Well with all the discussion over the last few days about tyres, and winter etc. I thought sod it i'll get my old wheels out and put them on for the winter as they've got brand new tyres on, save scuffing my alloys on leaf covered curbs and need as much grip as i can get having basic brakes and no traction control of any sort.

I'm told that thinner wheels are better in the ice as more weight over a smaller surface area = better grip, lets hope this theory is correct!

I put alloys on two weeks after i got the car and its my first so no real driving experience to tell much difference from back then.... Have to say.. complete opposite to what everyone says car accelerated much much better with alloys on! Also car moved alot easier now when coming up to lights with steels on i have to keep power on or i'll roll to a halt earlier than usual! One thing i dont miss though is the noise from the low profiles and the hard ride they gave. MISS the handling with alloys though :(

Look forward to getting alloys back on for looks though.... got winter to clean them inside and out and treat scuffs

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/briskoda/wheelsmed.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/briskoda/Wheels014.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/briskoda/Wheels001.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/briskoda/Wheels002.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/briskoda/Wheels011.jpg

So who else has changed their wheels? And who's noticing the difference?

Where I work has a factory in Slovakia, (an 85% skoda population), and when winter comes they seem to change wheels a lot cause they need proper winter tyres (its the law!). I have seen Octy vRs's with steels on complete with chunky snow tyres. Looks quite cool in an american cop car kinda way

Where I work has a factory in Slovakia, (an 85% skoda population), and when winter comes they seem to change wheels a lot cause they need proper winter tyres (its the law!). I have seen Octy vRs's with steels on complete with chunky snow tyres. Looks quite cool in an american cop car kinda way

yeah, no law for them over here... our winters aren't bad enough really... changed mine more to save scuffing alloys on hidden curbs.

I've done this about 2 weeks ago. It's good for winter and I get very good traction on snow (although less so in 'normal' conditions than before). I too miss the handling but I find the car moves more easily and sweetly than with the alloys on. Are your tyes inflated correctly? I went around and did mine after fitting and 3 of them were about 7psi off the reccomended (tbh, like Richard, I swapped my wheels over almost immediately so I didn't really pay much attention to the steelies).

I've put the original vRS wheels back on for winter,205/45/16. The 215/40/17 on 7.5x17 alloys will go back on in the spring. BUT hopefully not with the Falken 512's on cos there 5H*t..........................So there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Oh and the car rides better,I think is a bit Quicker......Not a lot of tyre noise

I've done this about 2 weeks ago. It's good for winter and I get very good traction on snow (although less so in 'normal' conditions than before). I too miss the handling but I find the car moves more easily and sweetly than with the alloys on. Are your tyes inflated correctly? I went around and did mine after fitting and 3 of them were about 7psi off the reccomended (tbh, like Richard, I swapped my wheels over almost immediately so I didn't really pay much attention to the steelies).

tyres now all inflated correct... its faster to speeds... however its doesnt 'feel' it like it did with alloys on.... guess its as it rolls smooth now unlike before it needed bit of momentum to go and it felt better like that if u follow me...!

I got myself a set of new Octy vRS 17's but haven't put them on yet as I've decided to keep the std. wheels on over winter with all the crap on the roads.

g@y.