FR on 16" Winter Tyres

[Haddock]

There are a few threads with people asking if 16" Rims will clear the brakes on an FR, and there doesent seem to be any definate answers.

So with my daily drive over the North York Moors (and a few problems last winter ) I decided to go for it.. Vredestein Snowtrac2 on 16" Sport rims..

The rims clear the calipers by around 5mm (ish).

So these will stay on until March, look a tad small after the 18's!!

Bit of a random post, but thought it might help if someone else was thinking about it...

 

[FRLeon]

Hi
them rims look very close to the brakes calipers but i can see the point of gettting some winter tyres as my leon on the 18s slides about it the wet so i dread to think what it will be in snow

 

[Tam]

good idea, especially where you are....

I imagine it now handles badly compared to the 18"s

 

[Haddock]

good idea, especially where you are....

I imagine it now handles badly compared to the 18"s

Not so bad... Still have the same (well almost) rolling circumference, but a softer tyre-wall so not quite as good... I'll prob notice an improvement when I go back to the 18's..

Much more grip at lower temps though, even on wet roads...

Just need some snow now

 

[Haddock]

Quick Update....

Quite a lot of snow in the North East today.. Had the Leon up to its belly, and the tyres are amazing...

They make the difference between not being able to set off on a hill, and being able to drop the clutch and set off with the turbo spinning...

Not gloating (well maybe a bit ) - just a big thumbs up for the tyres..

Chris

 

[bobcat]

What did you get the rims off? I want to do exactly the same thing.

 

[Haddock]

What did you get the rims off? I want to do exactly the same thing.

They were off a Sport I think....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110199076904

 

[bobcat]

Nice one Thanks

 

[Tam]

Quick Update....

Quite a lot of snow in the North East today.. Had the Leon up to its belly, and the tyres are amazing...

They make the difference between not being able to set off on a hill, and being able to drop the clutch and set off with the turbo spinning...

Not gloating (well maybe a bit ) - just a big thumbs up for the tyres..

Chris

Sounds great, must be a good feeling seeing someone struggling and then just race past them without an issue ..

Would of course be better with pics

 

[OLDOILER]

There are a few threads with people asking if 16" Rims will clear the brakes on an FR, and there doesent seem to be any definate answers.

So with my daily drive over the North York Moors (and a few problems last winter ) I decided to go for it.. Vredestein Snowtrac2 on 16" Sport rims..

The rims clear the calipers by around 5mm (ish).

extract from the Elsawin manual
Permitted tyre and rim combinations
Engine type
C.C. / kW
Version Type of tyre Tyre properties Rim ET (mm) Chains Remarks
Petrol Series 205/55 R 16 91V 6.5J x 16 50 yes Maximum thickness
1,6 / 75kw 225/45 R 17 91W 7J x 17 54 yes chains: 9 m / m.
2.0 FSI /110kw 225/40 R 18 91W 7.5J x 18 51 / 53 yes chains
2.0 TFSI /136/147kw 225/40 R 18 91Y 7.5J x 18 51 / 53 yes

Winter 205/55 R 16 91H 6.5J x 16 50 yes chains
Diesel Series 205/55 R 16 91V 6.5J x 16 50 yes Maximum thickness
1,9 / 77kw 225/45 R 17 91W 7J x 17 54 yes chain: 9 m / m.
2.0 TDI /100kw 225/40 R 18 91W 7.5J x 18 51 /53 yes chains
2.0 TDI /103kw
2.0 TDI /125kw Winter 205/55 R 16 91H 6.5J x 16 50 yes chains

Hope this helps

 

[Jon TDI]

Those are the Reference Sport alloys. The Sport models have 17" alloys.

I enquired about the Vredestein Snowtrac for my Fabia before it got written off. They were going to cost £120 per corner!
I couldn't justify spending that much money on something I was going to use only 3 months or so a year.

 

[Fishy]

I'm sort of looking for a set of either 16's or 17's as I'm going to start commuting to Camberley 3 times a week. Together with some hard rubber on them, should be better than killing the 18's.

Anyone know of a set for a good price?

Fish

 

[Haddock]

Those are the Reference Sport alloys. The Sport models have 17" alloys.

I enquired about the Vredestein Snowtrac for my Fabia before it got written off. They were going to cost £120 per corner!
I couldn't justify spending that much money on something I was going to use only 3 months or so a year.

The Snowtracs retail for around £100 fitted... To be honest I was going to get a set of cheapies from E-Tyres for £50 - but the Snowtracs came up on Ebay as a local pickup - they only cost £40 Each - brand new!!

So overall It'll prob work out cheaper - as the tyres for the 18's will no doubt we £110+ per corner...

 

[Haddock]

extract from the Elsawin manual
Permitted tyre and rim combinations
Engine type
C.C. / kW
Version Type of tyre Tyre properties Rim ET (mm) Chains Remarks
Petrol Series 205/55 R 16 91V 6.5J x 16 50 yes Maximum thickness
1,6 / 75kw 225/45 R 17 91W 7J x 17 54 yes chains: 9 m / m.
2.0 FSI /110kw 225/40 R 18 91W 7.5J x 18 51 / 53 yes chains
2.0 TFSI /136/147kw 225/40 R 18 91Y 7.5J x 18 51 / 53 yes

Winter 205/55 R 16 91H 6.5J x 16 50 yes chains
Diesel Series 205/55 R 16 91V 6.5J x 16 50 yes Maximum thickness
1,9 / 77kw 225/45 R 17 91W 7J x 17 54 yes chain: 9 m / m.
2.0 TDI /100kw 225/40 R 18 91W 7.5J x 18 51 /53 yes chains
2.0 TDI /103kw
2.0 TDI /125kw Winter 205/55 R 16 91H 6.5J x 16 50 yes chains

Hope this helps

Hi - you posted the info back here:

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=141976

But you stated at the start of the post you couldnt confirm the wheels would fit...

VW sell 16" Winter wheels which are steel - the doubt was that the alloys would clear the rims - so was a bit of a gamble..

Cheers anyway though..

Chris

 

[Jon TDI]

The Snowtracs retail for around £100 fitted... To be honest I was going to get a set of cheapies from E-Tyres for £50 - but the Snowtracs came up on Ebay as a local pickup - they only cost £40 Each - brand new!!

So overall It'll prob work out cheaper - as the tyres for the 18's will no doubt we £110+ per corner...

You got a good deal there!

 

[Haddock]

Sounds great, must be a good feeling seeing someone struggling and then just race past them without an issue ..

Would of course be better with pics

Your wish is my command

Very bad pic - but was very snowy/windy

This was the same road next morning - all clear!

 

[Jon TDI]

Do you go thru Guisborough at all?

 

[Tam]

Fantastic .. and some pics too

Thanks!

 

[Haddock]

Do you go thru Guisborough at all?

Very rarely... would usually use the bypass...

Chris

 

[Jon TDI]

Usually see a black FR driving thru. Wondered if it was you.