Since I've only just got my Octavia estate SEL with 17" alloys, I thought I'd treat it to winter tyres. Not just for the grip, but also because once the money is spent, I'm making both sets of tyres last longer too - and the grip would be useful, even in cold and wet conditions.

 

I assume that if I am buying wheels as well (to save paying to have them fitted and then back again in summer), is there any reason not to get cheaper 16" inch steel wheels and 16" winter tyres instead of dearer 17" ones? What would a set of steel rims cost do you reckon? Any recommendations or is it more cost effective to get 17" winter tyres and just pay to have them changed over?

 

thanks

 

Nick

Another reason to have a second set is the bead will stretch on the tyres so you should only change them a few times before chucking. Even if not worn out. With a second set you get the full wear of both sets so lasting even longer. 

16 steels should fit fine. Just need to check the brake clearance.

You could always run on what you have until they need replaced...

 

I went through the summer/alloys >< winter/steels switching process for about 8 years before I eventually tired of it and opted for a set of All Season tyres year-round.

 

I would store the set not in use on a tyre tree in the corner of the garage and swap them myself in October and March. Several tubes of Copper Grease later I came to the conclusion that the climate here in the Central Belt of Scotland, usually averaging -5 to +20, was a Goldilocks-Zone for All Seasons and I haven't looked back.

 

Currently, I have Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-2 on the Scout (c/o Kwik-Fit) and Michelin CrossClimate on the Fabia (c/o Costco). Just make sure if you opt to go down the road of All Seasons that the brand comes with M+S and 3PMSF markings; they're good for those parts of the continent that require such during the winter months should you venture there.

 

Makes for happy motoring on days like these without the hassle factor...

 

Edited 30 January, 20197 yr by Rab-k
Sp.

I spent the money refurbing the Original Geminis and bought Michelin cross climates and some budget winters.

 

Thanks all

 

Next bit of advice: Would you bother if you lived in South Devon? I don't yet, but will in the next few months. I've got winter to see out here in Wigan, then after that, all my future winters will be in the South West where it is supposedly a little milder and supposedly has less snow. But who really knows (unless you live there of course!)

 

thanks

 

Nick

It's not all about snow on the road. Winter tyres are exactly that, tyres designed to be used in the winter. The compound is softer making it more suitable for the lower temperature range and it has more slits cut into the surface to make the blocks deform easier. I done they perform better in standing water too. I've been stuck in the snow in Devon before so don't discount it for wintery conditions.

Swapped winter/summers on all our cars for over 15 years. But getting a bind with three cars.

 

So I now have one Octavia on Cross Climates and another on Vector 4 Season Gen2's

 

The Cross Climates are more summer biased and ideal for Devon I'd think.

My problem is I like my summer tyres too much to give them up. The winters grip like mountain goats in weather like this at the moment but there is a certain 'thats better' moment when the summers go on.

 

Nothing against all-seasons, I have two machines on them, one on cross-climates and one on Vector Gen2s but I will have 2 going back on summers come March 

short version: why wouldn't you do 16"? more compliant ride, depends if you want / need that or handling... only vRS have such big calipers that 17" are required, I believe.

 

We're currently at officially 52cm snow, I run 16s summer and winter.

 

 - Bret

Spent three years just outside Newton Abbot and recon there were enough winter days below 7°, where Winter rated tyres perform better than Summer tyres, to make them worthwhile.

 

A big consideration however is your S.Devon summer temperature range. >20° and your wear/performance/handling will not be as good in an All Season as it will in a Summer tyre, so having a set of both Summers and Winters might be better in your case. (Wheel/Tyre Trees can be picked up on eBay for less than £20 and I'd recommend them for storing your 'resting' set - be sure to give them a good clean and use a screwdriver to remove all the stones stuck in the tread before storing).

I'm very much in favour of winter tyres, but don't discount the idea of buying second-hand Skoda alloys from a breaker's yard or the 'Bay: they look smarter potentially for the same pice as new steels. If you buy them with decent tyres on, you can either use those up or flog them to a local tyre-monger. I got £10 each for the tyres which came on the s/h alloys I bought (they were the wrong size for the Scout), which meant the alloys cost £210 for four.

Still more expensive than steel - but much more handsome!

Oh - and I'd definitely go for 16" over 17".

Edited 30 January, 20197 yr by Sangrail

People sell Winter Tyres / Wheels on car forums and strangely BRISKODA seems to have ones for sale that match Skoda models quite often, 

and trusted sellers as well.

Im currently looking at tyres as the standard ones which came with my VRs are wheel spinning in the cold conditions. I was advised by my brother and sister in law (Both work at Kwik Fit, one as area manager and other in a branch) that Michelin Pilot Sport 4 are the tyre to buy. Ive read the reviews and they perform extremely well in summer, winter and rain so I am looking to change my front tyres soon at least.

 

My sister in law gets her tyres changed each winter to Michelin Alpines, but as said above I would be concerned about sidewall/bead strength to keep swapping tyres over. Having dedicated winter/summer tyres is fine as long as you dont mind swapping wheels every 6 months odd and have somewhere to store the 2nd set of wheels.

 

I would rather have an all year round tyre that performs well in all conditions: https://www.blackcircles.com/catalogue/michelin/pilot-sport-4/225/40/R18/W/92/m?tyre=34513653&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw5S2h-WX4AIVprXtCh2aCAWeEAQYASABEgJ3gfD_BwE

I was looking at these, with the Goodyear Ultragrip option. £487 all in inc delivery.

 

https://www.mrwinterwheels.co.uk/16-skoda-octavia-iii-5e-steel-winter-wheels.html

Any comments good or bad before I take the plunge? (I will have a quick look for s/h alloys first)

 

thanks,

 

Nick

 

1 hour ago, FletchCossie said:

that Michelin Pilot Sport 4 are the tyre to buy

 

Don't get me wrong, these are my favourite summer tyre, but I take them off each winter for a reason.

 

They are a good tyre but certainly not all season. Fit them by all means, they are a very good tyre but drive as you would on any other summer tyre in the winter.

Just shows that Kwik Fit dancers and chancers should keep to up-selling and not advising on tyre choices.   

Went down hill when Sir Tom Farmer sold the company to Ford, and that is a lot of years they have been crap.

1 hour ago, FletchCossie said:

 Ive read the reviews and they perform extremely well in summer, winter and rain so I am looking to change my front tyres soon at least.

 

Plenty of videos online showing why it's a bad idea to fit Winter, (Incl. Winter rated All Season), tyres to your front wheels only - you tend to find yourself going forwards backwards, so to speak.

 

I got my Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-2 from Kwik-Fit. See if your family members can get you a deal on those.

 

10 minutes ago, NikTheGeek said:

I was looking at these, with the Goodyear Ultragrip option. £487 all in inc delivery.

 

https://www.mrwinterwheels.co.uk/16-skoda-octavia-iii-5e-steel-winter-wheels.html

Any comments good or bad before I take the plunge? (I will have a quick look for s/h alloys first)

 

Have a look at the Nokian WR D4 if you've not done so already. You may have to get them online, (I use www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk ), but I found them to be excellent on winter roads.

11 minutes ago, flybynite said:

 

 

Don't get me wrong, these are my favourite summer tyre, but I take them off each winter for a reason.

 

They are a good tyre but certainly not all season. Fit them by all means, they are a very good tyre but drive as you would on any other summer tyre in the winter.

 

Thanks for the suggestions, I wouldn't push the car as much in the wetter months and certainly not in icy conditions  Thanks for the personal recommendation too  

Just now, Skoffski said:

Just shows that Kwik Fit dancers and chancers should keep to up-selling and not advising on tyre choices.   

Went down hill when Sir Tom Farmer sold the company to Ford, and that is a lot of years they have been crap.

 

Tyres are all down to personal preference. You can be given all the advice in the world, read all the reviews and still hate a tyre when its fitted to your car. 

 

Most tyre companies recommend on what their head offices tell them to sell that week and what they are targeted on.

Just now, Rab-k said:

 

Plenty of videos online showing why it's a bad idea to fit Winter, (Incl. Winter rated All Season), tyres to your front wheels only - you tend to find yourself going forwards backwards, so to speak.

 

I got my Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-2 from Kwik-Fit. See if your family members can get you a deal on those.

 

 

Have a look at the Nokian WR D4 if you've not done so already. You may have to get them online, (I use www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk ), but I found them to be excellent on winter roads.

 

Thank you for the suggestion. These videos sound amusing, will Google them  

@FletchCossieSo they are, and peoples personal experiences of them in different circumstances.

Most tyre companies do recommend what they import and sell.  ATS Euromaster are owned by Michelin. As are Blackcircles.

 

One might expect friends and relatives in the business to have a scooby.  Not the car, all the gear and a bit of an actual idea.

4 minutes ago, FletchCossie said:

 

Thank you for the suggestion. These videos sound amusing, will Google them  

 

 

Just now, Skoffski said:

@FletchCossieSo they are, and peoples personal experiences of them in different circumstances.

Most tyre companies do recommend what they import and sell.  ATS Euromaster are owned by Michelin. As are Blackcircles.

 

One might expect friends and relatives in the business to have a scooby.  Not the car, all the gear and a bit of an actual idea.

 

I didn't know that about ATS and BlackCircles  I see more Goodyear tyres on BlackCircles at present than Michelins though.

 

Me and my brother/his Mrs have been into cars for many years and owned various cars (I had a 500bhp Escort Cossie and a 2wd Saph Cossie), my brother currently owns a modified Nissan GTR and his Mrs a BMW M3, previously owning a BMW M4, Porsche 911, etc Their lives are cars and they try to go to the Nurburging 2-3 times per year so I hope they know what they are talking about lol I still check out reviews and stuff before I make my purchases so Im happy with what Im buying  

 

 

They will know all about tyres then and what suits you best for where you do your driving.

If i know someones car stays in the garage on snowy or icy or wet days i might suggest they fit Road Legal Track tyres.

Just now, Rab-k said:

 

 

 

Thank you, saves me searching  I cant watch with sound right now, but can see why different season tyres would be an issue like this. The Michelin PS4's are summer tyres with good characteristics in the wet apparently, so shouldn't be much of an issue with the rear Potenzas