Is anyone running 18" Alloys on 1.6TDi Greenline. Have the std 16" greenline alloys but would like to upgrade to the 18" for summer

interested to know how 18" would run on the 1.6TDi

I have a 2.0TDi Elegance with 18" wheels, and I hate them. They're fine on smooth roads, but dreadful when there are potholes. For the winter I use 16" wheels with winter tyres, and pot-hole tolerance, ride comfort and fuel economy all improved markedly. 18" wheels are a fashion fad, encouraged by tyre manufacturers as the tyres wear out more quickly. Read Honest John on the subject. He deplores the fashion for low profile tyres on road cars. For that matter, when did you see a low-profile tyre on a grand prox car? Stick with the 16 inch wheels. Honest!

As above mine came with 18”s as std, they are actually nowhere near as crashy as I was expecting them to be (came from a MKI Superb on 16’s) yes there is a difference in ride quality over the 16” winter tyres that I also run, but it’s not massive.

You will notice a difference in the MPG though, as I always get better consumption with the winter tyres fitted.

For that matter, when did you see a low-profile tyre on a grand prox car? Stick with the 16 inch wheels. Honest!

That has more to do with the FIA rules.. they are only allowed 13” wheels, touring cars on the other hand are a different kettle of fish and more of a comparison for a road car.

I'm not running 18"s on mine but i've currently got my 17" audi winter wheels fitted. IMHO I think the ride is much better with the 16" wheels and suits the style of car. It is a bit more crashier with the 17"s on. My fuel economy has also dropped so really looking forward to putting my summers back on. In comparison, when I fitted these to my previous car, an Octavia Vrs, the ride comfort and economy both improved over the standard 18" wheels.

I bought myself a brand new Insignia back in 09 and I paid to have fitted the optional 18" alloys. What a big mistake, the tyres were way more expensive, i could get know where near the economy it was supposed to achieve and all it did was tram line in the worn recesses in the roads.

Stick with the 16"s. I think my 17" winters will go up for sale after the winter so I can get mysef another set of 16s

Rich

Nice to see some sensible people here, who do not buy this "bigger is better" nonsense.

While I do like the look of 18's on the car, I think i will stick with the 16's. I've been driving different roads (bad ones !!!!) this week, and found the comfort and fuel economy, excellent, and don't think i could go to a harsher ride

I have an Elegance fitted with 18" Luxon (I think) Alloys as standard and the original tyres are coming to the end of their life. I would like to change to 16" (awaiting insurer approval) for the comfort aspect and wondered if anyone knows of a similar looking wheel in the smaller diameter. I don't fancy the look of the Spectrum alloys and am not sure if the insurer will insist on a genuine Skoda wheel.

Thoughts/ideas/suggestions anyone?

Kind Regards,

Mike

Only one 16" Genuine Skoda wheel for Superb - many 17" and a few 18" - Check out the accessory brochure here

Al.

Mike, OK they are not Škoda wheels (they are made by BBS for Audi) but the closest I could find whilst keeping them genuine VAG were the Audi ‘Abitos’ winter wheels (7’x16”):

Ive just given my car a good wash and thought while im at it I may as well change back to my standard wheels and tyres. Ive got 17" 5 spoke audi A4/A6 alloys as my winters and now stuck my spectrums back on. I must be honest. I really do like the look of the spectrum but it does now loon like its sitting on sofa casters now. Guess I just need to get used to it again and enjoy the soft ride.

On a side note, forgotten how good the Petrol blue colour is now its clean again.

stick with the 16" and save cash,

if you have money to waste go with the others,

i think the the answer is simple

Due to its lower ride height, my Greenline Combi on the OE 16" Spectrum's with 205/55/16 Conti tyres has a slightly harsher ride than my Superb hatch with the 1.9Tdi engine and the same wheel/tyre combination.

For what its worth, my advice would be to stick with the 16" Spectrums.

Will the 1.6 TDI Greenline accept 18" wheels considering the lower chassis and lowered suspension?

Does the dash clock then need to be recalibrated?

As above mine came with 18”s as std, they are actually nowhere near as crashy as I was expecting them to be (came from a MKI Superb on 16’s) yes there is a difference in ride quality over the 16” winter tyres that I also run, but it’s not massive.

You will notice a difference in the MPG though, as I always get better consumption with the winter tyres fitted.

That has more to do with the FIA rules.. they are only allowed 13” wheels, touring cars on the other hand are a different kettle of fish and more of a comparison for a road car.

The old car was better wasn't it Giz,

Comfy sofa to deck chair

The PD130 engine was certainly more to my liking, but other than that there is no comparison between the MKI and MKII, the MKII wins every time.

The PD130 engine was certainly more to my liking, but other than that there is no comparison between the MKI and MKII, the MKII wins every time.

 

 

You finding the 1.9 PD better than the 2.0 CR?

 

I had the 2.0 PD in a B6 after the Sup 1, it had more go in it but it didn't half feel like a fragile engine, I spent a lot of my time wondering if today was gonna be the day I heard the bang of the wallet opener, luckily it didn't happen but having seen a few of them mash the engine (including a mates one) I was a worried bunny,

 

I thought the CR was a complete departure from the PD's and better in every way is there anything in particular that makes you feel it's not a good lump Giz?

There is nothing ‘wrong’ with it, I just prefer the power delivery of the PD over the (std) CR.

Ah I see, the CR isn't savage enough for you, bit like going drinking with the sensible kid rather than the lad

Edited 1 July, 201313 yr by Supurbia

I can only reiterate what the others here have said, I recently put a set of octavia L & K 17s on my Greenline Superb because they looked much nicer, Well they lasted exactly 1 day before I stuck the 16" originals back on, The ride was crashy the steering heavier and fuel consumption down bye about 15%, Stick with the originals or find some nice looking 16" to replace them with, The new facelift greenline wheels look much nicer imo im on the lookout for a set.

Will the 1.6 TDI Greenline accept 18" wheels considering the lower chassis and lowered suspension?

Does the dash clock then need to be recalibrated?

 

The diameter of the wheel and tyre is almost identical between

 

195/65R15 = 634.5mm (stock on my 09 Greenline estate)

225/45R17 = 634.3mm (17" vRS wheels as fitted to mine at the moment)

225/40R18 = 637.2mm (18" vRS/optional wheels)

 

There's less than 0.5% difference in the circumference of these so there's no need for recalibration

That is a strange one Gyp,

 

Scoobs is saying his fuel went up which can happen if the gearing ratio's change at the wheels but as the diameters are all within each other that shouldn't have happened to him unless the look in the shop window factor at my new wheels produced that old heavy right foot thing showing off off of the line so to speak

Of course if the ride quality is severely compromised by fitting bigger alloys and lower profile tyres, there may be a tendency to go faster to get the journey over with. ;-)

That'd use more fuel...

That is a strange one Gyp,

Scoobs is saying his fuel went up which can happen if the gearing ratio's change at the wheels but as the diameter all within each other that shouldn't have happened to him unless the look in the shop window factor at my new wheels produced that old heavy right foot thing showing off off of the line so to speak

I have a greenline which I use a set of 17" audi alloys as my winters. These used to get fitted to my octy vrs in the winter and I noticed an improvement in fuel economy. However on my greenline i get a decrease in fuel economy. Rolling diameters of the wheels are near identical. My guess in the increase in fuel consumption is the width of the tyres creating more drag. Needless to say the 17" are going this year for another set of 16"s

That is a strange one Gyp,

Scoobs is saying his fuel went up which can happen if the gearing ratio's change at the wheels but as the diameter all within each other that shouldn't have happened to him unless the look in the shop window factor at my new wheels produced that old heavy right foot thing showing off off of the line so to speak

I have a greenline which I use a set of 17" audi alloys as my winters. These used to get fitted to my octy vrs in the winter and I noticed an improvement in fuel economy. However on my greenline i get a decrease in fuel economy. Rolling diameters of the wheels are near identical. My guess in the increase in fuel consumption is the width of the tyres creating more drag. Needless to say the 17" are going this year for another set of 16"s

I think it might be to do with the greenline low resistance tyres as well as the extra width of the 17s tyre causing the extra fuel use