Hello Everyone,

This is my first post on Briskoda, though i read posts here regularly.

I drive a Skoda octavia diesel 1.9 90hp ALH version. It comes with 15 inch alloys as standard. As I do most of my driving on the highways, I wanted to change to 16 inchers (17 inchers in indian roads is impossible ) . And the wheel is fitted with 225 50 16 Michelin Pilot Sport 3.

Now, whenever i drive it at a speed of above 120 kmph , car steering starts to vibrate. If i go further to 140-160 kmph, the whole body wobbles like crazy. Then, i got my wheels balanced TWICE in two different tyre stores, but still the problem existed. Then, i read in briskoda that spigot rings can be the reason. So went ahead and asked the tyre dealer who sold the rim&tyre for spigot rings. They fitted 2 rings on the front wheels(as they didnt have 4 and promised to give the next week, and it has been more than 2 weeks).

Now when i drive, vibrations start from 90 kmph compared to 120 kmph before. But when i increase the speed to around 140 kmph, vibration stops(may be the frequency is too high to notice?). But there is no insane body vibration like before.

What i suspect?

• Increased weight of the wheel
  
• Bent rim
  
• Improper Spigot rings
  
• Balancing again after fitting spigot rings?
  
• Rear wheels dont have spigot rings? (but my steering vibrates, so not likely)
  

Im suspecting improper spigot rings because , the tyre shop guys, didnt even measure the dia of the hub in my car, they gave it , just like that. It fitted the wheel properly so outer dia was proper, but not sure about the inner dia of the ring.

Any help or suggestion is very welcome.

Some pictures of the alloys,

Thanks,

Jeno.

Edited 30 August, 201213 yr by jenodgr8

_{Sounds very much like the spigot rings!, get all four done and make sure they're the correct sizes!}

Buckled rim?

Spigots mate... Wheels will wiggle about if you not got them :( unless they are machined to not use them.... Which they seem to not be

Get the rear spigots then see what happens mate....

Thank you guys for your inputs, i ordered the correct spigot rings with proper measurements and was informed that the current spigot rings have 1mm bigger inner diameter. The octavia's hub is 57.1mm while the ring which i had is 58mm. This might be the reason for steering vibration.

Buckled rim?

Im sorry, what is actually a buckled rim? ?Using a PCD converter ? Or something related to Offset ?

Thanks

Jeno.

Edited 8 August, 201213 yr by jenodgr8

Im sorry, what is actually a buckled rim? ?Using a PCD converter ? Or something related to Offset ?

A buckled rim - think of driving down a pot-hole at speed and bending the wheel.

Wheels look like they have the wrong offset and are protruding beyond the bodywork. This can accelerate wear on your wheel bearings and will affect the handling. Tyres might also rub on full lock.

Why would 16 inch wheels be better for motorway driving than 15 inch?

everyone knows its cos 16's go mega fast. And 15's are like so slow and that and fings.

Wheels look like they have the wrong offset and are protruding beyond the bodywork. This can accelerate wear on your wheel bearings and will affect the handling. Tyres might also rub on full lock.

Why would 16 inch wheels be better for motorway driving than 15 inch?

Offset is 35. I was told by someone that offset of 35-38 will be fine for octavia. And going for 16 is to get a lower profile tyres, and to increase the Rim width itself, stock wheel was 6 inch, now this is 7inch, which will allow me to go for wider rubber. To be very honest, the whole drama started because i felt that braking is just OKAY, So thought of going for more grippy tyres. And ended up with... you know.!

PS: i changed my brake pads and rotors before trying this... and still felt braking is not just enough. and FYI, my car is non-ABS(which i can manage), with rear drum brakes. :/

Jeno.

The problem is SOLVED. The spigot rings were the culprit as most of you guessed. Second set of spigot rings were also not of the proper size(it didn't fit in the hub).Then Ordered new set of 4 from a local lathe shop for a cheap price, they did a better job. And now wobbling is gone. I am enjoying the PS3 tires and 16 inchers now. cheers.

Thank you guys.

Jeno.