Winter tyres for my Octavia
I have a Skoda Octavia 1.6FSI Ambiente estate manual. How effective are winter tyres over summer/all-season tyres in snow (if possible, in terms of percentage roughly)? I want to buy an extra set of wheels for winter tyres but have to justify the extra cost and most importantly storage.
My car is fitted with 205 60R15 but vRS are fitted with 225 so thought of buying thicker set to fit 225 55R 16 for better traction. I asked my dealer if 225 will fit my car but she advised me to fit thinner tyres? I am confused.
Your opinion, please?
My car is fitted with 205 60R15 but vRS are fitted with 225 so thought of buying thicker set to fit 225 55R 16 for better traction. I asked my dealer if 225 will fit my car but she advised me to fit thinner tyres? I am confused.
Your opinion, please?
Asked on 19 September 2010 by ES, Leicester
Answered by
Honest John
Thicker tyres are worse in snow. You need a second set of 15" wheels fitted with winter tyres. If your existing wheels are alloy you may need different shouldered bolts to hold steel wheels on.
See these figures from Auto Oggi:
Stopping Distance 40km/h on snow
Winter Tyres 12.8m
Summer Tyres 32.4m.
Stopping Distance 70km/h on dry road at 4c
Winter Tyres 17m
Summer Tyres 23m.
Stopping Distance 80km/h on wet road at 8c
Winter Tyres 25m,
Summer Tyres 35m.
Auto Oggi also noted that a FIAT 500 on winter tyres performed better that a 4x4 on summer tyres.
Try:
www.mytyres.co.uk
www.Wheel-Base.co.uk
www.rarerims.co.uk
Ludicrously, many direct insurers have no facility for recording the fitting of winter tyres as a safety benefit and instead record fitting of them as a modification more likely to lead to a crash.
See these figures from Auto Oggi:
Stopping Distance 40km/h on snow
Winter Tyres 12.8m
Summer Tyres 32.4m.
Stopping Distance 70km/h on dry road at 4c
Winter Tyres 17m
Summer Tyres 23m.
Stopping Distance 80km/h on wet road at 8c
Winter Tyres 25m,
Summer Tyres 35m.
Auto Oggi also noted that a FIAT 500 on winter tyres performed better that a 4x4 on summer tyres.
Try:
www.mytyres.co.uk
www.Wheel-Base.co.uk
www.rarerims.co.uk
Ludicrously, many direct insurers have no facility for recording the fitting of winter tyres as a safety benefit and instead record fitting of them as a modification more likely to lead to a crash.
Cold-snap snow-how: Advice on coping with the freezing weather, including videos, facts and winter driving advice.
Honest John's Guide To Winter Tyres
From choosing the right tyre to what to do when it goes wrong - we have the answers.
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