Winter tyres, I need some advice.

I have got 19" wheels on my 2016 230 VRS.

I assume that you should stick with the same size tyres (currently 235/35 R19 91Y POTENZA SPORT XL) for winter tyres but I have read some people go smaller tyres?

Also do most people buy a new set of alloys to put their winter/all season tyres on? and just swap the wheels over rather than swapping the tyres at end of each winter?

Also any recommendations on winter or all season tyres?

Not a vrs but I’ve previously had a separate set of alloys with winter tyres which I swapped on and off appropriately each winter.
 But currently I’m running Michelin cross climates all year round. They’ve been really good in extreme wet and were also perfectly good in snow.

I’m sure you can run smaller wheels with winter tyres on the vrs, but I’d think you’d need to at least inform your insurance that you are varying it from normal whereas using the correct wheels keeps it standard in that respect.

Cross climates have been good but knocked the fuel consumption by about 3mpg. On the other hand I’ve found they are lasting really well compared to normal tyres.

I don’t know whether all season tyres would be a compromise for the good weather handling of a vrs but for ordinary driving they seem pretty good.

5 hours ago, Turnipfarmer84 said:

Winter tyres, I need some advice.

I have got 19" wheels on my 2016 230 VRS.

I assume that you should stick with the same size tyres (currently 235/35R19 91Y POTENZA SPORT XL) for winter tyres but I have read some people go smaller tyres?

Also do most people buy a new set of alloys to put their winter/all season tyres on? and just swap the wheels over rather than swapping the tyres at end of each winter?

Also any recommendations on winter or all season tyres?

 

The standard 19" tyre size on the Octavia MK3 is 225/35R19, not 235/35R19...although those that have tried this 10mm wider size do appear to be happy with their choice.

 

As you have the big 340x30mm front brake discs, the smallest rim size you can use is 17". So either 205/50R17 or 225/45R17 tyre size.

 

For the 205/50R17 tyre size, you could use 6.5Jx17 ET38 5/112 57.1 steel rims from the Kodiaq. ET38 isn't a Skoda approved offset for the use with snow chains with this tyre size, but they should be ok if you're not going to use snow chains. ET45 and ET48 are the two approved offset for the use of snow chains with this tyre size. See the owner's manual for full details.

 

Alcar 9021 6.5Jx17 ET38 5/112 57.1 steel rim (from Kodiaq) (11.58kg)

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/alcar/14750807?search=ALCAR+Rim+(9021)

 

Edited 2 January, 20242 yr by Carlston

The manufactures offer a "winter package" which is usually smaller & narrower.....

 

For the MQB platform with the 340mm front brakes they offer a 17inch alloy..

 

TBH its usually cheaper & easier to find a winter tyre in a smaller alloy & /or narrow tyre size....also a narrow tyre helps to cut through the snow better than a wide tyre.

 

 

My car came with 225/45R17...& I decided to stick with it for both my summer wheels & my winter wheels...(two different complete sets)..its a nice size, wide but with good sidewall for shock reduction ..

21 hours ago, classic said:

Not a vrs but I’ve previously had a separate set of alloys with winter tyres which I swapped on and off appropriately each winter.
 But currently I’m running Michelin cross climates all year round. They’ve been really good in extreme wet and were also perfectly good in snow.

I’m sure you can run smaller wheels with winter tyres on the vrs, but I’d think you’d need to at least inform your insurance that you are varying it from normal whereas using the correct wheels keeps it standard in that respect.

Cross climates have been good but knocked the fuel consumption by about 3mpg. On the other hand I’ve found they are lasting really well compared to normal tyres.

I don’t know whether all season tyres would be a compromise for the good weather handling of a vrs but for ordinary driving they seem pretty good.

Do did you just go like for like swap in terms of size of tyre/alloy? 

 

16 hours ago, Carlston said:

 

The standard 19" tyre size on the Octavia MK3 is 225/35R19, not 235/35R19...although those that have tried this 10mm wider size do appear to be happy with their choice.

 

As you have the big 340x30mm front brake discs, the smallest rim size you can use is 17". So either 205/50R17 or 225/45R17 tyre size.

 

For the 205/50R17 tyre size, you could use 6.5Jx17 ET38 5/112 57.1 steel rims from the Kodiaq. ET38 isn't a Skoda approved offset for the use with snow chains with this tyre size, but they should be ok if you're not going to use snow chains. ET45 and ET48 are the two approved offset for the use of snow chains with this tyre size. See the owner's manual for full details.

 

Alcar 9021 6.5Jx17 ET38 5/112 57.1 steel rim (from Kodiaq) (11.58kg)

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/alcar/14750807?search=ALCAR+Rim+(9021)

 

Many thanks for the advice, I didn't know that I had slightly different size on the car to what they normally come with. These were on the vrs when I got it so just assumed that was the right size. What's the advantages running the 235 vs 225?

 

The steel rims aren't the best looking but they do provide something that you wouldn't be to bothered about getting trashed in the salt etc. 

 

Is it possible just to do direct swap and get winter/all season tyres to fit over my existing 19 rims and then I'll purchase brand new set of alloys and put summer tyres on them and swap them over on car when needed throughout the year? This might be the easiest option for me as my current set of Xtrem alloys need refurbishment anyway. 

 

11 hours ago, fabdavrav said:

The manufactures offer a "winter package" which is usually smaller & narrower.....

 

For the MQB platform with the 340mm front brakes they offer a 17inch alloy..

 

TBH its usually cheaper & easier to find a winter tyre in a smaller alloy & /or narrow tyre size....also a narrow tyre helps to cut through the snow better than a wide tyre.

 

 

My car came with 225/45R17...& I decided to stick with it for both my summer wheels & my winter wheels...(two different complete sets)..its a nice size, wide but with good sidewall for shock reduction ..

I presume I'd have to ask the dealer about the winter package? 

 

It's just knowing which rim to drop down to from 19inch.

Yes, I got a set of identical original alloys from a breakers and got winter tyres fitted. 
Mine were 16” and the wheels were around £270 for the set including delivery. I guess VRs wheels will be more money…

I also sold them with the winters on and pretty much got the wheel money back.

There are often sets advertised on here.

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/333-wheels-tyres-for-sale/

Edited 3 January, 20242 yr by classic

1 hour ago, Turnipfarmer84 said:

 

 

I presume I'd have to ask the dealer about the winter package? 

 

It's just knowing which rim to drop down to from 19inch.

 

Yes , but I wouldn't worry....

 

 

If you want to solely drop down one alloy size then its an 18inch rim.....& factory winter package was 18x7.5" ET51 with 225/40R18 92V XL..

 

The normal 18" alloy "summer package" was the same as above but with 92Y tyres...(ET might have changed due to alloy style)

 

 

11 hours ago, Turnipfarmer84 said:

What's the advantages running the 235/35R19 vs 225/35R19?

 

The 235/35R19 gives a little more protection from potholes and kerbing damage. Still not great though, compared to 225/45R17 fitted to a 7J rim width.

 

Here's an example of a good all-season tyre that you might consider fitting to an Octavia MK3 VRS.

 

Continental AllSeasonContact 2 225/45R17 94W XL (All-Season tyre)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rshop/tyre/Continental/AllSeasonContact-2/225-45-R17-94W-XL-EVc/D-127991

 

Notice that the above 17" tyre is a lot cheaper than the far more expensive and less common 235/35R19 tyre size.

 

Continental AllSeasonContact 2 235/35R19 91Y XL (All-Season tyre)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rshop/tyre/Continental/AllSeasonContact-2/235-35-R19-91Y-XL-EVc/D-128033

 

Edited 3 January, 20242 yr by Carlston