Winter Tyres - Stuff you need to know for a novice?

[Spenaldo]

[JellyB]

I was looking for someone who had fitted 16" steels, as this is exactly what I want to do.

Where did you get your set from if you dont mind me asking?

[boydeee]

Love the steelies! They look brilliant 

[2014GTi]

Can you get some that fit the PP brakes? How much? Mmm

[dubber36]

How durable are the steels? They look like they have lots of nooks and crannies and sharp edges that would be difficult to clean and suseptible to rust. Knock on weights look untidy too. I prefer a tidy set of second hand alloys as they seem to be easier to look after.

[corgi]

How durable are the steels? They look like they have lots of nooks and crannies and sharp edges that would be difficult to clean and suseptible to rust. Knock on weights look untidy too. I prefer a tidy set of second hand alloys as they seem to be easier to look after.

This is not about looks but practicality...

The big advantage of steel wheels is it if you hit something in slippery conditions hey tend to bend (and you can fix them ( at least temporarily) with a mallet... Alloys are prone to cracking or breaking in similar conditions... They shouldn't rust unless you scratch them, there shouldn't be any sharp edges they're properly finished...

But... Each to their own

[Spenaldo]

Corgi has it spot on!

Im in the Forces over here in Germany and it is a legal requirement to have the correct tyres for the road conditions, this set cost me 418 Euro fitted, quite cheap but we do have the luxury of TAX exemption.

Most cars have steelies on, it does come down to a personal choice and obviously, the cost.
Come the snow time, alloys, steels they will all get minging due to the road conditions.

[dubber36]

I get that, but in this country we don't really get that much snow, so risk of damage is pretty minimal and as most car "enthusiasts" will try to keep their cars clean throughout the winter, the wheels won't get chance to get minging.

I bought a set of secondhand OEM alloy wheels to fit my winter tyres to on my Passat. If I take off the value of the nearly new Continental "summer" tyres that they came with (which I can use next year) they cost me £120. I'll do my best to keep them clean and tidy and I'll get that money back by selling them when I sell the car.

[corgi]

I get that, but in this country we don't really get that much snow, so risk of damage is pretty minimal and as most car "enthusiasts" will try to keep their cars clean throughout the winter, the wheels won't get chance to get minging.

I bought a set of secondhand OEM alloy wheels to fit my winter tyres to on my Passat. If I take off the value of the nearly new Continental "summer" tyres that they came with (which I can use next year) they cost me £120. I'll do my best to keep them clean and tidy and I'll get that money back by selling them when I sell the car.

I was answering the question you asked about the steel wheels and why you might fit them instead of alloys... I didn't express a preference for which was right.

Each to their own...

[dubber36]

Please don't think that I am disagreeing with you Corgi.

Generally when I see a steel wheel that is a few years old, it looks shabby. I am guessing that it's down to the style of it and the relatively sharp edges where the holes are formed, meaning thinner paint. I also understand the utilitarian benefits of been able to hammer it straight if it's been bent against a kerb. On a nice car, they are just not for me.

I'm lucky enough to work for myself from home, so I don't 'have' to drive in the worst conditions if I don't want to. That makes it easy for me to look after my wheels and run the risk of damaging them.