I have read lots about ride quality on this forum, please could I get some real world experiences from

people who have actually changed from 16" to 17" wheels or vice versa.

Thanks

I used 205/55 R16 winter wheels and tyres for three months on my estate and I can say that I did not notice any real difference between them and the 17" alloys on the car now.

 

Yes the ride is a bit firm on the O3 compared to my Fabia, then again it has better handling.

No i'd suggest not. Test drove an SE with 16's and standard suspension, bought an Elegance with 17's and standard suspension and cant say Ive noticed any real difference.

17's on standard suspension isnt a bad compromise. Car doesnt look particularly underwheeled with the 17's and the slightly lower profile and 225 section width of the tyres aids cornering capability and grip over 16" wheeled versions, the 16's only having 205 section 55mm high rubber.

I have had 205/55R16 winters on and 225/40R18 summers and I can't really tell much difference in ride quality.

I have had 205/55R16 winters on and 225/40R18 summers and I can't really tell much difference in ride quality.

I agree. In fact the only thing that initially made the suspension seem harsh was that when my car was PDI'ed it left the dealership with 55psi in each tyre! Once corrected all was fine!

I agree. In fact the only thing that initially made the suspension seem harsh was that when my car was PDI'ed it left the dealership with 55psi in each tyre! Once corrected all was fine!

Only 55! - you had a good PDI then as they took the transport blocks out as well

I have read lots about ride quality on this forum, please could I get some real world experiences from

people who have actually changed from 16" to 17" wheels or vice versa.

Thanks

I got 17" on an Elegance 1.4 TSI feels fine, you don't even need to man-up for it 

It's hard to say for sure without an extended test in each (or actually making the swap and seeing what happens to your own car), which I suppose is the reason for the specific question asked by the OP. I know it made a massive difference in my last car, a Ford Focus, which had 17" summers and 16" winters. Because of the Focus I guess I have a bit of OCD about it, so I test drove an SE and an Elegance when I bought mine and I thought the 16's did ride a little better, but not enough to persuade me to give up the rest of the Elegance spec. It's hard to be certain from a short test drive, but I'd say that the difference on the Octy is much less noticeable than with the focus, although it is there.

 

I've never understood the concept of a car looking "underwheeled" if I had my way a 195/65 R15 would do nicely (although that would require the 1.2TSi, so maybe not for that reason!). I seem to be in a minority on this board though, I see plenty of people bigging up the 18" rims.

 

As it happens, I would say that the Octavia with 17s rides much better than the focus did, and it's also much quieter, much quicker, has a higher quality finish and generally makes me smile more. Should have got an Octavia last time too!

I have read lots about ride quality on this forum, please could I get some real world experiences from

people who have actually changed from 16" to 17" wheels or vice versa.

Thanks

I have changed from 16" to 17" and yes the ride suffers a bit.

On the other hand it handles way better.

Normally I prefer more tyre than rim, however having driven Octy III's on 16, 17 and 18" rims I'd say the 17" set-up suits the car the best, although I quite happy to stick with the standard 16" option on the SE, particularly as the tyres are the very common 205/55 size which makes them fairly cheap.

 

 

TP

Guys

Does 17 inch tyres could help in any way with the cross winds affecting the car over the 16 inch?

My octy 3 is very bad and unsafe with side wind gusts on high way , the same with my cousin with the same car as me ,

Notice that our cars in Egypt cames with the extra ride hight pack.

Notice that our cars in Egypt cames with the extra ride hight pack.

 

There's your answer!

 

Higher ride height means higher centre of gravity, and higher ride height allows greater airflow under the vehicle creating more lift and thus instability. This is accentuated at speed due to additional turbulence where cross-winds are involved (there's a good point actually - whenever you see these cars being tested in a wind tunnel, the airflow is always directed head on to the vehicle, and never as far as I've seen, at an angle to the front or sides).

 

My MK3 Escort 1.6 Ghia of many moons ago (yes I know… I once owned one of Ford's most ghastly creations… I was young and easily influenced) was the same. At high speed on the French motorways I could feel it lifting and the steering becoming much lighter (dangerously so), and the whole car consequently becoming overtly sensitive when passing high sided vehicles or being overtaken by anything larger than a motorbike.

Our 4x4 Combi has the rough road pack including the 15mm raised ride height suspension and it feels stable to me, even going over the high and exposed ground of the Wolds.

 

Only issue I've had with sensitive steering, came down to new winter tyres tram-lining but this abated after they had covered around 2k and I'd ensured the tyre pressures were at the minimum recommended pressure.

 

 

TP

There's your answer!

Higher ride height means higher centre of gravity, and higher ride height allows greater airflow under the vehicle creating more lift and thus instability. This is accentuated at speed due to additional turbulence where cross-winds are involved (there's a good point actually - whenever you see these cars being tested in a wind tunnel, the airflow is always directed head on to the vehicle, and never as far as I've seen, at an angle to the front or sides).

My MK3 Escort 1.6 Ghia of many moons ago (yes I know… I once owned one of Ford's most ghastly creations… I was young and easily influenced) was the same. At high speed on the French motorways I could feel it lifting and the steering becoming much lighter (dangerously so), and the whole car consequently becoming overtly sensitive when passing high sided vehicles or being overtaken by anything larger than a motorbike.

This is exactly my problem

So what do you guys think could be done to help with this issue?

Does they increase the hight by shocks or springs ? And how can I reduce the car hight a little and will it help with my problem?

I also sometimes when air blows from the front of the car I fell as if the car is skidding a little side ways :(

The combi may not be affected by much due too design and weight.