I am sure mytyres used to bring up 205 width tyres for my 2013 vrs estate as the correct size tyre however i have searched the site today and its saying 195 is the correct size on 6 x 15  5 x 112.00 x 57.00 ET: 47.00 5-hole steel wheel (8385).

 

 

The prices seem cheaper too, is 195 too narrow?

Cancel the question - for some reason the site was giving 15 inch wheels which we all know do not fit!

Generally speaking for winter I was always told, narrower is better.

 

Irrespective of the wheel size.

 

Hope this helps.

Cancel the question - for some reason the site was giving 15 inch wheels which we all know do not fit!

 

They fit on every model except a VRS.

 

And either 205/60R15 or 195/65R15 will do, but as above, I have the narrowest ones certified for the car.

205/55/16 is the correct size.

225/40/18 for me. Can't stand the thought of poxy wheels for 6 months of the year. Why do it to your car? On 18's they are 20mm wider surely this won't make grip loads worse?

225/40/18 for me. Can't stand the thought of poxy wheels for 6 months of the year. Why do it to your car? On 18's they are 20mm wider surely this won't make grip loads worse?

 

You'd be suprised what a difference 205/55/16 winter tyres make. 

225/40/18 for me. Can't stand the thought of poxy wheels for 6 months of the year. Why do it to your car? On 18's they are 20mm wider surely this won't make grip loads worse?

quite a few reasons

1. Most of my miles is commuting, it's dark on way to work, it's dark on the way home, nobody sees my wheels

2. Stops the salt corroding my shiny nice alloys

3. If I do skid I'm only going to damage a 16inch wheel if I hit a kerb

4. My car will mostly be filthy so the 18s would look awful the same as 16s

5. That 20mm less width will make a difference

6. The tyres are over half the price.

quite a few reasons

1. Most of my miles is commuting, it's dark on way to work, it's dark on the way home, nobody sees my wheels

2. Stops the salt corroding my shiny nice alloys

3. If I do skid I'm only going to damage a 16inch wheel if I hit a kerb

4. My car will mostly be filthy so the 18s would look awful the same as 16s

5. That 20mm less width will make a difference

6. The tyres are over half the price.

Each to their own. If you want your car to look sh## for 6 months fair play.

Each to their own. If you want your car to look sh## for 6 months fair play.

and you clearly didn't read what I put. 90% plus of my winter driving is in the dark and my car is filthy and looks crap in winter anyway.

At least when I put my 18s back on I can be safe in the knowledge there will be no winter damage or corrosion on them.

On top of that, if I worried what people thought about my car I wouldn't be driving a Skoda!

Nah. C'mon skodas are the coolest cars in the world. Right? Anyway I am sticking to my guns and have just purchased a set of nokian wra3's in 18" size so let's hope they are good. Sorry but I just love those zeniths too much. If I lived somewhere where it snowed pretty much all winter then I too may put smaller size steelies on but here in uk for maybe 2 weeks of really bad weather I am staying large!

Spot on again Mike

Yeh spot on? Surely to god with this being a car forum for car enthusiasts most people on here DO care what their cars look like and also clean their wheels frequently enough EVEN in winter as to halt the corrosive effects of All that salt lingering on them. Would my car handle significantly better if I dropped to 205 size? NO would I save half the money on tyres? NO maybe a quarter but then id need some more wheels so NO it would cost even more. Why even change back in the summer? You don't care what your car looks like, your summer tyres will be cheaper and you aren't risking curbing your pristine alloys lol

Heres a reply I posted in my wifes car Forum when confronted by a couple of doubters:

Suit yourselves fellas
I dont know what Im talking about, I lied and havent had any winter tyres ever on my cars..I get stuck evey time it snows.
What do I know?
I'll shut up!

 

and some comments:

It is personally reassuring and ego building to speak unsupported info so one can keep a few pounds in their pocketbook. Have any of you actually done a little research on winter tires vs summer tires, look at any number of the many test that have been done. The facts speak for themselves. Their is no dispute at all on the benefits of winter tires from any professional group that has studied the issue. Feel free to look for one that does not agree that winter tires are safer, go ahead do it, you know you want to, you really do, dig in, go on, it wont hurt, I promise.

 

and some really don't get it at all:

 

My god there's some strange people on here, just stop short of claiming that winter tyres will bring world peace.

In rain, snow, ice etc ........ Slow down, keep your distance, anticipate problems ...... don't think winter tyres can enable you to drive normally as they have some magical properties.

As ever, exercise some good old British common sense!!

 

Gents, I didn't ask for a drama on the merits of winter tyres, I've never used them, I never even knew they existed.

For me they would be a waste as 99% of the journeys the car makes are in 20/30 MPH speeds limited areas.

 

I've bought winter tyres. I'm saying I would rather keep my car looking standard. From 18" to 16" is a massive leap cosmetic wise. The OP is trying to decide which size winter tyres to go for. He has a vrs like me , all I am saying is why not just fit standard size tyres and get the benefit of winter tyres plus keep his car looking normal? Why is this so hard for people to comprehend.

Again you're missing the point

Yes I do care what my car looks like, to me though, not others

However you're missing my point somewhat, in the summer it's light when I go to work, light when I come home, the weather is better. This means I can wash my car when I choose. In the winter I'm limited to weekends. As much as I like detailing my car I'm not one for going out in all weather to keep it clean. I would rather protect it just before winter and spend time on it in the better weather. Being limited to weekends, having a thing called a life and being reliant on weather it can be up to 4weeks between washes. I would rather have 4weeks of dirt on my 16inch wheels than my pristine 18s

Added to the fact that the tyres are less than half the price, at least £20 per wheel to change to winter rubber then back again every year it's a lot more cost effective than keeping the 18s on

Apart from the initial outlay this is the 4th year of using them with no cost apart from buying 2new tyres. Having kept 18s and swapping rubber would have cost me £320. That's just to swap to winter then back to summer. I only paid £350 for alloys with Avon winter tyres on with just 2k of use. I've just swapped 2 tyres at £150 so they've cost me £500 over 4 years and I still have the equity in the rims should I want to sell

Having 18 inch winter rubber would have cost me 6 x £150 for the tyres plus £320 in a bi annual swap around so unless you're lucky enough to own a tyre fitting machine I've saved myself over 600quid. On top of that I've reduced the risk of refurbishment on my Neptune's by winter weather, sliding into a kerb or a moron tyre fitter

This my 4th Winter on my 16" Audi Alloys from eBay @ £100

4 Khumo KW27 205/55/16 Winter tyres@ £46 each!!

 

I have just had them refurbished and powdercoated for £64 and £50 for tyres removing and refitting

 

 

I'm still quids in and safe ALL winter!! with still 1/2 tread left !!

 

Just bought a set of Steels with Bridgestone Winter tyres for the wifes car (£500)

Mike. I think for your car you can get away with your choice so fair play. Just think with a vrs on 18's , 16" steels and trims isn't for me. Anyway whatever people decide I think we will all be very happy on our winter boots come the snow!! This is my first winter with my vrs on winters so can't wait now , let's hope for a White Xmas. last year on goodyear f1's was a nightmare in the snow.

I've bought winter tyres. I'm saying I would rather keep my car looking standard. From 18" to 16" is a massive leap cosmetic wise. The OP is trying to decide which size winter tyres to go for. He has a vrs like me , all I am saying is why not just fit standard size tyres and get the benefit of winter tyres plus keep his car looking normal? Why is this so hard for people to comprehend.

 

Because fittting tyres to standard 18 inch wheels means that the tyres are a LOT more expensive, it costs £40 to put them on at the start of winter then £40 in spring to  put the summers back on the financial savings are none existent  in just getting tyres.

 

Also higher profile and narrower winter tyres on the smaller 16 inch wheels will work better.

 

I live 1000ft above sea level in the north east of england, last winter there was snow in my street for 2 months solid, the winter before it was 3 months, I work shifts and travel 18 miles to work often along uncleared/treat roads, public transport is not an option when i finish at 2am. Winter tyres are 4x4 capability are not essential but make life a hell of a lot less stressful.

 

as for the asthetics of winter tures and steelies, i am sure some crappy wheels/tyres will look a hell of a lot better than a bent crash damaged vrs estate with 18 inch wheels and summer rubber.

 

I didnt used to believe in winter tyres but since the girlfriend demonstrated their effectiveness abotu 3 years ago on her astra which went anywhere when my scirocco would simply not move i think they are an almost essential purchase.

 

Last winter i was driving 4x4 range rover evoque with 18 inch wheels and mud/snow tyres. That was unstoppable in the snow, now that has gone and has been replaced with an octavia and a rather large chunk paid off my mortgage I will be spending some money on some proper wheels and tyres.

 

If you are really concerned about asthetics you can get tyres on 16 inch alloys for just over £500 from my tyres.

Edited 9 October, 201312 yr by ed209

I fully agree with Mike here, winter tyres and wheels are the way to go if you can afford the initial outlay and have somewhere to store the other set of wheels.

I got a set of VW Transporter 16" steels of ebay and got my local kwikfit (tyres were £130 each on web at the time) to get Continental TS830 tyres in for me. Kwikfit supplied and fitted the tyres to the loose wheels for just over £60 each. A bargain.

I took the wheels home in the back of my van and put them on the VRS which was in my garage and took it out into the thick snow for a test drive. An hour later, I was on the phone to kwikfit again to ask them to keep me another set of the tyres for my Astravan which I got fitted the next day. They were exactly the same type and size of tyres.

This will be the 4th year using them and they have been well worth the money. I use my van most of the time an travel around 25miles to work and they make such a difference in the cold wet and snowy weather. My wife uses the VRS most of the time and I know her and my daughter are just that bit safer in the winter weather with the winter wheels and tyres on.

Unfortunately, steel wheels are very expensive for any vehicle now because of the popularity in using them for winter. I am trying to get a set for my Dads KIA Ceed but they are difficult to get at anywhere near a reasonable price. Winter tyres are increasing too but you can still get some at sensible prices.

I wouldn't be without winter wheels and tyres now. I would highly recommend them.

Dave

quite a few reasons

1. Most of my miles is commuting, it's dark on way to work, it's dark on the way home, nobody sees my wheels

2. Stops the salt corroding my shiny nice alloys

3. If I do skid I'm only going to damage a 16inch wheel if I hit a kerb

4. My car will mostly be filthy so the 18s would look awful the same as 16s

5. That 20mm less width will make a difference

6. The tyres are over half the price.

Additionally, although the winter wheels don't look great they do keep most of the dirt inside the wheel arch whereas the 18s tend to throw it further afield and up the bodywork. It is an individual choice - I also do a lot of early morning and late evening commuting so with the low temperatures and occasional ice and snow it makes every sense to me.

Mine will go on the vRS once the Ave temp gets down low enough, I can end up having to drive to site anywhere in England or Wales and even though they aren't crucial down here on the South Coast, I know that when I hit snow up North I will have the best chance of being safe. The added bonus is that I can get about safely down here on those odd occasions when we do get snow, they also work a lot better than the summer tires at colder temperatures.

 

18" alloys stay tucked up (after a thorough cleaning and polish) in the garage in their wheel bags.

 

Win - Win for me.

Each to their own. If you want your car to look sh## for 6 months fair play.

 

 

Why would you be using winter tyres for 6 months - do you live in Russia?

Yes, it was one HELL of a job cleaning the rims inside and out before I got the tyres fitted. The last set I got were in great overall condition, but coming off an 8 year old taxi, they had the best part of 300k miles worth of baked on brake dust to remove. But once cleaned off, the brake dust had actually protected the wheels to a point where the weather had not got to them.

 

Mike

 

 

If you have to clean really grimy wheels again Mike, I can recommend oven cleaner. The one I used was called Dr Magic, and I have stopped using it inside the house because the fumes are lethal, but if I use a paint spraying canister mask, then it works wonders on wheels.