Please remind me what, if anything, this thread is trying to say.

Please remind me what, if anything, this thread is trying to say.

I nodded off about 3 pages ago when guff was spouted about F1 tyres. :zzz: :zzz: :zzz: :zzz: :zzz: :zzz:

Please remind me what, if anything, this thread is trying to say.

That 18" wheels are for aesthetics only and a tradeoff in all other ways.

Big wheels get you bitches

That 18" wheels are for aesthetics only and a tradeoff in all other ways.

Which they used to be, but now they are not, there is always going to be a tradeoff with whatever you compare.

In 1986 a Sierra Cosworth wore 205/50 15" tyre's, back then this was a big wheel with a very low profile tyre, which was the right size for the car, and still is if you could purchase the same specification tyre. If you fitted your sierra with a 17" tyre it would have been a very bumpy ride and may have made the car very skitish. So yes, there was no need for larger dia. wheels, they were for looks.

In 2010 the regs changed and tyre's had to produce less noise poluction within Europe, to do this manufactures have softened the sidewalls, an Asymetrical tyre produce's less noise and perform's better in water which is why they are on the increase over a 'v' tread pattern.

If you now put 4 new 15" 2012 tyres on your 1986 Sierra, doing 70mph it will feel like you have a side wind, going into a corner you will have slower turn in and you will then feel the rear tyre flex on the sidewall's making you think you are about to oversteer, put some 2012 17" on and it will be ok due to less give due to the lower profile. So no, there is a need for larger dia. wheels, they are no longer just for look's.

Now, shall we go on to run flats. . .

If you now put 4 new 15" 2012 tyres on your 1986 Sierra, doing 70mph it will feel like you have a side wind, going into a corner you will have slower turn in and you will then feel the rear tyre flex on the sidewall's making you think you are about to oversteer, put some 2012 17" on and it will be ok due to less give due to the lower profile. So no, there is a need for larger dia. wheels, they are no longer just for look's.

I notice the hypothetical "if" and "it will". So it sounds like you haven't done this and are just guessing. Now why would the rear tyres make you think you are going to oversteer, when the fronts are exactly the same tyre, but more heavily loaded i a corner and will be flexing more?

I run 15" tyres on my work car in a 70 profile, the car I sold last year had 65 profile 15's on it. Very soft sidewalls and it was the most neutral handling fwd car I have ever driven. You could put it into an even slide. When I bought that car 6 years earlier I turned down purchase of another car the same model because the owner had fitted 18" wheels.

When I replaced the standard 20" front wheel on my old Vincent Black Shadow (motorcycle) with a 21" the ride improved substantially because the wheel didn't fall into all the irregularities on the road. Surely this applies (to some degree) with larger diameter wheels on cars even if the side walls are less compliant.

When I replaced the standard 20" front wheel on my old Vincent Black Shadow (motorcycle) with a 21" the ride improved substantially because the wheel didn't fall into all the irregularities on the road. Surely this applies (to some degree) with larger diameter wheels on cars even if the side walls are less compliant.

With these car wheels the tyre OD remains pretty much the same (a few % either way). Bigger wheels mean less tyre around them.

So it sounds like you haven't done this and are just guessing.

I run 15" tyres on my work car in a 70 profile

Whatever I type your going to argue and think your right, so no point me going any further with this, you win, your right.

Out of interest what car is on 15" wheels with a 70 profile?

Say it isn't a Beetle .....

Out of interest what car is on 15" wheels with a 70 profile?

A car badged as a Mazda but built by Nissan. This one originally had 14's, I had to fit 15's when I installed bigger front brakes, most came out the factory with 185/65R15's but I wanted to go as big as I could without rubbing guards.

Hi,

So I'm considering 16s for my Superb II Elegance.

www.accessories.skoda.co.uk/productdetail.aspx?p_no=CCR500001

Are we sure there is no difference in the suspension on the Elegance compared to the S for example? I guess all those wheels are interchangeable. I'm thinking to test the experience on steel wheels in the winter but might take the plunge sooner with the 16" Alloys. If I'm not satisfied I can go back to the Themistos otherwise hello ebay!

How does it feel? Skoda-man? I imagine it's even comfier and quieter and that I can finally relax more when faced with a small curb or imperfection on the road. The only things suffering are grip and sharpness on decent roads. The grip itself is probably quite similar at the end if the day and even with enthusiastic driving the experience is bound to be superior on varying surface conditions.

When I have 16s does the spare become a full speed tyre or do I need a different wheel/tyre? I don't think there's much point in putting an alloy in the boot. If it needs changing perhaps a nice all weather tyre on a steel wheel will do nicely.

I run 7x16" alloys and 205/55/16 winter tyres, the ride is a little better, but TBH it does ride well on the OE fit 225/40/18's - much better than I thought it would.

Yes the spare wheel would also in effect become a full speed spare - providing the tyre size is the same (which it should be if you but the correct sized tyres for a Superb).

Funnily enough though I have the 18" Luna's which some people regard as weak and they are still all straight after 20 months - unlike one of my old 16" winter alloys that I flatspotted very early on!

16inch wheels would fit.

I agree with this statement. I have 18'' alloys as standard on my Superb, and swap to 16'' wheels for winter tyres, no problem.

I have 18" on my L&K and have been impressed by the ride quality.

With after market ones I could find something lighter but I'm not sure it's easy to find the right standard offset. I don't want to unnecessarily change the handling or increase wear. I wonder if the supposedly newer spectrum wheels are any lighter. Speaking of lightness I guess less weight could be a reason to have an alloy as a spare.

Edited 27 July, 201213 yr by nimai

Thanks for all your input.

I'll check the speed/load/width/profile of the spare tyre and part number of the wheel.

I'm inclined to the 16s because I got a freak pinch flat and the car transmits more noise on certain road imperfections and is slightly more flustered than I imagine a mondeo would be. The proportions of engine placement and design have been optimised for a nice turning circle, good interior space and handsome exterior compact size. Therefore it is a balanced focus on the experience off all passengers and is more at home taking it easy on 16s. Some cars are designed to be comfy and quick on 245/45 18s. Ok 17s might be the ultimate compromise for the superb but I say be proud of what the superb does best: all round comfort and practicality. 16s maximize that and save roughly £120-£200 on a set of decent tyres as well as contribute to weight reduction.

If I didn't have to travel certain lanes that make me crave an allroad I reckon the lower greenline setup would suit me as it's likely about as agile and comfy as the elegance/l&k setup only easier on the pocket. However, I think I can come to terms with being the inferior performer among other similarly comfortable cars. It's still a great car!

Edited 27 July, 201213 yr by nimai

This thread is past tedious now and has gone full circle more times than an f1 wheel.

Guys, guys! jrw was bored by this thread over 3 weeks ago - I think we ought to quit now. This is DEFINITELY the last posting on this thread. Agreed?

A big car needs big wheels.

Guys, guys! jrw was bored by this thread over 3 weeks ago - I think we ought to quit now. This is DEFINITELY the last posting on this thread. Agreed?

I don't agree, I could do with some more amusement. .

One of the reasons I bought my Superb Elegance twin-door was the comfort. I have quite serious back problems and lots of research pointed to the Skoda Superb as being the car to have. However, it sits on low profile 18" rims which transmit every dimple/rut/cats eye through the suspension to my back (yes it really is that sensitive).

The front tyres are looking shot at almost 11000 miles so I am going to have to change them. Does anyone know if I can go for a higher (or is it lower?) aspect ratio tyre on the same rims to give me a taller side wall and hence a softer ride or will I have to go down to 17" rims? It looks a bit tight under those wheel arches!

Thanks in anticipation,

Mike

I Do, and if ANYONE has a set of 18's with tyres and would prefer 17" Wheels, I have an Immaculate set of Triffid's with less than 3000 miles on them that I would be happy to work out a deal with on a set of OEM 18's. Triffieds are the standard wheel on the SE Plus and optional elsewhere,

Here is a pic of my car on the Triffid's, and I really want 18's

how low is this from standard and is it lowered on lowering springs or coilovers

Does anyone know if I can go for a higher (or is it lower?) aspect ratio tyre on the same rims to give me a taller side wall and hence a softer ride or will I have to go down to 17" rims? It looks a bit tight under those wheel arches!

Thanks in anticipation,

Mike

Mike, you cannot deviate from the manufacturers recommended sized tyres without legal issues, insurance issues and not to mention mechanical issues - speedo mis reading (reading lower than you are travelling) and possible tyre rubbing.

I have driven my Superb on the OE 225/40/18’s and 205/55/16’s (winter tyres) and TBH there is not that much of a difference (SWMBO’s TT is on 225/50/17”s and this feels even firmer than the Superb, even taking suspension stiffness into account).

I also suffer bad bad problems but rarely from just driving the Superb - I do need the lower lumbar support fully out on anything I drive mind.

If you are really looking for taller sidewalls I would go down the 205/55/16” route (this is the size the Greenline cars use anyway).

The point of 18 inch wheels on the Superb2 is to prevent it taking on the side profile of a skateboard :-)

Seriously - no issues with the ride, noise or comfort. It's all very refined, 18 inch rubber is commonplace and you can haggle with tyre dealers anyway if price is an issue

Whilst I agree that 18" wheels will compromise the ride quality over 17". The Superb want be affected in the same way a car with sports package on it. However the Superb hardly looks like a skateboard with 17" wheels. Not everyone like the "Escalade", "low rider" or "only way is Essex" look.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk whilst in a taxi rank