Winter Wheels and Tyres

[R32UK]

i just bought some pirelli winter tyres for my clio... that thing is going to be a machine in this snow we had today 

[mkviken]

anyone know would OEM vw 15" mk5/6 wheels fit a gti mk6?

or is 16" smallest i could go?

[Hartside]

I think 16" is the smallest you can go to fit over the brake calipers

[Ess_Three]

I think 16" is the smallest you can go to fit over the brake calipers

That's correct...16s are as small as you can go.

[Daz Auto]

anyone know would OEM vw 15" mk5/6 wheels fit a gti mk6?

or is 16" smallest i could go?

There are big brake calipers in the front of my car. The alloys need to be 16"+ to leave room for the calipers AFAIK. VW recommend 16" or 17" with narrower tyres for winter use.

The roads were covered in snow and ice this morning on my way to work. I decided to really test the winter tyres on a back road through the mountains. I would never have attempted this in summer tyres. The road had no black tyre tracks it was completely white. I was expecting to see a lot of the traction control light on some of the steeper hills. It came on once when the DSG changed down and the engine revved on one of the steepest bits.

The winter tyres are better than I expected. The difference has to be experienced to be believed. Amazing!

[Buck]

The roads were covered in snow and ice this morning on my way to work. I decided to really test the winter tyres on a back road through the mountains. I would never have attempted this in summer tyres. The road had no black tyre tracks it was completely white. I was expecting to see a lot of the traction control light on some of the steeper hills. It came on once when the DSG changed down and the engine revved on one of the steepest bits.

The winter tyres are better than I expected. The difference has to be experienced to be believed. Amazing!

Totally agree - outside temperatures have been c.2⁰C since Sunday and have I noticed a difference? Absolutely!!

- Quieter
- More supple ride
- no wheel spin
- 'sticky' driving


I'm just wondering why it's taken me over 25 years of driving to realise what I've been missing!!

[I.D.C.]

I got 20% off Michelin Alpine tyres at Cosco. As I originally upgraded the alloys still means I have the original 17's.
The wife's work is in a village on high ground where she told me the snow was quite deep.At her work the car park has a steep incline.
The GTI was the only car in the car park and my wife was told she wont get it back out. It drove out no problem.
The wife said she did not feel the car slipping at any time.
Glad to hear that because with the 20% discount they were £620 which took me by surprise.

[Buck]

^^ not cheap as you say.

My set up including wheels was around £950 but I've already forgotten the dent in the wallet and am set on enjoying the drive and the reassurance they bring in every day driving.

[p3asa]

If they are quieter, more grip in the winter and just as good in the wet, is there any reason to buy "all season" tyres in the future?

Should we not just run with these throughout the year or is there a marked difference in the warm weather?

[dubber36]

Should we not just run with these throughout the year or is there a marked difference in the warm weather?

They don't work too well when they are hot I'm told. Also, increased wear rate in higher temperatures. Just like increased wear rate through the winter months with "summer" tyres.