I'd really appreciate some help for winter tyres, as I live in the French massif central and it gets cold and snowy here pretty well every winter. I've got a 2017 1.4 TSI 150 DSG Combi, with Teron alloy 17" rims. These are fitted with 225/45 R17 91W tyres (Dunlop Sport Maxx RT). Those are sold as summer tyres.

 

The winter tyre options for this size are fairly expensive - about £120 each. I've seen advice elsewhere that for winter tyres that are actually being used on snow, it's better to go for a smaller rim and a narrower tyre. One tyre size calculator site which I looked at said that with 16" rims, a 205/55 tyre would give the same diameter (ie the speedo would be right). And this size winter tyre is distinctly cheaper too.

 

It's quite handy having a second set of cheap steel rims for winter, as it would mean I could put the winter tyres on myself rather than paying the garage €40 or €50 each time the tyres are changed.

 

Has anyone any experience in doing this? Would this be a sensible size to get? And what would I need to look for in specifying what rim to buy? I might be able to get a set of rims second-hand - we have quite a good breaker nearby with a large stock (because French scrappage rules are quite strict, everyone takes their cars to a small number of registered breakers).

 

Any help would really be appreciated, thanks.

Edited 1 December, 20178 yr by Araucaria
spelling

Have a look at the "wheels tyres" part of the manual linked to in THIS post. (or pay for some time on ErWin to get the exact ones for your chassis number) 

 

Starting on P93 is a list of approved tyre sizes for each engine. It also says which ones can be used with snow chains (officially)

 

It is a good place to start as it gives all the official sizes that fit. (there are obviously other sizes that fit but you will be safe with those listed)

Running 15" steels with winter tyres on my Mk3, Changing to a new 1.5 tsi soon ( comes with 17" alloys ) so have ordered a set of 16" steel wheels and winter tyres.

16s should be fine, it's what I use

 

 - Bret

I've a very slow internet connection here and I couldn't use flybynite's link. What size tyre for a 16" rim? I don't ever drive fast in winter!

2 hours ago, Araucaria said:

I've a very slow internet connection here and I couldn't use flybynite's link. What size tyre for a 16" rim? I don't ever drive fast in winter!

 

Listed for the 1.4 

 

205/55 R16 91V 6.5J x 16 et46  
205/55 R16 91V 6.0J x 16 et48 x
205/55 R16 91V 6.0J x 16 et50 x
225/45 R17 91V 7.0J x 17 et49 
205/50 R17 89V 6.0J x 17 et45 x
205/50 R17 89V 6.0J x 17 et48 x

 

5x112  (studs x diameter) 57mm centre hole diameter, X for use with snow chains (basically 6" wheels) 205/55/16 is good for the 16" steels. I have run an octy3 on 205 winters and they are fine.

 

If you have trouble finding suitable steels they are available relatively cheaply places like THIS (oponeo may be good as you live in France) I have used a few of these type of steels as spares etc and they seem fine to me.

Flybynite - thanks very much indeed. That's just what I need.