when i owned my Superb (170 4x4 estate) i put 18" winter's on new OEM rims (225/40/18) and it was unstoppable.. 

 

i changed to a Mercedes E Class (250 CDi) AMG Sport;  265/35/18 on the back - 245/40/18 on the front.. and it wasn't unstoppable, but unmovable in the snow! Big engine and 7-speed box, no where near the rear wheels leaving them very light. 

 

For the winter, I now run 245/45/17 all-round with Pirelli SottoZero rubber and it'll hold it's own with RangeRovers on anything unto a few inch's. (I can't fit anything smaller due to the AMG Drilled-Disc's on this model) or i may have came down to 16's, or at least a smaller width. 

I have those Pirelli on my Volvo in 225/45 R 17, front wheel drive automatic, been excellent wet and cold weather, and actually in the summer as well, which has been wet. Cold. And warm, sometimes all in one day. Such is the UK/Scotland. Ps @ about £135 each they are worth every penny.

Edited 9 December, 201411 yr by goneoffSKi

when i owned my Superb (170 4x4 estate) i put 18" winter's on new OEM rims (225/40/18) and it was unstoppable.. 

 

i changed to a Mercedes E Class (250 CDi) AMG Sport;  265/35/18 on the back - 245/40/18 on the front.. and it wasn't unstoppable, but unmovable in the snow! Big engine and 7-speed box, no where near the rear wheels leaving them very light. 

 

For the winter, I now run 245/45/17 all-round with Pirelli SottoZero rubber and it'll hold it's own with RangeRovers on anything unto a few inch's. (I can't fit anything smaller due to the AMG Drilled-Disc's on this model) or i may have came down to 16's, or at least a smaller width.

Yes but Superd's a 4x4 that's different

I have those Pirelli on my Volvo in 225/45 R 17, front wheel drive automatic, been excellent wet and cold weather, and actually in the summer as well, which has been wet. Cold. And warm, sometimes all in one day. Such is the UK/Scotland. Ps @ about £135 each they are worth every penny.

Wet and very cold are ok, snow's different, especially on fwd's

Can i ask a simple question.?

 

How many winters have you been driving for now in Scotland,

and has this usually been in the Sunny South Ayrshire?

 

Do you drive very often on snow?

Edited 9 December, 201411 yr by goneoffSKi

isn't 225/45 the correct size for 17s on a mk1 Octavia?

 

Not on mine when I bought it new back in 2006.  It came with 205 width tyres on - Continental Contact Sport and if I remember rightly they were 205/50R17 W 89.

 

Some people reckon there were exceptions and that some came with 225 width tyres on but over the years I've been on here the general consensus was that the 205s were OEM.  The 225s were normally put on as replacements when the originals wore out as they were marginally cheaper.  I found the car didn't handle as well on them and it tended to tramline so I stuck with the 205s.

 

When I put winters on all round I went for 205 55 16" on Mk4 Golf steels and the Octavia was pretty much unstoppable on normal snow covered roads - no glaciers near Scarborough.