well after about 6 months of owning the car we have had our first bit of snow and ice and i was stuck in my estate also we live pretty rural.had a feeling these 18 inch summer tyres would be bad but not this bad so do i :-

 

1. fit 18 inch snow tyres to front

2.fit a full set of 16 inch steels and 2 winter tyres 

anyone have any suggestions on what would be best tyres and set up not fussed on branded or part worn winter stuff.

 

i am on a bit of a budget at moment Xmas coming and we going to Florida USA in February 2nd with my wife son(5) and daughter (3).

Whatever you do, it's best not to fit just two winter tyres. Perhaps try to source 4 steel rims and fit a set of reasonable priced snow tyres. IIRC, 18 inch snow tyres are very pricey. There may be an issue with 16s though, I don't think they clear the front brakes on vRS so you'll probably need 17s. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will post more definitively.

Snow socks an option?

had a look on ebay an 225/40/18 winter tyres 100 pound for 2 or some x 4 for 163 pound don't think that's to bad

had a look on ebay an 225/40/18 winter tyres 100 pound for 2 or some x 4 for 163 pound don't think that's to bad

Watch out for tyres with 4mm or less of tread, generally this the limit for use in snow. Below this you lose the little sipes which you the grip in snow.

17" wheels should be an option if 16" wouldn't clear the brakes. Should be a reasonable selection of suitable alloys on eBay, normally plenty of Audi wheels available.

Just don't fit 2 winter tyres unless you really enjoy oversteer.

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Whatever you do, it's best not to fit just two winter tyres. Perhaps try to source 4 steel rims and fit a set of reasonable priced snow tyres. IIRC, 18 inch snow tyres are very pricey. There may be an issue with 16s though, I don't think they clear the front brakes on vRS so you'll probably need 17s. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will post more definitively.

16" clear the 312mm brakes on a vRS just fine.

 

Like this

205/55-16 or 225/45-17 WINTER (not snow) tyres.  Fit to all 4 wheels.  Make a huge difference to lateral grip, braking and traction in low temperatures - not just on snow or ice but also on wet, or even dry, roads.

 

I have used winter tyres for the last two winters.  Although there was no snow or ice I still found them advantageous.

Edited 23 November, 201510 yr by philbes

Like said above, don't use only 2 winter tyres. Either all or none.

 

Maybe you can buy:

1) set of used 16'' steel rims (I think that steels aren't common in 17'' or larger size);

2) set of budget winter tyres. UK is not Norway and simple winter tyres should be just fine.

 

Everything depends on your mileage in winter.

I've got 16" steels and 205/55/16 winter tyres on mine, they fit over the front calipers fine.

I'd change all four tyres to winters though, just two would really upset the cars handling in poor conditions.

If you have a VRS, you'll find there isn't enough in the wheel arch to enable you to fit snow socks - I've tried!

Should have said 'there isn't enough clearance in the wheel arch'

Snow snocks or tyres are just a pain! They should only be used if you are well and truly stuck even with winter tyres.

 

Plus as soon as you're out of the snow you have to take them off again.

 

mytyres.co.uk do full wheel and tyre packages and they're prices aren't bad at all. You can get a set of 16" steel wheels prefitted with winter tyres.

 

Phil

I went for 16" steels and winter tyres.  MkII VRS

 

Got some Skoda wheels trims also to smarten it up a bit.

 

Car looks like poo with them on though, I would never have thought alloys made such a difference to a cars look!

 

I went steels for a quick easy purchase and less cash, also If i kerb em in the snow I aint gonna care!

 

 

As said above winter tyers make a huge difference, even just day to day grip coming off greasy roundabouts.

Car looks like poo with them on though, I would never have thought alloys made such a difference to a cars look!

 

I disagree. Steels can look very good but... only if they are clean. You always notice a dirty steel rim rather than alloy.

Maybe I think this way because I got a silver Octavia. The car is basically in the same colour as alloys and it's kinda boring.

If you want 18's have a look at tyreleader.com

I picked up 4 Michelin Pilot Alpin's for £112 each delivered. Got them fitted to a spare set of Zenith's I have.

If i were you, I would definitely have a second set of wheels. I currently don't and it's costing me about £50 twice a year to change the tyres over. I'm now in to year 3 of my winters, so it's cost me £200 (off, on, off, on) so far. And, I have to "plan" when to change them. With a second set, you could wake up, see it's winter and put the wheels on (if you see what i mean)

 

The other issue is that the selection of 18" tyres is poor compared to 16" tyres.

 

Somewhere like mytyres will do you a 16" steel with a winter tyre for under £100. I paid about £80 a tyre for 18" winters 2 years ago - meaning my current expenditure is somewhere in the region of £560. If I'd gone with a second set of wheels, I reckon I'd be £150 better off now

 

I won't bore you with the reasons I choose to go down the route i did, but with hindsight, i think it was a bad decision

Edited 23 November, 201510 yr by sdenny

We'll think the way forward is 16 inch + winter Tyres after watching a few u tube clips. Mind u would like a picture of me drifting my old mans estate lol. Me being 33.

I literally just bought a Superb Mk2 and it has lovely 18" wheels, I know what a pain they are from my last car, so nbefore I even pickedup the Skoda, I got on ebay and picked up some Audi 16" refurbed alloys with part worn winters on them. It's not too expensive and they are really tidy, sensible design (easy to clean in the winter) and will give me more margin for erro over all the potholes around here.

As others have said, 16" tyres are cheaper and there are many more options available.

 

I have been using winter tyres for a decade now and whilst I agree with those who say you really want all 4 tyres to be winters, when I first made the change I just fitted fronts on my front wheel drive car and it was still better than none, i.e. the car would move!!

 

Get yourself on Ebay and be a bit choosy, you should be able to find a decent set of wheels and tyres, ready to go!

Keep an eye on the classifieds here too - there have been quite a few sets suitable for an Octy recently.  Keep an eye out on Gumtree as well as eBay.

We got a full set of virtually new VW Transporter T4 steel 16" wheels for £130 delivered from fleabay a while back.

They fit perfectly over the VRS brakes. Used Continental WinterContact TS830's and now onto TS850 tyres. They have been well worth the initial outlay.

Another good reason to get separate winter wheels is that you can just change them over when you want. No additional fitting required.

Nexen Winguard Sport 225/40 R18 92V XL - £52 per corner (now down to £49) from Oponeo - £208 all in delivered (took 7 days). £30 cash to my local tyre fitter to fit four corners incl. valves & balancing. Summers sitting in my garage and will go back as and when.

My summer tyres and alloys are 17".........I have  OEM 16" alloys with winter tyres on the MX-5 ...so fit those myself

BUT

I could not source some 19" steel or alloy wheels for the DS4 without paying stupid money (Calipers are huge!!)

So bought some Khumo KW27's similar to the ones I ran on my Octavia for 4 winters for £83 each delivered from MyTyres

My Tyre fitter swaps them over for £10 a corner and stores my Summer Tyres for me