Hi all,

 

Skoda kodiaq sportline owner in Australia. Has anyone in Aus got a recommendation for a wheel/tyre combo that will allow me to fit snow chains.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

From the owners manual…

 

Thanks. I have read that, when I followed it up with Skoda(here in Aus) they were unable to provide anything that would fit and basically said they hadn't had to look into it before.

 

Was hoping to find someone who might have had success through a third party. I've contacted a few places, none which have been able to help so far.

https://roofcarriersystems.com.au/product/konig-k-summit-k-summit-xl-snow-chains/
 

Konig is owned by Thule and their configurator shows this as compatible so I would look at that as an option even if ŠKODA doesn’t explicitly state 18/19” wheels as compatible. 
 

Edited 12 June, 20223 yr by ZacDaMan72

@jorgo_4

Welcome to the Forum.

What Wheels / Tyres does you Kodiaq have on now?

 

Are you wanting someone to say that they fitted Snow Chains to bigger wheels and tyres and drove on snow and there were no clearance issues?

 

Maybe just buy the appropriate wheels / tyres for fitting Snow Chains if the car does not have them fitted now.

Are the 3rd party people you are contacting sellers of wheels, alloy or steel?

 

Was that Skoda Australia or a Dealership employee at a dealership that have to make a story about asking Skoda CZ about wheels / tyres and snow chains?

If they do not know about the vehicles they sell then sending an  E-mails or making a phone call seems like a 'simply clever' idea.

 

Maybe Volkswagen Australia or a VW Dealer will be interested in selling you a suitable set of wheels for using with Snow Chains having done so over the years.

 

Edited 12 June, 20223 yr by john999boy

Thanks. Been a reader but hadn't posted before this.

 

We have the 20" wheels on now and would be looking for a second set of wheels that can take chains. Not keen to mess with the clearance issue.

 

I contacted a couple of Skoda dealers who responded and said they contacted head office for advice. They were no help at all. 

 

I will definitely look to contact Volkswagen Aus and Skoda Aus myself.

The recommended 17” wheel size is 6.5 x17.  ET 38  5x112 PCD and a centre bore of 57.1. Fitted with a 215x65x17 tyre and as noted chain links must be no larger than 13mm.

The part numbers for the recommended Nanuq 17” alloys are…

silver 565071497 8Z8

black 565071497D FL8

I have a set of Borbet TL alloys 7x17 ET40 with 215x65 winter tyres I use during the winter months , but here in the uk have no need for snow chains.

I reckon the garage is just stumped by anyone needing snow chains in Australia! 🤣

 

Or are they actually for driving on the beach?

There is great ski-ing areas in Australia, usually in the mountains.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skiing_in_Australia

 

Edited 13 June, 20223 yr by roottoot

12 hours ago, roottoot said:

usually in the mountains.

 

That is where skiing usually takes place, yes.

 

But do I really need to add a 'warning: this post contains a joke' label for you to get that I wasn't being serious? I thought that laughing emoji might just do the trick, but my bad.

I have just been through this exact same issue.

 

The Konig K-Summits arent legal for Buller and Hotham.  Dont get me started on the stupid regulations.

 

I have 255/40 R20 on a Q3. 

Anyway, I cant put chains on front of my Q3 as there is no inside clearance between the suspension guard and the inside of the front tyre.  I have some old Biathlon chains for my Octavia RS (225/40 R18), but they arent legal for Buller and Hotham anymore either.

 

The Konig XG-12 Pro 247 will fit the rear wheels of my Q3.  You only need to fit chains to 2 of the wheels for a 4WD or the driving wheels of a 2WD.  The roads in Australia rarely have snow on them, and it is only for the last few km.  Drive slow, take it easy, put chains on the rear wheels, it isn't a race.  Kodiaq is AWD and will send drive to wheels with most traction.  Hence the rears.

 

The owners manual for the Q3 says only put on the front.  I rang Audi and spoke to service and they said put on the rears, no problem.  Put in off road mode. 

 

If you are going to up tot he snow lots, with a season pass, invest in snow tyres and or different rims/tyres for ski season, or an old cheap dual cab 4WD ute. 

If like most of us, it is only occasional, spending $1500 on a spare set of rims/tyres just makes the argument to go to NZ or Japan even stronger.

 

People in the UK might well have winter wheels / tyres and virtually never drive in snow, go to the mountains or ski resorts and never fit snow chains or snow socks.  The threads are running all year now not just the old way of starting about September.    Odd that people that do go skiing or to mountains and are required to carry snow chains seem to be bothered about having to have suitable wheels / tyres. 

Having been following Briskoda for over 10 years, and the global reach of this forum, the information that is used is often well outside of the UK.

 

The OP is from Melbourne, where it rarely drops below 4 deg C overnight, is usually 8deg +, and may have frost, once or twice a year.  Yes in winter.  The justification for winter tyres is dramatically reduced.  Roads never get gritted, the diesel residue on the highways doesnt exist and the snow is 3 - 5 hours drive away.  There are many who make regular weekend trips to the snow for the season (Queens birthday to first weekend Oct).  Others may only go once or twice per year.  Chains etc are available for hire at many ski rental outlets but they dont allow for low profile and/or wide tyres.  There is also a mandatory law, that you are not allowed to enter a ski resort without carrying chains and they must be diamond pattern.  No socks, ladder or the k-summit type.  They are not deemed legal.  Even though the chance of actually having to drive in snow is about 0.5%

Snow tyres and winter tyres in Australia are a bespoke item and not common off the shelf.  You will have to do some decent searching to find them.

I did 5000km in my RS last year.  It is hard to justify a full set of specialist (for Australia) snow tyres for a couple of 300mile return trips to the ski fields.

 

I agree entirely, if you are doing lots of trips to the alpine areas in Australia (or you live in northern England), then full winter or snow tyres should be used for the season. 

The rules in Australia even state you dont have to carry chains in a 4WD with snow tyres.

 

Storing a spare full set of tyres and rims somewhere for 9 months of the year is painful, so many including the OP are looking for an alternative.  I have just been through the experience and thought I would share my findings.