Looking for 17" alloys to replace 19" for winter.  I was only looking a OEM Skoda wheels ( Helios 6.5J or Zeus 7J) because I could get no assurance that after market wheels were to any "standard" ( is there an EU standard??) and it looked a real minefield to me.   However I stumbled upon http://automotivewheels.co.uk/ that actually state the exact offset etc. of each wheel and have the relevant TUV test certificate available to download (certificates also state the vehicles for which the wheel is approved).

Open to any criticism  on the above - at the end of the day I want to drive a car that won't kill me or any other road user.  I opted to look at 17" because of the limited tyre options/cost for 18"  and the belief that 16" would look too small (AFAIK my 190 TDI 4x4 will take 215/60 R16 95V on 6½J x 16  41ET) - feel free to question the 17" decision. Just to overload the thread content I intend to go for Michelin Cross Climate - a decision that will result in snow + sub zero temperatures from Dec to Feb and full winter tyres needed!!

 

Could I ask anyone with taste/style/artistic ability to have a look at the Superb III configuration at http://configurator.automotivewheels.co.uk/article/rims/car_selection/rim_selection/resetFilter/true/PKWIDCode/P00039070091125  and  changing the body colour to white (and not lowering the suspension!!)  make some suggestions as to the best looking wheel.  The only Skoda approved 17"  wheel sizes I've found are 6.5J with 41mm offset and 7J with 40mm offset ( puzzled as to why 6.5mm increase in width only moves the rim out 1mm)

I do think that original look the best! But - my winter tyres came on these wheels. Some think they look good but I think they look just awful! 

17" but unsure of width - matches specifications anyway.

 

Edited 25 October, 20178 yr by Baverhanne
Added size

If you are getting winter wheels/tyres make sure they are narrow enough to take chains. 

 

Standard chains that wrap around the back are a lot cheaper than those that don't.

Smaller and narrower tires are always better in winter. I ordered 16”/215/60 studded for my upcoming Superb.

Where I live we get a lot of snow and temperatures can drob below -25C.

For the winter wheels/alloys it`s funktion first, then how they look.

I don`d want large gaps between the rims of the wheel (you get ice and snow there alot...) 

5 hours ago, Alex70 said:

Smaller and narrower tires are always better in winter. I ordered 16”/215/60 studded for my upcoming Superb.

Where I live we get a lot of snow and temperatures can drob below -25C.

For the winter wheels/alloys it`s funktion first, then how they look.

I don`d want large gaps between the rims of the wheel (you get ice and snow there alot...) 

You are completely that about that! I should have ordered my wheels by myself but I let a colleague do it - the result is what you see in the picture. Not very nice, not very good but it does look awfull

@Baverhanne Thanks for the solution! I just get some like yours and tell everybody I emailed the link to your photo to the supplier saying "Anything not like this" and they didn't read the "not". 

20 hours ago, peter_k said:

@Baverhanne Thanks for the solution! I just get some like yours and tell everybody I emailed the link to your photo to the supplier saying "Anything not like this" and they didn't read the "not". 

Sounded quite sarcastic.. Posted the picture as "some" people think that it looks good with something similar to these wheels even though I don't.

Anyway - Size is 215/55 R17 Pirelli Ice Zero (studded). 

The added height of the tyre and maybe softer sides makes the car very "wobbly" when turning compared to 18" standard wheels.

Apology's for how my post  came across and I appreciate your input to the thread. 

On 2017-10-26 at 18:24, peter_k said:

Apology's for how my post  came across and I appreciate your input to the thread. 

No worries =)

If I got to choose new wheels (if not skoda original) i would go for the "Autec Scandic"

 

 

 

 

Personally not a lover of any of those aftermarket wheels.

 

When I bought my S3 (190 L&K on 19s) I used some 17” Audi TT wheels, but if I’m totally honest I thought they looked a bit lost compared to the 19s.

 

L&K 19s:

 

17” Audi TT:

 

So after the first winter I went for some 19” SportLine wheels / Nokian winter tyres:

My strong believe is that anything above 215 in width is worthless in snowy/slushy conditions. Even on our heavier XC70 - 215 is to wide to let the tyre get through the slush on highways, it floats on top instead.

For Scandinavian and East Europe countries slush on highways during winter is a sad fact that we have to adapt to.

 

@peter_k Are the Skoda wheels more expensive than aftermarket wheels? In Sweden they had/have a really good discount on wheel + tyre package.

I get the impressionn that Skoda in the UK are either not interested in marketing winter wheels or VAG have told them not to encourage sales.  There is no stock in the UK of winter wheels - they have to be ordered from the Czech Republic (2-3 weeks estimated delivery) .  Basic 17" 6.5J wheel retails at £189.99 and the cheapest quote from a dealer £165.  There are many after market wheel web sites but I've been disappointed with their lack of technical knowledge - I want a wheel that matches exactly the Skoda approved specification with no spacers and using the OEM bolts.  I've found a supplier who has full TUV approval documentation available to download and their German wheels start at £90 for a black glosss 5 spoke wheel.

 

 

For me it is important that winter wheels are easy to clean - so I went for a simple 5 spoke design with no ridges or grooves.  I can clean all 5 winter wheels in the time it takes me to clean one summer wheel.

23 hours ago, philbes said:

For me it is important that winter wheels are easy to clean - so I went for a simple 5 spoke design with no ridges or grooves.

Same for me. Haven't picked them up yet. Dealer's pictures below:

.

Experience with Skoda brand wheel covers?

Has anyone experience with Skoda's accessory wheel covers?

In the description it says that 18" x 245 is max size - will they not fit 19" x 235?

Otherwise I have a good deal on Goodyear covers that will officially fit 19"

Please post your experience!

Many thanks, Rob

Edited 29 October, 20178 yr by SwissRob
Bold title

40 minutes ago, SwissRob said:

Same for me. Haven't picked them up yet. Dealer's pictures below:

.

Very similar to my Dezent RE 17x7.5 ET45 5x112 which cost me £101 each in late 2013 and have been use every winter since.

On 28.10.2017 at 10:44, Baverhanne said:

My strong believe is that anything above 215 in width is worthless in snowy/slushy conditions. Even on our heavier XC70 - 215 is to wide to let the tyre get through the slush on highways, it floats on top instead.

For Scandinavian and East Europe countries slush on highways during winter is a sad fact that we have to adapt to.

 

@peter_k Are the Skoda wheels more expensive than aftermarket wheels? In Sweden they had/have a really good discount on wheel + tyre package.

Have been running 225 winter on my previous car (vauxhall Astra) for ages, never had any issues on slush or snow. Now I’m on 235/4019 contivikingcontact 6 on the Superb. 

 

Would only go for narrow wheels if I was running with studs