Winter Wheels sizes for FL Cupra

[AL Cupra]

I have a choice of either buying winter tyres fitted to 18inch wheels and changing them back to summer tyres when required or buying a new set wheels with winter tyres on them (obviously a bigger layout now but I wouldnt have to take them to the garage to be changed twice a year)

My question is what is the smallest size wheel you can put on a FL Cupra? I believe smaller wheels are better for cutting through the snow?? I couldnt get up my estate hill this morning but my wife's little Suzuki Swift mananged it.

I was thinking of getting some 17 or 16 inch wheels. However the red brake calipers are big on the Cupra, would a smaller wheel still fit ok? And would solid steels do or does it have to be alloys? (again concerned with them actually fitting not the look.)

Cheers

 

[GainfulShrimp]

I've got 16" steel wheels and they only *just* cleared the brakes on my FR... so I would say you need at least 17" for the Cupra. I believe I've read on here that only certain 17" wheels clear the brakes on the Cupra so you might need to investigate specific models of alloys that are known to fit (I don't have a Cupra so can't offer specific advice on this point I'm afraid).

Swapping complete sets of tyres over twice a year will be bad for the tyres and cost you a lot in tyre fitting/balancing costs... so it's better to get some spare wheels of some sort if you can find some that are suitable.

It's true that narrower tyres are better for use in snow, and the narrower fitment tyres often have a more snow-biased tread design (e.g. Vred Snowtrac vs Wintrac, Conti TS830 vs TS830P, etc). However, even wider fitment winter tyres will be much better in the snow and probably get you up your hill OK. Rllmuk is a big fan of 18" wheels with winter tyres, for one.
Only downside is that the wider fitment winter tyres are even more expensive and a bit rarer in terms of stock.

 

[OLDOILER]

The size should be in the handbook, it is in mine also it is not the size but the width [narrow tyres cut through snow/slush] - that used to be the norm when I rallied anyway!!

 

[Donnyboy]

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37253&page=2

I've seen other wheels that fit but can't find the thread.