New Wheels

[RosieGodwin]

I'm sure this is obvious to some - but I'm struggling to understand what wheels I need for my Skoda, Superb Greeline, 2014 car. We live in the middle of nowhere and the country pothole have taken their toll on the rims so I want to buy a new set of wheels but don't know where to start! Can anyone help me please? Thank you

[Carlston]

2 hours ago, RosieGodwin said:

I'm sure this is obvious to some - but I'm struggling to understand what wheels I need for my Skoda, Superb Greeline, 2014 car. We live in the middle of nowhere and the country pothole have taken their toll on the rims so I want to buy a new set of wheels but don't know where to start! Can anyone help me please? Thank you

 

What size tyres do you currently have?

 

I expect 225/45R17 or 225/40R18 are currently on the car if you are having problems with the rims.

 

Changing to 205/55R16 is the obvious answer. The standard 16" rim size on the Superb MK2 is 6Jx16 ET50 or 7Jx16 ET45. However, the 6Jx16 ET50 is more of a winter tyre size as it is both narrow and pushed into the wheelarch to allow for the optional fitment of snow chains.

 

I suggest you look at widths between 6J and 6.5J and offsets between ET40 and ET50

 

The 6J option would give you the most comfort and the best rim protection from kerbing damage, although 6.5J is also a good rim size for the 205/55R16 tyre size.

 

Perhaps 6Jx16 ET43 5/112 57.1 from the Karoq but don't use the Karoq tyres as the outside diameter is far too big for the Superb MK2, ie. the Karoq uses 215/60R16 or 225/60R16 tyres with this rim size.

 

As well as the 6Jx16 ET50 option, there's also a 6Jx16 ET48 option that was fitted as a winter tyre size to some VAG cars such as the Octavia MK3.

 

6.5Jx16 ET41 from the Superb MK3 and 6.5Jx16 ET46 from the Octavia MK3 could also be considered.

 

The below are steel rims, but where there's a steel rim there's often an alloy rim with the same specification.

 

6Jx16 ET40 5/112 57.1 steel rim (from the Superb MK1)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rims/details?vehicleId=180498027838968944&rimCode=ALCAR9490

 

6Jx16 ET43 5/112 57.1 steel rim (from the Karoq)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rims/details?vehicleId=1128064295487526000&rimCode=ALCAR6665

 

6Jx16 ET48 5/112 57.1 steel rim (from the Octavia MK3)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rims/details?vehicleId=185949956245308528&rimCode=ALCAR8247

 

6Jx16 ET50 5/112 57.1 steel rim (from the Superb MK2)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rims/details?vehicleId=182113210420171888&rimCode=ALCAR9535

 

6.5Jx16 ET41 5/112 57.1 steel rim (from the Superb MK3)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rims/details?vehicleId=1037012088350651504&rimCode=ALCAR8426

 

6.5Jx16 ET46 5/112 57.1 steel rim (from the Octavia MK3)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rims/details?vehicleId=185949956245308528&rimCode=ALCAR8667

 

6.5Jx16 ET50 5/112 57.1 steel rim (from the Octavia MK2)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rims/details?vehicleId=182673411594523760&rimCode=ALCAR9915

 

Edited 28 December, 2022 by Carlston

[Derbyshirebod]

There should be a sticker inside the fuel filler cap telling you what different tyre sizes could fitted to your car

 

I changed the wheels on my 2012 Superb from 225/45 R17 to 205/55 R16, the rolling diameter is the same. I found a set of VW Golf wheels on Facebook Marketplace with 2 year old tyres  with very little wear for £150. The center caps where different diameters  I bought a set of new center caps with the Skoda emblem for the 16" wheels.

 

 

Edited 28 December, 2022 by Derbyshirebod

[RosieGodwin]

Thank you!!

[chimaera]

This thread has all the info you need on wheels for Superb 2:

 

[Rkdee]

I would like some 16” Audi wheels, then I can put some 225/55r16 on.

so much sidewall like riding on clouds 💕 ☁️☁️☁️☁️💕

[andrehj]

On 30/12/2022 at 08:17, Rkdee said:

I would like some 16” Audi wheels, then I can put some 225/55r16 on.

so much sidewall like riding on clouds 💕 ☁️☁️☁️☁️💕

Those have a much larger diameter than normal on an S2. I doubt if they fit.

[Carlston]

10 hours ago, andrehj said:

Those have a much larger diameter than normal on an S2. I doubt if they fit.

 

It also seems a bit pointless to use such an expensive tyre size as 225/55R16, when the 205/55R16 size is both comfortable and cheap.

 

225/55R16 would also raise the gearing by about 3.5% compared to the standard 205/55R16 tyre size.

[KenONeill]

On 30/12/2022 at 07:17, Rkdee said:

put some 225/55r16 on

Can you say "aquaplaning"?

[Carlston]

59 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

Can you say "aquaplaning"?

 

It's the Australian outback. They don't get rain there.

[Rkdee]

I was running 225/50r17 for two years. The front was a little tight, but clear. Only just went to 215/50r17. 
The 225/55r16 are 2mm less in diameter than the 225/50r17

[Rkdee]

8 hours ago, Carlston said:

 

It's the Australian outback. 

And that is a large part of why I want sidewall.

[chimaera]

Looking at a comparison on willtheyfit, 225/55/16 is quite close to 235/45/18, which is a size the Superb 2 can be coded to work with, so it could be done without messing up the speedometer and odometer.

[andrehj]

1 hour ago, chimaera said:

Looking at a comparison on willtheyfit, 225/55/16 is quite close to 235/45/18, which is a size the Superb 2 can be coded to work with, so it could be done without messing up the speedometer and odometer.

That is not correct. 235/45R18 has never been available on an S2, but is the tyre size of an S3. The largest size you could get on an S2 was 225/40R18.

[chimaera]

38 minutes ago, andrehj said:

That is not correct. 235/45R18 has never been available on an S2, but is the tyre size of an S3. The largest size you could get on an S2 was 225/40R18.

I never said it was available as an option for sale. You should read my thread above. 235/45/18 is an alternative size that can be coded on the instrument cluster for the speedometer/odometer impulse number, which means tyres of that size can be used if you have access to VCDS to make the coding change.

[Carlston]

10 hours ago, Rkdee said:

And that is a large part of why I want sidewall.

 

You've probably got 312x25mm front brake discs as that's what most Superb MK2 cars use, except for the lowest power models which use 288x25mm front brake discs and the highest power model 3.6 litre which uses 340 or 345 front brake discs.

 

If you change to 288x25mm front brake discs you could use big 15" tyres with a lot of sidewall, such as 205/70R15.

 

The interesting thing about the 288 and 312 front brakes on this car (which are both ATE brake systems), is that they both use the same ATE front brake calipers, so to change from 312 to 288 or vice-versa just involves changing the front brake discs (usually with new front brake pads) and the front brake caliper carriers. As you would be using the same front brake calipers there's not even any bleeding the brake fluid required to do this conversion.

 

Superb MK2 288x25mm ATE front brake parts diagram

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/skoda/CZ/SUP/768/6/615/615025

 

Superb MK2 312x25mm ATE front brake parts diagram 

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/skoda/CZ/SUP/768/6/615/615030

 

From 1968 the Jaguar E-Type was fitted with 205/70R15 tyres. Surprisingly, the 205/70R15 tyre size was too wide for the early E-Types and would rub the wheelarches as the early cars came with narrow 185/80R15 radial tyres and even narrower cross-ply tyres when the car first came out in 1961. Other big Jags were fitted with this tyre size up to about 1987. Some cars still use the 205/70R15 tyre size, including the Suzuki Jimny.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_E-Type#/media/File:Jaguar_E-Type_series_1_coupé_1964.jpg

 

Suzuki Jimny (the below photo might show 195/80R15 tyres rather than 205/70R15, as I suspect that would be a more common OEM fitment on the Jimny)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_Jimny

 

Yokohama Geolandar AT All-Terrain G015 205/70R15 96H

https://www.blackcircles.com/catalogue/yokohama/geolandar-at-g015/205/70/R15/H/96/m?tyre=35841793

 

Edited 1 January, 2023 by Carlston

[chimaera]

1 hour ago, Carlston said:

 

You've probably got 312x25mm front brake discs as that's what most Superb MK2 cars use, except for the lowest power models which use 288x25mm front brake discs and the highest power model 3.6 litre which uses 340 or 345 front brake discs.

 

If you change to 288x25mm front brake discs you could use big 15" tyres with a lot of sidewall, such as 205/70R15.

 

The interesting thing about the 288 and 312 front brakes on this car (which are both ATE brake systems), is that they both use the same ATE front brake calipers, so to change from 312 to 288 or vice-versa just involves changing the front brake discs (usually with new front brake pads) and the front brake caliper carriers. As you would be using the same front brake calipers there's not even any bleeding the brake fluid required to do this conversion.

 

Superb MK2 288x25mm ATE front brake parts diagram

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/skoda/CZ/SUP/768/6/615/615025

 

Superb MK2 312x25mm ATE front brake parts diagram 

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/skoda/CZ/SUP/768/6/615/615030

 

From 1968 the Jaguar E-Type was fitted with 205/70R15 tyres. Surprisingly, the 205/70R15 tyre size was too wide for the early E-Types and would rub the wheelarches as the early cars came with narrow 185/80R15 radial tyres and even narrower cross-ply tyres when the car first came out in 1961. Other big Jags were fitted with this tyre size up to about 1987. Some cars still use the 205/70R15 tyre size, including the Suzuki Jimny.

/cdn-cgi/mirage/4960590a43bf1b2c5c5d2af53b4709cb48b12896d599a4e75bdd6fe41f234dbf/1280/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Jaguar_E-Type_series_1_coup%C3%A9_1964.jpg/1920px-Jaguar_E-Type_series_1_coup%C3%A9_1964.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_E-Type#/media/File:Jaguar_E-Type_series_1_coupé_1964.jpg

 

Suzuki Jimny (the below photo might show 195/80R15 tyres rather than 205/70R15, as I suspect that would be a more common OEM fitment on the Jimny)

/cdn-cgi/mirage/4960590a43bf1b2c5c5d2af53b4709cb48b12896d599a4e75bdd6fe41f234dbf/1280/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/2019_Suzuki_Jimny_SZ5_4X4_Automatic_1.5.jpg/1920px-2019_Suzuki_Jimny_SZ5_4X4_Automatic_1.5.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_Jimny

 

Yokohama Geolandar AT All-Terrain G015 205/70R15 96H

/cdn-cgi/mirage/4960590a43bf1b2c5c5d2af53b4709cb48b12896d599a4e75bdd6fe41f234dbf/1280/https://images.blackcircles.com/yokohama/tyres/yokohama-geolandar-at-g015.jpg

https://www.blackcircles.com/catalogue/yokohama/geolandar-at-g015/205/70/R15/H/96/m?tyre=35841793

 

It would be stupid and dangerous to downsize the brakes, especially on a big heavy car like the Superb. The smaller brakes are for the smaller engined cars which are lighter and less powerful than the 2.0 TDI and can make do with the lower braking performance.

[Ootohere]

@Carlstonit was the previous model from 1999 that came on 205/70 R 15 from the factory on the totally crap Bridgestone's.

The latest 'New Jimny' has 195/ 80 R 15 as the standard fit.  Still crap Bridgestone Dueler. 

Edited 1 January, 2023 by toot

[softscoop]

I think most have missed that the OP has a Greenline, so will already have 16" wheels as standard.

 

If your wheels are corroded, you'd probably be better off simply looking to get your existing wheels refurbished, rather than sourcing other wheels and then having modified wheels, which dependant on your insurer could make a difference to your premium.

[Carlston]

2 hours ago, chimaera said:

It would be stupid and dangerous to downsize the brakes, especially on a big heavy car like the Superb. The smaller brakes are for the smaller engined cars which are lighter and less powerful than the 2.0 TDI and can make do with the lower braking performance.

 

The 288x25mm and 312x25mm brake discs are very similar and they are both braked with exactly the same brake calipers. So maybe the bigger brakes can provide 10% extra braking power when the same brake pads are used.

 

However, EBC's new Ultimax 2 brake pads offer 15% more friction than their previous Ultimax brake pads. So using EBC's latest brake pads (which weren't available when the Superb MK2 was being sold) would bring the stopping power of the smaller brakes up to the level of the bigger brakes.

 

Many of us used to drive cars from the 1960's and 1970's. Those cars had far less braking performance than modern cars, and we managed to stop without having accidents. Most of the front discs weren't even ventilated so were prone to overheating and brake fade.

 

In the real world, the limiting factor won't often be whether the front brakes are 288x25mm or 312x25mm but how much grip the tyres have with the road, or in the case of the Australian outback the dirt track that the kangaroos are hopping across.

 

If someone fits 205/70R15 all-terrain tyres they won't have the summer tarmac braking performance of Ultra High Performance summer 225/45R17 or 225/40R18 tyres even if they could be fitted over the bigger 312x25mm front discs (which they can't). That will increase the tarmac stopping distances more than the change in brakes.

 

If someone really did find the smaller brake discs inadequate, it would be an easy change to swap back...and if they changed from 205/70R15 to 225/45R17 it would probably be a good idea.

 

Here are photos of both the 288x25mm and 312x25mm front brakes discs. As you can see they look very similar because they are very similar. Exactly the same 25mm width and braked by exactly the same brake calipers.

 

Spot the difference competition

 

 

Edited 1 January, 2023 by Carlston

[Carlston]

2 hours ago, toot said:

@Carlstonit was the previous model from 1999 that came on 205/70 R 15 from the factory on the totally crap Bridgestone's.

The latest 'New Jimny' has 195/ 80 R 15 as the standard fit.  Still crap Bridgestone Dueler. 

 

If Suzuki changed the thirsty 1.5 litre petrol engine to a 1.5 litre turbo diesel engine (perhaps a Peugeot 100HP/250Nm engine) I might be interested in the Jimny, but 30mpg these days just isn't enough. Or maybe an LPG version of the Kei car version of the Jimny with its 660cc turbo petrol 3 cylinder engine.

 

Caterham uses the Suzuki 660cc Kei car engine in its entry level model, although instead of the Kei car regulated 63HP it's remapped to 84HP. So with the 33% extra power, it's like having an extra cylinder bolted on as far as power output goes.

 

https://www.caterhamcars.com/en/models/the-iconic-range

 

Edited 1 January, 2023 by Carlston

[chimaera]

38 minutes ago, Carlston said:

 

The 288x25mm and 312x25mm brake discs are very similar and they are both braked with exactly the same brake calipers. So maybe the bigger brakes can provide 10% extra braking power when the same brake pads are used.

 

However, EBC's new Ultimax 2 brake pads offer 15% more friction than their previous Ultimax brake pads. So using EBC's latest brake pads (which weren't available when the Superb MK2 was being sold) would bring the stopping power of the smaller brakes up to the level of the bigger brakes.

 

Many of us used to drive cars from the 1960's and 1970's. Those cars had far less braking performance than modern cars, and we managed to stop without having accidents. Most of the front discs weren't even ventilated so were prone to overheating and brake fade.

 

In the real world, the limiting factor won't often be whether the front brakes are 288x25mm or 312x25mm but how much grip the tyres have with the road, or in the case of the Australian outback the dirt track that the kangaroos are hopping across.

 

If someone fits 205/70R15 all-terrain tyres they won't have the summer tarmac braking performance of Ultra High Performance summer 225/45R17 or 225/40R18 tyres even if they could be fitted over the bigger 312x25mm front discs (which they can't). That will increase the tarmac stopping distances more than the change in brakes.

 

If someone really did find the smaller brake discs inadequate, it would be an easy change to swap back...and if they changed from 205/70R15 to 225/45R17 it would probably be a good idea.

 

Here are photos of both the 288x25mm and 312x25mm front brakes discs. As you can see they look very similar because they are very similar. Exactly the same 25mm width and braked by exactly the same brake calipers.

 

Spot the difference competition

 

 

All other things being equal, smaller disks are going to be less effective, end of story. The radius is 8 % smaller, meaning 8 % less braking capability all the time. It's also 15 % less surface area available for cooling, so they'll overheat faster. How they look beside each other is irrelevant, it's the numbers that are important.

 

And yes, brakes were worse in the 60s and 70s but the only people around to tell the tale are the ones who weren't killed (read up on survivorship bias). It's not a legitimate argument for making a modern vehicle less safe than its designers intended.

[Carlston]

2 hours ago, chimaera said:

All other things being equal, smaller disks are going to be less effective, end of story. The radius is 8 % smaller, meaning 8 % less braking capability all the time. It's also 15 % less surface area available for cooling, so they'll overheat faster. How they look beside each other is irrelevant, it's the numbers that are important.

 

And yes, brakes were worse in the 60s and 70s but the only people around to tell the tale are the ones who weren't killed (read up on survivorship bias). It's not a legitimate argument for making a modern vehicle less safe than its designers intended.

 

I could have said exactly the same thing about the pre-FL Octavia MK3 VRS 184HP diesel. That car used 340x30mm front brake discs and if I had said the smaller 312x25mm front brake discs would be fine no doubt you would be making exactly the same arguments.

 

The fact is, Skoda did decide that the 340x30mm front brake discs were too big for that car, and come the FL model changed to the smaller and much less powerfull 312x25mm front brake discs.

 

Another point to bear in mind, is that the Superb MK3 2.0TSI 220HP car uses 312x25mm front brake discs. 220HP is a lot more power than even a Superb MK2 2.0TDI 170HP 4x4.

 

You wouldn't believe how long a fully loaded 44 tonne lorry takes to stop, and yet thousands are being driven on UK roads without being driven into the car in front. The brakes on those lorries would easily overheat if they were repeatedly used on steep downhill sections, so rather than use the foot brakes the drivers use the engine brake. I don't think any of these experienced lorry drivers would have a problem safely controlling a Superb MK2 even if it was fitted with the slightly less powerful 288x25mm front brake discs. They would probably be thrilled at how good their brakes were compared to their lorries' brakes.

 

The main problem is poor driving skills. Imagine a Superb MK2 driver with the smallest 288x25mm front brake discs loaded up with a family of five, all of their luggage, and towing a heavy caravan over the Alps on the hottest day of the year. If the driver doesn't know how to control his speed down a steep Alpine descent without repeated use of his foot brake he could be in trouble.

 

In the US this clueless truck driver didn't know how to prevent his brakes overheating with fatal consequences

 

Edited 2 January, 2023 by Carlston

[Ootohere]

@CarlstonSuzuki used to have 1.5 Diesel Engines in the previous model Jimny Commercials.  A Mazda engine, these were available in the Republic of Ireland and elsewhere in the EU but not in the UK. 

My Jimny 1,328 cc Autos just did 25 mpg or so.  But then they were a car that did what many bought them to do, which is why they were very much in demand and still are. 

30 mpg is acceptable for many who need a capable small 4x4 these days just as in the past.  The emissions are not acceptable which is why Suzuki had to go back to selling them as commercials.

If people do not need a gas guzzling vehicle but buying it for their image, that is nothing new. 

 

?

What do you need in a car when you are considering from the size of a Citigo to a Kodiaq,  is a AWD even something you need in your life?

?

What do you drive now?

 

Edited 2 January, 2023 by toot

[andrehj]

16 hours ago, chimaera said:

I never said it was available as an option for sale. You should read my thread above. 235/45/18 is an alternative size that can be coded on the instrument cluster for the speedometer/odometer impulse number, which means tyres of that size can be used if you have access to VCDS to make the coding change.

I agree you mentioned it can be coded (sorry, should have read your post better).

But that does not mean these tyres can be fitted on an S2. 235/45R18 is the dimension for an S3 and simply much too large for an S2.