I traded in my 1.6 TDI SE for a 1.0 TSI SE L a year ago and am very happy with the car apart from the dreaded 19 inch Krater wheels with 225/40/19 Bridgestone Turanzas. I have read through many posts on the subject and am tempted to fork out to replace them with 17 inch wheels. I know some folk have said that fitting Michelin Cross Climate 2s improves the ride quality but I am not convinced that replacing one low profile tyre with another would make that much difference. I spoke to my local Skoda dealer who offered to replace the current alloys with Tritons sized 215/55/17 fitted with mid range Falken tyres. I also got a quote from a local (and respected) tyre and alloy supplier who said I needed 225/50/17 size and offered to fit Suzuka wheels and Cross Climate 2 tyres for a couple of hundred quid less than the dealer. I checked both sizes offered on one of the wheel comparison sites which showed the Tritons as giving a very slight over read on the speedometer.  Could anyone please offer any advice on whether the speed overread shown for the Tritons is acceptable and if the size specified by the independent retailer is correct, given the difference in the two sizes quoted?

The correct size for a 2wd on 17's is 215/55x17

I doubt there will be any Slight over reading of the speedometer as it OVER reads now with any OEM sizes.

It might well read accurately with a slight Circumference /total diameter increase. 

Edited 12 December, 20241 yr by Ootohere

Both of the tyres you have been offered would make a negligible difference to rolling circumference / speedo error.

 

The Falken (assuming it's the Euroall Season AS10) is a tyre of mediocre ability and would be attractive only if the package were considerably cheaper than the CrossClimate deal you have been offered, whereas in fact you say it would cost more.  It is no surprise that a good independent is much cheaper for wheels and tyres than a Skoda dealer, who are never competitive.

 

But why is your independent not offering you the right size?  Not that the 225/50x17 is in any way unsafe for the car, but why not stick to one of the Skoda-approved sizes?  Is he perhaps trying to sell you something he happens to have available?  Ask him if he will do you a deal on 215/55x17 CrossClimates.  Even better, ask about any of the three all-season tyres that are newer designs than the ageing CrossClimate and have better abilities all round, particularly on cold wet roads  (though not on snow, where the CrossClimate still wins -- but you won't care about that in Kent).

 

See https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/Best-All-Season-Tyres-2024-2025.htm

 

15 hours ago, mumpsim said:

But why is your independent not offering you the right size? 

I think I'd be concerned about insurance and the risk of not being covered as it isn't one of Skoda's approved sizes.

 

Just an observation about Cross Climate 2s on the 19" crater wheels. I too had Bridgestones on my ex-demo car but after 9k miles bit the bullet and invested in 4 Cross Climate 2s. They definitely ride better than the Bridgestones, last longer and out-perform them winter and summer. The rears are only half worn at 31k miles.

On 12/12/2024 at 19:10, Calais62 said:

I traded in my 1.6 TDI SE for a 1.0 TSI SE L a year ago and am very happy with the car apart from the dreaded 19 inch Krater wheels with 225/40/19 Bridgestone Turanzas. I have read through many posts on the subject and am tempted to fork out to replace them with 17 inch wheels. I know some folk have said that fitting Michelin Cross Climate 2s improves the ride quality but I am not convinced that replacing one low profile tyre with another would make that much difference. I spoke to my local Skoda dealer who offered to replace the current alloys with Tritons sized 215/55/17 fitted with mid range Falken tyres. I also got a quote from a local (and respected) tyre and alloy supplier who said I needed 225/50/17 size and offered to fit Suzuka wheels and Cross Climate 2 tyres for a couple of hundred quid less than the dealer. I checked both sizes offered on one of the wheel comparison sites which showed the Tritons as giving a very slight over read on the speedometer.  Could anyone please offer any advice on whether the speed overread shown for the Tritons is acceptable and if the size specified by the independent retailer is correct, given the difference in the two sizes quoted?

 

Compared to the 225/40R19 tyre size, 215/55R17 has a 0.9% bigger outside diamete and 225/50R17 has a 0.9% smaller outside diameter...as shown in the chart below. In general, less than 1.5% difference is considered insignificant.

 

Outside diameter of tyre

225/40R19 662.6mm

215/55R17 668.3mm (0.9% bigger outside diameter compared to 225/40R19)

225/50R17 656.8mm (0.9% smaller outside diameter compared to 225/40R19)

 

215/55R17 and 225/50R17 have the same standard load index...as shown in the chart below.

 

Standard Load index

215/55R17 94(670kg)

225/50R17 94(670kg)

 

ETRTO approved rim widths for passenger car tyres

215/55R17 6.0-7.0-7.5

225/50R17 6.0-7.0-8.0

 

As you can see in the chart below, there's slightly more protection from kerbing damage with the 225/50R17 tyre size compared to the 215/55R17 tyre size when both are fitted to a 7J rim. This is because the sidewalls on the slightly wider 225/50R17 tyre size bulge out slightly more than the narrower 215/55R17 tyre size...when both are fitted to 7J rims.

 

Rim protection from kerbing damage when fitted to a 7J rim

215/55R17 good

225/50R17 very good

 

Continental AllSeasonContact 2 215/55R17 94V (Euro label B B 70dB)

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m140b0s8825p220589/Continental_Tyres_All_Season_Car_Continental_Conti_All_Season_Contact_2_215_55_R17_94V_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_B_Wet_Grip%3A_B_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_70dB

Edited 13 December, 20241 yr by Carlston

1 hour ago, Carlston said:

 

Continental AllSeasonContact 2 215/55R17 94V (Euro label B B 70dB)

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m140b0s8825p220589/Continental_Tyres_All_Season_Car_Continental_Conti_All_Season_Contact_2_215_55_R17_94V_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_B_Wet_Grip%3A_B_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_70dB

 

That is an outstandingly good all-season tyre.

 

I realise you were just pointing to it as an example, but if anyone is thinking of buying via that link, allow me to mention the following:

 

Camskill is an excellent, reliable supplier with fine customer service and very good pricing if all you want is the tyres and can fit them for next to no cost; but by the time you add delivery and find and pay for a local fitter, it's no longer cheap.  

 

For example, buying the Conti 215/55 R17 94v TL from Camskill: £125.20 incl. VAT  x 4 = £500.80 + approx. £26 delivery  + approx. £80 fitting = total approx. £606.

 

Whereas the price at Asda Tyres, with the current discount code WINTER20, delivered to a local fitter of your choice, fitted by them, so you do not have the bother of receiving them at home and taking them to a fitter, nor do you have to deal with it if the delivery goes wrong somehow:  total £538.

 

I have no connection with Asda Tyres or Camskill except as a shopper.

 

Edited 13 December, 20241 yr by mumpsim
clarification

1 hour ago, mumpsim said:

I have no connection with Asda Tyres or Camskill except as a shopper.

And note that neither will have them in THEIR stock, both will be ordering the tyres from a third party.

 

Thanks AG Falco

23 minutes ago, AGFalco said:

And note that neither will have them in THEIR stock, both will be ordering the tyres from a third party.

 

Thanks AG Falco

 

Not quite. Colewood Automotive, the company behind Asda Tyres, is an intermediary but Camskill are stockholders on a large scale.

10 hours ago, mumpsim said:

Camskill are stockholders on a large scale.

Are you comparing them to the likes of Stapelton's or MTS?

Their one depot / warehouse in Whitehaven is not that big.

Their stock value is showing at about £500,000 last year.

MTS is over £85,000,000.

With orders I have seen come through, the tyres have come from the tyre manufactures and/or their distributors.

 

 

10 hours ago, mumpsim said:

Colewood Automotive,

Also run Etyres & RAC tyres.

 

Thanks. AG Falco

On 12/12/2024 at 20:17, mumpsim said:

The Falken (assuming it's the Euroall Season AS10) is a tyre of mediocre ability and would be attractive only if the package were considerably cheaper than the CrossClimate deal you have been offered,

I assume you mean AS210

 

There is a new all season in their range AS220 (no idea how good it is, but logically ought to be better than older version)