Right, the car's an 05 Octy 1.9tdi....I've just took off 245/45/17 (from the back) and 225/45/17 from the front and put 205/55/16's all round (the standard size) and said the someone was seemingly picking them (17s) up tomorow, then she started, really started!!. She says wider are a lot better in snow, I said yes maybe if it's a rwd, mine's not, I'm best with the narrower tyres on the front ie the standard 205/55/16s "ok who told you that, you know best blah blah" it really was a ****y horrible discussion.....so....who's right ?

Btw I was told this years ago ie narrow tyres on the front especially when fwd to cut through snow, so the backs get a chance to follow albeit the trailing axle/wheel. So am I right in doing what I did or should have keep the 17s with the wide tyres I incase there's snow....if I did, and put them on for it, I'd love to see her face if I got stuck because the fronts were to wide ie 225/45

Like I say, who's right....me or her, and yes I'm man enough to take it

She's a woman so obviously wrong on all counts and all the time!

Lol.....but she's used to driving in harsh American winters with more snow that's we'll ever get, but in rwd not front

She's a woman so obviously wrong on all counts and all the time! ;-)

 

Lesson in life No.1 She is a woman...... nod and agree, then stop and ask what is wrong when she is stuck in the snow before spinning off in a snow storm of furious laughter. 

Shes talking *******s. Wider tires sit on whatever you're driving over so are more prone to aqua planing and sliding on snow. Narrow tires exert force through a smaller area so will cut through more easily.

Show her pictures of ice rally cars with 120 wide tyres

Unless you're on a race track, there are no advantages to wide, low profile tyres.

What he said

205 will be loads better in snow. How many land rover defenders do you see with wide tyres, not many.

Why did your Octy with 105 bhp as standard had 245 on anyway?

Narrower the better in snow! Cuts through it rather than skating over it.

Shes talking ****.

My Roomster (205/45/R16) is pants in the snow.  

My old Allegro with its skinny tyres (and no electronic wizardry) would run rings around it.

Wide tyres act like skis.  Narrow tyres cut through the snow.

 

But in the interest of self-preservation, take Fubar's advice 

Lesson in life No.1 She is a woman...... nod and agree,

I find the words " Yes Love " and " No Love " are the only phrases required to talk to my wife for a peaceful life.  :yes:

I find the words " Yes Love " and " No Love " are the only phrases required to talk to my wife for a peaceful life.  :yes:

 

Then she replies "No Love" and "Don't ask me again"

Cheers guys....it's not often I'm right but I am this time

My dad told me this years ago, then a mechanic I used for years and the guy I use now all said the same, narrower tyres on the front (if it's fwd that is)

Don't get wrong, I really like these 17's with the wide tyres (good half worn winters all round) it's a shame they'll be no use in snow....in no real use on the Octy in general as they're just to bloody big/wide

That's why is was selling them, or should I keep for ordinary weather, I feel the tyres are just too wide though, especially 245/45s

I find the words " Yes Love " and " No Love " are the only phrases required to talk to my wife for a peaceful life. :yes:

It's my "mother" though, not a wife.......it's because I said I was selling them, she dam near went mad, you'd have though the were hers I was selling

At the end up she "ok do what you want but you'll regret it, you've got nice wheels with 4 good winter tyres that'll get you out of trouble but it's up to you"

Edited 7 December, 201411 yr by Cleo

Cleo, the Skoda recommended winter tyre size for your car from the factory is actually 195/65/R15. However, if you car has been modified to have 312mm front brakes (normally found on a VRS) then you need 205/55/R16 as 15" wheels won't fit over the brakes.

Two points from the information which don't even need the facts of physics.

1) She's female so no matter what you are wrong. And more importantly your mother what the hell are you doing suggesting she's wrong!!

2) She's got the information from America which must be right as they are the rulers of the world and are never wrong.

Of course the truth is as above. Why do you think most owners on here go to 16's rather than the 17's or 18's they normally run.

You said the wide 17's had winter tyres on them. Do the narrow 16's also have winter rubber or are they clad in summer tyres?

 

I'd rather take wide winters than narrow summers, if both sets are winters then I'd agree with the narrower ones!

Having driven cars with all sorts of tyre widths, I can confirm that narrow is better.  It's simple physics - smaller surface area equals more pressure so cuts through snow better.  It's one reason it's hard to aqua plane a bike - narrow tyres.  That's why snow shoes are massive in order to stop you going through the snow - which is the exact opposite of what you want when looking for grip.  Otherwise people would walk around ski resorts in high heels   .

 

I think the Citroen 2CV was one of the best snow cars ever due to the almost bicycle width tyres it used.

 

However, there are 2 rules talking to SWMBO:

 

1) They're always right

2) When they're wrong, see rule 1

Having driven cars with all sorts of tyre widths, I can confirm that narrow is better. It's simple physics - smaller surface area equals more pressure so cuts through snow better. It's one reason it's hard to aqua plane a bike - narrow tyres.

And bike tyres have a much less 'flat' profile than a cars. So they cut in better .

Although, it is still possible isnt it haha

And bike tyres have a much less 'flat' profile than a cars. So they cut in better .

Although, it is still possible isnt it haha

 

Yes, very possible as I found out off-roading in Spain last month

Yes, very possible as I found out off-roading in Spain last month

Hahaa.

Any bones broken?

Hahaa.

Any bones broken?

 

Yes and no.  I broke my wrist whilst out there but didn't do it on the bike.  In fact I have no idea how I did it and I'd been back a couple of weeks before I found out I'd broken it.  I thought I'd sprained it so just ignored it, but after a couple of weeks the pain was too much so went and had it x-rayed.

 

A guy that was with us though broke is Coccyx.  He was 17.5st and swapped bikes with someone else in the group (from a 450 to a 125) for a laugh.  Came over a jump and didn't account for the softer suspension on the 125 and smacked his arse on the seat when it bottomed out.

Yes and no. I broke my wrist whilst out there but didn't do it on the bike. In fact I have no idea how I did it and I'd been back a couple of weeks before I found out I'd broken it. I thought I'd sprained it so just ignored it, but after a couple of weeks the pain was too much so went and had it x-rayed.

A guy that was with us though broke is Coccyx. He was 17.5st and swapped bikes with someone else in the group (from a 450 to a 125) for a laugh. Came over a jump and didn't account for the softer suspension on the 125 and smacked his arse on the seat when it bottomed out.

Ahaha. Sounds like you had a right laugh over there though!

Broken wrists arent much fun. I did that myself :(.

And all the narrow stuff is true on roads and some snow. Then not on a glacier or deep snow when using the proper tread and sidewalls and trying to stay on top of the snow. So horses for courses. And narrow studded or winter/snow tyres is not the same as narrow ECO/ summer, but maybe better than wider ECO or cheapo summers.

Edited 7 December, 201411 yr by goneoffSKi

Yeah - narrow tyres to cut through the snow doesn't help if it's 5ft deep 

 

I presumed we were talking about standard road going stuff.

My Roomster (205/45/R16) is pants in the snow.  

My old Allegro with its skinny tyres (and no electronic wizardry) would run rings around it.

Wide tyres act like skis.  Narrow tyres cut through the snow.

 

But in the interest of self-preservation, take Fubar's advice 

 

I'm impressed! I didn't think there were any grasshoppers left on the road these days.

 

Is it still all there or has bits fell off over the years?