Order high spec car - want smaller wheels for comfort

FGR

Hi all,

A question for a friend of mine really (as I'm quite a fan of the 18" wheels on my own car :pac:)

They're looking at ordering a new Highline Spec Golf - but they're wondering if there's much hassle in getting the 16" wheels that come with the lower spec models as opposed to the standard 17" wheels.

I can't blame them as they live in a part of the country with very poor roads and they just want a quieter, more comfortable ride.

listermint

Food for thought. Ask the dealer !

R.O.R

If it's not a factory option, the dealer would probably do it when the car arrives in.

They'll then sell the bigger alloys as a cost option on a Comfortline to make more profit.

DaveyDave

FGR wrote: »

Hi all,

A question for a friend of mine really (as I'm quite a fan of the 18" wheels on my own car :pac:)

They're looking at ordering a new Highline Spec Golf - but they're wondering if there's much hassle in getting the 16" wheels that come with the lower spec models as opposed to the standard 17" wheels.

I can't blame them as they live in a part of the country with very poor roads and they just want a quieter, more comfortable ride.

I have a Highline, the car is really very comfortable with the 17" wheels and 10mm drop with sport suspension. Suspension and comfort on VAG cars is very good. Driving my mam's i30 for example the ride quality was awful. You could feel every single bump and pot hole, you wouldn't know it was only on 15" wheels.

Maybe someone driving an Audi or Merc with air suspension could say otherwise but there's no defeating a poor road surface. There's the odd pothole on my commute to work that would break my back even in the Golf.

JoeA3

17’s aren’t that big these days under modern wheel arches. You’ll still have a fairly sizeable (50?) tyre profile.

elperello

Your friend should consider the day they come to sell.
To get the full value for the Highline spec it should have the correct wheels.

DaveyDave

JoeA3 wrote: »

17’s aren’t that big these days under modern wheel arches. You’ll still have a fairly sizeable (50?) tyre profile.

225/45. I think the 16" is 205/55.

blade1

DaveyDave wrote: »

225/45. I think the 16" is 205/55.

That would make the 225 having a wall just under 4 inches and the 205 just under 4.5 inches.

FGR

Thanks all.

I agree re: the day of resale - but this person is the kind who'll keep the car for 10+ years if they can. I don't know how they don't get bored :pac:

Toyotafanboi

It's definitely a princess and the pea type scenario.

Anybody who reckons they can feel a noticeable difference between the 16's and 17's on a new car is taking the pip.

colm_mcm

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

It's definitely a princess and the pea type scenario.

Anybody who reckons they can feel a noticeable difference between the 16's and 17's on a new car is taking the pip.

It's def makes a difference in a lot of cases. The mothers i30 was very harsh on bad roads on the 17s it came with. I've driven loads of ones with 16s and they're much more comfortable. I picked up 15s off a Trajet last year and put them on as it gives a much bigger sidewall. It's nowhere near as sharp to drive on a good road now, but it is so much more suited to what she's doing. Plus you can get premium tyres for the price of the Chinese Shiite she was buying before.
They do look crap though.

acronym Chilli

Or buy a set of steel wheels and put something decent like Michelin CrossClimates (or maybe winter tyres) on them. Keep the original alloys for "dress" wear (or summer)

CiniO

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

It's definitely a princess and the pea type scenario.

Anybody who reckons they can feel a noticeable difference between the 16's and 17's on a new car is taking the pip.

There is huge difference.
I have two sets of wheels for my civic and interchange them regularly.

205/55/16
225/45/17
(same scenario as OP described).

Difference is very noticeable and I understand a reason why someone would prefer 16"...

TheDriver

Looks are one aspect but your friend will save money on tyres 16 vs 17 over the years to negate resale difference. I find bigger tyres on lower profile has resulted in more punctures, maybe that's just me