Winter tyres?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Glen, do you already have a set of winter wheels?   If not, I can dig up the official winter alloy wheels for the Mk5, or if you prefer, I'll look for some similar steels.

And for tyre sizes, probably one of the best websites for wheel and tyre conversions is this one: http://www.venommotorsports.com/library/tirewheelcalculator.asp  Just enter your existing tyre and wheel sizes, and fiddle around with potential options, and it will show you all the differences for wheel revolutions, gearing etc.

[R32UK]

Think Im going to just go with the 17" wheels as my winter wheels. Is there any better than normal tyres for the wet winter months??

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Think Im going to just go with the 17" wheels as my winter wheels. Is there any better than normal tyres for the wet winter months??

What, as in conventional 'summer' tyres such as Mich PS2, Dunflop ShyteMaxx, Goodyear F1 Aysmm? 

Or do you mean which is the best pukka specialist winter tyre? 

[R32UK]

Think Im going to just go with the 17" wheels as my winter wheels. Is there any better than normal tyres for the wet winter months??

What, as in conventional 'summer' tyres such as Mich PS2, Dunflop ShyteMaxx, Goodyear F1 Aysmm? 

Or do you mean which is the best pukka specialist winter tyre? 

Yes sorry should have made that a little clearer. I have the Goodyear F1's (and Potenzas) as my summer tyres so would want something thats good for all the rain and frost we should be having this winter.

Is it worth the change i.e saving your summer tyres for the goodtimes and investing in some tyres that operate better at lower temps and dont mind a little rain??

[Ess_Three]

Glen, do you already have a set of winter wheels?   If not, I can dig up the official winter alloy wheels for the Mk5, or if you prefer, I'll look for some similar steels.

And for tyre sizes, probably one of the best websites for wheel and tyre conversions is this one: http://www.venommotorsports.com/library/tirewheelcalculator.asp  Just enter your existing tyre and wheel sizes, and fiddle around with potential options, and it will show you all the differences for wheel revolutions, gearing etc.

I do not...I don't have a Mk6 either (yet!)

I do have some 195/45/16 Pirelli Snowsports which have never left me stranded in snow, or given me problems in the ice over the last 3 or 4 years (accross both the Mk3 GTI and Fabia vRS)...in fact I have been known to leave them on when it gets a little warm, as you can slide the car around really easily with them on when it gets too warm for them!

I had Toyo SnowProx before the Pirellis.

I don't think I'd run steels...a 17" set of OEM 'nice' easy to clean wheels I can live with.
I had the Spowsports on BBS RXs when I run RXIIs for summer on the Golf, and them on the standard vRS wheels when I run BBS RXs for summer...so want the car to 'look' reasonable whilst still being able to be driven.

205/50/17s seem as close as you can get, diameter and revs/mile wise...so they seem a good option, but any official info would be appreciated, thanks!

[VWKev]

Hmm, dont think I'll be changing anything, I never have in the past 18-20 years, If its snowing out, I'll drive, if the snow is lying the gritters do a good job out my way, if its frosty/black ice I drive like a 70 yo on a Sunday. Job done for me.

[Ess_Three]

Yes sorry should have made that a little clearer. I have the Goodyear F1's (and Potenzas) as my summer tyres so would want something thats good for all the rain and frost we should be having this winter.

Is it worth the change i.e saving your summer tyres for the goodtimes and investing in some tyres that operate better at lower temps and dont mind a little rain??

Yes, it is...if you get the temperatures to justify them. Not just the snow / slush...but if you spend months where the temperature is below 5 degees for several months, I think they are worth it. Having started swapping onto winter wheels on my daily drivers, I can't see me stopping any time soon.

I can't even get my Mk3 GTI off my lockblock driveway in the snow with it's 215/40/16 Toyo T1-Rs on...but put the Pirelli Snowsport 195/45/16s on and I can drive it anywhere (and I have tried 195/50/15 'normal' tyres instead of the Snowsports and they just don't work like winter tyres do).

[Ess_Three]

Hmm, dont think I'll be changing anything, I never have in the past 18-20 years, If its snowing out, I'll drive, if the snow is lying the gritters do a good job out my way, if its frosty/black ice I drive like a 70 yo on a Sunday. Job done for me.

Probably depends where you live in the UK.
Southerners don't get winters (south of Hadrians wall) so they probably don't need winter tyres. Up here in the frozen, rural, north you do, if you want to go anywhere.

[VWKev]

Hmm, dont think I'll be changing anything, I never have in the past 18-20 years, If its snowing out, I'll drive, if the snow is lying the gritters do a good job out my way, if its frosty/black ice I drive like a 70 yo on a Sunday. Job done for me.

Probably depends where you live in the UK.
Southerners don't get winters (south of Hadrians wall) so they probably don't need winter tyres. Up here in the frozen, rural, north you do, if you want to go anywhere.

I'm in Glasgow. Can get bad at times, but not as bad as up north.

[R32UK]

Im in Leeds... it rains quite alot and is relatively hilly (is that even a word??)

p.s. my first visit to scotland today!!