Original Wheels v 18' wheels - which set better ?

[BigPritch]

Tried to do a search before posting, but couldn't find, so apologies if this has been answered before....

Just done our first trip away, and the guy before us had fitted some new 18' (VW), wheels.
They are black alloys and 'look' good.

But my question is :-

Am I better running on the original wheels (they came with the van, and have tyres on them, but in desperate need of refurb, which happy to do).
What advantage does an 18' wheel give me on - drive quality, improved mpg, improved handling, over the original oem wheels ?
Should I get the orig wheels done & sell the 18", or go with as is ?

Aesthetics wise, yes the new 18' look ok, but I'm really after driving benefits, assuming the originals will give this ?
Just done 545 miles over the week, with a lot of gear work, and still got 36mpg.

Many thanks for any advice/info, as be very appreciated.

Thanks,
Big Pritch

 

[WelshGas]

Tried to do a search before posting, but couldn't find, so apologies if this has been answered before....

Just done our first trip away, and the guy before us had fitted some new 18' (VW), wheels.
They are black alloys and 'look' good.

But my question is :-

Am I better running on the original wheels (they came with the van, and have tyres on them, but in desperate need of refurb, which happy to do).
What advantage does an 18' wheel give me on - drive quality, improved mpg, improved handling, over the original oem wheels ?
Should I get the orig wheels done & sell the 18", or go with as is ?

Aesthetics wise, yes the new 18' look ok, but I'm really after driving benefits, assuming the originals will give this ?
Just done 545 miles over the week, with a lot of gear work, and still got 36mpg.

Many thanks for any advice/info, as be very appreciated.

Thanks,
Big Pritch

Normally the bigger the wheel then the recommended tyre will have a lower sidewall, not good with potholes, and tend to run with higher pressures so a harder ride. Also you cannot have a same size spare wheel/tyre, won't fit in the carrier.

 

[BigPritch]

Normally the bigger the wheel then the recommended tyre will have a lower sidewall, not good with potholes, and tend to run with higher pressures so a harder ride. Also you cannot have a same size spare wheel/tyre, won't fit in the carrier.

Thank you WelshGas, great info and very much appreciated...

 

[dspuk]

18 for looks.

>18 for comfort.

Happy with our 18s but potholes can be a b*tch and had two slow punctures.

Edit - meant LESS than 18.

 

[RosscoPCole74]

How about 17s and lowered suspension?

 

[Kayleigh]

18 for looks.

>18 for comfort.

Happy with our 18s but potholes can be a b*tch and had two slow punctures.

Is that larger than 18 inch for comfort?

 

[andyinluton]

Normally the bigger the wheel then the recommended tyre will have a lower sidewall, not good with potholes, and tend to run with higher pressures so a harder ride. Also you cannot have a same size spare wheel/tyre, won't fit in the carrier.

It's the other way round re tyre pressures - the bigger wheels run lower pressures. Having tried 16" 17 and 18" rims on Oceans the 18" is a better ride than the smaller rims but the wider tyres mean a penalty of about 5mpg compared to the skinny 16" tyres.

 

[dspuk]

Is that larger than 18 inch for comfort?

Doh. Meant <

 

[dspuk]

How about 17s and lowered suspension?

Check yr fillings after each ride

TBH I have no experience of lowered suspension but assume they mean better corners but not a smoother ride.

 

[sidepod]

Check yr fillings after each ride

TBH I have no experience of lowered suspension but assume they mean better corners but not a smoother ride.

Ride height has nothing to do with stiffness unless you’re daft enough to uprate the shorter springs fitted.

 

[dspuk]

Ride height has nothing to do with stiffness unless you’re daft enough to uprate the shorter springs fitted.

I'm not daft enough to do either but point taken

 

[Esandar#1]

Tried to do a search before posting, but couldn't find, so apologies if this has been answered before....

Just done our first trip away, and the guy before us had fitted some new 18' (VW), wheels.
They are black alloys and 'look' good.

But my question is :-

Am I better running on the original wheels (they came with the van, and have tyres on them, but in desperate need of refurb, which happy to do).
What advantage does an 18' wheel give me on - drive quality, improved mpg, improved handling, over the original oem wheels ?
Should I get the orig wheels done & sell the 18", or go with as is ?

Aesthetics wise, yes the new 18' look ok, but I'm really after driving benefits, assuming the originals will give this ?
Just done 545 miles over the week, with a lot of gear work, and still got 36mpg.

Many thanks for any advice/info, as be very appreciated.

Thanks,
Big Pritch

We decided to stick with the original 16” alloys on our 2017 Cali, but did opt for the lowered suspension (30mm) as one optional extra. I thought in time I would want to put 18” alloys, and looked at this many times, as it makes the can ‘look better’ (looks more sporty, the bigger wheels fill the wheel arches better…) and the drive is supposed to be more sporty (firmer - which is both positive & negative).

However, we lived with it, then gradually realised our Cali isn’t a vehicle we often drive quickly, so the 16” wheels have been brilliant in all respects. And they are almost impossible to kerb because the walls are 65s (215/65/R16)

 

[Ch1pbutty]

We switched to 16” 205’s about a month we sold our van as wanted to keep our 17” 215’s alloys for our ‘new’ 2nd hand van - which came with steels.

Ride on the smaller wheel was firm but in a good way; van seemed more responsive & mpg increased, felt the drive was better for spirited driving.

So would try to drive a few vans (Cali or transporter) with different setups and see which you prefer.

 

[BigPritch]

UPDATE.
Took the plunge and had my 16" alloys recoated to same colour as the dark grey 18", and had them swapped over.
I have to be honest, the drive with the 16's is so much better, smoother, softer and for us, significantly preferable.
Obviously a personal choice, but happy we did it, so now have a decent set of 18" I'll be looking to sell.

Cheers

 

[acer]

Good decision. It’s the loss of the spare with an 18” wheel that makes it a dealbreaker for me.

 

[WelshGas]

Good decision. It’s the loss of the spare with an 18” wheel that makes it a dealbreaker for me.

You can carry a 17" wheel with correct tyre size 235x55x17x103H. It has same circumference as 18" with correct tyre size , fits in wheel carrier and use as a Space Saver, limited miles and speed.

 

[pjm-84]

I have a 17in spare.....with 18in. No difference on MPG.... I did 360mile yesterday, normally I'm a 60 to 65mph guy, but I was 10mph plus faster. 39.6mpg for the journey.....

 

[pchmlk]

Interesting @BigPritch !
I bought our van with 16s on and prefer the aesthetic of larger wheels but wasn’t convinced on the comfort. I went for 17s in the end which I can’t say feel any different to 16s (possibly slighter better but they do have different tyres on so it’s not a like for like comparison) but do fill the arches a little better and make the van look better.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Interesting @BigPritch !
I bought our van with 16s on and prefer the aesthetic of larger wheels but wasn’t convinced on the comfort. I went for 17s in the end which I can’t say feel any different to 16s (possibly slighter better but they do have different tyres on so it’s not a like for like comparison) but do fill the arches a little better and make the van look better.

16 are more responsive, better mpg…but a firm ride due to higher psi. Hence anything not secured in the van will rattle!

Larger wheels give a more cushioned ride.

Personally prefer 17’s…only because they fill the arches.

 

[Kayleigh]

So is it OK to have a 16 inch spare with 17 inch wheels? I have wondered if I need to upgrade the spare to 17. It is only really for emergency use. I am running standard 235 tyres.

 

[pchmlk]

16 are more responsive, better mpg…but a firm ride due to higher psi. Hence anything not secured in the van will rattle!

Larger wheels give a more cushioned ride.

Personally prefer 17’s…only because they fill the arches.

Larger wheels give a more cushioned ride? Even on significantly lower profiles?

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Larger wheels give a more cushioned ride? Even on significantly lower profiles?

Very low profile is different, they are only good for backache, smooth road/racetrack.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

So is it OK to have a 16 inch spare with 17 inch wheels? I have wondered if I need to upgrade the spare to 17. It is only really for emergency use. I am running standard 235 tyres.

You would be better off buying a matching 17” alloy with delivery miles on eBay. Won’t rust, less weight & you won’t have mismatched wheels if you get a puncture.

 

[acer]

Larger wheels give a more cushioned ride? Even on significantly lower profiles?

I knew that there was a reason the Victorians came up with this.