Noticed this on Honest John website. Anyone know what it's all about?

"27-7-2015: Complaint that Octavia 4x4 estate on 17-inch wheels and tyres came in at higher than advertised CO2 and therefore higher tax overcome by Skoda now offering the car on 16" wheels and tyres as a no cost alternative."

I'm generalising, but fitting larger diameter wheels and hence heavier wheels, with lower profile tyres, can put fuel consumption (and hence CO2) up, and on some models this can put them up a tax band.

The larger wheels are usually low profile and so wider with a bigger contact area with the road creating higher rolling resistance, plus the extra tyre width offers larger frontal area and greater wind resistance.

As mentioned in the previous post the larger wheels and tyre combination can be a bit heavier unless you get good quality (expensive) units.

All those factors add up to make enough difference to consumption to determine if a car falls into one tax category or another.

 

I did see a review for the new Hyundai Ioniq hybrid version which came with options of a smaller economical wheel/tyre combination or a more sporty larger wheel low profile offering and the difference in claimed consumption was  0.4L/100 worse for the latter for that car.

Edited 28 December, 20169 yr by Gerrycan

Know someone with a 2016 Toyota Prius, Toyota quote approx 10mpg urban cycle  less for 17'' wheels as opposed to standard 15'' wheels.

You've got to love Skoda UK, we'll advertise the car with 17" wheels but even when caught out and are forced to offer the 16" wheels we'll still charge you for the cost of the 17's.

 

A 'no-cost alternative' sounds like they're doing the customer a favour, how about a reduction in price!? 

What I can't understand is that when I bought my Scout I wasn't offered the 16" wheels?

Think I might find out why!

What I can't understand is that when I bought my Scout I wasn't offered the 16" wheels?

Think I might find out why!

The scout uses a wheel/tyre combination with a larger total diameter than the standard 16" wheel and tyre combo to get additional ground clearance.

My VRS came stock with 17" wheels, for both Summer and a set for Winter too.

I replaced the Summer wheels with the 19" xtremes and sure enough the consumption is substantially higher - around 0,5L/100km to 0,8L/100km