Winter Wheels and Tyres

[Daz Auto]

Nice wheels. Some of you guys just don't compromise.

I really like my Seattle shadows and was not looking forward to putting the 10 spoke 16" Passat rims on my car. They look rubbish beside the Seattle shadows. Now the winters and rims are fitted to the car they look... well, not as bad as I thought they would. 

£120 for rims from breakers, £10 for wonder wheels to clean the rims, 4 hours scrubbing, £356 for Ultragrip 8's, £24 for fitting tyres to rims and a set of 4 VW tyre storage bags for £25. So £535 total.

The tyre storage bags are a great job for keeping me and the car clean

[p3eps]

What kind of figure are you looking at to have them powder coated?

They were done by a company in Aberdeen called PPS. They did them for £40 each as we use them for stuff at work - so I got a few quid off. I think they were meant to be £45 per wheel.

It was pretty good in the snow last year before the winter tyres were on. I did get stuck in my carpark on Christmas day cause it was quite deep. My neighbour and I pushed the car out whilst my wife drove (the only time she's ever been allowed in the drive seat!).

[mike.]

I fitted my Winters last weekend shod on 17" Monzas.

The grip they give is superb especially exiting roundabouts in the wet, no wheel spin at all.
Road noise has been reduced probably due to going from 18" to 17", in fact I think the car feels more positive and alive.

Maybe I will just keep them on..

[dubber36]

I fitted my Winters last weekend shod on 17" Monzas.

The grip they give is superb especially exiting roundabouts in the wet, no wheel spin at all.
Road noise has been reduced probably due to going from 18" to 17", in fact I think the car feels more positive and alive.

Maybe I will just keep them on..

D'ya know, I was thinking the same. It's just I don't think they'll last too long once it warms up in the spring.

I fitted a set of Hankook W300 Ice Bears on 17's on my Passat. Apart from being a bit squirmy for the first few miles, when it's wet and greasy, they are superb.

[GolfTi]

I've been driving for years and never seen the need for winter tyres, this is a subject I can only read and think WTF?



Jim

Just hope you're not in front of me when the white stuff comes.
Winters are safer in the winter. Simple.

[dubber36]

I'm a mere spring chick, as I didn't pass my test until 1987. I have managed all this time without them. Through some proper winters as well, but I thought this year I'd give them ago. The difference even on damp, cold, greasy country roads is very noticable. Factor in the reduced wear rate (summers wear faster when it's cold) and it all makes perfect sense.

[Ess_Three]

Yeah, they're 18's.  The good thing is that being a genuine VAG group wheel, they have an ET51 (my Talladegas are ET50) so they're a perfect fit.
An inch smaller and 1/2 inch less wide.  That's about as much as I was prepared to sacrifice!!

Same here!
I drop from 8.5"x19" to 8"x18" for winter....same width of tyre.

[The Doc]

I think a lot of this depends on your location?

We have winters for our 4x4 but not the golf as I just won use it if it's very icey or it snows.

[p3eps]

I've been driving for the last 16 years and have to say the Golf is one of the best cars I've driven in the snow.
Sure, the Golf R now has 4wd - but even my ED30 a couple of years back was a delight compared to some of my previous cars.

My wife drives a BMW 120 Cabrio - which doesn't move once there is a little more than frost on the ground... so I have to take her everywhere (since she only gets to drive it in extreme emergencies!)

At the end of the day - when you look at the cost of the car overall... what difference does another few £££'s ontop for a set of winter tyres make?
I've noticed a difference already in the 5 days I've had them on - with how well they grip in the damp / cold conditions.  Maybe they'll save me having to pay out a large excess on an insurance claim?  Maybe they'll stop me getting stuck in my car park?  Maybe not?!

[Neil gti]

A few more dodgy pics with new winters on