Help Needed - No Idea About Winter Tyres

[MPS]

^ this! Gotta love that warble!

[GTI-Ross]

Can someone answer the second part of my question please.....do you use the exact same size and spec or can you change for example 18 x 225 x 40 to 18 x 225 x 45 or to 215

Thanks

[MPS]

I'd say stick to the exact same spec.

[Scottymon]

PMSL, only in Russia:

[GTI-Ross]

anyone use all season tyres? seen as it rains 70% of the year?

[flashp]

I don't know whether it's the child within me, But I really fancy an Impreza WRX/STI this winter, there's something about that offbeat boxer sound that's quite intoxicating, anyone with me? 
I'd keep the Golf, but just want the Impreza parked up somewhere, lol.

I get that!
I had a WRX 2 winters ago and drove 48 miles just to go and play in 6" of snow and some ice. I had Nokian winters on it and it was monumental 
We came home from my sisters in Horsham to Havant in Hampshire at 11-30pm as it was starting to snow heavily. I then informed my wife I was going back to 'play' and I re-arrived home at about 3-30am. Best fun ever, had the roads to myself. 

[flashp]

Can someone answer the second part of my question please.....do you use the exact same size and spec or can you change for example 18 x 225 x 40 to 18 x 225 x 45 or to 215

Thanks

Same size. And don't be tempted to fit them only to the front as some do. That's an accident waiting to happen.

[JoeDarKa]

If you get a cheap set of wheels then it keeps your summer ones fresh, away from all tha horrible salt

[torque777]

Can't understand for the life of me people who slag off winter tyres. 1: They're not snow tires, 2: yes they're more expensive but some facts to counteract these 2 points - 1: Summer tyres wear quicker than winter tyres in colder temps, so by taking them off and storing them until the summer you're not putting any wear on them. 2: Peace of mind that you'll never get stuck in an emergency.

This says it all really

Don't get me wrong I wasn't slagging winter tyres off at all ..I think they are great ..just checking if he really needed them for where he was driving I've used them just on front for extra grip and been fine like that ...also ive not got stuck on top brand summers with good tread ...but I do think winters have there place

sent using my own fingers

[Frodo-anni]

Can someone answer the second part of my question please.....do you use the exact same size and spec or can you change for example 18 x 225 x 40 to 18 x 225 x 45 or to 215

Thanks

Unless your changing your rim size then stick with what you have.

Or buy some other rims ie 17" monza's then you can get a 225/45/17 tyre only sligthly cheaper on rubber, but you have the alloy cost aswell.

I have just bought some 18" monza's for this year to run as winters instead of changing tyres each year.

[Eccie]

Can someone answer the second part of my question please.....do you use the exact same size and spec or can you change for example 18 x 225 x 40 to 18 x 225 x 45 or to 215

Thanks

I bought some used 17" wheels off here & put winter tyres on them, I just swap them over come the cold weather.

Think of it this way, your buying peace of mind if the roads are cold, icy or covered with snow. If your north of birmingham or Manchester and you can afford it - do it

Mine where also much, much better on the greasy autumn roads in the lakes, with leaves everywhere

[Scottymon]

Can someone answer the second part of my question please.....do you use the exact same size and spec or can you change for example 18 x 225 x 40 to 18 x 225 x 45 or to 215
Thanks

They recommend a MAXIMUM of +/- 2.5% difference

http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyre-size-calculator

225/40/18 to 215/45/18 is better than to 225/45/18

.

Seems so early to be talking winter tyres but I'll need two at some point but don't know whether to go for:

Toyo Snowprox S953 in for £100 delivered, thought that was a very good price.
Goodyear Ultragrip Performance 2's for £125 delivered. (these were outstanding on the snow and come above the Conti's for snow performance)
Goodyear Ultragrip 8 Performance for £130 delivered... newer than above... and impressed with Goodyear tyres, AS2's and the above. (Probably go wtih these)
Continental Winter Contacts 830P (can't find the 850 in this dimension) most expensive at £137 ea delivered.

Quite tempted by the Toyo's as I could almost get a third tyre over the cost of two conti's... anyone tried them?  Probably go with the UG8P's though.

What's quite interesting is that the winter tyre tests at 225/40/18 rate the Goodyears above all others, even the Continentals.
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2012-Auto-Bild-Sports-Winter-Tyre-Test.htm

[Ess_Three]

Can someone answer the second part of my question please.....do you use the exact same size and spec or can you change for example 18 x 225 x 40 to 18 x 225 x 45 or to 215

Thanks

The VW approved size is (I think) 205/55/16, which will still clear GT/GTI brakes. My old man runs this size on his winter wheels/tyres...but it looks a bit, er...odd.

I stick to 225/40/18s for both summer and winter wheels & tyres and manage to get about just fine.
There has never need a time where I've got stuck and he manages to get through...so basically, in my view, the size/width of winter tyre makes far less of a difference than the actual move to winter tyres in the first place.

[simonp]

What's quite interesting is that the winter tyre tests at 225/40/18 rate the Goodyears above all others, even the Continentals.
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2012-Auto-Bild-Sports-Winter-Tyre-Test.htm

Errr, there isn't a Continental tyre featured in that test!

[Scottymon]

Wasn't good enough, lol.
All said and done I reckon the difference would be hard to tell against the top 3 or so premium winter boots... Still think the GY have slightly better results on snow though and continental being the better all rounder.

Having used the UG's last year on a longish journey on completely snow covered roads, with heavy snow fall too, the only problem that was presenting itself the higher we got was ground clearance.

Time to get the Landy out with aggressive A/T's Golf did very well though.