Hi Guys

 

Trying to plan ahead for the bear arriving (all be it for winter 18 driving), its seems to be best practice to go down to 17 inch wheels for the kodiaq as this gives access to a wider range of winter tyres than at the 19 inch size.

 

Question becomes though Steelies or Alloys for that spare set,

 

Does anyone have experience of both and what would they recommend?

It’s really down to aesthetics, I had black steel wheels on my Yeti for a few years and liked the utilitarian look but SWMBO disliked the look so bought wheel trims and run with them on for 2 winters, but this year I bought a set of secondhand alloys, just to make it look a bit better. Steel wheels also have the benefit that you don’t need to worry about them getting covered with salt. 

The only other comment I can make is that most insurance companies accept steel wheels with winter tyres without any notification, whereas alloy wheels are normally classed as a modification.

Easy enough to buy a set of used Alloys to suit / fit, maybe even already with Winter tyres on. Maybe advertised in Briskoda.

 

As the car comes with Alloy Wheels as standard, fitting a set of VW Group Alloys which are Type Approved and fit, 

even if in a 17" rim should cause no problem in anyway with an Insurance Company.

If a call handler questions you, you have them question the underwriter and reply in writing why there should be a problem, or any loading of a policy or even the need to declare, the size change.

 

As to Steel wheels which are advisable if you were to be using abroad and fitting chains, 

that is not a Factory Fit option, just Dealer fit, and is a modification. They are type approved as well though.

(Yes a Spare wheel is steel, but there is one of those.)

Edited 9 February, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

Not a Kodiaq owner, but steelies  all the way for me in my Octy Scout.

One main advantage is if they get dinged or scratched I could probably repair them myself. If your Second Alloys get damaged they will look tatty (and will probably get worse if left) and you would probably have to get them repaired professionally. Unless, of course, you don't care about the aesthetics, in which case get the steelies! 

 

For the first two years of ownership I kept the original 17" Proteus Alloys on over winter and just swapped the tyres over (I had to make a rush purchase for cold weather tyres during the winter so didn't have much time or choice in the matter!), but the Proteus alloy was notorious for delamination and the winter weather and so on just exasperated the situation, so I bought the 16" steelies and they have been on for the last 6 winters. 

 

So this is where my stupid questions come in, what are the details that I would need to know to ensure that either aftermarket alloys or Skoda/VW alloys will fit my Kodiaq, other than finding a set of alloys from the Kodiaq accessory brochure of course?  Ive seen posts with fitting numbers and its all a foreign langage at the moment

 

I have an edition 2L 150 TDI 4x4

 

What Info do I actually need to ensure correct fitting, also I noted the tyre size from the Kodiaq Accessories brochure for the tyres on the 17's as well.

You need to know the stud pattern, that is 5 x12, the centre bore, and the offset that is correct, 

then you can get alloys or steel wheels that are correct for some Octavia mk3, Superb, maybe Yeti, or VW's.  

& the correct tyre sizes.  Correct Speed / Load rating.

Maybe get wheels and All Weather / Winter Certified all year tyres that suit the UK / Scotland and can also be used where Winter Certified tyres are required.

Michelin CrossClimates maybe if in a size that suits and leave on all year.

http://wheel-size.com/size/skoda/kodiaq/2018 

 

Edited 9 February, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

Hi,

I would recommend notifying your insurer of any changes but I don't think you should have any insurer though.

Regards,

Dan

40 minutes ago, DAN@ADRIAN FLUX said:

I don't think you should have any insurer though

 

I’m not entirely sure that’s what you meant... 

'Any issues'   as a guess!

Is it safe to say that given the smallest Alloy that the Kodiaq comes with is 17 inch thats the smallest I should go?, last stupid question does the engine choice dictate minimum wheel and tyre size? only reason I ask is the site linked in an earlier post shows the 1.4 tsi with 17's but the 2l tdi 140 as 18 or 19's

Škoda tend to put wheel/tyre sizes and tyre pressures on the inside of the fuel filler flap (at least they are on my Octy Scout - I've just went out to double check!), as long as you stick to what they recommend, you will be fine. 

 

On the flap on the Octavia different engines have different wheel and tyre sizes. 

 

I've learned from personal experience when ever I've asked dealerships for advice regarding service intervals or whatever,  to request they put it in writing. Suddenly that piece of advice they were quite happy to just give up now becomes something they have to contact SUK or Škoda Cz for confirmation. 

I fitted all-season tyres on my Kodiaq 4x4 when I bought it last October. Vredstein Quatrac seemed the best reviewed and best value available in the 19" size so I went with them. Last week was the first real test they got and they were excellent. Last Thursday I had to go out when the snow was at its deepest to get a prescription. The car felt totally secure and had plenty traction, even on steep hills with about 10" of fresh snow. Meanwhile I witnessed 2WD cars on standard tyres needing to be pushed to get going on the flat! For UK use I'd really recommend the Quatracs as a hassle free solution. The only disadvantage is that the standard sized wheels/tyres are too big for conventional snow chains. If you expect to use chains then you'll either need to buy smaller wheels/tyres with winters or go to the low-profile type chains that fix to a wheel bolt.

On 07/03/2018 at 11:04, Valkyrie said:

 The only disadvantage is that the standard sized wheels/tyres are too big for conventional snow chains. If you expect to use chains then you'll either need to buy smaller wheels/tyres with winters or go to the low-profile type chains that fix to a wheel bolt.

 

Some time later ...

 

Where did you get this info?  Skoda seems to sell chains for the Kodiaq.

 

 Cheers

@LooseHeadPop

Welcome to the forum.

 

That is fine if Skoda sell chains to fit bigger sized tyres.

The Owners Manual is the place to check what Skoda have printed on the recommended sizes of tyres / wheels to use with Snow chains.

 

 

From the owners manual...

 

Thanks for this info. RTFM, you might say. Impressive resource, this forum.

 

The issue presumably is one of tyre width rather than radius. The specified tyre has a nominal radius only 3mm less than that of my 235 50 19 tyres, but is of course (roughly) 20mm narrower, thus allowing for the addition of 10mm chains without risking contact with the suspension/steering gear. 

 

For me, chains are an emergency measure to be brought into play when the combination of 4x4 + winter tyres + traction control proves inadequate. So far, over many years of driving in the Alps, it has never happened.

 

So I think I'll stick to the setup I've used with various other vehicles: stay on the standard tyre size, pack a set of Michelin Easy Grip 'composite chains' (about 6mm thick), and remember not to apply extreme lock until I'm out of trouble. Or mount them on the rears, of course.

 

cheers

 

^^^ If that works for you if you do have to use the snow chains where you are going then that is fine.

 

When i use snow chains on Drive wheels and even non drive wheels when not a AWD / 4x4 the Traction Control / ASR gets switched off.

Edited 18 November, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

 

I'm a Nanuq man.

Edited 18 November, 20196 yr by BoxerBoy

I might down size even though I have a set of winter tyres ready but I hear thinner tyres are better in snow