I can't really add to the brouhahah over the SUK unwillingness to specify 16 inch wheels. Mine came with 16 inches as standard on the Ambition trim level. Dealer agreed to replace the original tyres with winters on delivery and I later bought the original summer tyres with a set of wheels at a very favorable price. Both sets later replaced and current set of boots detailed below.

I am very happy with the set-up as the car handles well and wear is low. Currently have 7 mm thread on both sets after one winter and one summer's use.

Three years and 90,000 km (56,000 miles) Wheel and tyre details below.

Is there a photo of the Yeti confirming Moons on a 4x4; wouldn't be the first time a dealer had no idea of the equipment/options fitted to any given example or produced a typo in an add :wonder:

Oh been a couple of dealers with our Monster, that had no idea of her history with both the Moon's and steels fitted; no mention made she had the wrong footwear

TP

.....she had the wrong footwear ...

Ummm...don't you mean 'the right footwear', TP?! :sun:

Ummm...don't you mean 'the right footwear', TP?! :sun:

Oops half asleep

Thanks for the correction,

TP

Brief resurrection, to edit myminiMe's dates etc:

Full UK Members

The Plumber 110 / El / Man / 4 x 4 / Candy White / Nov 10-Apr 11

Expatman 1.2 / El / DSG / 2WD / Lava Blue / Jan 12-Mar 12

My MINI me 140 / El / DSG / 4 x 4 / Silver / Aug 11-Apr 12

SnowYeti 1.2 / El / Man / 2WD / White / Feb 12-Jun 12

Nokiauk 140 / El / DSG / 4 x 4 / Steel Grey / Mar 12-Jul 12

Runswick Stag 110 / SE / Man / 4 x 4 / Steel Grey / Mar 12-Sept 12

Brijo 140 / SE / DSG / 4 x 4 / Muscovado / Apr 12-Sept 12

Vegit8 140 / El / Man / 4 x 4 / Steel Grey / Apr 12-Oct 12

ATCO 140 / El / Man / 4 x 4 / Steel Grey / Jul 12-Oct 12

Offshore Associates

Hirundo Estonia

Gcp Greece

I've just taken delivery of a 1.2 TSI Elegance with 16" Moon alloys. I'd had a lot of trouble with the low profile tyres on my V50 Volvo - noisy, poor traction (lethal in snow) and puncture magnets - so when i decide it was time to change cars one of the criteria was not to have low profile tyres if possible. Doing the round of dealers I went to see and test drive one of the outgoing Octavias, didn't really like it but thought the styling of the Yeti sufficiently quirky to ask for a test drive and by the time I was off the forecourt it felt like I'd driven them for years! So that sorted make and model, I wanted leather seats (fabric and a Jack Russell Terrier's hair are not a good mix) so that led me to the Elegance trim but the 17" wheels. Because of my low mileage/short trips the Greenline wasn't an option and anyway a spare wheel was always an essential. I spoke to the dealer who couldn't help, tried Skoda Support (John Good) who was very helpful and informative but also couldn't help. So I bit the bullet and placed my order. Then I found this web-site, read the various comments about the pros and cons of 16" and 17" wheels from people using both and saw the advice to try contacting someone well up in Skoda UK for help.

I had nothing to lose so I e-mailed Alasdair Stewart - [email protected] - but knowing that his e-mails almost certainly are screened by a secretary or possibly customer services started it off asking that if this was the case would they please either forward it to him or provide a postal address where I might write to him. I then politely explained why I really wanted the smaller wheels, that it wasn't a deal-breaker if this wan't possible but could he help? A couple of days later I got an e-mail saying it was sorted out and from then on I got regular updates on progress from both my dealer and Skoda UK, which shows good customer service.

I appreciate that no manufacturer wants to play pick-and-mix with their range and by preventing dealers approving these variations it probably screens out 95% of those wanting to change the wheels of their car but it does seem that a mixture of persistence and politeness can pay off. (And although its only been 100 miles or so so far, I think I made the right choice for my style of driving).

Well done Paul and welcome to our special club; looks great and I do like the colour choice.

Regards,

TP

Nice to know that it's still possible to get the change if you persevere - well done!

Welcome to our very exclusive club, Paul - UK Member no.10! Good pics; I think this looks very nice! It's been a long time since ATCO joined us last October and it's good to see that Skoda can still cooperate.

So here's the latest list:

Full UK Members

The Plumber 110 / El / Man / 4 x 4 / Candy White / Nov 10-Apr 11

Expatman 1.2 / El / DSG / 2WD / Lava Blue / Jan 12-Mar 12

My MINI me 140 / El / DSG / 4 x 4 / Silver / Aug 11-Apr 12

SnowYeti 1.2 / El / Man / 2WD / White / Feb 12-Jun 12

Nokiauk 140 / El / DSG / 4 x 4 / Steel Grey / Mar 12-Jul 12

Runswick Stag 110 / SE / Man / 4 x 4 / Steel Grey / Mar 12-Sept 12

Brijo 140 / SE / DSG / 4 x 4 / Muscovado / Apr 12-Sept 12

Vegit8 140 / El / Man / 4 x 4 / Steel Grey / Apr 12-Oct 12

ATCO 140 / El / Man / 4 x 4 / Steel Grey / Jul 12-Oct 12

Paul52 1.2 / El / Man / 2WD / Metallic Green / Mar 13-May 13

Offshore Associates

Hirundo Estonia

Gcp Greece

Perhaps Paul would let us know the order and delivery dates, as others above? (Edit - details advised via PM and inserted above. Then typos corrected :S , following proofing by TP - what would we do without him?!)

UK16"SpecialBuildClub 

 

Your attention for a moment, please, members?  It's just a year since the last survey and it might be interesting to have a look at the books.  There apparently haven't been any additions to our numbers but one or two names have moved on. 

 

Our founder member The Plumber is still in the Briskoda fold but is now running an Octavia.  Runswick Stag was last online in September 2012, so he seems to have been an ex-member even at the last summary.  I think Nokiauk is in a different camp nowadays but ATCO might still be with us - he was online, anyway, last month.  Snowyeti seems to have left Briskoda.  I've heard from Vegit8 recently and they are still running the Yeti and a Citigo.  Would anyone like to record themselves in or out?

 

Are the rest of us still happy with our hard-won wheels? 

I never achieved membership of the 16" Special Build Club, but my winter steel wheels are 16" compared to the normal Elegance 17" and I definitely prefer the ride on steels.  They are a lot lighter than the alloys too.  I appreciate others disagree, though.

Zib - Thanks for your input but (ever-so-politely  ) I'd rather not re-open the debate in this particular thread.  I'm really only interested to see if any of the members do comment on their choice, after the passage of time - was the hassle worth it?

The founding Yeti SB was eventually sold by Horton's in the early part of May; don't suppose the new owner knows how special their car is

 

So if your in Lincolnshire keep an eye out for a white Monster LC11 GPO.

 

 

TP

I am still running on 16" wheels - alloys in the summer. steelies in the winter. My wife has a back problem so change to softer running 16's was a definite advantage. Skoda(UK) were reactive after I contacted them (thanks to the Plumber) and order then went through smoothly with the Dealer somewhat bemused by the attention my order received from Skoda Head Office. After 2 years still find pleasure driving the Yeti, no problems except that the rear roof rail cap has fallen off twice but Skoda(UK) and dealer are liaising on a solution, car goes into Dealer for, hopefully, the final fix!

As a non-member of this particular club I can honestly say that I have followed the thread with interest. It doesn't bother me if people prefer 16 or 17 inch wheels, in my opinion both have their merits, (I have 17 summers and 16 winters) but my interest is more about why they stop being active on the forum. Is it change of car, boredom or some other less pleasant reason? The human interest side of things seems to me at least as important as the technical in keeping a forum vibrant and relevant. Just my opinion!

Still have my Yeti, still running on 16" Moon alloys and never regretted my decision to push for this"option" during the past 10,000 miles.

 

As I'm planning to hold onto mine for at least 5 years (hence buying the extended warranty at the time of ordering the car) it looks like I could be the last member in and the last member out  - should return the keys to the clubhouse to The Plumber when I lock up?

My new company car, a Yeti Greenline Elegance outdoor comes in 3 weeks to replace my 4 year old elegance 2wd 110bhp diesel Yeti.

 

I find the ride in my current car quite harsh on the 17" wide and low profile tyres at times. Will the 16" wheels on the greenline improve the drive comfort on rough roads that much?

I, too have followed this thread with interest.  With hindsight, I would have contacted SUK with view to a "special build" when I bought my Roomster Scout in 2009.  The difference in ride quality between  my Scout (16" wheels) and the SE demonstrator (15" wheels) is very noticeable and spoils an otherwise excellent car.

 

I am considering a Yeti 1.2tsi as replacement for my Roomster next year.  If I decide to go ahead then I will definitely apply for membership of the UK 16" special build club.  I do not want another car with low profile tyres.

 

Then I will just need to convince myself Skoda has finally fixed the 7-speed DSG.....

but my interest is more about why they stop being active on the forum. Is it change of car, boredom or some other less pleasant reason? The human interest side of things seems to me at least as important as the technical in keeping a forum vibrant and relevant. Just my opinion!

 

Well I'm still here, albeit a bit quieter in terms of input into the forum, however I am still occasionally posting in the sections of interest to me, Fabia II, Octavia III and Yeti, oh tyres as well

 

Talking of tyres, we're still on 16" rims having the SE trim, although with the Octy III Skoda by default only offer 15/16" wheels with the RRP. However SUK have got round this by only offering the RRP on the SE trim in the UK.

 

Sad to leave the Yeti but after 5k in the Octy III I feel I made the right choice overall; the ride and 150 engine are sublime.

 

Unfortunately though like the Yeti, the seat has gone from very comfy initially in the first 5k to now being uncomfortable; Skoda if your listening you need seats with adjustment for base angle not just height as standard.

 

 

TP

Our Greenline 11 will be with us in 2 weeks.

They are fitted with 16" as standard.

I am right in thinking that the 16" are that much better than the 17" as I was going for a set of 17" Matterhorns.???????

 

You thoughts please.

CD

Would leave the wheels as is, for starters the tyres are less than half the price being the very common 205/55 R16.

 

However it also depends on personal taste but I suppose in answer to your question a Yeti on 17's is similar to a Monte Carlo on 17's.

 

 

TP

Just a few interim comments. if I may 

 

I am still running on 16" wheels - alloys in the summer. steelies in the winter. ..... After 2 years still find pleasure driving the Yeti....

Sorry I didn't mention you at the intro, Expatman, as Senior Current Member!  It will be reassuring to all of us, I think, that you are still happy

 

 

.... why they stop being active on the forum....

Most members still post, some of us more than others, but the topic is yesterday's news.  The debate got overheated at times and we, the persistent few, are probably glad to go our way quietly. 

 

.... should return the keys to the clubhouse to The Plumber when I lock up?

I'd suggest you retain custody of them, as relics of the Awkward Squad.  Does anyone else get the feeling that they might appropriately be hung up in Bob's Corner? 

 

Still not regretting my choice of wheels, now have a set of Octavia Alloys for winter wheels, which came from a bloke in Austria or somewhere similar.

 

Over the years have bumped into a number of Yeti drivers who have spotted the 16's and wished they had had the choice.

UK16"SpecialBuildClub 

 

Your attention for a moment, please, members?  It's just a year since the last survey and it might be interesting to have a look at the books.  There apparently haven't been any additions to our numbers but one or two names have moved on. 

 

Our founder member The Plumber is still in the Briskoda fold but is now running an Octavia.  Runswick Stag was last online in September 2012, so he seems to have been an ex-member even at the last summary.  I think Nokiauk is in a different camp nowadays but ATCO might still be with us - he was online, anyway, last month.  Snowyeti seems to have left Briskoda.  I've heard from Vegit8 recently and they are still running the Yeti and a Citigo.  Would anyone like to record themselves in or out?

 

Are the rest of us still happy with our hard-won wheels? 

 

 

 

Yep, ATCO is still here, watching and learning!  I for one am still delighted with the 16" wheels as i live in a very rural area with lots of rough lanes and the ride improvement is very much appreciated.

Edited 10 June, 201411 yr by ATCO

Zib - Thanks for your input but (ever-so-politely  ) I'd rather not re-open the debate in this particular thread.  I'm really only interested to see if any of the members do comment on their choice, after the passage of time - was the hassle worth it?

 

Yes, I wasn't intending to open up that debate again, just to express a bit of regret that I didn't push to join the 16" club.  Thank you for being polite: appreciated!