I am gradually getting on the path to order a Yeti, really would like a 1.4TSI DSG Elegance with 16" alloy wheels (rather than the standard 17"). Dealer tells me that the 1.4 is not available with the DSG box so am quibbling over the 1.2 version. However dealer insists that the Elegance is only available with 17" wheels and will not discuss a change to 16" wheels - apart from telling me that several people have asked the same question!! Has anyone any experience of a dealer being prepared to offer 16" wheels with the Elegance trim? I am convinced the Yeti is a better, more comfortable drive on higher profile tyres. I don't know why there is a trend towards lower profile tyres for "Yeti style" vehicles, UK roads are poorly maintained and likely to get worse and higher profile tyres provide more side wall flex and ride comfort; in my view higher profile tyres on 16" wheels look better than 17" wheels with lower profile tyres as well.

I am gradually getting on the path to order a Yeti, really would like a 1.4TSI DSG Elegance with 16" alloy wheels (rather than the standard 17"). Dealer tells me that the 1.4 is not available with the DSG box so am quibbling over the 1.2 version. However dealer insists that the Elegance is only available with 17" wheels and will not discuss a change to 16" wheels - apart from telling me that several people have asked the same question!! Has anyone any experience of a dealer being prepared to offer 16" wheels with the Elegance trim? I am convinced the Yeti is a better, more comfortable drive on higher profile tyres. I don't know why there is a trend towards lower profile tyres for "Yeti style" vehicles, UK roads are poorly maintained and likely to get worse and higher profile tyres provide more side wall flex and ride comfort; in my view higher profile tyres on 16" wheels look better than 17" wheels with lower profile tyres as well.

I totally agree with your assessment of the 16" wheels being a better fit for the Yeti - both visually and practically.

There must be some weird attitude at SUK, as the 16" wheels are a no cost option here in Europe. The Elegance trim level is not offered here in Denmark - too expensive for tax reasons - so none of the Yeti versions here have the 17" wheels as standard.

You could always ask a briskodian member who's waiting for a new se spec if they want to upgrade with a swop that may solve your problem !

I had a mate from a dealership pop in to where i work last week and he was using a 1.2 dsg and threw me the keys to try it after a 20 minute drive my opinion of the 1.2 was changed responsive quiet and a pleasing combination it was not what i expected at all however I still love my diesel and my seventeen inch alloys although they are a bit of a pain to clean.

Peter

Whilst agreeing entirely that 17" wheels and tyres are there purely for the looks and not much else I have noticed a couple of reviews recently (and the latest long term report in this months CAR mag springs to mind) that mention the 'fidgety' ride on 17's actually settling down after a few thousand miles have passed.

Looks like an initial test drive in a low mileage SM equipped with 17's will not show it off in its best light.

Having said all that I still think 16" would be better, I suppose we can than our lucky stars that SUK didn't see fit to match the 18/19/20" nonsense available on some offroaders.

Can someone please remind me of the tyre rating on the 2.0 4WD elegance 140bhp ??

Edited 22 September, 201015 yr by redandwhitepauly

Can someone please remind me of the tyre rating on the 2.0 4WD elegance 140bhp ??

Factory fit are 225/50 R17 94W

Regards,

TP

Factory fit are 225/50 R17 94W

Regards,

TP

Star man !! Ta.

The difference between the ride on 16 inch and 17 inch wheels is fairly small but I prefer the ride on my 16 inch ones.

The perception of ride comfort depends on :-

1. What your last car was.

Mine was a softly sprung French car with a magic-carpet ride and roly-poly handling.

2. You will get used to it.

The first time over familiar roads you notice the differences but after a few months it becomes more normal.

3. The ride becomes more compliant with age.

You will never drive a 10 year old car with a hard ride. Suspension friction reduces with use and springs, dampers and even tyres become more supple with age. After 4,000 miles I detect a slight improvement already.

I am gradually getting on the path to order a Yeti, really would like a 1.4TSI DSG Elegance with 16" alloy wheels (rather than the standard 17"). Dealer tells me that the 1.4 is not available with the DSG box so am quibbling over the 1.2 version. However dealer insists that the Elegance is only available with 17" wheels and will not discuss a change to 16" wheels - apart from telling me that several people have asked the same question!! Has anyone any experience of a dealer being prepared to offer 16" wheels with the Elegance trim? I am convinced the Yeti is a better, more comfortable drive on higher profile tyres. I don't know why there is a trend towards lower profile tyres for "Yeti style" vehicles, UK roads are poorly maintained and likely to get worse and higher profile tyres provide more side wall flex and ride comfort; in my view higher profile tyres on 16" wheels look better than 17" wheels with lower profile tyres as well.

In general I agree about the wheel size but i just commented in another thread that in my recent experience even two 17" shod cars can feel significantly different and that is down to a number of factors. I also asked two local dealers whether they could swap the wheels to 16" and it depends on whether they have a 'S' model coming in at the same time as 'your' Elegance. In my case one dealer was quite obliging but the other could not as they only used SE and Elegance models, ordering E and S only when required by the customer.