I'm planning to downsize from 18inch "Golus" on my Elegance to 16inch "Velorum" for cheaper tyres and better ride comfort.

 

Many people upsize their alloy for looks. How much would alloy wheel bother you if it were 16 inches instead of standard fit 17 inches? If there are 2 cars with similar price, would the factory upgraded 18 inch sway your decision?

 

I guess I'm just wondering how much effect does alloy wheels have on potential buyers. Not that I'm looking to sell the car, far from it, I'm looking to keep the car for 3-4 more years, so want comfort. I couldn't care less how other people view the car from outside when I'm driving it. But I'm worried when I do want to sell it (for like £3000), does the alloy wheel make a difference?

Wouldn't bother me at all.  Given kerbs, pot holes & speed bumps, there's a good argument to having more sidewall on your tyres - in my opinion.

 

Gaz

When I was looking to buy an Octy late last year I was drawn to a white Elegance spec estate which had the 18 inch Golus alloy wheels. It was in Leeds, but another car with the same wheels and a similar spec appeared locally so I drove it and although the wheels look good, I thought the ride was poor on the large wheels. I ended up going to Hinckley to buy my vRS, also on 18 inch wheels and the ride was much better thanks in part to the independent rear suspension and also I suspect better and matching rear tyres. My car is now wearing 19 inch wheels and apart from the looks I swear they have made the car feel better on all roads as these wheels are made in a different manner to the 18 inchers.

 

If I were buying a non vRS or 4x4 Octy I would certainly seek out one with 17 or preferably 16 inch wheels for the superior ride. I was hoping to have a set of 16 inchers around for winter tyres but because my car has the 340mm front brakes, they are too small!!

I'm very happy with the standard 16" alloys on mine.

Cheaper tyres, better fuel economy, better ride, quieter, reduced risk of damage from pot holes and kerbing, less likely to aquaplane or tramline, less bad in the snow.

My previous Focus Ghia came with 15" alloys and my wife's Punto had 14" steelies, so they're still bigger and wider than what I had before and they've still got plenty of grip.

To actually attempt to answer the OP's question, if you were selling a VRS I imagine it would make a difference. Other models, not so much.

Great to see the general opinion (so far) that alloy wheel size doesn't matter when you are looking at cars. I suppose for those who do care about alloy wheels, they'd gone aftermarket after purchase.

 

Interesting note on matching tyres, my 2 rears are not matching. I've only driven about 10k on this car over 1.2-ish year of ownership, haven't had the chance to buy new tyres.

 

 

 

Roughly how much cheaper would a 16inch Octy be compared to 18inch? I guess when the whole car is worth sub-£4000, alloy wheels no longer matter?

I would say I'm not interested either but then I went for the vRS because the sports style overall "looks better" & thus ended up with 18" wheels.

I downgraded to 17" for my winters after discovering the same as Sasha that the brake disks are too big for 16".

 

My main reason for choosing smaller wheels next time would be mainly due to curb damage which both sets of my wheels have suffered from almost immediately after fitting them...

The 17" standard wheel for the Elegance is a good compromise & a very common size at 225/45R17 which means there can be some very keen prices even on premium tyres

 

No-one is gonna expect they aren't the original wheels either

Edited 16 July, 20187 yr by themanwithnoaim

I think the 16s give a decent ride and grip in winter, but I'm still tempted on 17"s for both winter and summer for a little less squidge. It's not just about looks.

 

 - Bret

Depends on the car. If it was a cheap town runabout, where you value practicality and cheap running costs, it doesn't matter.

 

If you're buying a fancier, more upmarket model, including a vRS, then the looks (for your own satisfaction and how it appears to others) is one of the reasons you buy it.

My Scout came with the standard 17" alloys which I put Continental Winter Contacts on.  In the last month I brought some Summer wheels and went for 17" alloys again with Rainsport 3's - mainly as I look the like of these particular rims.

 

Wheel choice is important in looks but also Ride.  Prior to ordering my Wife's Zafira VXR back in 2008 I drove one on 18's and the optional 19's.  The ride on the 19's was very poor so I stuck with the standard rims.

 

Is your plan to sell the Gould or garage them.  Personally for me dropping to 16" would be too far and if they weren't the righ wheel for the model it may put me off.  

 

Have you driven one on 16"s yet?

On the non-vRS models I would prefer ride comfort over only a slight improvement in looks. 

13 hours ago, themanwithnoaim said:

The 17" standard wheel for the Elegance is a good compromise & a very common size at 225/45R17 which means there can be some very keen prices even on premium tyres

 

No-one is gonna expect they aren't the original wheels either

Good point, I'm was worried going 16inch will affect its "resaleability" being none original.

 

But currently I have a 16inch wheel lined up. I can't get 17inch for similar price. Ideally I'd find someone driving Elegance trim car wanting to upsize.

 

12 hours ago, mumphie said:

Depends on the car. If it was a cheap town runabout, where you value practicality and cheap running costs, it doesn't matter.

 

If you're buying a fancier, more upmarket model, including a vRS, then the looks (for your own satisfaction and how it appears to others) is one of the reasons you buy it.

Interesting.... would people buying £3000 8 years old car care about minor details? I'd imagine they would have gone for a 9 year old car with badge appeal?

 

10 hours ago, ScoutCJB said:

Is your plan to sell the Gould or garage them.  Personally for me dropping to 16" would be too far and if they weren't the righ wheel for the model it may put me off.  

 

Have you driven one on 16"s yet?

I have driven steel 16 inches on a rental Octavia Estate SE MY18 in Switzerland. Admittedly the quality of road is on a different level, but the ride never felt harsh over bumps. In comparison, every road surface imperfection (there are many in UK) can be felt in my car.

 

I have never dealt with car wheels off the car before........  But yes, I will be selling them, I haven't got the space to store them permanently.

55 minutes ago, wyx087 said:

I have driven steel 16 inches on a rental Octavia Estate SE MY18 in Switzerland. Admittedly the quality of road is on a different level, but the ride never felt harsh over bumps. In comparison, every road surface imperfection (there are many in UK) can be felt in my car.

 

I have never once complained about my 18" vRS here on the swiss roads.

As you say, just driving off the Eurotunnel onto the motorway in Kent & you instantly feel the difference & number of repairs, pot-holes, etc

I was back visiting my parents last weekend & I couldnt believe how bad the roads around them had become in the last couple of years even on the major trunk & commuter routes.

 

It seems to me like they've given up on repairing the roads these days or in fact any Council services. The dont maintain the parks, playground, cut the trees, empty the public bins......

My old car (55-plate Focus Estate) had 18in alloys on it which I loved at first but as the condition of the road seemed to deteriorate over the last few years, I just found myself wincing most of the time where you had no option but to drive over potholes and in some cases, bloody great craters or even trenches.

 

It was particularly bad around our way a couple of months ago after some heavy rain.  The snow/ice we had did a good job of breaking up the surface and the heavy rain then filled the holes creating a pneumatic action when cars drove over them breaking open a bigger/deeper area.

 

I had my Octavia by then with 17" wheels and a slightly higher profile tyre, didn't seem anywhere near as bad as the focus on 18s, I actually remember thinking to myself "this would have been a nightmare in my old car".

 

Big wheels do look better IMO but now I'm a bit older, I prefer a slightly more comfortable, less worrying about potholes ride and slightly cheaper tyres 

And I like gaps above my tyres so that I can still have some suspension travel when heavily laden. If you want a low slung sports car- then buy one.

11 minutes ago, gregoir said:

And I like gaps above my tyres so that I can still have some suspension travel when heavily laden. If you want a low slung sports car- then buy one.

 

If you stick to the proper tyre sizes, the gap between tyre & wheel arch will remain the same regardless of whether you have 16" or 20" wheels

But so many people here comment on the large gap and want to reduce it by lowering the car. Hence the utility of the car is changed.

as soon as you alter the tyre size the car/spec came with from the factory you have to tell the insurance company...

 

& dropping from 18" to 16" is a silly idea (if the 18" are the factory spec) as you are compromising the grip levels as you go from 225 to 205 wide...so losing 40mm from the total width of tyre grip across each axle...

 

drop down to 17" as that's the same width tyres which as used on 18"...225mm.....also get narrow width alloy rims...I have 17x7" rims for my 225/45R17 tyres...protects the alloys & get spokes which are flat or dished inwards...& not outwards...

Edited 17 July, 20187 yr by fabdavrav

I was looking at an L&K but the 18" wheels were a step too far for me. 

 

Went for an Elegance with 17's which is still on the firm side for me but OK.

 

Lee

4 hours ago, fabdavrav said:

as soon as you alter the tyre size the car/spec came with from the factory you have to tell the insurance company...

 

& dropping from 18" to 16" is a silly idea (if the 18" are the factory spec) as you are compromising the grip levels as you go from 225 to 205 wide...so losing 40mm from the total width of tyre grip across each axle...

 

drop down to 17" as that's the same width tyres which as used on 18"...225mm.....also get narrow width alloy rims...I have 17x7" rims for my 225/45R17 tyres...protects the alloys & get spokes which are flat or dished inwards...& not outwards...

 

Grip will be more affected by the quality/characteristics of the tyre, OK like for like then yes, you're potentially losing grip BUT the grip of a tyre isn't just about how wide it is, the height and amount of flex in the sidewall will also affect the level of grip, a low, stiff sidewall will mean the tyre loses grip quicker, a larger more flexible sidewall will mean the grip is lost more progressively.

Provided the wheel/tyre combo is within manufacturer spec there shouldn't be any issue with grip, well unless you opt for a budget tyre.......

12 minutes ago, Russ77 said:

 

Grip will be more affected by the quality/characteristics of the tyre, OK like for like then yes, you're potentially losing grip BUT the grip of a tyre isn't just about how wide it is, the height and amount of flex in the sidewall will also affect the level of grip, a low, stiff sidewall will mean the tyre loses grip quicker, a larger more flexible sidewall will mean the grip is lost more progressively.

Provided the wheel/tyre combo is within manufacturer spec there shouldn't be any issue with grip, well unless you opt for a budget tyre.......

 

Having modified cars for 24yrs I do know about side wall flex...as I take a keen technical interest...

 

What you are missing is that car makers spec certain trim/engine spec with "minimum" wheel sizes because that engine/trim has more power than another....if you have a VRS which comes from the factory with 225/45R18s & want to change it to 16" with 205 wide you are looking for trouble as those tyre will not cope 100% with the power...& the ESC systems will not like it either. Actual contact patch width is what ultimately gives you cornering grip..all other variables being equal...

 

The manufactures ONLY spec smaller sizes for WINTER only....& then they only go down one rim size eg 18" to 17" or 17" to 16"......this is aside from the whole fitting it over the brake disc situation..as many find out after buying new smaller wheels..

 

Edited 17 July, 20187 yr by fabdavrav

I have 18" summers and 16" winters. 

 

Its quite a difference in comfort. And you feel it quite much when cornering fast. Not a big difference in acceleration, but I have a 4x4. 

 

Braking is hard to judge, because of the difference between snow and asphalt. And I dont want to step on brakes on asphalt with studded tires. 

10 hours ago, fabdavrav said:

What you are missing is that car makers spec certain trim/engine spec with "minimum" wheel sizes because that engine/trim has more power than another....

The same 150bh 2.0 TDI engine in SE trim gets paired with 16inch 205 wide wheels.

 

But I do get what some of you are saying: I should change to standard Elegance 17inch wheels rather than go down to 16inch. This way people won't question it when buying and it is good compromise for comfort and grip.

 

 

I wonder if I Email (not main) dealers who have similar age Elegance in stock, would they be open to a wheel swap? It's essentially free upgrade to their car for sale!

When the SE L (previously the Elegance) came out in 2015, 16" wheels were available as a zero cost alternative to the standard 17" wheels. I don't know if this is still the case.

41 minutes ago, Rodge said:

When the SE L (previously the Elegance) came out in 2015, 16" wheels were available as a zero cost alternative to the standard 17" wheels. I don't know if this is still the case.

Yes, you are right, the online configure still do allow downsize to 16in Velorum for SE-L.