in question, but I think winter tyres generally have softer sidewalls, which would give a better ride too. MPG wouldn't really be affected much unless you put them on driven axle.

I wouldn't mix winter and summer tyres on different axles either, either go the whole hog and get a full set of 4 (with a rolling radius close to OEM), or just use summer tyres.

If you just put winter tyres on the front you will most likely get a nasty surprise the first time you go round a bend or brake.

I have 225/45/17 dunlop sport maxx's on my prorace wheels and 205/50/17 matadors mp46's on my spiders and i prefer how the car drives on the spiders,

Not sure about mpg figures as i don't really take any notice, didn't buy a vrs to worry about mpg

Ha ha, good answer, not that fussed on the MPG, just curious, think I'll swap them all over and see how it runs on 205's.

Oops, edited first post, should be the standard 205/50/17's!

I appreciate that I should put 4 winter tyres on, but the 2 I've got are also left over from the Primera, and they worked perfectly just on the front of that, so I'll try the same out on the Octavia.

Have a look at this video

And this thread.

Oops, edited first post, should be the standard 205/50/17's!

I appreciate that I should put 4 winter tyres on, but the 2 I've got are also left over from the Primera, and they worked perfectly just on the front of that, so I'll try the same out on the Octavia.

It can get you about in the winter

Not ideal, but better than nothing

-just got tot remember you've got a slippery back-end and drive accordingly

It can get you about in the winter

Not ideal, but better than nothing

-just got tot remember you've got a slippery back-end and drive accordingly

Got to be better than the slippery back AND front end I've got now!

No.

If you crash, you have gone against the manufacturers advice (which is probably in the handbook and says to fit 4 winter tyres).

And your insurance will be null and void.

Do it once, do it properly.

Read your policy and see what it says but if it says anything to that effect I'd be changing policy's. You have to follow the law not what the manufacturer recommends.

Ok.

Fit 4 space savers and go 70mph.

I think you'll find that they are not rated for 70mph which would make that against the law.

No.

If you crash, you have gone against the manufacturers advice (which is probably in the handbook and says to fit 4 winter tyres).

And your insurance will be null and void.

Do it once, do it properly.

I'm insured with Adrian Flux, and they don't need to be informed of a change to winter tyres, so my insurance will be fine - http://www.abi.org.u...ommittment.aspx

But you should fit 4.