I have a Superb with the optional 17 inch 'cubic' alloys fitted.

Would downgrading to the smaller 16 inch wheels give a smoother ride due to higher profile tyres ?

Yes, 16in with 205/55/R16 tyres will give you more comfort. And a lot less expensive tyres too. Handling is good as long as you keep them at 2.7bar+ (for a heavy V6 TDI). I keep mine at 2.9bar front/ 2.7bar rear normally, and for fully laden car (full boot+ towbar box carrier) the rears get pumped up to 3.3-3.4bar. Superbarge is heavy

I recently bought a pair of Goodyear Efficient grip tyres, quietest tyres I owned so far from 5 different brands and 8-10 different tyre types, very good comfort and they seem to stick to the road at least as well as the Michelin Primacy, both in the wet and in dry.

I guess if you have the smaller 288mm brake discs at front you could go down to 15in wheels and 195/65/R15 tyres, but then handling would suffer considerably. I had Mk1 Octy at 195/65/R15 and 205/55/R16 tyres and the difference in handling was very noticeable.

Edited 23 May, 201313 yr by dieselV6

Thanks for the info. I've got them at 2.4/2.2 bar as recommended on the petrol flap but feel every small bump on the road. It shouldn't be too hard finding a tidy set for sale as people tend to want the larger wheel size for the looks.

Just to clarify, the pressures I gave are still within petrol flap value limits, you need to pump the 205/55/R16 tyres to at least 2.6 front/2.4 rear (unladen V6 TDI car). For fully laden car the recommended rear tyre pressure is 3.4bar.

Having had a superb with both 16 and 17 inch wheels on the 16 wheels were a far superior ride.

I've actually been considering the same, my Comfort has had Elegance 17's put on some time in the past (unless it was a factory upgrade?), and i'm very much considering downsizing, mainly from an economic point-of-view as i think the ride itself is fine.

Any one have any idea what the worth of these would be - the front are a little 'bubbly' in a couple of places, but not badly so, and the rears are pretty good - no serious curbing, etc. I've got the chance of some standard Comfort 16's for £150.

I've always used 16's i like the ride a lot better on those.