Winter Wheels and Tyres (UK Based) - 245 Plug In Estate

[Blueliner07]

Hi All,

Has anyone had any luck with a set of winter wheels and tyres in the UK? For my previous cars (BMW and Mercedes) I've bought from Mr Winter Wheels however they don't seem to offer any for the Cupra Leon Estate (mine is a 73 plate), especially as specs seem to require the 19" on the 245 engines looking at the car's brochure. I do a fair bit of euro driving in the winter/spring where winter tyres are usually required (and from previous experience, definitely beneficial)

I could just buy tyres, but not sure how well the tyres keep when not fitted to rims in the shed for the summer, and obviously there are costs attached to getting them re-fitted each time whereas the wheels I just used to swap myself. I also don't really want to shell out for a set of swanky cupra diamond cut alloys when some bog standard silver 5 spoke things will do for the 3-4 months of the year they are in use, especially with the snowchain scratch risk as well.

Most places in the south east UK look at you like you have 3 heads if you ask for winter wheels!

 

[Seastormer]

Hi All,

Has anyone had any luck with a set of winter wheels and tyres in the UK? For my previous cars (BMW and Mercedes) I've bought from Mr Winter Wheels however they don't seem to offer any for the Cupra Leon Estate (mine is a 73 plate), especially as specs seem to require the 19" on the 245 engines looking at the car's brochure. I do a fair bit of euro driving in the winter/spring where winter tyres are usually required (and from previous experience, definitely beneficial)

I could just buy tyres, but not sure how well the tyres keep when not fitted to rims in the shed for the summer, and obviously there are costs attached to getting them re-fitted each time whereas the wheels I just used to swap myself. I also don't really want to shell out for a set of swanky cupra diamond cut alloys when some bog standard silver 5 spoke things will do for the 3-4 months of the year they are in use, especially with the snowchain scratch risk as well.

Most places in the south east UK look at you like you have 3 heads if you ask for winter wheels!

The problem with winter tyres/wheels in this country is they are not compulsory. So you fit them and are driving great, until you have to slow down on a hill or a junction etc, then you find the guy behind can't, as he has not fitted them (like most drivers in the UK). If the snow/ice is bad I just jump on the bus and leave my CUPRA safely sitting in the drive, better all round.

 

[Blueliner07]

The problem with winter tyres/wheels in this country is they are not compulsory. So you fit them and are driving great, until you have to slow down on a hill or a junction etc, then you find the guy behind can't, as he has not fitted them (like most drivers in the UK). If the snow/ice is bad I just jump on the bus and leave my CUPRA safely sitting in the drive, better all round.

I think you missed this line... I do a fair bit of euro driving in the winter/spring where winter tyres are usually required.

I'll take the chances in the UK vs slip-sliding off the edge of a swiss mountain pass

 

[SRGTD]

I also don't really want to shell out for a set of swanky cupra diamond cut alloys when some bog standard silver 5 spoke things will do for the 3-4 months of the year they are in use, especially with the snowchain scratch risk as well.

@Blueliner07 - I if were to buy a set of alloys specifically for winter use, they wouldn’t be diamond cut. In addition to the risk of snow chain damage, generally speaking the durability of the lacquer on bare metal of the diamond cut surfaces isn’t great, so I’d either go for a set of steel wheels or alloys with a much more durable painted / powder coated finish.

You might need to consider a set of non-OEM aftermarket alloys, so it might be worth looking at websites such as www.rimstyle.com to see what’s available in the appropriate size and offset for your car.