finally got round to posting some pics of the superb with the 16" wheels on it. We think they look OK. The improvement in ride over the 17" is noticeable. They are actually passat wheels and it was very difficult to sort the centre caps out - we had some badges custom made but they woudl not stick to the original centre caps due to the caps being slightly domed. They are stuch direct to the wheel without centre caps. they look OK but one fell off the other day. A better solution is required but am a bit stumped for ideas on this one. anyway - see the pics on my website here :

www.backhouse.org.uk. pics at the top show the car with 17" and below with 16".

I know some of you wont like them but I think the 18" wheels look unsuitable for the car !!

I have to say i much prefer the look of 18" 's even over the 17's let alone the 16's

As long as its helped on the ride for you though

Sorry Jon, I think it's a backward move myself.

Hows the alarm problem progressing?

Same here, I run 17" myself and find it to be the minimum to give the car a decent look. Furthermore, my 17" wheels don't harm the ride much, but to each their own and as long as you're happy, who gives a rats ***, right?

As long as your happy thats all that matters. Personally I don't think it looks right and is a step backwards

I dont know what this obsession is with fitting giant cartwheels - especially on luxury cars. My priorities are excellent ride / low noise / safety. The other day I saw an L200 pickup with the most ridiculous oversize alloys and skinniest tyres I've ever seen. Must say I had a good laugh at how ridiculous it looked. In most cases of super low profile tyres I look at, they invariably have large scrapes and damage on the alloy rims as the tyres dont offer any protection.

On another thread about the FL Octavia VRS, pictures prompted posters to say "those wheels are only 17"" when in fact they were 18". Most people cant tell the difference from a distance.

And of course the larger low profile tyres cost an arm and a leg.

@Skodakid

But if safety is one of the priorities, then sticking with the manufacturers approved wheel / tyre combo is the way to go?

I agree wheels / tyres can be silly sizes (as per the L200 example), but to be blunt, 16 Rims with balloons fitted for tyres look ridiculous to me, ride quality may be improved but I can't believe that handling is not compromised with the additional sidewall flex. But if a car owner is happy with their car, then that's all that matters

Edited 23 June, 200917 yr by Fluffmeister

@Skodakid

But if safety is one of the priorities, then sticking with the manufacturers approved wheel / tyre combo is the way to go?

Yes, I agree, but 16 inch wheels are a standard size fitted to bottom of the range - 16” ‘Spectrum’ alloys (7J x 16” 205/55 R16 94V)

Yes, I agree, but 16 inch wheels are a standard size fitted to bottom of the range - 16” ‘Spectrum’ alloys (7J x 16” 205/55 R16 94V)

Yes and that looks ridiculous too!

Sorry Jonathan, as long as your happy with it.

16's look terrible :thumbdwn:

HTH

16's look terrible :thumbdwn:

HTH

I do not give a rat`s *** about the looks, the smooth ride and economically reasonable size is what matters to me!! 17" and 18" wheels look better,but that`s all they have. :thumbdwn:

castors.

and wtf does economically reasonable size mean ffs?

I do not give a rat`s *** about the looks, the smooth ride and economically reasonable size is what matters to me!! 17" and 18" wheels look better,but that`s all they have. :thumbdwn:

Someone got out of the bed on the wrong side this morning didn't they ........................ fact is this is an open forum and the thread posted asked for opinions and I gave one, the Superb running on 16's looks like it's on castors and ruins the overall ergonomics of the vehicle. Audi, BMW, Mercedes manage a cosseting ride on low profile larger diameter wheels, what makes Skoda any different?

Me thinks that it's all in the mind :P

FWIW (and this is only my opinion) I think it looks cheap with the 16s...

and to be honest the difference in comfort between 55 profile and 50 profile will be virtually nil. Personally I would have gone for changing th etyres on the 17s to a slightly wider tyre, giving more depth to the profile and gaining "COMFORT" that way:D

(as I say, MY opinion)

I have to say the ride on my Superb with 18"s is better than my Mercedes E Class which had 17"'s but a lot depends on the roads , whilst i wouldnt say they are great in my area there are a lot of places worse off and the quality of the roads makes the most difference to the ride of the car , in an area with poor surfaces i could see that 16's would be more or less essential so i wouldnt wish to judge another persons choice

I don't care for the look at all and whilst 16" wheels may be fitted to the lowest specification model, that - in itself - is meaningless. The overall design and aesthetics of the Elegance originated with 18" wheels and I'm totally happy with both their appearance and ride quality.

Surely this subject has been done to death more than once, hasn't it? :(

Ray

castors.

and wtf does economically reasonable size mean ffs?

It means that if you drive about 20 000 km per year, it doesn`t matter if your bigger and more expensive tyres wear out faster. But, if you drive around 120 00 km per year, it has a bigger meaning. And like someone said, everyone has their own opinion about this,and that is how it`s supposed to be.....

It just looks like some people take these PROVOCATIVE opinions too seriously....don`t have a cow, man !

Edited 24 June, 200917 yr by Skoda-Man

Someone got out of the bed on the wrong side this morning didn't they ........................ fact is this is an open forum and the thread posted asked for opinions and I gave one, the Superb running on 16's looks like it's on castors and ruins the overall ergonomics of the vehicle. Audi, BMW, Mercedes manage a cosseting ride on low profile larger diameter wheels, what makes Skoda any different?

Me thinks that it's all in the mind :P

nope . its not in the mind. I did a back to back comparison with the 17" wheels on and the 16" wheels on (within 30 mins of each other) and I drove the same roads and there was a noticeable improvement. things got even better when I got some michelin primacy tyres - a better ride and quieter than the contis i tried before.

as most people have said - its personal choice. I think the wheels I have chosen are better looking than the standard fit 16" on the greenline. the wheels I have, in my opinion, look bigger than they are. When I am driving at 60mph on my smooth wheels I dont really think - "gosh I wish i had 18" wheels as they look better". However if I was on the 18" wheels I would certainly think - "crikey this ride is hard, better dodge the potholes "!!

its also not just about the profile change from 50 to 55. its about the drop in sidewall stiffness - the OEM tyres are ridiculous over rated which makes the tyre walls too stiff. The superb chassis benefits hugely from the increased natural suspension give by the hysteresis of the rubber on a lower rated (V) tyre. I challenge anyone to drive my car back to back with an 18" wheeled superb and NOT say its a better ride - whether that is your choice or preference is a differnet matter. some people are happy to place form over function , I am not !!

I guess many people buy a car for its appearance and the external design. I buy a car based on the interior - thats what I look at when I drive it so that has to be right. Its all about choices isnt it ?

nope . its not in the mind. I did a back to back comparison with the 17" wheels on and the 16" wheels on (within 30 mins of each other) and I drove the same roads and there was a noticeable improvement. things got even better when I got some michelin primacy tyres - a better ride and quieter than the contis i tried before.

as most people have said - its personal choice. I think the wheels I have chosen are better looking than the standard fit 16" on the greenline. the wheels I have, in my opinion, look bigger than they are. When I am driving at 60mph on my smooth wheels I dont really think - "gosh I wish i had 18" wheels as they look better". However if I was on the 18" wheels I would certainly think - "crikey this ride is hard, better dodge the potholes "!!

its also not just about the profile change from 50 to 55. its about the drop in sidewall stiffness - the OEM tyres are ridiculous over rated which makes the tyre walls too stiff. The superb chassis benefits hugely from the increased natural suspension give by the hysteresis of the rubber on a lower rated (V) tyre. I challenge anyone to drive my car back to back with an 18" wheeled superb and NOT say its a better ride - whether that is your choice or preference is a differnet matter. some people are happy to place form over function , I am not !!

I guess many people buy a car for its appearance and the external design. I buy a car based on the interior - thats what I look at when I drive it so that has to be right. Its all about choices isnt it ?

But it only applies to someone wanting more ride comfort, I prefer handling and I can't beleive that the squidgy sidewalls don't compromise the handling. My Roomster is 1 year old and just done 24,000 miles on 40 section tyres, lowered uprated suspension and has not caused me any concerns over ride quality. The family don't complain either, it's not a case of look at my 18" blingtastic rimz, the car in elegance spec was designed / styled around 18's. There don't seem to many superb owners complaining of ride quality on the standard Rims, I can't help think time and time again that you just bought the wrong car.

I wonder if the alarm problem is a protest from the car at having to run on 16" wheels :confused:

Remember 'Christine' ?

I've gone the opposite way on my Octavia, from 17's to 18's, and, if anything, I think the ride comfort is better

But at the end of the day, it's your choice, so what other people might think shouldn't bother you

castors.

That is the funniest post I have ever seen on Briskoda....thanks Bengie, you've made my day!

In all seriousness though I'm still convinced that the car Jonathan drove on 18s could have still had the transport chocks in place. My Elegance was delivered with the chocks in and I drove it for a fair while thinking "Jeez, jcblincs was right after all!"....the ride was really hard.

However since they've been removed I simply do not see what there is not to like about the ride, it rides beautifully.

Dan

Edited 24 June, 200917 yr by dan123

nope . its not in the mind. I did a back to back comparison with the 17" wheels on and the 16" wheels on (within 30 mins of each other) and I drove the same roads and there was a noticeable improvement. things got even better when I got some michelin primacy tyres - a better ride and quieter than the contis i tried before.

as most people have said - its personal choice. I think the wheels I have chosen are better looking than the standard fit 16" on the greenline. the wheels I have, in my opinion, look bigger than they are. When I am driving at 60mph on my smooth wheels I dont really think - "gosh I wish i had 18" wheels as they look better". However if I was on the 18" wheels I would certainly think - "crikey this ride is hard, better dodge the potholes "!!

its also not just about the profile change from 50 to 55. its about the drop in sidewall stiffness - the OEM tyres are ridiculous over rated which makes the tyre walls too stiff. The superb chassis benefits hugely from the increased natural suspension give by the hysteresis of the rubber on a lower rated (V) tyre. I challenge anyone to drive my car back to back with an 18" wheeled superb and NOT say its a better ride - whether that is your choice or preference is a differnet matter. some people are happy to place form over function , I am not !!

I guess many people buy a car for its appearance and the external design. I buy a car based on the interior - thats what I look at when I drive it so that has to be right. Its all about choices isnt it ?

You hit the nail on the head here! the INTERIOR is where you spend your time (although I preffered your 17" alloys) shame Skoda do not give you 17" & 16" wheel options, I would not want 18" but 17" on an Elegance and the SE seats! That would be my perfect Superb:) (electric operated of course!).

That is the funniest post I have ever seen on Briskoda....thanks Bengie, you've made my day!

In all seriousness though I'm still convinced that the car Jonathan drove on 18s could have still had the transport chocks in place. My Elegance was delivered with the chocks in and I drove it for a fair while thinking "Jeez, jcblincs was right after all!"....the ride was really hard.

However since they've been removed I simply do not see what there is not to like about the ride, it rides beautifully.

Dan

i did drive more than one just to be sure.

were the transport chocks obvious - ie could you see them just by bending down and looking ?

interestingly I popped in to merc last week just to have a nosey at the new E-class. The SE model comes with...wait for it...16" wheels !!! also has a nice spec level for a base car - maybe they took note of how much kit you get for your money in the superb ! annoyingly you cant have xenons unless you upgrade to the avantgarde which has bigger wheels and lowered suspension.why cant you have a comfort set up, with small wheels and xenons ?

interestingly I popped in to merc last week just to have a nosey at the new E-class. The SE model comes with...wait for it...16" wheels !!!

Probably so that they can rip you off for a bit more dosh if you want 17's

My 16" wheel equipped Superb II does not look undershod in my opinion. Furthermore, it handles as well as my Octy II with the same size tyres.

The O.E. Michelin Energy tyres are still showing 5mm of tread on the front wheels which is commendable after 14,000 miles use.

I suspect if I changed the Michelin Energy tyres to Michelin Primacy the ride would improve, as long as I didn't opt for the Extra Load version.