bigoffy

Easily could be rotating mass, never bothered weighing either style of wheel. It's very clear to me that the Spiders made the car much more thirsty, so much so that, had I known in advance, I wouldn't have bothered with getting them! It's certainly something I will be keeping in mind if/when I contemplate any more wheel changes.

I suspected that the Spiders were responsible for a worsening of fuel consumption when I fitted them 4 years ago but there were too many variables to be sure! I use winter wheels and tyres in the cold months and had gone from these, 185 55 15 on steel wheels with plastic trims, to the Spiders with Kumho KH31 205 45 16. there was no hint of experimental "control". I had noticed a slight improvement in consumption when I fitted the winters but the consumption with the Spiders etc on was much higher than I remembered from the previous Autumn with the standard VRS wheels. This time, going back to standard from Spiders the wheels were the only change, the tyres were literally the same ones, I had them swapped over onto the VRS wheels. Noticed that the average consumption was much better on the way back from the tyre fitters than on the way there. This was on narrow, winding country lanes, a longer drive on dual carriageways confirmed the improvement, easily 5 mpg better, perhaps more! I was very careful not to drive differently. So, there it is, not scientific at all, more of a controlled observation. Food for thought though!

PS, NOW SOLD!

Another member told me they are rare ;-) I only know that sizing, fitment etc is as near to the standard wheels as makes no difference, that it took me a VERY long time to get all five and that they are much less aero than the standard wheels! My fuel consumption improved by nearly 10% when I swapped back to the standard wheels but continued to use the same set of tyres!

For anyone that isn't sound asleep by now, 4 ish years later! Here is an answer to my own question ;-) I recently put the standard VRS alloys back on my Fabia VRS and sold the 16 inch Octavia Spiders, I had the very tyres I was using on the Spiders swapped onto the VRS wheels, so no other change. There was an immediate, clear improvement in fuel consumption!!!!!!!!! Possibly as much as 10%! So there it is, the Spiders have to be far less aerodynamic that the standard items. Shame the VRS wheels are quite plain looking. Cheers, Goffy.

Now asking £150

Now asking £200

Price now £150 Picture of Fulda Kristal

Now reduced to £175!!

Now reduced to £225!

Sorry PEE, see above reply :-)

Hi PEE81, If you are interested in the wheels, we can talk price ;-) Goffy.

For Sale £150 ono Set of FIVE VAG Steel Wheels 6" x 15" offset 38mm, bolt spacing 5 x 100mm All grubby with some surface rust but perfectly functional for the cold months Complete with four VAG plastic trims, again pretty battered but useable. WITH Winter Tyres ALL 185/55/15 T One Fulda Kristal 3.5mm tread Two Michelin Alpin 4 to 5mm Two Kumho WinterCraft 6mm+ Collect only from near Exeter Picture is of the Kumho Wintercraft tyres Happy to mail some more pictures to anyone interested.

Sorry, yes they are 5 x 100.