Am buying a 2007 2.0L diesel Octavia 4x4 (non-Scout) estate.

Since the whole point of buying a 4x4 is for traction on wet grass and possible forthcoming ice/snow (or at least cold, wet roads) it seems sensible to put the best winter tyres I can on it. What winter tyres are people using or do they recommend, please? And do they keep them on all year or change them to summer tyres when winter weather is over?

All you need (and more) can be found here...

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/215362-show-us-your-winter-wheels/page-1?hl=+winter

'Nokian WR G2 205/60R15 95H' on 15" Skoda 'Avantgarda' steel wheels. (With 'Avantgarda' wheel trims)

Steel wheels/wheel trims from dealer, tyres from Pneus Online.

 

On from when temps drop to and stay in single figures (mid Nov) to when they're back up, and remain, in double figures. (end March).

 

 

Thanks, silver 1011, but that thread seems to be largely about wheels.

What I was really seeking was advice about the relative merits of different makes / types of tyre - a comparison.

The choice I am considering at present is between the Contintal WinterContact TS850 and Michelin Alpin A4.

And although the offical recommended size is 185/60 R14, I reckon 165/70 R14 would also fit and have more-or-less the same overall diameter; these might be a bit cheaper as well as possibly slightly better in snow (being slightly narrower).

I'm running 205/55/16 Fallen Eurowinter HS439 on some Audi alloys. Never had any problems and I would be wary of using a significantly narrower tyre unless you spend several months on nothing but snow. Also have Nokian WR D3 on our mkI Leon but 195/65/15, not tried them in snow yet, but they are very good in the dry and wet.

The only reason I'm running 16" tyres is that I had them on my old mkI Octavia and I picked up the Audi alloys cheap so it only cost £60 to change everything around.

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Any good make of "cold weather" tyre is better than normal rubber. Generally because they come out well in tyre comparison tests I've tended to use ContiWinterContacts on all my cars - the old Octy Mk1 4x4, current Octy vRS, and a Porsche Cayman S. Just make sure you are on whatever winters you decide on before the snow arrives. You won't be sorry!

If you go off-road regularly then you would be well advised to check how well your proposed winter tyre behaves in the dirt.

Just because a tyre copes well with ice and snow does not mean it will not clog up quickly with the fifth element (mud). I had Nokians and they were good all round. I went for cheaper Hankooks Icept Evo now and I have not tested them off-road yet.

@trundlenut: thanks for the info - helpful.

"... be wary of using a significantly narrower tyre unless you spend several months on nothing but snow."

Agreed - I was only considering a very slightly narrower size because of possible easier aviability and/or lower price. Any possible small advantage in snow would be incidental. And narrower tyres would of course leave my rims more vulnerable to damage.

And aologies for an error in my second post - complete cobblers about tyre sizes - I was looking at my notes regarding a different car altogether. Sorry!

What I should have posted was "... although the offical recommended size is 205/60 R15, I reckon 195/65 R15 would also fit and have more-or-less the same overall diameter ..."

In fact the difference in diameter is only 1% approx.

I have 195/65R15 Goodyear Ultragrip 8s on my 4x4 Octavia. They have been excellent. If I was buying now, I'd get Continental TS850s, like I put on our other car this year.

@TsvRS: agreed! However I don't plan to go off-road in the sense of "cross country" - if I was, I'd get a Scout or even a full-blown SUV.

However I want 4WD not just for snow, but also for wet grass on an airfield or if parked in an orchard or meadow, or a muddy roadside verge or field gateway. I'd be glad to hear which tyres cope well with this - I've never found a comparative review.

This is our 4th year on Continental WinterContact TS830 on the VRS and my Astravan. Both 205x55x16. They have been excellent and well worth the initial outlay. I got the tyres for just under £61 each for the car as the wheels were loose and just under £71 each for the van as they had to take the wheels off. Got them at local kwikfit of all places. Web prices were £130 plus fitting at the time so I got a really good deal.

This is our 4th year on Continental WinterContact TS830 on the VRS and my Astravan. Both 205x55x16. They have been excellent and well worth the initial outlay. I got the tyres for just under £61 each for the car as the wheels were loose and just under £71 each for the van as they had to take the wheels off. Got them at local kwikfit of all places. Web prices were £130 plus fitting at the time so I got a really good deal.