Vehicle height with 18" alloys.

Daniel Roberts · Jan 13, 2019

Hi, can anybody tell me what the ride height is for a California beach (T6) with 18" alloys on standard 60mm tyres.
I use my van as a day drive and love that the 16" alloys bring the van height under 2m which make is practical around town and importantly it entrance to the tip.

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Alan Andrews · Jan 13, 2019

the 60% ratio is based on the tyre width and not the diameter.

so, once you know what width of tyre you intend to fit then is an easy calculation.

If the final tyre diameter is greater than what is fitted as standard, then your speedo will 'under read' the mph (and kmph) reading. so be careful!

Daniel Roberts · Jan 13, 2019

Thanks Alan, looking at 255/45 R18 or 255/55

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Alan Andrews · Jan 13, 2019

16inch wheels with 215x60 = 406 (16") + 129(215x60%) + 129 = 664 diameter

17inch wheels with 215x60 = 432 (17") + 129(215x60%) + 129 = 690 diameter

18inch wheels with 255x45 = 457 (18") + 115(255x45%) + 115 = 687 diameter

18inch wheels with 255x55 = 457 (18") + 140(255x55%) + 140 = 737 diameter

andyinluton · Jan 13, 2019

Alan - not sure where you got your figures above?

Standard 16" on a cali is 205 65 16" which are 673mm diameter or 215 60 16" which are 665mm Diameter

255 45 on 18" rims are 686mm diameter so a difference of 13mm which equates to a difference in vehicle height of half that so 6.5mm

Edited as I see someone has a 215 65 16" spare for sale so presumably they have been fitted as standard at some point they are 686mm diameter which is identical to the 18"

Ting Tong · Jan 13, 2019

This gives you equivalent diameter of tyres

https://www.oponeo.co.uk/advice-and-tips/tyre-size-calculator

This will tell you the difference between 2 tyre sizes (ignore width and offset)

https://www.willtheyfit.com/

The following are sizes commonly fitted by VW which as you’ll see from the first link are all substantially the same diameter

215/60 r17

235/55 r17

235/50 r18

255/45 r18

People often fit 235/55 r18 as there’s a better selection of 101 or higher load rated tyres esp winters but they’re 4% bigger.