Will changing to 16s help with the ride ?

[Jameswestyorks]

Will changing to 16s make a huge difference to the ride of the superb.

I'm sort of wishing I had specced them from new. Currently taken the 18inch thermistos off and replaced with 16 inch steel wheels

I will be test driving tomorrow

[Kilkenny]

I hated the 18's on mine,horrible car to drive,even dangerous. I changed to 17's and it transformed it. Keeping the car now.. Was seriously going to get rid of it,it was so bad,and it was brand new !

[c21vhpd]

Makes a HUGE difference, for the better. The handling is worse if you push it, but Superbs aren't really a car that you want to flung about too much anyway :-)

[Noddy90]

Not quite sure why so many people have got a downer about the 18s.  These are the biggest wheels I've ever had on any of my 15 cars and the ride has only been bettered by a Citroen XM (on 15" wheels, lol).

[Bristolf2b]

in my experience, with winter 16" goodyear Blizzak's on steel wheels, is that there is a small difference in ride but a regular passenger who is quite sensitive about 'harsh ride' in other vehicles I have owned can't  really tell the difference. The Blizzaks do have to have higher pressures than the 18" conti's 

[andrehj]

Will changing to 16s make a huge difference to the ride of the superb.

I'm sort of wishing I had specced them from new. Currently taken the 18inch thermistos off and replaced with 16 inch steel wheels

I will be test driving tomorrow

Not only do 16" wheels make your Superb more comfortable, they also reduce your fuel consumption (especially if you choose very efficient tyres like Michelin Energy Saver or Dunlop Sport Bluresponse) and reduce the risk of damaging your tyres and wheels with kerbs and potholes.

[Noddy90]

Not only do 16" wheels make your Superb more comfortable, they also reduce your fuel consumption (especially if you choose very efficient tyres like Michelin Energy Saver or Dunlop Sport Bluresponse) and reduce the risk of damaging your tyres and wheels with kerbs and potholes.

 

Yeah, fair point, but you're ignoring rule No.1: fill the arches.

[MASTER001]

16"  means you will add more rubber on sides= comfertable ride , mine came with 205/55/16 , which I immediatly swapped with 225/50/16 and ride is much planted.

 

Reg Arches... Hmm now thats always going to be the question in asking ...

[andrehj]

Yeah, fair point, but you're ignoring rule No.1: fill the arches.

The circumference of my 16" wheels is exactly the same as that of the 225/45R17 (or 225/40R18) wheels, so I don't see your point.

[fabman]

I have 16" rims on greenline as standard , this weekend I have changed the pressure in all four tyres from 2.6 bar rear and 2.4 bar front down to 2.1 bar all round and it has transformed the ride so much and tyres are still well inflated .

Found the ride so hard in standard set up , passengers in rear thought it was not comfortable for such a big car.

[Superb170]

I have 16" rims on greenline as standard , this weekend I have changed the pressure in all four tyres from 2.6 bar rear and 2.4 bar front down to 2.1 bar all round and it has transformed the ride so much and tyres are still well inflated .

Found the ride so hard in standard set up , passengers in rear thought it was not comfortable for such a big car.

My dealer recommends 2.1 bar all round as does the tyre centre I use. I've never found them under inflated at that and the ride is so much more improved. It's not a bad guide for general driving where roads are not prefect. If I was on the motorway all day I'd probably go higher

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Edited 28 January, 2015 by Superb170

[Noddy90]

The circumference of my 16" wheels is exactly the same as that of the 225/45R17 (or 225/40R18) wheels, so I don't see your point.

 

Yeah, fair point, but you're ignoring the number one rule of automotive aesthetics: fill the arches.  With metal!  Not literally and not exclusively, of course.  Take your argument to its logical extreme and you could have 10" wheels with 225/95/17 tyres; then you'd have a GREAT ride.

 

I can't understand this modern fad with the youngsters these days: they all put ride quality over aesthetics.  If Oscar Wilde was alive today, he'd be rolling in his grave.

[scottalej]

I agree with Ned. I couldn't bring myself to drop a wheel size or two for winter tyres as aesthetically they look awful on such a big car. Compared to an Audi the ride of the Superb is fantastic on 18" wheels. 

[Bristolf2b]

I genuinely don't mind what the wheels look like, In fact I like the 'blend in with the herd' look of the 16" wheels with Skoda trims with the winters on. I can't see them when I'm driving , and don't look lovingly back at the car as I leave it anymore. Each to his own

[fabman]

Any body any idea how much it would cost to have standard springs put on rear of greenline to maybe improve the comfort ?

[stevehg]

Another reason for bigger wheels is bigger brake discs, some performance cars now need minimum 19" wheels to clear the rotors, and even the v6 superb needs minimum 17".

Any body any idea how much it would cost to have standard springs put on rear of greenline to maybe improve the comfort ?

It's easy to yourself, if inclined, a garage would probably book an hour each side.

[fabman]

Struggling to find anywhere that sells rear springs for new superb online , any sites you guys could recommend?

[Noddy90]

Just driven 160 miles to and from Gloucester with my mate in the car for the first time.  He complimented me on the car's wonderful ride (18" wheels).

[andrehj]

Struggling to find anywhere that sells rear springs for new superb online , any sites you guys could recommend?

Simple: The dealer. He can see in his computer which springs are used for the non-greenline 1.6 TDI.

But I wouldn't exchange just the rear springs, this will make your car look out-of-proportion. Exchange both the front and the rears, to get your car back to the default ride level (which is 15mm higher than that of the greenline).

[fabman]

Thought the jacked up look would look good , it was acceptable in the eighties with jacked up Mark one escorts

Not sure if dealer would supply as it would be against greenline setup /emissions etc.