When to Change and Fit Winter Tyres to your car?

When should you change to winter tyres?

The advice for fitting and using winter tyres is that they perform best when the temperature is below 7C. This would normally correspond with around October/November in the UK so a suggested idea is to change to fit your winter tyres when the clocks change at the end of October.

So far this year the temperature during October has been much higher than average so I am currently still using the summer tyres on my VW Golf. Another reason for using the summer tyres for as long as possible is that they are on the original alloy wheels but the winter tyres are fitted to tatty steel wheels so the car looks much worse when using them!



When to Change and Fit Winter Tyres to your car? Winter tyres fitted on steel rims

What is CCM Module in the VW Golf? CCM Part Number 1C0 959 799B

The CCM in a VW Golf is the abbreviation for the Central Convenience module of the Golf. This module is located beneath the steering wheel and can be accessed by removing the trim under the dash and steering wheel. The part number for the Golf CCM is 1C0 959 799B

CCM location in VW Golf

Photo of a CCM module from a VW Golf - Part 1C0 959 799B

The CCM controls various "convenience" functions within the car such as the doors, remote central locking and if the CCM module is replaced or changed then the keys will need to be reprogrammed to still open the car remotely. The keys will still work to open the car via the door lock.



What is CCM Module in the VW Golf?

VW Golf Water Leaking in from Rear Door

After a very heavy shower of rain overnight when I came to use my VW Golf Mk4 this morning I found that there was a pool of water that had leaked in from the rear passenger door.

So far I've not managed to find the source of the water leak coming in the door but I'm assuming from the position that one of the seals around the roof/door frame has failed and needs replacement. Once I find the reason I'll post up the info.



VW Golf Water Leaking in from Rear Door



VW Golf rear door water Leaking in

Alloys or Steel Wheels for Winter Tyres?

My Golf has a set of both summer and winter tyres. The winter tyres are on old steel wheels but the summer tyres are fitted on the original VW alloys.

Obviously the winter tyres are very handy over the colder months giving much improved grip but the appearance is much less attractive than the alloy wheels on the summer tyres.

VW Golf MK4 MOT Test Pass - Do you get a reminder for an MOT?

When is an MOT due?

In the UK every vehicle over 3 years old has to have an annual test of roadworthyness known as the MOT - for Ministry of Transport - despite that name not having existed since the 1970s!

How early can you get an MOT test done?

My VW Golf TDI was due it's MOT on 31 October 2014 but you can take the car for the MOT test up to one month beforehand and still get the MOT dated from the expiry - so effectively you are getting 13 months MOT on the car.

Despite having 246,000 miles the car sailed through the MOT with no advisories and now has another 12 months before the MOT is due again. We had replaced the front suspension earlier in the year due to the spring failing so this is one item that would have failed if not fixed.


Do you get a reminder for an MOT

Do you get a reminder for an MOT?

No, unlike car tax (vehicle excise duty) when you are sent a reminder that it is due there is no reminder set for your MOT so it is useful to mark it in your calendar or set a reminder on your phone for around a month beforehand. You can then get the MOT done along with any required repairs before the MOT expires.



How early can you get an MOT test done?