AllTrack Winter Wheel & Tyre Set Question

[EdF]

I'd like to have a spare set of winter tyres for my Alltrack, not only to get better cold weather, ice and snow performance - I live in the Scottish Highlands in the sticks - but also to save the fancy alloys from salt. The normal tyre size is 225.45 x 18. The spare is steel with a 215.55 x 16
tyre and although the spare has the 'temporary wheel' stickers on it, it is obviously full size with a Michelin Primacy tyre. My question is, will this 16"
size be suitable for a winter set? The spare seems to have the same rolling diameter as the main wheels. I've emailed VW and my main dealer but (surprise!) no reply.
After posting I noticed someone else has asked a similar question, although 17" wheels were discussed.. Knowing how ludicrously expensive VW alloys are (one can buy a set of 4 after market ones for less than 1 VW wheel) I'm not going there.

[zollaf]

there is a reason a genuine alloy is 4 times the price of an aftermarket replica. whack a pothole and the rep will bend where the genuine won't.

[EdF]

I just wish I still had the pothole damaged original wheel from my Jetta to show you...! I wasn't prepared to pay £530 for a new one !

[zollaf]

there are potholes and there are POTHOLES. some of the reps you can get will bend just looking at them.

[Scott K]

What centre bore are you looking at? I have a set of 17" with the 57mm CB which I am going to sell soon as they are no use for our cars which are all 66.6mm.

[Lomaxi]

I recently checked out price with local UK VW dealer for winter wheel / Tyre set foe Altrack. VW part number 1K8 073 247 D 8Z8' they quoted £423 per wheel. Same part number on offer on VW Germany website at 369 Euro. When It's checked with local vw dealer in Germany found that not only was the price correct at 369 Euro but that they also had a buy 3 get 1 free offer. So I was able to get 4x Aspen 6.5J x R17, ET38 alloys complete with 205/50 R17 93V XL Piirelli winter SottoZero tyres for 1107 Euros. Equivalent to £872 or approx £220 per corner. How can VW UK justify twice the price for what is amajor safety factor for VW customers?

[Splash]

What centre bore are you looking at? I have a set of 17" with the 57mm CB which I am going to sell soon as they are no use for our cars which are all 66.6mm.
Which car are they from, or better still do you know the offset to help EdF?

[EdF]

Helpfully, the Alltrack handbook gives wheel & tyre sizes when using snowchains (205/50 R17 - 6.5J x17 offset 39) Nothing else. Standard size is 225.45 R18. I finally got an email from my dealer stating that they had heard back from VW that the size of the 16" spare is OK for the winter. I was I touch with a German website who told me that 16" steels are only available to fit this model from VW. Local tyre shop/distributor agrees. Bore looks to be a tad under 60mm (in rain with a torch and rule...).

[Splash]

neebsta (For Sale section) has some Audi wheels and winter tyres which would fit if you spend about £5 on some spigot rings. Are you planning to fit snow chains as you'll benefit from winter tyres without the snow. The handbook gives a narrow prescription and doesn't cover all options.

[Scott K]

Which car are they from, or better still do you know the offset to help EdF?

They are from an A6 C6 3.0tdi quattro. If he wants the part number he can get in touch.