I have just changed the wheels/ tyres on my wifes Panda Eleganza. Now on steel wheels and Polish Budget brand Debica Frigo S30. This will be second winter running on them. Not much snow last winter to test them much. But good in the cold, and make the Eleganza look la bit like a 4x4.
On my Citroen C3 picasso 1.6 HDI, I have also used Debica winter tyres. Frigo 2 for last two winters. happy with them.

I had the same choises to make.
Not that many good tires in 155/80R13", next step up was 175/70R13 with more choise in tires.
Ending up in buying 165/65R14" and put them on 5.5x14" black steel wheels i allready had.

Dear Mr Postman.... You say you changed your wifes wheels to steelies and winter tyres, what size rims are they , are they the 13" as I'm trying to understand if the 13's fit the eleganza which has 14" alloys as standard.
John B

[email protected] said:

Dear Mr Postman.... You say you changed your wifes wheels to steelies and winter tyres, what size rims are they , are they the 13" as I'm trying to understand if the 13's fit the eleganza which has 14" alloys as standard.
John B

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They do fit

Yes the 13 inch steel wheels do fit as a replacement for the eleganza's 14 inch alloys.

Re fitted General Altimax Winter Plus 155/80 R13 79Q on a spare steel wheelset yesterday, to my MJ Dynamic. Ran them for about 8000 miles between last October and March, and they are hardly touched.
Mytyres show them at £35.50. Good tyres, a bargain.
General Tires are owned by Continental.

yowe6 said:

I have a pair of Debica winter tyres on Panda wheels for sale. Only covered 1000 miles and are in excellent condition. I'd send them by courier. Bargain at £90 including postage. Call me (Jack) 07909145577

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Hi, do you still have them? Thanks, David

I had a new set of Pirelli W160s fitted last week on the standard steel wheels and took a fair few miles to get used to the change from my 14" alloys, understeer was quite bad in the dry - just need it to snow now to see if they do work....

I have Sava Eskimos. We had sheet ice last Friday. Everyone was saying how chronic it was yet I had to wonder at the grief everyone-else had as I had none. Only on the most residential road could I tell we even had ice and even that was no real problem - just sensible slower driving and across it without problem.

Jamie, just take it a little slower on the winters

Popshot said:

I have Sava Eskimos. We had sheet ice last Friday. Everyone was saying how chronic it was yet I had to wonder at the grief everyone-else had as I had none. Only on the most residential road could I tell we even had ice and even that was no real problem - just sensible slower driving and across it without problem.

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ADAC reviewed those tyres back in 2009 and they came 16th out of 16th in their test. They were "not recommended". In the dry and wet I'd be very careful...

It wouldn't surprise me to find there are many better tyres. These are at the budget end. However I very much doubt that the other 15 were all available in 155/80/13. It doesn't matter how good or bad a tyre is if it doesn't fit or nobody stocks them. When I bought these there were just two brands that were actually listed and in stock anywhere - Savas and Vredesteins. The Vredesteins had excellent reports but were about 50% more expensive. The Savas had a very good report on ice though less impressive in good conditions. As I was buying a tyre for poor conditions that was the performance area I wanted. If I'd have opted for a 155/70/13 that'd have opened up another two or three (memory failing me) options.

I can certainly vouch that the Savas are not great in good conditions. When it's warm (for winter), compared to summer tyres the car has less grip. It is however very predictable and it is a Panda not a race car. Should I need to do an emergency stop my stopping distance would be greater than on summer tyres, however I believe that I am far likelier to suffer an incident in poor conditions on summer tyres than good conditions on the Savas by some considerable margin.

Given the very wet conditions of late it's worth adding the Sava's wet performance is exemplary. Grip is well above my summer tyres by a considerable margin. As I said the only area that could be criticised is performance in warm (for winter) and dry conditions which they aren't designed for.

I have General Altimax 155 80 13 on mt MJ, 2nd season of use, and wearing very well. Wouldn't be without them on the school run and home to work icy and occaisionally snowy commute here in Malvernshire. the MJ was good in snow on the original Conti Eco contacts, with the Altimax it's better. Recommended.