I've just got a mk1 vRS estate which has crappy Event SL900 tyres, one even appears to have a slow puncture so I am looking to change all round for something decent. I've done a bit of a search for this on these forums regarding tyres and have found a bit of info but would apprecaite some more info.

 

The stock size for the mk1 Octavia with 17" rims is 205/50R17. The rim size (I think) is 7.5x17 ET35 which would also fit  215/45R17 (-1.5% circumference) or 225/45R17 ( -0.5% circumference). It looks like these tyre sizes are actually cheaper for the premium tyres by Conti and Dunlop! It looks like some people on the forum are running these sizes, do you  experience any benefits or issues using these alternative tyre sizes?

 

I'd appreciate any recommendations for tyre model. It looks like I can get 205/50R17 Hankook Evo V12 for about £90 a corner or 225/45R17 Conti Sport contact 5 for £100 a corner.

 

 

Go to Camskill to get them,although looking at the prices you have mentioned,I suspect you've seen them already!

225/45/17 gets my vote,no major difference in driving manners apart from a slight tendency to tramlines a bit more!

Fuel economy may drop a tad,but there's a fair bit more grip available as a trade off!

As for tyre brands....Continental sport contact 5's will be awesome,as will toyo T1R's if you can get hold of them.

Camskill

Falken 452's now replaced by 453's are popular with VRS owners. Vredestien Ultrac Sessanta's are great tyres, which Camskill usually have a good deal on.

Sorry I disagree with the 225 option, when I had them on mine the only difference I found was being 3 or 4 mpg worse off, grip was the same as 205 tyres

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The wierd thing is, looking e.g. at conti sport contact 5 for R17 it is cheaper for the wider tyres.

 

205/50 93W = £115.70 ea

215/45 91w = £98.50

225/45 94y = £92.30

 

I think I'll go for 215/45, i've decided to set my roof at £100 a corner here is my shortlist from Camskill

 

 

Conti sportcontact 5 91w = £98.50

Goodyear Eagle F1 AS2 91y - £90.75

Pirelli Pzero nero - £90.80

Hankook K110 or K115 -£74.10

Falken FK453 - £89

 

or mytyres.co.uk have

Nokian zline for £92.80

 

 

I'm leaning towards either the Goodyear F1's becasue they look like they perform really well or the Hankooks becasue they look really good value.

225/45/17 Vredenstein Ultrac sessantas job done

I went with the Eagle F1 AS2's in the end, found them cheapest on Lovetyres.co.uk, £87 each plus £12 delivery.

I was tempted by Dunlop SportMaxx RT, just to try something a bit different and they appear to have great reviews. But I couldn't find those in stock anywhere, they may be better for RWD than FWD anyway.