I use the standard vRS alloys as winter wheels now that I have the TT Comps.

The Toyos on the vRS alloys have amount a months worth of life on them before they need replacing.

Ideally I would like to replace them with cheap-ish tyres, as they will only be used for 3-4 months of the year.

I'm considering some proper winter tyres. Anybody using any? Recommendations?

Yep.

I've tried several sorts, nearly all V rated.

Contis were good, Pirelli Snowsport 240 was very good, Vredesteins not bad, Goodyear ones (can't remember the name) were good too. I see Toyo also make some....

In H rated I rather like the Michelin Pilot Alpin

Take a look at this thread.

I have Vredestein Wintracs :thumbup:

Are winter tyres more expensive?

Not if you get H rated ones

Do a search on mytyres.co.uk - Tyres for PASSENGER CARs cheap, bargains, look + save to see what there is available....

No winter tyres available on 205/45 R16 on mytyres.

Is it worth dropping down the width & upping the ratio?

F00k me! 195/50 R16 are £85ish for Pirelli 210 Snowsport!

IMHO no point putting winter wheels on if you are going to use summer tyres.

You can get some pretty decent winter tyres for a good price most the time.

IMHO no point putting winter wheels on if you are going to use summer tyres.

You can get some pretty decent winter tyres for a good price most the time.

You haven't read my first post then. I have a set of summer wheels (TT Comps)AND winter wheels (standard vRS).

The Toyos were were fitted before I got the TT Comps.

Unless your running 312 brakes go for 15" alloys, you can get a tatty set for around £40 from a VAG forum ( I got oz volcanos for £50 ) Winter tyres either 195/50 or 205/50 are really cheap for this size.

I even used them in the past for trackday tyres as they are also a lot cheaper

TOYO TYRES / WINTER-SNOW CAR / TOYO SNOWPROX S950 - 205/50R15 86H :

Unless your running 312 brakes]

Yes I am!

I am using my standard vRS 16" alloys as winter wheels.

You haven't read my first post then. I have a set of summer wheels (TT Comps)AND winter wheels (standard vRS).

The Toyos were were fitted before I got the TT Comps.

What i meant, was that I don't see any point putting new non-winter tyres on the stock wheels as that makes them pointless as a winter wheel combo.

For winter I have Toyo Snowprox on my Fabia vRS, mounted on standard VAG steel wheels (like the spare). Good and bad:

Good bits:

No slipping around on black ice and stuff. Much faster pulling away at lights in the wet.

They don't really cost much over 4 years or so you will have them (so you need to keep the car to get your money's worth, or sell 'em on eBay), as you are not wearing out your 'summer' tyres so the only additional cost is the 2nd set of wheels.

They are soft and the ride is nice for the winter.

Bad bits:

Unless the temperature is low (like less than 7 C) the car torque steers when you out your foot down, and the cornering is not quite as good. Until This month there had (in Manchester) only been about 6 occasions that warranted them being on the car, but it has been unusually mild on the whole.

You have to store the other set of wheels/tyres when not on the car.

Not if you get H rated ones

Do a search on mytyres.co.uk - Tyres for PASSENGER CARs cheap, bargains, look + save to see what there is available....

Mine are Z rated :D

Been doing a search on the tinterweb & Colway tyres seem to crop up a few times.

The CS790 winter tyres are very cheap @ £30 a corner. I think I might go for a set of these & see what they are like.

Colway CS790's aren't available locally & the price for Vredestein Wintrac Extremes were £120 each!!

So, I've gone for a set of Hankook Sport K104's. Not winter tyres, I know, but cheap enough @ £55 a corner.