As it seems like my 16" winter wheels aren't going to fit on my new VRs, I need to get some more to replace them. I can't decide whether to get 17's or 18's, as the price difference between the 2 doesn't seem to be that big. So, I'm after some advice please!! Which are going to be the best for winter use? And once I've decided that, is it best to go for a narrower tyre on the wheel itself? I'm fairly sure it is, just after confirmation!! Or confirmation that I know nothing!! :think:

 

Thanks

 

Mark G

I'm also wondering this, but have little knowledge and have never bought winter tyres before.

Why would you go for a narrower tyre?

I'd always thought narrower tyres were better on snow, not sure exactly why!! Also, rally cars always seem to have narrower tyres when they run on snow!! I'm sure there's a very good reason for it, probably very technical & beyond me.

I think it's due to the car's weight being on a smaller cross sectional area so enabling the tyres to 'cut' into the snow instead of riding over it.

 

The Continental TS850 and Goodyear Ultra Grip 8 tyres are considered to be the best around.

As it seems like my 16" winter wheels aren't going to fit on my new VRs, I need to get some more to replace them. I can't decide whether to get 17's or 18's, as the price difference between the 2 doesn't seem to be that big. So, I'm after some advice please!! Which are going to be the best for winter use? And once I've decided that, is it best to go for a narrower tyre on the wheel itself? I'm fairly sure it is, just after confirmation!! Or confirmation that I know nothing!! :think:

 

Thanks

 

Mark G

Are you sure that the 16" wheels won't fit the new vRS?  Might be worth trying to fit them before you shell out for new wheels/tyres.

Are you sure that the 16" wheels won't fit the new vRS? Might be worth trying to fit them before you shell out for new wheels/tyres.

the front brake callipers are too big for 16's

just got myself a set of seat draco 18s wearing pirelli sottozero 2 winter tyres with loads of tread for €400.

one of the wheels has a bit of bubbling on the inside but the rest are immaculate.

was looking for 17s but as these are on the fitting list from skoda I thought why not !!

Should add that I have ordered a vrs!

Edited 7 September, 201312 yr by john96

Am I being thick here? The op is talking re 18 or 17 wheels...that has nothing to do with width of the tyre....it's the height of the alloy wheel....forgive me if I've got the wrong end of the stick.

For the record I'm just going to switch my new 18 vrs alloys with exactly the same size winter tyres....my local tyre man charges me £50 to do the 2 yearly switches.....worked well on my yeti the last few years

narrow tires it should be, much better on snow and ice! If you look at the rally as they drive very narrow deck to anchor to the ground.

Wide tires lying on the snow and not on the ground and that means poor traction.

I'd always thought narrower tyres were better on snow, not sure exactly why!! Also, rally cars always seem to have narrower tyres when they run on snow!! I'm sure there's a very good reason for it, probably very technical & beyond me.

You are right in what you write ... narrow tires should be in winter for best results

Are you sure 16" wheels won't fit?

 

What size steel wheel do you get if you order the spare?

 

The MkII vRS would take 16's...

 

EDIT: Just checked the brochure, the vRS gets 17" brakes so if you order a spare wheel you get a 17" space saver instead of the regular 16" steel wheel which won't fit.

Edited 8 September, 201312 yr by silver1011

Are you sure 16" wheels won't fit?

 

What size steel wheel do you get if you order the spare?

 

The MkII vRS would take 16's...

 

EDIT: Just checked the brochure, the vRS gets 17" brakes so if you order a spare wheel you get a 17" space saver instead of the regular 16" steel wheel which won't fit.

its actually an "18 skinny on all the VRs' that have been checked so far - 125/70 R18

its actually an "18 skinny on all the VRs' that have been checked so far - 125/70 R18

second that just back from the dealers he has 3 vrs's all with those spares

I totally advocate snow tyres have used them in the past on a VW Golf, A MkII Octavia as well and they were a complete revelation.

 

I still have them, although I won't be able to use them as they're all 16"ers.

 

What size should I order for the new vRS, as the information isn't available from the downloaded user manual.

 

Ta! 

As it seems like my 16" winter wheels aren't going to fit on my new VRs, I need to get some more to replace them. I can't decide whether to get 17's or 18's, as the price difference between the 2 doesn't seem to be that big. So, I'm after some advice please!! Which are going to be the best for winter use? And once I've decided that, is it best to go for a narrower tyre on the wheel itself? I'm fairly sure it is, just after confirmation!! Or confirmation that I know nothing!! :think:

 

Thanks

 

Mark G

Narrower tyres will be beneficial in snow, but winter tyres have advantages far beyond snowy conditions as you probably know.

 

I've bought some larger wheels for my new car with the intention of using the standard ones for winter use in a couple of seasons' time after I've worn the original tyres out.  Conventional wisdom/physics is that the sidewall will be smaller if a similar radius tyre is used on a larger wheel.  I've mitigated this somewhat by ordering 10mm wider tyres which on a 40 profile will give me another 4mm sidewall (still less than the originals though).

 

That's not going to save me from kerbing the wheels (although the extra tyre width might help), but the surefootedness when using winter tyres should minimise the risk in the first place.

 

I think folk go for smaller wheels also for the cost reason when buying a second set.  If you can get wheels/tyres at a good price, there's little reason to not go for whatever you want in the knowledge that you might have a slight issue in thick snow.

 

My first ever winter tyres were 275s and I've never looked back.

Gents.

 

Page 5 of this forum has the sizes on the thread below

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/285090-vrs-winter-wheel-sizes/

 

Search function top right of page

I was going to like the post above, then I saw the sarcastic emoticon and changed my mind.

And John, you didn't find your 18" winter setup on that very tight Skoda list. Don't get me wrong; I think what you've got there is fine, but if you take Skoda's list as being gospel (which most do) it allows for no exceptions even if they might be practical and accepted by insurers.

A search won't always reveal all the options - just Skoda's in this instance.

alexei the size I bought are on the list (i didn't put the tyre size on in my first post)

I have the 18s as m&s .and when I visited the dealer here for prices they were on it.

maybe what I thought was obvious from the other thread isn't.

so here is the sizes for winter wheels (all alloys) from skoda (Germany) for all octy 3 with the wheel name.

Star is the only size that cannot be fitted to the vrs.

I hope this helps.

Star 16in 6.0jx16 ET48

Crystal 17in 6.0jx17 ET48

Denom 17in 7.0jx17 ET49

Teron 17in 7.0jx17 ET49

Hawk 17in 7.0jx17 ET49

Turini 18in 7.5jx18 ET 51

Edited 10 September, 201312 yr by john96

Useful information John.  Are your Seat Dracos ET51 too as that could give others a bit more choice in that size?  Normally a variation of upto 5mm offset shouldn't be an issue anyway.

 

I always take the fuel flap lists with a pinch of salt anyway since "M+S" refers to the density of the tread pattern and not to the tyre's compound; with only some winter tyres having the snowflake/mountain symbol.  For example, correct sized offroad (M+S marked) tyres might work well in snow, but depending on the compound might not be very good for cold wet/icy roads.

 

Any manufacturer cannot easily compile a definitive approved list which stays accurate throughout the life of the car, so I guess its about applying your own knowledge or the compromises involved to minimise your perceived risk.  We all have different perceptions of where that balance lies on the spectrum, as well as the overriding issue of remaining legal.

Alexei.

yes they are. same tyre and wheel combination as the turini. (18).

The wheels I bought came from a seat leon cupra fr. so getting them (2nd hand) saved me around six hundred bucks as dealer price for a set of 17s with tyres was over a grand.

the deals are out there!

good luck!

As it seems like my 16" winter wheels aren't going to fit on my new VRs,

Mark, does that mean you need a buyer for your 16"s? One ready and waiting here ...

How big are front brakes on new VRS? 312mm like previous model or 345mm (S3) or some new dimension? 

 

I have upgraded 312mm front brakes i.e VRS mkII in my Scout and 16 inch winters fit fine?

Definitely bigger than 312mm, I've only had a quick look but if they're not 345mm then they're not far off. The Mk7 GTI also gets a vented disc setup as per the S3 too, so Octavia likely to be the same.

 

Am I being thick here? The op is talking re 18 or 17 wheels...that has nothing to do with width of the tyre....it's the height of the alloy wheel....forgive me if I've got the wrong end of the stick.

For the record I'm just going to switch my new 18 vrs alloys with exactly the same size winter tyres....my local tyre man charges me £50 to do the 2 yearly switches.....worked well on my yeti the last few years

 

Depends on whether you pick an OE size tyre or go for a narrower on 17" wheels. Assuming it hasn't changed, then the tyre sizes will be 225/45/17 and 225/40/18 so the same width. I can't help thinking a lot of people's choice of 16 or 17" winter tyre is purely cost driven.

Edited 24 September, 201312 yr by j0hn

I've run 205/55/R16 and 225/40/R18 winters. Different brands unfortunately so I can't give you a decent comparison but I don't think there was a huge amount in it.

Ultimately the main driver for the decision is whether you want to put different wheels on the car for aesthetic purposes, in which case use the OEMs for winter. The OEMs tend to be well suited for winter duties as they're heavy, relatively strong and cheap if you damage one on a snow covered kerb.