Got a really good deal on a set of 17 x 8 et45 team dynamics pro race 1.2s. Plan is to replace my neptunes with these shod with 225 45 Eagle F1s.

Hoping for a bit more comfort and lighter weight. I know they will look small.

Just phoned skoda after the load rating of 17s (unsuccessfully). The service guy seemed mildly traumatised by my plan. What do you guys think?

I have a set of these too, but not on my Octavia. They're 18s in matt graphite, but maybe too close a colour to go with my Anthracite car. I got a good deal on some 7.5 x 17 Team Dynamics Imola wheels which came with nasty Autoguard tyres on them. They're currently gracing a car which has 255/35 R 19s on 9“ rims as standard so that they can get abused over the drier months then fitted with winter tyres. They don't actually look as bad as you might think.

As a Scout owner I like to see the top of my tyres and don't really 'get' the slammed look.

Worked out that my car can get away with 91 load index, so as its a diesel estate I guess you could too. Cover yourself by confirming with your insurer that they ARE legal.

j0hn had some Pro Race 1.2s on his vRS:

His full thread is here http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/238264-j0hns-octavia-mk2-vrs-fsi-new-wheels-and-shiny-bits-205/

Skoda fitted 17" Zenith wheels to the pre-FL Octavia vRS, so it can't be that bad an idea! Recommended tyre size/rating is 225/45 R17 91W (taken from the Skoda wheel/trye TUV document that I downloaded from a link posted on Briskoda ages ago). If you do go for them don't forget to tell your insurance company.

j0hn had some Pro Race 1.2s on his vRS:

His full thread is here http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/238264-j0hns-octavia-mk2-vrs-fsi-new-wheels-and-shiny-bits-205/

I did and I've still got them. At some point I will either take the winter tyres off them and refit the summers or.....oh I don't know, I might just get some more wheels.

To OP - 17" TDPR1.2 will look really small IMO. The design makes even the 18" look small by comparison with a 18" Zenith. The 18s are lighter than an 18" Zenith too. On stock suspension, a vRS on 18s is not what I'd call uncomfortable.

Thanks for replies. John: mine is lowered on an H&R cup kit. Far from uncomfortable but my wife still complains.. Really like the way your 18s look too.

I hadn't even been looking at 17s but stumbled over these and tempted by the price. Can't afford a new pair of 18s. I've very nearly convinced myself to take price, comfort, and performance (consensus from Golf Gti forums seems to be that 17s are faster/lighter and nimbler than 18s) over looks. Also means I'm being individual and not running with the herd on 18s ;-)

Just weighed the pro races: 9.1kg. Massive saving over (I've read) 13.5kg for the Neptunes.

Edited 11 June, 201313 yr by davew255

yep, there was also a magazine test some time back where they put a mk5 gti on 17"s around a track and found it quicker than one on 18"s.

tbh i think the performance benefit is mostly in the reduced weight rather than the size of the wheel - my wheels are 18" but also 9ish kg and you really can feel the benefit in the way the car performs vs the neptunes, but yes you will also benefit the ride in terms of the fatter sidewall.

if you go ahead with the 17"s i'd be inclined to have them in matt black so the size of the rim is "lost" a bit against the tyre - if you had siver or another contrasting colour they're going to look tiny!

the only other consideration is the restricted space if you were to want a bigger brake setup at some point in the future.

post some pics/feedback if you go ahead with this.

I agree there's about a three quarter inch lip on the 1.2s so makes the wheel look smaller then it is, my 18's look smaller then the zeniths it replaced, they do look good though and really suit the mk2

Rob: good advice on the colour but they were only available in the hi-power silver like jOhn's above. I'd prefer a darker wheel anyway as they're going on a candy white estate, but can always have the refurbed at some point I guess.

I've decided I'm going for it. Insurance company says no problem, and I'll keep telling myself it's a case of function over fashion and try and feel self-righteous!

BTW I really like the motorsport heritage of the pro-races. I've also visited their factory and they seem like a great British company making a quality, good-value no-nonsense product: worth supporting.

Off to order 4 17" tyres and I'll post pics of my 'clown-wheels' when they're on.

Edited 12 June, 201313 yr by davew255

in some countries, the vRS comes with 17" as standard.

others get the 18".

so no probs at all with running 17"

u can even run 16s

Mounted the fronts up.

One of the wheels was the wrong PCD but being sorted by Team Dynamics, so hopefully will be a full set very soon.

What do you guys think? Feel free to flame away :think:

I'll content myself with the fact that I saved almost 4kg per wheel.

Dave

And one more: already growing on me!

Edited 23 June, 201312 yr by davew255

Good for you - go for it.

In general, on any car I'm all in favour of the smallest wheels you can fit. People fit big wheels / low profile tyres for purely cosmetic reasons but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I don't think they look better at all.

I have lost count of the number of times I have read reviews of cars - all sorts of cars up to Audis, Mercedes, Jaguars, Porsches, Aston Martins and Ferraris - where the writer says "unfortunately our car was fitted with the [expensive] optional larger wheels [probably just for the benefit of the phtographer] which ruined the ride and added nothing to the handling".

The bigger (or rather, higher-profile) tyres fitted to smaller wheels are cheaper, more comfortable and have just as much grip. If the car actually needed bigger wheels with lower-profile tyres, then that's what the designers would have specified as standard.

Looks good

That's a vote from me.

I think they look good. Suit the car in that colour too - anything other than the standard silver finish and I don't think the result would be as good.

 

Spending half the year on 17s with winters, I don't tend to notice the ride quality difference between them and my 18" Speedlines, I must say. Not a big a difference as I thought there would be - 225/45/17 vs 225/40/18. The 17s are perhaps slightly better at dealing with terrible surface and potholes when I can't avoid them.

 

While the car feels much more direct and feedback is better with the 18s. And the ride is more taut, rather than being noticeably more uncomfortable or firm. It's the way I prefer it to be, but understand that's personal preference.

Edited 9 August, 201312 yr by Wardy

If looks where the only consideration I would definitely say no, they haven't a patch on the 18" Neptunes (sorry)

Sorry a no from me (maybe darker colour, like graphite), IMO Neptune's just fill the hole better.

This subject is the same as colours of cars, what suits one will be hated/loved by others.

Enjoy the extra comfort

Edited 10 August, 201312 yr by Defenderben

If you like them that's all that matters really. they should give you a smoother ride than the 18's so I'd e interested to know how noticable the difference is as well as if you notice a.y difference caused to the handling by the slightly taller side walls. might be worth telling your insurance company too as some get funny if you fit different sized rims on your car. don't want to give them any get outs if you're unfortu.ate emough to have to make a claim.

For me, its not the case of running 17s, its what you fit....

Dave,

 

you may have seen my thread i started the otherday similar to this one. I am getting ready to order a set of 17 pro race 1.2 up.  Did you use your standard wheel bolts etc when fitting these?  I know sometimes you need long bolts.

 

Will get mine in black though as the car is black. 

 

Also what width and offset and did you use?

You should get a fitting kit which contains the conical shouldered bolts and spigot rings.. You will need to get some conical locking bolts too. The wheels default at E45 offset, but you can get them "lower", although there is normally an increase in cost. E45 is a good compromise.

I got mine from Rimstock (the manufacturers) off ebay (Magikwheels is their ebay account).  

 

Mine are 17 x 8 et45 which I reckon is a perfect width and offset (17 x 7.5 et38 will give a very similar offset). 5 x 112 and 57.1 does not need spigot rings.  Mine came with a set of wheel bolts (they have a different shoulder profile to the ones off my Neptunes so you do need the new bolts).

 

I've just checked ebay as Rimstock had a set of black 17s on there just after I bought mine, alas no 17s but do have these 18s in black & anthracite:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-NEW-18-Team-Dynamics-Pro-Race-1-2-Alloy-Wheels-18x8-e45-5x112-57-1-/261260247447?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item3cd4530197

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-NEW-18-Team-Dynamics-Pro-Race-1-2-Alloy-Wheels-18x8-e45-5x112-57-1-/370871799018?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item5659ae8cea