We have a MY2007 O2 4x4 estate, 2.0tdi 140bhp BMM motor.  According to its PR codes it has a "rough road" pack which I take to mean heavier duty springs and probably shocks.  We're very pleased with the car but two things came together yesterday to make me start to think - I know, dangerous

 

First thing is purely cosmetic; I do like the slightly raised appearance of the Scout with its 17" wheels and I understand from elsewhere on the forum that it is the extra 50mm of wheel size over the standard 15" I have that increases the height.  I'm also quite taken by the cosmetics of the Scout but less inclined to shell out moolah for the vanity upgrade.

 

The second element to this consideration was a reminder yesterday when whilst approaching a new dog walk opportunity up in the Pennines we were obliged to navigate a track that turned out to have potholes that would swallow a Fiat 500!  The car navigated this "interesting" route OK but I had to keep backing and filling to avoid grounding on some of the more egregious elevations.

 

So, more ground clearance would be good because 1. no scraping the underbelly and 2. it looks prettier.  Oh, and there's a potential #3 in that getting in and out might be easier for my wife who has knee problems.

 

What would be against taking this route?  Handling?  Wind resistance?  Fuel economy?

 

Any thoughts out there?

 

PS Managed 50.5 mpg on our return trip at a steady 60mph.  Good, eh?

 

Edited 30 June, 20196 yr by StickyMicky
typos

It's nothing to do with the alloy size, it's the sidewall height that gives the Scout extra clearance.

- 4x4 gets 205/60 R15 tyres

- Scout gets 225/50 R17 tyres

- Other models gets 225/45 R17 tyres (when fitted with 17" wheels)

 

This gives the Scout an extra 10-15mm clearance compared to other models so it's hardly amazing but might be enough to make your life easier.

 

You can either fit 17's with 225/50 R17 tyres or just change your current tyres for ones with larger sidewalls. Either way, you'd need to notify your insurance as you'd no longer be running an approved size for the 4x4. It'll also change the speedo reading by upto 5%.

For the last few years I've been running 16" Cold Weather Tyres on steel wheels and 17" summer tyres on the Proteus alloys. 

 

I only notice the slight drop in ride height from 17" to 16"only because my Karcher Under Chassis Cleaner hits something low slung near the engine. 

 

In general use (including severely rutted roads or slight off roading) there is no real discernable difference. 

 

You get far more choice at reasonable prices on 16" tyres than you do on 17".  

 

Using my TomTom as reference ; at 30mph the speedo is reading 2-3mph over, at 70mph it is closer to 6mph. 

I have just recently fitted Skoda Pallas 17” wheels to my Octavia 4x4 Estate.

4 hours ago, welder1 said:

I have just recently fitted Skoda Pallas 17” wheels to my Octavia 4x4 Estate.

 

That's the look I like! Looks like I'd better start saving ...

 

Is yours is a preFL like mine?  Same colour at least.

 

From other posts I believe I'll need to treat any Pallas wheels as a refurb project (delamination). 

 

Anyone got a set of Pallas wheels going cheap?

@StickyMicky

 

That up there is an FL, can see the head light shape

 

33 minutes ago, mac11irl said:

That up there is an FL, can see the head light shape

 

Cheers.  I was looking at the foglights thinking they would be a different shape on the FL but of course, that's on the VRS ...

43 minutes ago, StickyMicky said:

From other posts I believe I'll need to treat any Pallas wheels as a refurb project (delamination). 

 

It's the Proteus alloys that tend to de-laminate as they are diamond cut.

13 minutes ago, langers2k said:

It's the Proteus alloys that tend to de-laminate as they are diamond cut.

 

Thanks.  I used to have a memory but sometimes I can't quite recall it ...

 

The Pallas wheels I recently obtained from Langers2k off here , these were in great condition just put on tyres on that was it going to source new centre caps as these were off my original 15” Alloys .