GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Golf mk7 GTD/TDI => Topic started by: runningman35 on 10 October 2014, 23:28
-
Had a mk5 GTI for a couple of years and loved driving it with original 17's with Pirelli Sottozeros for winter boots, and really made a difference in Aberdeenshire and Scottish Highlands.
Now I am getting the GTD delivered shortly, my first thought was to prepare for winter with a few coats of wax and new winter boots, but maybe a 2nd set of wheels and tyres (17" ) being my gut feeling as read a lot about traction issues the car has with different std fitment tyres on 18's and my worry is this may remain and be worse going to Winters in the same fitment?
Comments/experience from any forum regulars over last winter perhaps? :smiley:
-
I'm looking at 17”winters for my gtd and possibly even 16”s. Smaller 16's will be better than 17's or 18's for traction.
-
I was wondering about that too, but having not seen my car yet, I wasn't sure if 16" wheel and tyres would fit over the discs?
A lot of websites don't list the GTD model specifically so again not much help when looking for suitable combos!
:undecided:
-
The VW winters are 16”steel wheels but I'd quite like some 17”vw alloys
-
Bought these last Winter from Mytyres:
DEZENT TD black 7.00 x 17 (LK 5/112, OS 48) with Nokian WR-A3 205/50 R17 93V
Very reasonable priced compared to VW's offering. I think they look pretty good on my Night Blue GTD. Regarding performance can't really comment as last Winter wasn't bad however damp/wet traction was definitely improved. Personally I would always have a separate set of wheels/tyres rather than change tyres twice per year
Andy
-
I bought Nankang Snow for my old A1 and was really impressed with them.
In slippery conditions they felt reassuringly safe.
There is only one way in and out of my road which is a reasonably steep hill. When it snowed one year cars were taking a run at it and getting stuck half way up. The Nankang tyres took the car up the hill with ease. In fact to test them I actually came back down the hill and then went back up it deliberately stopping half way up.
I don't have other winter tyres to compare them to apart from Yokohama Ice that are on my daughters car but since we never really got snow or ice last year its difficult to compare them.
I know they're not just for snow and ice but for me that is when I would need them most.
-
Likewise, I ran the Nankang Snow SV-2 for four seasons on my GTI and thought they were excellent. They excelled in compacted snow and were actually very good in the dry. It was only in wet greasy conditions that traction became an issue when pushing on, but I used that as a healthy reminder that the roads were slippy and to ease off.
-
I bought Nankang Snow for my old A1 and was really impressed with them.
In slippery conditions they felt reassuringly safe.
There is only one way in and out of my road which is a reasonably steep hill. When it snowed one year cars were taking a run at it and getting stuck half way up. The Nankang tyres took the car up the hill with ease. In fact to test them I actually came back down the hill and then went back up it deliberately stopping half way up.
I don't have other winter tyres to compare them to apart from Yokohama Ice that are on my daughters car but since we never really got snow or ice last year its difficult to compare them.
I know they're not just for snow and ice but for me that is when I would need them most.
I laughed when I read your comments about stopping on your home hill road and deliberately trying to move off without getting stuck! :grin:Done exact same thing at my parents house, which was desperate some winters! I used to get up the road in reverse for around 1 mile climb up the hill before, I could afford to buy a decent set of winter tyres.
On that note I think I will try to go down spare set of wheels and rubber combo, as I do a lot of miles so definitely a way to try keep original alloys and summer tyres fresher for longer!
-
You'll definitely need them in Aberdeenshire.
I mind driving to Alford one year in the winter when Glasgow had a sprinkling of snow. Got there and it was easily a foot deep! That was in the 90's though when we had skinny / small tyres so snow was no problem back then :grin:
-
Yeah, I remember 1995 winter when I got snowed in at a local Hotel I was working at as a barman and that was Xmas eve, and snow was 1.5feet in 12 hours, and managed to get out in the morning with assistance of the owner only to slide like on polished glass surface he had made with his tractor plough and prang my dad's Impreza 1.8 GL. Knocked out the front fogs on a snow bank and scared the sh!t out of myself, as like Bambi on ice! Doubt even snow tyres would have helped much then, needed studded tyres!
Happy days LOL :laugh:
-
Does the GTD need 17" or 16" wheels to clear the brakes?
-
Hi Phope,
Been into the local dealers on Friday to get my Key Fob refitted with the GTD End Cap as didn't have the Torx screw driver to fit, and apparently neither did the supplying dealer?
Anyway, asked about what VW recommend on the GTD specifically for Winter Tyres. The official word apparently is that 17" is the default size and 16" will not fit properly and don't seem to be an option supported by third party package suppliers either for the specific car model. I was told to new winter tyre and wheel package is likely to be officially released by end of October/start of November by VW dealers and to call back in a couple of weeks to find out more.
My car is a lease car through employer and they have a mobile fitting agreement with Kwik Fit and expect me to contact them to change tyres and not allowed to change wheels or invalidate the insurance according to the helpline advice I received on Friday? Can't understand why 18 or 19" wheels being allowed as options on company cars and then insisting on going down a preferred supplier route to Winter Tyres and no flexibility on reducing diameter of wheels which undermines the whole point in preparing for winter adequately, as low profile, wide aspect ratio tyres winter or not, will always perform a lot worse than narrower aspect ratio, taller profile ones.
Not sure what to do now and will get advice from senior colleagues? :undecided:
-
Have a look what is the original fitment for VW for the GTD in terms of winter tyres (and you'll see it's a smaller wheel).
UK insurances are f**king stupid in my opinion.... I cannot get winter tyres because 'our insurance premiums will go up' as they count it as a 'mod'. Sure... driving with my summer tyres in winter is safe :shocked:
Personally I'd go for 16" and a set of 205 Nokian WR D3 tyres (instead of the 225 17" tyres).
Though KwikFit don't do Nokian tyres... you aren't with Leaseplan by any chance?
-
Someone posted on a forum which insurance companies will charge extra for winter wheels but I can't find it. Majority don't charge now but it's always worth asking. As for vw dealer saying 16's won't fit unfortunately they are talking complete bull s4it. The official vw winter package is 16”steel wheels with the exception being for pp gti's as they have slightly bigger discs.
-
Have a look at
https://www.abi.org.uk/Insurance-and-savings/Products/Motor-insurance/Winter-tyres (https://www.abi.org.uk/Insurance-and-savings/Products/Motor-insurance/Winter-tyres)
regarding insurance companies and their position re Winter tyres.
16" wheels fit but they look a bit rubbish, 17" definitely look better. In terms of performance the wheel diameter makes no difference, the tyre width is the key factor, narrower is better so something like a 205/50 on a 17" rim gives a good balance in terms of performance in winter/non winter but cold weather performance
-
Who cares if they look rubbish its functionality you want not prizes for beauty!!
-
Who cares if they look rubbish its functionality you want not prizes for beauty!!
I certainly do, especially when there's no need
-
If this warm autumnal weather lasts much longer, the prices of winter tyres should tumble.
-
Who cares if they look rubbish its functionality you want not prizes for beauty!!
I certainly do, especially when there's no need
No need for what?
-
Who cares if they look rubbish its functionality you want not prizes for beauty!!
I certainly do, especially when there's no need
No need for what?
Doh. If your happy with 16" wheels then go for them but don't suggest you can't have beauty and functionality and the same time
-
If you prefer style over substance then that's up to you :grin: :wink:
-
I have pleaded the case for smaller wheels and narrower tyres and yes I very much value substance over style when winter is considered and no laughing matter with amount of miles I do I.e. 25k plus per annum mostly business miles. I await reply from company car supplier on winter policy and a chance they may go with my suggestion from what I have been told initially. Await a call back next couple of weeks to tell me what I should do.
Suggested they don't hang around now, as November onwards is normally anyone's guess regarding the weather.
:whistle: :undecided:
-
I would have thought as long as it was one of the recommended tyre sizes in the manual, then there would be no hassle
-
Smaller wheels have the obvious advantage of having taller tyres - so if you do handbrake turns you only clip the tyre on kerb :D
Narrow tyres are better in deep snow though and tall tyres are softer if you driving on sh!te road where you can't see potholes or have serious ice ridges (latter applies to studded tyres - normal ones you tend to fly off ;) ).
-
Lol, re sh!te roads and potholes! That'll be most roads I go on in winter then!
The thing about a company car, not a lease car, is it is bound with policy, rules and regs and if you don't do things as you are required to it is a disciplinary issue with your work, so just keeping a clean sheet by awaiting an official response to my request, frustrating as it may be waiting.
At least if I get my way, it'll save me forking out for new wheels and tyres for my X5 which will not be popular with wife before Xmas I'm sure! Don't fancy doing lots of miles in it as only does 27 mpg at best these days!
-
I got a set of Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D, hopefully will be an improvement over the standard tyres.
-
Picked up a cheap set of 18" RS4 replicas and a set of EcoSnow tyres as I visit Germany every month and you have to have winter tyres!
225/40/18's worked fine in the little snow and ice northern Europe faced last year.