Hi all i need a set of winter wheels, does anyone have any recomendations of garages in Waldshut or Konstanz or importing online?
I have got some prices in CH but they are a bit of a joke.
regards
AFC

I live in St. Gallen & also need to get sorted soon. Konstanz was where I was thinking of going. What kinds of prices have you been given here in CH?

We have a Ford Galaxy & cheapest quote was CHF 1000.All in.
AFC

i have the same car a new galaxy and i have just been quoted 568 euros in germany, just over the border from Bulach i will try a post the details to you tomorrow

I have just been quoted E500 ink.
here is the number if req
0049 7741 672 493
Jorg Mahler Garage 79761 Waldshut
AFC

we got ours from euromaster, wheels and tyres fitted on one of there special deals, just under 1000chf iirc which was 600chf cheaper then the dealer wanted, and the tyres where much better from euromaster.

eta

They had cheaper combinations but I didn't like the wheels, iirc the cheapest package for our car with decent rubber was about 800chf all in, but the wheels looked chavtastic

used this site twice: www.reifendirekt.ch

you can select the tyres, and have them sent to a garage close-by, where you can get it changed. the prices are all available online (tyres+garage)...

Having never had winter tyres before, what is the advantage of buying a new set of rims for the winter tyres, rather than just swapping the tyres onto the existing rims?

Nb regardless the car will be going to a garage for the swap.

just less hassle really, you also get a nice new set or rims passed the mrs / girlfriend without too much grief

The garage will charge you more for having to swap the tyres as well. I can't remember how much more though, but something like Fr.30 per tyre which means Fr.240 per year

someone will probably correct me, but iirc you can't get winter tyres in all the sizes of normal tyres, so you may have to buy new rims anyway. Also iirc narrower wheels are better for snow driving.

(at least a mate with a mini cooper can't get winter tyres in her normal rim size)

well, it costs a bit extra to get the tyres taken out of the rims and put the new ones on. ( for example, 20 CHF per tyre to change, 5 CHF extra if the rims have to be changed, too)

and with different rims in each season pack, you can go with different size tyres in winter, that are safer than your summer tyre sizes. also, you might want to keep your nice summer rims away from the affect of mud/salt/snow on the roads (not necessarily too much) some people go with the cheap steel rims in winter for this.

oh yeah.. and your automobile manual would tell you, what the maximum size for your tyre would be in order to put chains on. ( you don't really need chains unless you wanna drive in the mountains) so, for winter you might want thinner and smaller tyres.

but if you like the looks of your wheels, you might wanna have nice rims on ;-)


i am using the same set of rims for all, as i keep scratching them

If you have bog standard rims, it should not be a problem. If you have something fancier, then you are right. Eg., on BMW 3 series, the regular 16 and 17 inch wheels are not a problem. But when I upgraded to 18 inch, it was a problem, but I simply used the old 17inch ones for winter. Furthermore, the garages sometimes charge even more for the extra care they need to have when they swap out tyres from sensitive Aluminium rims.

Have you seen how much Porsche rims cost. Getting that waved through by the gf may require the intervention of a deity.

I can't get 295 rears so will be going for 265s and would do so in any case, as has been said narrower tyres are better for the snow. From what I have read (in German) these should fit on my current alloys, but I will check with Porsche first. Wrt cost the garages on reifendirekt quote around 25 a corner to fit the tyres. I can't imagine it being much cheaper with wheels.

I wonder how much a set of these cost?

a silly question as they have obviously done it, but is carbon really any good for wheels? with with the heat cycles and varying load distributions I wouldn't have thought it wouldn't be suitable ??

well, for a cheaper option: one can wrap the rims with the carbonfiber-look vinyl (not sure about the effect of heat though), and paint the calipers.. i don't know what to do to catch the same look for the rest of the car ;-)

I was under the impression you can get some pretty wide winter tyres for the 911

275/35/18 are available
285/35/18 are available
295/35/18 are available

All at Reifendirekt.ch - all bloody expensive - 300-500chf!!!

X-Trail - has Weathermaster fronts and M&S rears
525 - set of winter tyres - including 2 new Michelin Alpins. Summer width 225 - winter width 195.
Alpina - none at the moment - tempted to bring back a set of 18" replica wheels I have - and get 225s all round.

I also have a contact that deals direct with Pirelli - who might be able to get me an order of tyres at a good price.

Hi folks

I bought a new car myself back in April (ford maverick) and being new to the game i've notice the front tyres are Goodyear all weather and the rear are just normal summer.

For this winter would I be safe enough just getting two new goodyear all weathers for the back?

cheers

Brian

Thanks. They must be new in stock. I had a look when I got the car in May and again a couple of weeks ago and they didn't have any in stock. I guess they increase their range as it gets closer to winter. I had a good idea of the cost already and can't really complain as it's par for the course with a) high performance vehicles and b) premium marques. I'd prefer not to shell out an extra 3k for alloys though!

I'd definitely be interested in some sort of group buy of Pirellis though, as they are the only N rated winter tyre for my car.