Winter tyre question

touch

touch

touch

Soldato
Joined
28 Oct 2006
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Location
Sufferlandria
I want to get some winter tyres for my car, but i'm not sure what size to get?
This is what my rim looks like:
scaled.php

The total width of the rim is 165mm, is this what width the tyre should be?
Or is there a tyre seat on the inside of the rim that i should be measuring instead?

Assuming it's 165mm, i'v found the following tyres:
Goodyear ultragrip 8 - £52.66
Conti wintercontact - £66
Vredestien - £74

I'v heard good reviews about the ultragrips, so are any of the others worth the extra cost?
 
No, they're not the same size.
My normal tyres are 195mm wide. Am i right in thinking that it's ok to have a different width of tyre? They will be the same circumference.
(I'v heard that narrower tyres can give better grip in snow as well?)
 
Don't forget to tell your insurance company about this 'modification' so they can put a hefty premium on your policy.
 
fadetoblack said:
Most don't as long as the rims are ok size in his cars users handbook.
Click to expand...

A lot were charging extra last year just for changing from summer to winter tyres on the same wheels, nevermind changing the actual wheel and tyre size too.

edit - as for the tyres, you'll want to know what your current size is so you can try and match the rolling radius, otherwise you'll throw your speedo out.

A 6.5 inch wheel should be fine with 195 width tyres.
 
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Ahh, i'v found the size stamped on the rim.
They are 5.5 JJ. (i guess it's measured from the tyre seats rather than the edges of the rim)
A quick google suggests that 175mm tyres would be a good fit.

I'v also found a calculator that works out that replacing my 15inch 50profiles with 14inch 70profiles will give a 1.8% overreading on the speedo. (Standard wheels for the car were 14inch, 15inch alloys came on the gti trim)

So, a revised list of tyres are:
Vredestein Snowtrac 3 - £54
Goodyear UltraGrip 7+ - £56
Michelin ALPIN A3 - £62

Any preferences with these or other recommendations?
 
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Kenai said:
A lot were charging extra last year just for changing from summer to winter tyres on the same wheels, nevermind changing the actual wheel and tyre size too.

edit - as for the tyres, you'll want to know what your current size is so you can try and match the rolling radius, otherwise you'll throw your speedo out.

A 6.5 inch wheel should be fine with 195 width tyres.
Click to expand...

You should not be charge any more money by insurance companys For fitting winter tyres Says the assiocation of British insurers as some companies gave out wrong information.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11969958
 
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Well, we'll wait and see what happens this year, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see companies hiking premiums again.
 
Kenai said:
Well, we'll wait and see what happens this year, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see companies hiking premiums again.
Click to expand...

They cannot hike premiums for fitting winter rubber. It's only a mod if you fit the wrong size/type of tyre ;-) (insurance companies call centers gave out the wrong information last year)

If they did charge u extra last year ask for your £££ back
 
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touch said:
I'v also found a calculator that works out that replacing my 15inch 50profiles with 14inch 70profiles will give a 1.8% overreading on the speedo. (Standard wheels for the car were 14inch, 15inch alloys came on the gti trim)
?
Click to expand...

Are these the standard wheels for the base spec car then?
 
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