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Cost conscious tyre purchase / free winter wheels

2into1

2into1

Née T4WFA. Now running 2006 LHD T5 SE 130 Manual
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I thought I’d share some information about a recent cost effective purchase for my Cali, which cost conscious owners may like.

My 2017 Cali came with the expensive Cascaval alloy wheel option with Continental 215 60 r17 tyres.

I live on the Pennines and need a set of specialist winter tyres. I also wanted to preserve the Cascavels as long as possible (from the salt), so 2 years ago I bought a set of steel wheels ready fitted with winter tyres (covered in another thread).

I’ve found I really (really) don’t like the look of my van on the winter steels, and also, my Continental summer tyres will need replacing soon. I needed a plan.

eBay always has loads of standard Cali alloys (Devonports) for sale. Most from ‘Highline’ Transporter spec vans. I like those wheels. Some were being sold as ‘new’ with delivery mileage correctly load rated Continental tyres. It seems loads of owners instantly upgrade to custom 18/19/20” wheels on delivery, creating these spare sets.

So I waited patiently and today bought a set of 4 brand new devonports and Continental tyres for £450 (via Facebook marketplace). The tyres alone are upwards of £115 each on mail order plus fitting (so 4 cost £460 plus fitting). So you could argue the set of brand new wheels have cost me -£10.
F5738123-73B1-4DA2-A1CD-11D0C6CD4093.png

So the new Continentals will be removed and await their turn on the summer Cascavels. The winter tyres will be removed from the steels and fitted to the devonports alloys and my ‘steelies’ will be put on eBay where they will be bought for a youff for ‘banding’.

If the steels make £100 or more, I’ll be even more ‘in profit’ vs the conventional route of buying new Continentals from Blackcircles or similar (and paying to have them fitted, like I’ll have to going this route).

The wheels do occasionally crop up with the 235 55s fitted to some Cali’s, but they tend to sell for more money. However if you fancied a 2nd set of alloys to run your winter tyres, it could be a very cost effective method.


If you are only interested in a new set of tyres, buy a set like mine for less than £500, strip the tyres, and sell the alloys alone for £300+
 
Loads of 215/17's, but as you say 235/17's are not so readly available. Amazing isn't it, we spend a shed load of money on buying a Cali, but we're still up for a deal when replacing tyres.
 
Yes it’s amazing isn’t it that you can buy a set of practically new alloys with decent brand tyres for less than a set of new tyres.

I do quite like a Cali on 17” steelies though.
 
I did exactly the same, courtesy of this forum, but the new alloys with new tyres went on my Caravelle to replace the knocked up alloys and low tread tyres. Sold the Caravelle with brand new tyres/wheels that cost less than four tyres and then got a third of that back from selling the old alloys on eBay.
Result.
 
You could sale your steel wheels on here to the next 4 people who have their spare stolen loads of never vans registered so will be some lost spares coming up soon.
 
Would this be the guy based in Pershore?
'my' guy was in Worcester. He is small time dealer who bids for wheels and vans from dealers and sells on at modest margins. I tried my vw dealer and they wanted £650+vat for 4 devonports and tyres.
 

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