Which winter wheels and tyres?

[Bubbles996]

Hi all, could you please help. My wife has a 2008 Sidewalk convertible running on 205/45/17 tyres. She is as nervous as Bambi in the snow so I would appreciate some advice on the best winter wheel sizes and tyres to use. These would probably be put on at the end of August and swapped over at the end of May! Only joking - Nov to Feb obviously.

Thanks

[dandarez]

Wouldn't bother. I had set last year. Load of hype over the last week or so about winter tyres so now there is a supply problem and hey, guess what, cheaper than normal tyres have now become far dearer! If you live in Finland then yes you need them.

Camskill is one of the best places for good tyre prices and they have only Vredestein winter tyres now in stock in 17 inch at £133 each! I can buy a Dunlop 01 W rating runflat for that!
If you must have them then just change to winter tyres on her 17 alloys, don't bother buying another set of wheels as well.
The way this country goes we will probably have the mildest Christmas ever! Then, if you are still on winter tyres they'll get f..... Once temperature rises above 7 degrees they wear like hell.

I'd just make sure the normal tyres she has are in top condition. Just tell her to drive carefully, keep your foot of the brake pedal... cos even if you have winter tyres fitted it still won't prevent the lorry or van or car driven by a dope from running into her!
Fit winter tyres and she'll probably get that over confident feeling, I'm ok now and ...bang!

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m11b0s...

[JCW]

You'll need to go to 17" rims or smaller. The Nokians I run are excellent although I think you'll be paying top prices at present if stocks exist. With the JCW there are three stages of nannytronics which you can switch off, so it may be possible if a similar system exists on your model which will help with traction in snow conditions. Left the winter tyres on all summer with minimal tyre wear, so unsure where the previous poster has experienced excessive wear.

[robinh20mrv]

i have 16s fitted with goodyear ultra grips and the mini is AMAZING!! it will go places some 4x4s wont dare, its just the ground clearance that is the stopper!!!

[Nickellarse]

This might be a bit late but I've just bought 195/55/16 Nokians from mytyres to go onto my JCW. They seem to be able to source stock due to their German parentage. Circa £85 a corner.

[MattOz]

robinh20mrv said:

i have 16s fitted with goodyear ultra grips and the mini is AMAZING!! it will go places some 4x4s wont dare, its just the ground clearance that is the stopper!!!

Got exactly the same set up on my wifes Cooper and they're brilliant.