Yesterday, I finally got around to fitting my Avon Ice Tourings / Skoda Vega (off an Elegance) 16" alloys. Just in time - it started snowing as soon as I got the jack under the car.

The tyres worked out about £52 a corner from mytyres.co.uk with quidco. I bought the 3 of the wheels in mint condition from a member on here for £165 with tyres, got another kerbed one for free from Zoidberg . I sold the three tyres for £30 and spent £30 on a refurb of the one from Zoidberg. Fitting and balancing the Avons was £5 a corner. So it all works out at about £400 all in.

I'd already protected the alloys with a couple of coats of sealant when I bought them in the summer, so I just had to protect the tyres...

A couple of coats of the Megs Endurance gel left them looking really good...

Then the snow started...

The 16" Vegas fit over the VRS brakes with room to spare - calliper a couple of mm from the balancing weights...

A couple of finished shots. They look much better than I thought they would. I've left my 15mm spacers on the rear which helps a lot...

I had to drive on some ungritted roads last night and this morning and I have to say they were SUCH a good investment. They can't work miracles and I'm sure more expensive winter tyres would be better still, but it's so much more sure-footed than on normal summer tyres. For what I spent, I'm more than happy. I'll feel much happier driving in the Alps this time.

Edited 13 July, 201015 yr by wega3k

Looks pretty good actually. You should really appreciate them in this weather

i've been thinking about doing the same but the smallest I can get is 17's so its gunna be pricey. Still looks suprisingly good

Got to be done in this weather.

On one of the other threads, one of the posters drove off and because of lack of grip went into a bit of a slide and caused 480 quid worth of damage sliding into a kerb.

That's 90 quid more than you paid wega and you're not wearing out your summer tyres at the same time.

winter tyres are the way forward, e

It's a shame, because the Ultrac Sessanta footprint in the snow is so pretty !

It's a shame, because the Ultrac Sessanta footprint in the snow is so pretty !

That's not snow... you just sprayed some shaving foam on your drive

That's not snow... you just sprayed some shaving foam on your drive

Jeepers - I'm so glad I put my incontinence pants on this morning

LOL - Bryan wears incontinence pants.

It's a shame, because the Ultrac Sessanta footprint in the snow is so pretty !

Did you push the car?

Normally with ample snow, you will not get these prints from the front wheels

Edited 20 December, 200916 yr by magic62

LOL - Bryan wears incontinence pants.

If I know I'm in for a long stint on the site it's a necessity, as you can guarantee some smart bugger will make you **** yourself :wonder:

They look just fine on a VRS.

Glad to see that wheel getting some use.

Look pretty good and certainly a good idea

Dan - why do you need 17s as a minimum? Surely you'd get 16s on the A4 as well?

Steve

Believe the callipers are too big on the A4 TFSI for 16s. That said, a bit of googling has just thrown up some contradictory information so possibly still worth investigating and test fitting a 16?

Edited 20 December, 200916 yr by wega3k

Believe the callipers are too big on the A4 TFSI for 16s. That said, a bit of googling has just thrown up some contradictory information so possibly still worth investigating and test fitting a 16?

Perhaps a simple check for this is to see if any of the (basic spec) A4s have 16" wheels fitted. If they do you ought to be OK; although watch out on the offset of the wheels you want to put on.

Got to be done in this weather.

yeh absolutely, for a couple of days a year we may have the fortune of having some snow.

Perhaps a simple check for this is to see if any of the (basic spec) A4s have 16" wheels fitted. If they do you ought to be OK; although watch out on the offset of the wheels you want to put on.

the brakes are the same as JKM's big brake upgrade kit but run 320mm discs rather than 345mm. The JKM kit requires 18" alloys so if my brake setup is an inch smaller id have thought I could only get away with 17" wheels

As for the basic spec A4, im not sure if it has the same brake setup as mine though if I can get hold of a 16" wheel to try Im gunna see if I can get it on, winter tyres would have been nice today when it comes to stoping

Winter wheels are defo worth it if you cn stretch to buying a set. Luck I was in the Pug tonight as I slide on ice (knew it was there so was going very slow) straight into the kerb. Just aswel its the work wreak!

Nice to see the snow did not but you off doing work on the car!!

These were spot on in the Alps last week. Didn't have to use the chains once. Only time I slipped at all was getting up a steep incline in a car park from a standing start, which I had to have two goes at. As it was fully covered in thick ice with a layer of fresh powder snow on top so I can live with that.

I'll be taking them off in a couple of weeks till next winter, but they've been a great investment and one which I wish more people would make.

Edited 24 February, 201016 yr by wega3k

This is good to see..............Im looking to do this on my new DSG Octy as ive heard the DSG's are useless in snow and ice so i thought ill do what i can to help! Just how much of a difference to they make for grip. I have a slope getting out of my estate that when it snows and is icy is pretty much reserved for some 4 x 4's and my current Mondeo ST TDCI is a defeinate no go up this hill in snow and ice. Do they improve the grip that much that i stand a chance??!

Cheers

PS anyone got any Skoda 16" alloys for sale?

Im hearing the OT-police coming

I saw these for the first time and I have to say.........

They look gash!!

But I like function over form occasionally, and therefore they score 10/10 from me. Definitely a great investment and something that other people (including myself) should do.

The only problem is, my stupidly big brakes :(

hi there, can i ask, what size of tyre did you put on and what speed rating? we are picking up the new vrs 2mw and i fancy investing in winters

If 16" the only Skoda approved size is 205/55 x 16.

I drove the HR rated ones as well as currently VR rated ones.

But because I live here in Germany and do longer stints on the autobahn, I accept the extra cost of VR tyres (because I dont have to look at the speedo all the time )

hi there, can i ask, what size of tyre did you put on and what speed rating?

205/55/R16 V rated