Wheel / Tyre Dilema

TheDean

TheDean

TheDean

Soldato
Joined
3 Oct 2004
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Location
North East
So,

Currently have OEM silver 17" Alloys on my Leon FR, but wanting to go to 18's. The 18's apparently smooth the ride, and feel a lot better while driving. I imagine they would also look nicer. Would anyone reccomend any particular wheels? I'm not sure whether to sick with silver, or go for black. The car is metallic black.

Also, as it's coming up to winter, I was thinking about tyres. Uniroyal Rainsport 2's look pretty solid. Would they see me through the winter and summer? Would probably prefer an all-rounder, rather than having to pay to have them swapped over 1/2 way through the year.
 
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18" alloys would actually give you less sidewall, and therefore less give, and probably a harsher ride, rather than "smoothing" it out.

Smaller wheels + larger profile tyres are best - although the suspension on a vehicle is designed to work in conjunction with a specific wheel/tyre size combination.
 
The Octavia vRS originally came with 17" alloys.
This was updated to 18".
It is certainly the case that the ride became slightly harsher with the 18" alloys in place.

You basically accepted the harsher ride for the larger wheels - most people were happy with the trade-off.
Certainly nobody found the ride smoother with the larger wheels.
 
Rainsport 2's are summer tyres, not all-season tyres.

Vredstein Quatracs or Goodyear Vector 4 seasons are 'all-season' tyres.

Edit > lots of people run summer tyres all year round in UK though. It's not illegal, just pretty dumb imho
 
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taximike said:
Rainsport 2's are summer tyres, not all-season tyres.

Vredstein Quatracs or Goodyear Vector 4 seasons are 'all-season' tyres.

Edit > lots of people run summer tyres all year round in UK though. It's not illegal, just pretty dumb imho
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Well would it be an idea to get Rainsport 2's now, then have them changed to a winter tyre in Mid October time? If so - what winter tyres?
 
TheDean said:
Really? Almost everything I have read suggests the car suits 18's better, and this improves the 'harsh' suspension.
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Note: Take everything you read on owners forums and the internet with a pinch of salt, then apply some logic.



*This post is completely accurate and non-negotiable
 
-Ad- said:
Note: Take everything you read on owners forums and the internet with a pinch of salt, then apply some logic.



*This post is completely accurate and non-negotiable
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Point taken.

Interesting quandry though: Mytyres.co.uk are quoting £103.70 fully fitted for 225/45 ZR17 94Y XL with raised rim rib. Blackcircles are charging £94.31 fully fitted for 225/45 R17 W (91). Are they the same tyre? I'm very confused
 
Matt82 said:
he wanted to go for 18s so ride cant be that important

guessing the car is pretty old now, update the suspension and bushes. that would be far more useful than bigger wheels
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Car is brand new (to me). Had it less than a month, 07 plate, 24k on the clock
 
Matt82 said:
he wanted to go for 18s so ride cant be that important

guessing the car is pretty old now, update the suspension and bushes. that would be far more useful than bigger wheels
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Well the reason he wanted to go to 18, is because he thought it would give a smoother ride...
 
You'll always be better off switching tyres mid-season but it's a lot of hassle.

The Quatrac 3 tyres are supposed to be superb and you can leave them on all year.

mytyres are good to buy the tyres from, but most local places will fit a tyre for £10 or less, so it's not normally worth paying the fully fitted price. Just get them shipped and trot along to your local place. £10 is about what they make on the tyres they sell anyway so they won't be too miffed you've bought them yourself.
 
Instead of arguing....Lets help me buy some Rainsport 2's fitted at the cheapest possible price, then suggest some winter tyres to be fitted mid october. That Ok?
 
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