Reducing rim size on vRS

[applesee]

Thanks DunlopRS... it looks, ummm, stock...
Reading the success you had has re-enforced that the standard Skoda 16" alloy is the right path to go...

[DunlopRS]

Thanks DunlopRS... it looks, ummm, stock...
Reading the success you had has re-enforced that the standard Skoda 16" alloy is the right path to go...

..... Yes. They are growing on me. Perhaps the memory of how good the neptunes look is fading.
However, the neptunes will not be going back on until its sale time (perhaps quite a few years - I love the car).

Let us know how you go sourcing some rims goes - is yours an RS? - if so I would be very interested in experience with 3rd party / non-VAG fitments.

[Diesel_vert]

For my driving I am VERY happy with the change to 16” rims. I went with 205 55 continental conticomfort 5s. I no longer feel every join in the concrete on the hume in spine and there is no reason at all to slow down at places on the Hay plain for fear of breaking the car (or the significantly worse council maintained roads off the major tracks). They are much quieter and get the power onto the road better (much, much harder to make the wheels spin).

Another side effect of going higher in profile is the larger range of less "sporty" tyres. Trying to find a touring tyre in 225/40 R18 is not easy.

Not sure (have no idea) if any VW group 16 would fit over a RS disk/caliper (there is enough but no excess in clearance with mine) – but it seems that you may be able to find 3rd party alloys that fit if you can find a salesman that is interested in spending the time……
Good luck (will be taking my wife’s focus to the snow…).

They'd certainly have a very high chance of fitting without issue.

the reason for going 205/55 R16...
thinking that I might be able to get away with 6.5J instead of 6.0J

You might get away with it if you fit really small chains, like no larger than 5~6 mm or something, but I'm afraid I don't have any experience with snow chains.

I cant quite see how a 205/55x16 would have more resistance to wheelspin than a 225/40x18 unless the 18s were crappy tyres.

A tyre with a higher profile with a taller footprint, which doesn't lose contact with the road as much compared to less compliant low-profile tyres and newer or fresher rubber may explain his observations.

[Mysticality]

A tyre with a higher profile with a taller footprint, which doesn't lose contact with the road as much compared to less compliant low-profile tyres and newer or fresher rubber may explain his observations.

Taller profile on the tyre (more rubber on the side) = larger flat spot on the ground.
Go check out how 4WD tyres work offroad, for an exaggerated example.

[Diesel_vert]

Taller profile on the tyre (more rubber on the side) = larger flat spot on the ground.
Go check out how 4WD tyres work offroad, for an exaggerated example.

On the same vehicle, the surface area doesn't change much - mainly just the shape.

[DunlopRS]

If you're talking about the letter "V" on the tyre's sidewall, it's the speed index which represents a max. speed of 240 km/h.

Sorry – should be less verbose / less cryptic or even reduce the off topic commentary…..
Was meaning the “v” in the vRS……..

[Diesel_vert]

Sorry – should be less verbose / less cryptic or even reduce the off topic commentary…..
Was meaning the “v” in the vRS……..

Ah, I see.
No worries then, haha.

[applesee]

Let us know how you go sourcing some rims goes - is yours an RS? - if so I would be very interested in experience with 3rd party / non-VAG fitments.

Yup, it is a RS. Will see how I go...

You might get away with it if you fit really small chains, like no larger than 5~6 mm or something, but I'm afraid I don't have any experience with snow chains.

Yes, hoping that I'll be able to get away with 9mm chains on the 16x6.5J ET50 rim. If max chain size for 16x6J rim is 15mm and 6.5J rim is about 12.7mm wider than 6J rim (i.e. ~6mm more on either side), then 9mm chain should be ok?!

I wonder if there's a tyre+wheel calculator that compares the width profile of 205/55R16 tyre on a 6J rim versus 6.5J rim...

[gldgti]

Wow mate - they look HEAPS better on a white wagon than they did on my black one.

I reckon it looks tough

[gldgti]

I cant quite see how a 205/55x16 would have more resistance to wheelspin than a 235/40x18 unless the 18s were crappy tyres.
.

Basically, because the 16" tyres are more flexible radially and tortionally, they will conform much better to the surface they are resting on and employ the tread much better. Very low profile tyres are very stiff torsionally, and under all but ideal circumstances will have much less success gripping the road surface.

Extreme examples being drag racing tyres.

Also, there's every chance that even though the 16's may have a slightly smaller over all diameter, the reduction in width and energy transmitted through to the body because of vibration on rough roads, and j (moment of inertia) of the wheel, all aid fuel economy.