General Winter Tyres (Again)

[306maxi]

I'm still running my summer tyres at the moment but will be switching to the winters again as soon as the daytime temperatures are consistently down in single figures.

That said I might be selling the 100HP and getting an RB5 soon so of course the car is running brilliantly right now

If you're talking an Impreza RB5, just remember that 4wd doesn't help you stop or corner any better We've got a Legacy Turbo which has exactly the same running gear as an Impreza and in the winter we'll always take the 500 out when the weather is crap.

 

[dave]

are ROCKSTONE a know brand? i have to ask because ive never head of some of the brands people say are good until the winter tyres threads started

 

[306maxi]

are ROCKSTONE a know brand? i have to ask because ive never head of some of the brands people say are good until the winter tyres threads started

Nope.

 

[Polypedates]

If you're talking an Impreza RB5, just remember that 4wd doesn't help you stop or corner any better

No worries, not getting the RB5 for the 4WD. It may give more traction but you're still reliant on the tyres for grip. It just happens that a friend is selling one soon and mk1 Impreza is a box I'd like to tick and an RB5 would do that nicely. Just got to see what he wants for it and what the Panda might be worth then factor in the uplift in fuel costs. I'd hoped he was going to hold onto it until spring so I could run the 100HP over the winter but it seems not...

 

[306maxi]

No worries, not getting the RB5 for the 4WD. It may give more traction but you're still reliant on the tyres for grip. It just happens that a friend is selling one soon and mk1 Impreza is a box I'd like to tick and an RB5 would do that nicely. Just got to see what he wants for it and what the Panda might be worth then factor in the uplift in fuel costs. I'd hoped he was going to hold onto it until spring so I could run the 100HP over the winter but it seems not...

They're a nice car Just don't change anything that makes it an RB5

 

[Polypedates]

Just don't change anything that makes it an RB5

Well quite, that would be sacrilege RB5 is the purist's choice afterall. Only UK Mk1 with fixed rear bulkhead for optimum handling

 

[trackdayqueen]

No worries, not getting the RB5 for the 4WD. It may give more traction but you're still reliant on the tyres for grip. It just happens that a friend is selling one soon and mk1 Impreza is a box I'd like to tick and an RB5 would do that nicely. Just got to see what he wants for it and what the Panda might be worth then factor in the uplift in fuel costs. I'd hoped he was going to hold onto it until spring so I could run the 100HP over the winter but it seems not...

JFDI, cool car.

 

[peterward]

I had winter tyre problems too. I called MyTyres but they can only provide exactly what they have listed on their web site and although they can supply a suitable wheel for the 100hp the tyre size is much narrower than specified in the owners manual.

In the end I bought these wheels from ebay seller "wheelsnthings" for £173. They are listed as being for a 1.4 Fiat 500. 14inch - 5.5inch with a PCD of 98 and an offset of 35 and they fit a treat. No problems with 14inch wheels fouling the front brakes.

The tyres I bought were 185/60 rather than 185/55 as although several manufacturers list the 185/55 size no one actually seems to be able to get hold of them. I bought Goodyear UltraGrip 8 in the end. This does increase the diameter of the wheels very slightly but not much. The speedo now reads bang on when compared to a GPS rather than under reading by around 2-3mph.

What I need now is some replacement 15inch 100hp alloys for the summer as mine are bent and make the steering shake…any ideas without giving an arm and a leg to Fiat?

Hope that helps people.
Peter

 

[KozmoNaut]

The tyres I bought were 185/60 rather than 185/55 as although several manufacturers list the 185/55 size no one actually seems to be able to get hold of them. I bought Goodyear UltraGrip 8 in the end. This does increase the diameter of the wheels very slightly but not much. The speedo now reads bang on when compared to a GPS rather than under reading by around 2-3mph.

185/55 does indeed exist, but it's one of those sizes that aren't very popular, hence very few places keep them in stock, they'd have to order them for you.

I ran into the same problem with winter tyres for my MJ last year. 155/80R13 were completely sold out everywhere since it's a very very common size for small cars in general. I figured 165/75R13 would fit, but apparently it's one of those odd sizes out that noone uses, so I had to go for 175/70R13 instead, which is just about the widest tyre you can possibly fit on the stock 13" alloys.

 

[4x4Panda]

I've probably come to this very late, but i did notice that Camskill have Avon winter tyres in 165/65 R14 79T @£46.40 each listed as 'in stock'. Maybe worth a look? Last year they supplied me near impossible to find winter tyres for the BMW X3 very late in the season and i then just paid the extra for someone else to fit them and balance the wheels.

best of luck

 

[4x4Panda]

oh, and Camskill also list the Goodyear Ultragrip 8 at £61.20 ea. for the 185/65 R14 needed on a Climbing.