Winter Wheels question.

[dubber36]

I had a set of 225-45-17's Hankook Ice Bears on my Passats standard wheels last year. I didn't really get chance to try them in the snow, but even on cold, greasy winter B roads, they felt so much secure than the Michelin PS3's that had come off. Well worth having in my opinion.

I have just bought a set of very cheap Audi S line wheels, that are away being refurbed and powder coated anthracite at the moment. The winter tyres will be going on them, which will make swapping from summer to winter tyres much easier.

[Ess_Three]

Essthree would the contact area not be a different shape with narrower tyres (tyre pressures, car weight, axle loads all been equal)

Yeah, I'd expect so...especially so with the narrower tyre.
Good for cutting through slush, the flipside being you have less of the proper cold temperature rubber compound on the road.

[Snoopy]

Essthree would the contact area not be a different shape with narrower tyres (tyre pressures, car weight, axle loads all been equal)

Yeah, I'd expect so...especially so with the narrower tyre.
Good for cutting through slush, the flipside being you have less of the proper cold temperature rubber compound on the road.

From what I remember which may be incorrect, if weight, pressure are kept the same (everything been equal)  its only the shape of the contact patch that changes shape not amount of rubber in contact.

[Ess_Three]

From what I remember which may be incorrect, if weight, pressure are kept the same (everything been equal)  its only the shape of the contact patch that changes shape not amount of rubber in contact.

I believe that's the case. However, the tyre pressures between different widths.diameters differs...so potentially this does have an impact?

I have certainly never noticed any adverse affects to running 225 wide winter tyres, so long as the compound & tread pattern is formulated for the cold weather/snow.

What I do know, is my 225 wide Goodyear F1s are lethal below 5 degrees C - there is just no grip.
ANY winter tyre is an improvement after that.

[andykram]

Spoke to dealer today and he was recommending 17 x 8 or 17 x 7 1/2s on my car. Rubber recommendation would be 215/45, either Conti or Vredeestein Wintracs although the reviews I've read seem to point to Goodyear UltraGrip 8s being very very good.

Does all the above seem a reasonable compromise?

[Ess_Three]

Spoke to dealer today and he was recommending 17 x 8 or 17 x 7 1/2s on my car. Rubber recommendation would be 215/45, either Conti or Vredeestein Wintracs although the reviews I've read seem to point to Goodyear UltraGrip 8s being very very good.

Does all the above seem a reasonable compromise?

Yup...sounds good.
For a 215 wide tyre I'd be tempted to go for a 7.5" wide wheel...an OEM wheel would fit the bill there.

I know the Conti winters won a recent tyre test, I've used the Vredesteins and they are very good, and a friend runs the Goodyears...they are also very good.
I doubt you'll be unhappy with any mix of the above.

[andykram]

Nice one Ess - now just to find an alloy I can live with for 2 or three months. Fancy a change so not going to go for 17 inch Monzas. There are loads and loads to choose from so a trawl on the net beckons!!!

[Spartacus]

Nice one Ess - now just to find an alloy I can live with for 2 or three months. Fancy a change so not going to go for 17 inch Monzas. There are loads and loads to choose from so a trawl on the net beckons!!!

check out mytyres

You can spec 17 or 18 inch alloys from a choice and then add your choice of winter tyres. Came to £900 all in, fitted, balced and delivered with vredestein wintracs - 225/40/18.

I spent ages trawling ebay but did not want to be lumbered with any dodgy repairs or even dodgier copies.

I have vredetein wintracs on my ML in the winter and they are truly superb.

[andykram]

I'd looked on mytyres Spartacus but hadn't spotted they did the wheels too. Just had a look and they do the wheel I was looking at anyway at another dealer. £954 with a set of Goodyear 8s on which get brilliant reviews. And should last two or three winters too.

[wigit]

i ran winters on the sh!tty for the city last year and became a monster convert, its lack of power and 14" steelies made it the weapon of choice

mk6 will be tucked away for winter but picking up a spare set of alloys for the pirelli tomorrow which will be running oem 18s on some winter rubber for mrs w