15 inch wheels 4 snow?

**Paul D** · 21st December 2010, 11:25

Need some snow tyres for our Vectra 1.8ls, and was thinking of getting 4 15 inch steel wheels for winter use. These are listed on dealer parts, £45 opposed to £50 for 16 inch, but not listed for our car. Can anyone confirm that they will fit as they are listed in manual. Cheers

**CLOMP** · 21st December 2010, 11:36

Originally Posted by Paul D

Need some snow tyres for our Vectra 1.8ls, and was thinking of getting 4 15 inch steel wheels for winter use. These are listed on dealer parts, £45 opposed to £50 for 16 inch, but not listed for our car. Can anyone confirm that they will fit as they are listed in manual. Cheers

well Paul, make sure they are the same stud as yours and they should fit ok,, I have 16" wheels on my vec but carry a 15" steel 5 stud spare, just has a bigger profile, its gotta be better than the space saver, if it were me getting I would get 16" steelies but go as narrow as you can, if the size is to far out it will **** your gearing and speedo up.

jusy had a look on the chart,, I have 215-55-16,, but a 195-60 15, is a close replacement only puts speedo out 2.6% about 1.5mph at 60mph

**Das** · 21st December 2010, 11:47

15 inch wheels were Available for the 1.6 Vec C which was available in some European Countries but not the UK. 5 stud Zafira/Astra wheels should be the same so might be worth while trying to pick one up from a scrap yard to see if that clears the brake caliper if your set on 15's, but as clomp says 16's would be better, 195/65 R 15 would be cheaper I suppose and 205/55 R 16 are the smallest 16's listed. You should be able to pick up steel wheels from the scrappys for a tenner a time I would imagine.

**Bigtee** · 21st December 2010, 12:37

Bought a brand new wheel for the vectra Exclusiv for £45.00.

Seen on e bay a full set go for £80.00 but as they seem in more demand at the moment expect the price to go up.!!

Summer time next year i'll buy another set and save for the winter tyres now and buy in july aug when the prices are lower than nov.

**Maverick** · 21st December 2010, 13:13

Can I ask why? Our winters, even the current weather we have been having in my opinion don't warrant winter tyres.

I drive a rear wheel drive Mercedes CLK and have yet not struggled. I think this talk of having tyres for winter use is a little over the top.

But thats my opinion on it.

**Big Knox** · 21st December 2010, 13:33

Originally Posted by Maverick

Can I ask why? Our winters, even the current weather we have been having in my opinion don't warrant winter tyres.

I drive a rear wheel drive Mercedes CLK and have yet not struggled. I think this talk of having tyres for winter use is a little over the top.

But thats my opinion on it.

" From just 10mph the winter tyre stopped in 6.4 metres, while the summer tyre needed more than twice the distance to stop at over 14 metres. Imagine the difference from 30 mph"

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article...nter-tyres.htm

i was a bit reluctant over a 2nd set of wheels for winter tyres but i'm liking the idea of all season tyres

**1-8clusive** · 21st December 2010, 13:43

Originally Posted by Maverick

Can I ask why? Our winters, even the current weather we have been having in my opinion don't warrant winter tyres.

I drive a rear wheel drive Mercedes CLK and have yet not struggled. I think this talk of having tyres for winter use is a little over the top.

But thats my opinion on it.

I take it you don't live in a hilly area? I had to laugh a few weeks ago as my GF drove round a Mecedes E Class that was stuck on a snow covered main road on our way home. She has a clio

**Das** · 21st December 2010, 13:50

Well so far I have not "struggled" either, well never got stuck and had to get the spade out, but after having been driven in a car with winter tyres on Snow its amazing to feel the difference, good traction and positive steering being the most noticeable advantages.

**Maverick** · 21st December 2010, 14:38

Originally Posted by 1-8clusive

I take it you don't live in a hilly area? I had to laugh a few weeks ago as my GF drove round a Mecedes E Class that was stuck on a snow covered main road on our way home. She has a clio

No, but I travel over 30,000 miles a year in all weathers. I was all over Norfolk yesterday in snow covered area's, wet area's and icy area's.

Yes of course we all have to take extra care in these conditions and drive according to the conditions we are in.

But I just think we can go over the top. My father in law has an E-Class and his has been fine, I agree a Front wheel drive car can be alot better in these conditions but I am not compaining.

My Freelander 2 is just boring in the snow, it just gets on with it.

**Aikon58** · 21st December 2010, 15:36

Originally Posted by Maverick

Can I ask why? Our winters, even the current weather we have been having in my opinion don't warrant winter tyres.

I drive a rear wheel drive Mercedes CLK and have yet not struggled. I think this talk of having tyres for winter use is a little over the top.

But thats my opinion on it.

Perhaps your car is fitted with extra grip winter/all season tyres

As my ching chay chukaways don't give me any grip on the incline up to my house,and are not much better on the flat with the snow and ice on the ground