Hi, I have ordered a octavia vrs with the 19" extreme wheels, but as i have googled pictures, i'm a bit concerned about the offset and how it looks, anyone use spacers on your wheels? if so, what width to make them look "normal"? what brand of spacers? and does anyone experienced any problems because of spacers (wheel bearings etc)? I live in Norway (thats why my english is a bit off) we have laws about changing the width off the offset, max 7,5mm. On my audi a4 the offset is 42, when fitting et35 on it it looks "normal", and it stays within the limit (7mm) but i belive i must go beyond that on the vrs, the wheels are way in there.....

Offset is only one part of "how a wheel fills an arch"; there's also width. A 9 inch wheel will fill out the arches more than an 8 inch wheel with the same offset.

ah, didn't know that, but it makes sense....The extreme alloys are 7,5 that is a part off the problem, hmmmmmmm, I'll need gigantic spacers to make them fill the arches...... Should have dropped the extreme's and bought aftermarket wheels.....

The Extreme isn't extreme at all! ET51. Spacers isn't allowed in Norway. You need to check "vognkortet" to see the registered offset and what you can change to (max. 15 mm per axle). If you change the width of the alloys, make sure there are enough space towards suspension parts and inner wings.

Yeah, I know spacers aren't allowed, but it's only a problem if you get caught :p  Any thoughts on how the wheel bearings will react with spacers, say 30mm pr axle? will they wear out quicker?

Skoda is "cheap" on wheel appearance, all original rims has a offset which puts the wheels deep in there somewhere.

30 mm is a lot. It will for certain give more stress on the bearings, but it is hard to say how it will affect the life time of the bearings. I think the biggest problem is the extra stress on the wheel bolts when adding 15 mm extra depth. You add a loose ring and instead of one surface you get two, which longer bolts is the sole connection.

Have you measured the depth of the wheels? Is 15 mm per wheel possible? Front wheels are closer to the fender edge than aft.

Edited 25 February, 201610 yr by fatzy

No, haven't got the car yet, arriving in a week or so, after searching more on the forum here I came across someone that used 12mm in front and 20mm in the rear (pr wheel) 24mm and 40mm pr axle, without any problems.. Was planning to use h&r spacers, they rest on the original hub, and the wheel also has an edge to rest on, the bolts will not be as stressed as if it was just a flat spacer, these also comes with TUV certificate (not that it will help, it will still be illegal).. I've always wondered why all Skoda wheels are sitting so far inside the arch, it's really bad looking...

 

Was talking to a mechanic guy at the local skoda shop who has worked many years at vw audi, he said that vw golf and the octavia has the same platform but they changed more wheel bearings on golf's than octavia's....maybe that has something to do with the way the wheels sit....

I see you have a octavia 4x4, does the haldex 5 work good? has been a good winter for trying it out:-)

No, haven't got the car yet, arriving in a week or so, after searching more on the forum here I came across someone that used 12mm in front and 20mm in the rear (pr wheel) 24mm and 40mm pr axle, without any problems.. Was planning to use h&r spacers, they rest on the original hub, and the wheel also has an edge to rest on, the bolts will not be as stressed as if it was just a flat spacer, these also comes with TUV certificate (not that it will help, it will still be illegal).. I've always wondered why all Skoda wheels are sitting so far inside the arch, it's really bad looking...

 

Was talking to a mechanic guy at the local skoda shop who has worked many years at vw audi, he said that vw golf and the octavia has the same platform but they changed more wheel bearings on golf's than octavia's....maybe that has something to do with the way the wheels sit....

 

I have got same setup, 12mm in front 20mm in back pr wheel. Sits perfectly and no problems so far. Planning to go with lowering springs also in a couple of months.

Edited 26 February, 201610 yr by 1mre

How many km have you used them? and what brand are they? got any pic of the car?

I was planning on getting the ones from h&r, trak or something..

 

I've seen that the vrs sits a bit high, but after having a 07 audi a4 with the s-line suspension (30mm) on norwegian winter roads I think height is a good thing  But if it gets to annoying i'll get height adjustable suspension.. 

I see you have a octavia 4x4, does the haldex 5 work good? has been a good winter for trying it out:-)

Winter has been mild and salty here (and I haven't searched for heavy winter conditions), so the Haldex hasn't been much challenged. But yes, it's good. It kicks in early, giving seamless 4-wheel drive. It is an ocean of difference in traction, for instance at junctions when jumping into trafic from a slippy side road. When my front wheel drive Octavia was spinning, now it's no worries.

I have 12mm each side. H&R hub centric..Front and back. And H&R springs.. With pictoris alloys....I have a set of 20mm per side which I'm going to try when I fit the xtremes in March after the winter. Had them in for 20k miles and no problems.

I have read this article.

What is your opinion? Those who used or are using spacers, have you felt some dramatic changes in handling (worse handling) since then?

 

http://www.tuneruniversity.com/blog/2011/04/wheel-tech-part-ii-size-matters/

I have read this article.

What is your opinion? Those who used or are using spacers, have you felt some dramatic changes in handling (worse handling) since then?

 

http://www.tuneruniversity.com/blog/2011/04/wheel-tech-part-ii-size-matters/

He's mostly correct in principle but there's some total male bovine faeces in the Wikipedia reference he relies on. Citroen are/were famous for using zero scrub radius (also known as hub centre in other sources) front geometry, and no-one ever criticised them for being unstable on the limit or under heavy braking; if anything the reverse is true.