I decided to replace my elderly Mk1 with a Mk2 elegance hatch. Somehow I've ended up with a 55 plate with sports suspension and 17" rims with low profile tyres. To be honest I only realised when I got it home and scraped the nose on my driveway. I thought they were just a set of aftermarket alloys that I could just swop out with some 16" standards.

The inside is immaculate but I really would rather not have the lowered suspension and I'd like to smaller rims, mainly for winters but also for the cost of rubber.

What can I do to increase ground clearance but go to smaller rims?

You could simply fit higher profile tyres to your 17s.

Could try looking for a suspension swap with someone looking to lower - they might be prepared to pay for the swap in return for the 17 wheels - might depend on the mileage of your car as suspension wears over time.

Lastly look in the for sale area of the forum for someone selling standard springs cheaply after they have lowered their car - could put an add in the wanted section

You could simply fit higher profile tyres to your 17s

?????

Surely that would mess up the milometer reading, one way or the other?

agreed, dafty idea. May have been just a wheel change mate, these cars tend to be low slung anyway and beause of long nose, entry angles have to be shallower than most cars. 17's are worth more than 16's so I would buy a set of nice 16 inch alloys with the correct pcd and tyre size, on gumtree youll find tons and for buttons with good tyres.

Then sell the 17's for more.

Or buy 16 steels and put on winter tyres, and have the nice looking 17's for summer.

?????

Surely that would mess up the milometer reading, one way or the other?

Agreed. A higher profile will make the mileometer and speedo under read.

Oh, and don't call Octavia5 Shirley.

( I'll get my coat.)

Would be helpful to post the actual tyre size that ya have, standard 17's would have a 45 profile size

Would 16" rims with winters on lift the car much?

I've checked the options codes now and it is definitely a factory fit sports suspension and the 17inch Pegasus alloys. Without wanting to sound too much like a muppet I did think it was a little hard to look under when I was checking it over . Off to look at building a bridge over the dip in the driveway :wonder:

Would be helpful to post the actual tyre size that ya have, standard 17's would have a 45 profile size

They are...

Firehawk SZ 90u 225/45 R17 91W

so maybe that is std profile?

Are these the alloys fitted to your Octavia?

Inside the first page of your service book there will be a sticker that was applied in the factory.

If you list out all of the codes on this sticker we'll be able to confirm if your Elegance was fitted with the sports pack from new...

yeah that's the alloy (similar looking scratch too ). And I've checked the codes with the very handy "igorweb". 2UC = sports version and H6L = tyres 225/45 R17

Heated seats too :sun: which is helping my ass after my wife kicked it back down the drive for buying it!

What actually makes up the sports suspension over standard, isn't it just the springs and shockers?

Rather than sell the car would it not be worth getting a set of shock and springs from a breakers yard (there will be loads of late model Octavia's with low mileage on them waiting to be stripped) and then selling the sports ones on here with the alloys.

Your lucky in that most people are looking to go the other way - standard to sports, and 16" to 17/18" so you shouldn't have any issues flogging it, that way aside from the labour charges to do the swap the additional cost shoudn't be too bad.

Unless you replace the sports suspension with standard, anything you do with wheel and tyre sizes to raise it is going to put the milometer way out

You can't change the diameter of your wheels without changing the speedo etc. So smaller wheels with a deeper profile will be exactly the same diameter and make no difference.

You'll either need to raise the suspension or reshape the entrance to your drive.

Oh well with some judicious use of angles and creeping I can get in and out without grounding it, just. Straight on it looks like this though! (and that's without my works gear in it. )

Edited 2 December, 201213 yr by Tinkicker

Wow, that's close

Have you thought of moving house?

Wow, that's close

Have you thought of moving house?

Yes often, unfortunately we built this one and despite it being 150 miles from my (newer than the house) office the wife won't hear of it. :(

Anyone know how long a new V5 takes to get...I think this Octy and I aren't going to have a long relationship. Oh well live and learn.

anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks. They need to be low and on big rims, give her time youll love it

might seem a bit obvious, but have you considered just reversing up?

What mileage and spec (extras) is it?

Oh dear- a pity you did not notice the larger wheels.. I bought the same specification with my eyes open( a BIG discount was on offer) but only after a thorough road test.I was alerted to spec by the dealer and had also previously tested a Passat with sports suspension. Been happy over the last four years from new. Not hit the ground-only kerbs- and the ride is fine.

Tyre prices are OK if you go for mid range such as Barum.

Edited 2 December, 201213 yr by gregoir

Slap a bit of concrete down where the road and the pavement meet = Job done.

swapping over to 205/55/16 wheels/tyres should be fine as there is only 2mm difference to diameter compared to your current 17" ones so it wouldn't make much difference to the speedo reading, see below link for checking your tyre size comparison.

http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyre-size-calculator.htm

swapping over to 205/55/16 wheels/tyres should be fine as there is only 2mm difference to diameter compared to your current 17" ones so it wouldn't make much difference to the speedo reading, see below link for checking your tyre size comparison.

http://www.etyres.co...-calculator.htm

That's the whole point, I think he wants to raise more than that, unless I'm getting my wires crossed

What mileage and spec (extras) is it?

88K with Sport Suspension (obviously) the 17" rims, heated seats, multi-function display, towbar on the back (which kinda stuffs the reverse in option). Through loading bag.

In terms of the speedo reading, it has an option to change the speedo by +/- 5 mph for winter tyres on the info display so as I normally drive on GPS anyhow that should sort it.

We've had issues with the drive ever since moving in, lots of cars catch on it unless you're slow and delivery trucks are slowly grinding away the high spot for us. Comes off block paving, been a complex relationship with the neighbours and I don't think they would like a concrete splay. I'll see if any contractors can re-profile it, been sort of on the to do list for a while.