Winter tires in Summer Size: is it legal even if not in CoC

[Nuno AD]

Hi all,

I have been searching for this forever but couldnt find the answer. I have a Mini. The car comes originally with 18' with summer tires. I have also winter tires in 17, which make the car look much worse (being nice...).

My CoC (or car manual) mentions that winter tires should be sized 16 or 17, not 18. I wonder, however, whether it would be legal, in this land of strictness, to have 18'' with winter tires in the same size as the summer tires...? I appreciate it wont be as good in snow but the car wont see that much of it and I am a sucker for the looks...

Thanks in advance!

Nuno

[Whitean3]

Nuno AD said:

Hi all,

I have been searching for this forever but couldnt find the answer. I have a Mini. The car comes originally with 18' with summer tires. I have also winter tires in 17, which make the car look much worse (being nice...).

My CoC (or car manual) mentions that winter tires should be sized 16 or 17, not 18. I wonder, however, whether it would be legal, in this land of strictness, to have 18'' with winter tires in the same size as the summer tires...? I appreciate it wont be as good in snow but the car wont see that much of it and I am a sucker for the looks...

Thanks in advance!

Nuno

If your winter tyres are exactly the same size as the summer ones, then no problem at all. As you said, performance in snow might not be as good as something with a higher profile, but it really won't be a problem.

[Beetle Driver]

Whitean3 said:

If your winter tyres are exactly the same size as the summer ones, then no problem at all. As you said, performance in snow might not be as good as something with a higher profile, but it really won't be a problem.

Thank you for this! In the meantime I had also asked my tire guy and he said it should not be. I am not understanding if he comes from “it should be this” or “it’s illegal if it’s not this” type of angle. As such, I will probably ask someone from the MOT department or whoever can give me such answer for sure…? (Without wanting to doubt your recommendation).

PS: I changed my user name

[Beetle Driver]

Hi,

Just passing by to share that I confirmed with the MOT guys, over email, and they confirmed that I can use the summer tire size with winter specifications. You were right!

Happy days.

Now just need to decide whether to change mid season to the bigger wheels and new Michelin Pilot Alpin or just wait for next season…!

[drmike37]

They downsize for winter tyres to give clearance for snow chains. If you don’t intend to fit chains I can’t see that it matters.

[PetrolHeadInRecovery]

Tangentially related (and belatedly): I learned a few years back that if the rims are not from the original manufacturer, you need to get them added to the car registration (the brand, type, identification number, size and offset), A bit of extra hassle and (if I remember correctly) cost.

[Beetle Driver]

Thank you both for the opinions.

I should not need chains generally speaking, but if I do, I have those textile ones in the car, with which it shouldn’t be a problem.

I have kept the original wheels (but you are right about the requirements otherwise and surely the payment), which I think look great even if not sporty (for that I have the beetle):