Why on earth is it that with the Karoq Edition there is no wheel choice - just the 19" Crater with the lowest profile tyres.  With the SE and SE-L there is some choice of wheels (at Option prices) but you can't get a smaller wheel with the Edition.  The really low profile tyres are the last things I want on Surrey's rough and potholed roads!  (I just wanted an Edition for its combination of other features!).  The dealer said that lots of manufacturers fit the largest wheels on their highest spec models, but couldn't really justify why this is done.  I asked if they would contact the factory to see if they would fit smaller wheels (eg the 18" Braga) but they were adamant that this was impossible and wouldn't agree to ask the factory.  I do find this really annoying!

The Edition doesn't have larger disc brakes does it which might make smaller wheels impossible?

I’d rather not have 19” on my edition. Got them on my Qashqai and they’re not very comfortable on rough roads.

I was wondering how much a complete set of crater wheels could be sold for if I did downgrade.

Need to actually get the car first and see if the suspension is more compliant, certainly felt better on the test drive.

I reckon you'll easily find someone willing to downgrade their 17 to 19.

Yes, I was wondering if I could find an SE-L buyer interested in a straight swap of 18" Braga wheels for 19" Craters !   However I would still like to understand why Skoda don't offer any wheel options on the Edition model.  Is there a technical reason?

16 hours ago, Nick-H said:

Why on earth is it that with the Karoq Edition there is no wheel choice - just the 19" Crater with the lowest profile tyres.  With the SE and SE-L there is some choice of wheels (at Option prices) but you can't get a smaller wheel with the Edition.  The really low profile tyres are the last things I want on Surrey's rough and potholed roads!  (I just wanted an Edition for its combination of other features!).  The dealer said that lots of manufacturers fit the largest wheels on their highest spec models, but couldn't really justify why this is done.  I asked if they would contact the factory to see if they would fit smaller wheels (eg the 18" Braga) but they were adamant that this was impossible and wouldn't agree to ask the factory.  I do find this really annoying!

The Edition doesn't have larger disc brakes does it which might make smaller wheels impossible?

You are in the exact same boat if you order the SE-L and want smaller wheels - you can't have um! The model I want is SE-L but I want 17" wheel so I can fit a set of Cross Climate tyres as these tyres aren't available to fit the 18 or 19" wheels in the Karoq tyre sizes. 

A few guys in the Yeti section were able to specify Yeti S wheels (16") on Yeti SE & SEL (17") when dealer was unable to.

They achieved this by contacting Skoda UK, whose Head of UK Sales arranged a "special build" at the factory.

Maybe Skoda UK could arrange a similar "special build" for Karoq?

 

Good luck, and please let us know how you get on.

Robjon, thanks for that idea. I have just contacted Skoda UK and they weren't very optimistic about being able to do anything to help, It might have been easier if I hadn't placed the Karoq order last week.  

Will let you know eventual outcome.

11 minutes ago, Nick-H said:

It might have been easier if I hadn't placed the Karoq order last week.

 

That may well be the case. 

IIRC - once the order has been placed, there is a very limited time in which the specification can be changed.

Good luck, mate.

No luck I'm afraid.  Customer relations phoned and basically repeated the mantra that the Edition spec is for 19" wheels and can't be changed.  Not prepared to ask the factory.  Not able to given any real justification as to why no choice is available. Crazily suggested I could fit larger profile tyres after delivery (seemed ignorant of the fact that this would make the speedo wrong and possibly result in tyre/wheel-arch issues).

You can't blame them. The reality of a mass produced car is somewhat different to hand make a Caterham. They would have planned parts inventory for the batch of special ed cars. Any deviation is a dispropoerional hassle / cost. Simply swap the wheels with someone. The dealers might even do that for you against a stock car or demo car on smaller wheels

It is a commercial decision not to offer a choice made by Skoda

There is no technical reason for the 19 inch Crater wheels

 

Personally I would like the option of smaller wheels (or more strictly deeper profile tyres), even if it doesn’t come with a discount

 

Just don’t like idea of buying them, and having to buy another set.  

Better still would be an option to have all season tyres like cross climates

 

Decided to cross check few other Skoda sites on other European countries and didn’t come across any other country insisting on 19 inch wheels on a spec level, in fact the Swedish gave choice of 17 or 18 or 16 with snow tyres.  So appears choosing a winter suitable tyre is also possible (but not in Skoda UK world)

 

The Polish site offers 19 inch craters (but makes the plastic wheelarch cladding a tie in in the configurator) all appears to be to boost profit as no technical reason to vary spec so much

 

 

Edited 29 March, 20188 yr by SurreyJohn

It's what it is. You can have 17' on SE Tech or 18 on SEL.

It's not a new problem with Skoda, I remember people wanting 16" wheels on their Yetis but they were only available on certain models.

I note that in both the Swedish and Czech vehicle configurator there are only two models, the Ambition and the Style.  There doesn't seem to be the equivalent of the UK 'Edition'.  They seem to put fewer features in as standard fit and leave more as Options. They seem to offer the options of 17", 18" or 19" with the 17" being the standard fit.  Couldn't see the 16" with snow tyres in the configurator.

In Denmark we only have one model: Style - I guess its equivalent to SE-L. We have a lot of options - standard is Braga 18", but I had an option of 17" and 19". For winter tires I have chosen 17" Ratikon.