Hello, (I'm sorry for the double posting - I'm new here)

Just bought a Karoq 1.5 tsi automatic 2024 2WD that came with bridgestone turanza eco in 18 inch 215/50/18.

I dont really like them (noisy and not comfortable, crashy/thumpy over rough surfaces)

Can someone please advice If I am able to change to same 18 inch size but better profile - more comfortable - which one is advisable?

Or shall i change to 17 inch wheels - which one?

I'm not sure if any of these changes will invalidate my insurance or warranty?

Has anyone have any similar experience in replacing the horrible Bridgestones?

Cheers,

Kannanni

You need to keep the circumference the same, so to increase the profile you’d need to decrease the wheel size.

Tyres make a big difference, although maybe not to the extent you need. Most of these cars are developed and come with Bridgestone, however there’s a reason you see them with Conti or Michelin.

There should be a tyre placard on the inside of your fuel cap to tell you what wheels and tyres fit and the pressures according to load . Ive got mine at 40psi for just 2 of us in the Kamiq

You can probably only increase DIAMETER by about 15mm or it will bring your speedo reading down too far.. Larger diameter = less revs per km so a speedo reading 105 at an actual 100 will come close to actual if you increase overall diameter to far.

For decades the fashion has been for oversized wheels and over-wide low sidewall tyres. As put if you stick to the range available to the model you should be fine. See the following websites to easily work out what sizes you might be able to use. Note, all sources of information, including from manufacturers, website databases and blokes off the internet can have errors and omissions so double check and cross check any information.

Wheel-Size.com - https://www.wheel-size.com/size/skoda/

Tyre size calculator - https://tiresize.com/tyre-size-calculator/

Will They Fit - https://www.willtheyfit.com/

HTH.

@kannanni Welcome to the forum.

I know you replicated your post, but did you actually try a just a simple search to see just how often the same or similar question has been asked just for the Karoq?

Hi All,

Many thanks for all your replies.

Škoda main dealer told me changing the alloy wheels will affect the car handling (I guess this newer version) and will also invalidate their warranty.

I also called my insurer and they classed it as modification if I am to change increasing the premiums.

Based on these I have decided to get some decent Goodyears assy 5 and stay on my original alloys.

Cheers

Jon

Things are as they are, unfortunately.

Got to put tho', I like things simple as that's all I can understand but I think it's bit of an over simplification (if not inaccurate) to say just changing alloy wheels will change the handling, so will changing worn but legal, good and safe, tyres to the same size, make an model of tyre but new and unworn. Does this also mean the car is only offered with a single choice of wheel and the salesmen can't up-sell you more expensive wheels for your new car. Is the 2024 Karoq SE-L tricked up like a BMW M-Sport Ego or Merc AMG Ego then where the suspension electronics are so particular to ego stroking only one wheel and tyre can be used and even if same sizes front wheel can't go to back, that will upset M-Sport and AMG drivers even more than me putting this. 😁

Possibly if you spoke to someone else at your insurers (or other insurers) you may find they don't class it as a modification - but I stopped warning about this possibility as other posters told how unlikely it was.

Changing to the Goodyears might affect the handling, what would the Dealership say about that I wonder.

If other Karoq (2024) owners rate the Goodyear over Bridgestone by experience of swapping then hopefully you should find some improvement.

I'd have 215/60 R16 and only because that's the smallest VWŠkoda do on that model (if internet is correct). Wheels and tyres are all party frocks and high heels now (well last-decades), glorified shopping trolley cars have 18" alloys. :shakesheadwalksawaymuttering: :weresmecoat:

3 minutes ago, nta16 said:

Things are as they are, unfortunately.

Got to put tho', I like things simple as that's all I can understand but I think it's bit of an over simplification (if not inaccurate) to say just changing alloy wheels will change the handling, so will changing worn but legal, good and safe, tyres to the same size, make an model of tyre but new and unworn. Does this also mean the car is only offered with a single choice of wheel and the salesmen can't up-sell you more expensive wheels for your new car. Is the 2024 Karoq SE-L tricked up like a BMW M-Sport Ego or Merc AMG Ego then where the suspension electronics are so particular to ego stroking only one wheel and tyre can be used and even if same sizes front wheel can't go to back, that will upset M-Sport and AMG drivers even more than me putting this. 😁

Possibly if you spoke to someone else at your insurers (or other insurers) you may find they don't class it as a modification - but I stopped warning about this possibility as other posters told how unlikely it was.

Changing to the Goodyears might affect the handling, what would the Dealership say about that I wonder.

If other Karoq (2024) owners rate the Goodyear over Bridgestone by experience of swapping then hopefully you should find some improvement.

I'd have 215/60 R16 and only because that's the smallest VWŠkoda do on that model (if internet is correct). Wheels and tyres are all party frocks and high heels now (well last-decades), glorified shopping trolley cars have 18" alloys. :shakesheadwalksawaymuttering: :weresmecoat:

I had a good chat with the salesman who sold me the car, after he did his checks he called me back and long story short the car I bought cannot run on different wheels as it was setup with the 18 inch tyres, i even offered to pay them to do so, but was declined and told is not possible. Apparently you cannot even choose any other tyre sizes other than 18 if you order a new SE-L trim.

They advised to stay with the same wheels, can change tyre brands but to remain with the same tyre specs - the Goodyears F1 assymetrics are same spec however I have been using them for years in many cars without issues.

@kannanni Who at a Dealership, parts, sales or a technician?

EDIT,

I see salesman.

What does your Owners Manual show as the size of tyres suitable for use with Snow Chains?

Skoda / VW will sell you wheels that are Type Approved and appropriate and the choice of others in other countries,

& they might well be the RECOMMENDED SIZE IF USING SNOW CHAINS.

Not a Modification using the correct sized Wheels & Tyres for Summer or Winter when they are appropriate to the vehicle.

As far as the Insurers go and Brokers and some guff they spout, they need to be checking just what you are fitting and why and if a Factory or Dealer fit option. The person at the Dealership might want to check the sizes your vehicle can have fitted.

Edited 16 June16 Jun by Ootohere

6 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

@kannanni Who at a Dealership, parts, sales or a technician?

EDIT,

I see salesman.

What does your Owners Manual show as the size of tyres suitable for use with Snow Chains?

Skoda / VW will sell you wheels that are Type Approved and appropriate and the choice of others in other countries,

& they might well be the RECOMMENDED SIZE IF USING SNOW CHAINS.

Not a Modification using the correct sized Wheels & Tyres for Summer or Winter when they are appropriate to the vehicle.

As far as the Insurers go and Brokers and some guff they spout, they need to be checking just what you are fitting and why and if a Factory or Dealer fit option. The person at the Dealership might want to check the sizes your vehicle can have fitted.

just checked my manual and it says rim 6Jx16 ET43 and tyre 215/60 R16 for chains in snow

I will ask for a technician from the main dealer to confim in writing.

Someone will be along with all the numbers and info.

Hopefully @Carlston

9 hours ago, kannanni said:

Hi All,

Many thanks for all your replies.

Škoda main dealer told me changing the alloy wheels will affect the car handling (I guess this newer version) and will also invalidate their warranty.

I also called my insurer and they classed it as modification if I am to change increasing the premiums.

Based on these I have decided to get some decent Goodyears assy 5 and stay on my original alloys.

Cheers

Jon

Never heard so much rubbish You an put anything on it thats on the tyre placard with no worries, You can also fit aftermarket wheels as long as they fit and arent Chinesium rubbish. If you want more comfort, a rim an inch smaller with a higher sidewall will give you more comfort but with a slight decrease in handling ability ( more sidewall more flex) on 120mph corners. I ran Mags on Falcon Taxis and all that was said by the inspectors was "Gee they look good"

Edited 16 June16 Jun by Exkiwi

Any of the wheel sizes listed in the car's CoC (Certificate of Conformity) aren't a modification because they are approved by Skoda for that particular car.

All front wheel drive Karoqs will have 215/60R16 6Jx16 ET43 5/112 57.1 listed in the car's CoC, because that is the only wheel specification listed for use with snow chains.

If you couldn't use these 16" wheels, you wouldn't be able to use snow chains...and when it snowed you would have to leave the car on the drive and take the train.

Edited 17 June17 Jun by Carlston

5 minutes ago, Carlston said:

Any of the wheel sizes listed in the car's CoC (Certificate of Conformity) aren't a modification because they are approved by Skoda for that particular car.

All front wheel drive Karoqs will have 215/60R16 6Jx16 ET43 5/112 57.1 listed in the car's CoC, because that is the only wheel specification listed for use with snow chains.

If you couldn't use these 16" wheels, you wouldn't be able to use snow chains...and when it snowed you would have to leave the car on the drive and take the train.

Are 17 inches also allowed to use? If so which profile do you recommend please

1 hour ago, Exkiwi said:

Never heard so much rubbish You an put anything on it thats on the tyre placard with no worries, You can also fit aftermarket wheels as long as they fit and arent Chinesium rubbish. If you want more comfort, a rim an inch smaller with a higher sidewall will give you more comfort but with a slight decrease in handling ability ( more sidewall more flex) on 120mph corners. I ran Mags on Falcon Taxis and all that was said by the inspectors was "Gee they look good"

It will probably invalidate the drivetrain warranty, if not under the CoC specifications, but then again most stuff will invaldiate the warranty.

In terms of the effect of handling, yes, the dealer is correct - smaller diameter wheels will reduce the unsprung weight and improve handling, however increasing sidewall height will increase the tyre flex, and have the opposite effect on handling. That being said, going from 18" to 17" on a 1.5 crossover won't make any real difference.

Sticking with OE Skoda wheels within CoC is not a modification. Anything else is, however when I swapped from OE to Revo I paid an increase of a £9 admin fee.

11 minutes ago, kannanni said:

Are 17 inches also allowed to use? If so which profile do you recommend please

Depends what Skoda list as suitable, however a 215/50R17 is the equivalent to a 215/60R16, depending on wheel width (I assume anything from 6" to 7").

9 hours ago, kannanni said:

If so which profile do you recommend please

The links I put up will give you the alternatives.

Increase sidewall and how much extra you get does depend on the particular design, build and materials of the tyres you are comparing and in relation to the wheel width the tyres are fitted to and tyre pressure you run at. Two different makes and/or models of tyre can handle differently even if the tyres are the same size on the same wheels.

Provided Wheel.Size site has the correct information, for a Europe 2024 Karoq 1.5 TSI (148hp) it shows tyre 215/55r17 (still a stupidly short wall size but that's fashion for yer) on 7J (7" wide) 17" wheels, as original equipment size, what particular tyre you put on this will effect the braking, handling, road holding, road noise and comfort compared to another 215/55 r17 tyre. How much difference and what you prefer are more about personal choice - and fashion if the want the latest or current tyre tread pattern.

On 15/06/2025 at 19:10, kannanni said:

Hello, (I'm sorry for the double posting - I'm new here)

Just bought a Karoq 1.5 tsi automatic 2024 2WD that came with bridgestone turanza eco in 18 inch 215/50/18.

I dont really like them (noisy and not comfortable, crashy/thumpy over rough surfaces)

Can someone please advice If I am able to change to same 18 inch size but better profile - more comfortable - which one is advisable?

Or shall i change to 17 inch wheels - which one?

I'm not sure if any of these changes will invalidate my insurance or warranty?

Has anyone have any similar experience in replacing the horrible Bridgestones?

Cheers,

Kannanni

You could try will they fit.com it gives you the circumference and other details.

There is some mis information in this thread. Skoda will sell you a set of winter wheels and tyres for this car. They are a catalogue item. The winter wheels and tyres are offered on either a 16 or 17 inch rim from memory.

That said, if the insurer has been asked and given the response stated by the OP this will be on file with them. If the car is found to be on other than the supplied wheels then the insurance might well use this to decline a claim. Sad but's that's how it is in 2025.

21 minutes ago, Aldfort said:

That said, if the insurer has been asked and given the response stated by the OP this will be on file with them.

That doesn't necessarily mean the OP has been given correct information by the insurer/broker but yes it'll probably be on their file. Human or AI the answer given might be incorrect but of course they have the upper hand which is why you never want to go with a cheap insurer/policy if you ever need to make a claim.

But yes, that's how it is in 2025 and many years back, progress isn't always advancement.

As long as the wheels are of the sizes listed on the tyre placard there can be no problem. As for tyres, as long as they comply with weight etc they are legal. I dont think anyone said to use illegal anything and I did say the tyre placard tells you what you can use. Here in Aus it seems our insurance companies are more sensible as innumerable cars run around on 2nd tier mags with no problems. Also in the 4wd brigade anything up to 33's are acceptable

This is the Skoda wheels brochure

https://www.skoda-auto.com/_doc/6d5c59b3-5d97-451a-ab78-2ef185e6e373

There is also a Skoda UK winter wheels (with tyres) brochure

https://www.skoda.co.uk/_doc/d1040b95-40f0-431a-95ed-d531f289c13f

As you will see, lots of different sizes for a Karoq. The 17 inch wheel with deeper sidewall will be less harsh over rough tarmac than bigger 18 or 19.

However there are two things you need to be aware of, temperature and basic physics. Everyone knows rubber gets hard in cold weather, and harder is stiffer (less soft and probably more rumble). Modern tyres have all sorts of things in their compounds eg silica to try and balance grip with a long wearing life (and budget tyres have simpler compounds, so often don't wear or grip as well, because they are built down to a price).

Generally all season tyres are softer at typical UK temperatures, than summer biased compounds (and if you want comfort avoid anything with sport or eco in its name as they tend to be even firmer). So if don't want to change the alloys (and you could be paying good part of £1000 to get set of 4 new), then look for premium all season tyres. Note some brands have two load ratings, and for comfort don't buy higher load ratings if you have a choice as sidewall is stiffer.

There is nothing wrong with Bridgestone as a brand, but the turanza eco is an inappropriate choice if comfort is your first priority.

Bottom line is that as long as the chosen wheel and tyre combo is type approved by Skoda, OP is fine.