General 100hp winter tyres advice

[redlake27]

Last year put a set of 14" Seicento Sporting wheels (which I found on ebay for £100)and fitted them with 185/55R14 Dunlop WinterSports

These wheels had deeper hubs, so I had to use slightly longer bolts (three threads longer) available from an alloy wheel specialist.

In the deep snow last year the car was stunningly good. But it is on cold, damp mornings like today where it is also very impressive. On wet roundabouts it feels like it is fitted with racing wets that have been cooked in a tyre oven. The grip in the cold is staggering.

 

[Dan Friel]

Given the amount of miles that I do (on country roads) and that the sportracs are more than half worn (not ideal for this time of year), I've invested in a set of vredestein quatracs for the winter months. A set of 195/50/15s was just over £220 delivered.

Just need to decide what rims to put them on, as I think the spare punto rims that I have need a spacer to make the offset work.

 

[AB100]

Given the amount of miles that I do (on country roads) and that the sportracs are more than half worn (not ideal for this time of year), I've invested in a set of vredestein quatracs for the winter months. A set of 195/50/15s was just over £220 delivered.

Just need to decide what rims to put them on, as I think the spare punto rims that I have need a spacer to make the offset work.

Which Punto rims do you have? The ones on my 100hp are the 6x15 from the Punto Sporting. They had a 5mm different offset and are fine with my 195/50-15 Uniroyals.

 

[Dan Friel]

Which Punto rims do you have? The ones on my 100hp are the 6x15 from the Punto Sporting. They had a 5mm different offset and are fine with my 195/50-15 Uniroyals.

They are "after market" and are 6.5 inch wide, I have 5mm spacers to test so hopefully that might work. If not I'll put them onto the original alloys after an early December track day at goodwood..

 

[Dan Friel]

Vredestein's have arrived and I've just bought a set of Punto Sporting alloys. Hoping to get them fitted after next week's Goodwood track day.

Certainly still warm enough down here for summer tyres are the moment.

 

[Dev100]

I'm using kuhmo ecsta at the minute, very good combination of wet and dry grip and low road noise, 61 fitted each on black circles

 

[Dan Friel]

The punto mk2 alloys turned up today, and for £125 delivered they will do the job (only a couple of marks) and not make the Panda look ridiculous. Having an extra alloy set also means that I can free up the originals for some competition summer tyres..

 

[Dan Friel]

So straight after the goodwood track day I stuck on the all season tyres. To be honest I thought the drive home would be tricky but I was wrong. Obviously not as precise as the sportracs but perfectly ok for the road and slightly more comfortable. If you're looking for all season tyres, the quatracs seem a good option.

 

[Gavv8]

I'm using kuhmo ecsta at the minute, very good combination of wet and dry grip and low road noise, 61 fitted each on black circles

Just put some of these on the front of mine..£54 each fitted at my local place, seem pretty good so far.

 

[charaton]

Why not get 13 inch steel wheels available, with 155 / 80 winter tyres easy to get. I have done this

 

[The Pretender]

Why not get 13 inch steel wheels available, with 155 / 80 winter tyres easy to get. I have done this

Does that even fit over the 100 hp front brakes.

 

[A3jeroen]

13" won't fit. My 14" Punto wheels clear the alipers by mm's. And 155 will give massive gripproblems on a 100HP. Because they were on when I bought the wheels I have 165/65's on the front atm, but that means corneringspeed is severely down.

gr J

 

[fpan]

Ok had a look around and 185/65/14 seem the order of the day, according to Goodyear, who don't make any winter tyres that size..... So had a read around the web and going for the smaller wheel and narrower tyre seems the way forwards. Now the steels have been ordered 14 inch 5.5j off ebay from a company in Cannock £96 for 4 brand new. Just need to get some thin rubber. Thinking either the Conti 800 or Goodyear ultra 8, which are the cheaper option. Will report back when ordered and fitted.

What is the name of the company for the steel wheels Neil?

 

[AB100]

Try www.oponeo.co.uk


Or alternatively buy used 2004 Punto 15 inch alloys off ebay and do what I did. Same price.......or cheaper.

 

[fpan]

I would prefer to use 14" in order to use the correct size 55 profile tyre (185/55/14) so as to improve ride quality.

Do the Punto steels need longer bolts to fit and what's the offset of them?

 

[A3jeroen]

Probably not longer, but different style/shape bolts for the steelies.
As stated above I use 185/60 14's for winters on Punto alloys.

gr J