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What Advantage bigger wheels or not?
fam1x
 

Posts: 474
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: London
Post: #1
What Advantage bigger wheels or not?

What Advantage Do 20-Inch Wheels Have Over 18-Inch?

Having selected the standard wheels I'm thinking now should I go for bigger wheels?

Pure SD4 Auto Black Tech pack, Pano roof, Powered tailgate, Dim rear view, Carpet mats & edging, Parking Assist Aid - Rear camera, Folding mirrors, Front Fogs, Auto Light, Rain sensor, Adaptive Xenons, Heated SW, Keyless entry and Privacy Glass arrived 13 Jan 12 Smile
22-12-2011 11:30am
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mark_n
 

Posts: 1,720
Joined: Jul 2011
Location: London
Post: #2
RE: What Advantage bigger wheels or not?

The conventional reason for choosing larger wheels is the reduced tyre sidewall depth which makes for a tauter driving experience. With deep sidewalls, the car feels less connected to the road and will lean more when cornering due to the tyre flexing. At the same time, the role the tyre plays in adding ride comfort is reduced so that larger wheels tend to mean a harder ride.

Coming from largely sports cars, I find the 20" wheels are absolutely fine, if anything, the car could do with tightening up further.

One reason not to choose large wheels is that they are more prone to damage from kerbing and pot holes. If you like to grind away the side of a pavement with your wheels, the 20" will get damaged more easily.

One other reason to choose larger wheels is cosmetic - the car on smaller wheels looks a bit weedy -the larger wheels fill the wheel arches better even if the outside diameter of the tyre is the same.

Mark

Evoque was great, now in an RRS SVR
22-12-2011 11:55am
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fam1x
 

Posts: 474
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: London
Post: #3
RE: What Advantage bigger wheels or not?

Thanks Mark

Pure SD4 Auto Black Tech pack, Pano roof, Powered tailgate, Dim rear view, Carpet mats & edging, Parking Assist Aid - Rear camera, Folding mirrors, Front Fogs, Auto Light, Rain sensor, Adaptive Xenons, Heated SW, Keyless entry and Privacy Glass arrived 13 Jan 12 Smile
22-12-2011 12:03pm
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Straydox
 

Posts: 583
Joined: Nov 2011
Location: Warwick
Post: #4
RE: What Advantage bigger wheels or not?

It depends on your budget - if the running costs of your vehicle are an issue then do consider tyre replacement. 20" tyres are fairly expensive and the choice is limited - and a permanent all wheel drive set up will wear all 4 out together.

In recent years I've had a lot of cars with large diameter wheels, they are a universal pain - whilst visually attractive and as Mark has alread said, easily damaged by pot-holes and curbs. Also - and a point often missed - because there is a lot of strength in the sidewalls of the large diameter/low profile tyres they can lose almost all of their air pressure and you can't tell visually. So a decent TPMS (tyre pressure monitoring system) becomes pretty essential.

The car I have on order has 19" rims - if 18" rims had been an option I'd have selected them.

Delivered 15th May 2012, rejected and returned 4th Feb 2013 - SD4 5 door Prestige manual with a bucket full of rattles Mauritius Blue. Crazy Audi MY2020 RSQ3
22-12-2011 01:17pm
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IKM
 

Posts: 607
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Aberdeenshire
Post: #5
RE: What Advantage bigger wheels or not?

I'm the same as Straydox, if 18" were an option I would have chosen them over the 19". My Freelander runs on 17" and they are just right for the car's size.

Arrived 16 December 2011: Prestige SD4 auto 5dr in OG with Adaptive Dynamics, Adaptive Xenons, Surround Cameras, Auto Dimming Rearview, Grey Oak Wood, Spare Wheel and Powered Tailgate.

Joining 2010 Freelander XS Td4e in Stornoway Grey (we like Grey!)
22-12-2011 01:48pm
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fam1x
 

Posts: 474
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: London
Post: #6
RE: What Advantage bigger wheels or not?

Happy to swap out my 18in wheels for 19 or 20 wheels Wink

Thats strange how they dont let you choose the smaller wheels on the Prestige as you can select 19in on the Dynamic .

Pure SD4 Auto Black Tech pack, Pano roof, Powered tailgate, Dim rear view, Carpet mats & edging, Parking Assist Aid - Rear camera, Folding mirrors, Front Fogs, Auto Light, Rain sensor, Adaptive Xenons, Heated SW, Keyless entry and Privacy Glass arrived 13 Jan 12 Smile
(This post was last modified: 22-12-2011 02:29pm by fam1x.)
22-12-2011 02:07pm
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mark_n
 

Posts: 1,720
Joined: Jul 2011
Location: London
Post: #7
RE: What Advantage bigger wheels or not?

Yes, good point about replacement cost. The 20" tyres are something like £250 - £300 each, which is double the 18" tyres on my Ferrari. We may actually find tyres are the biggest single maintenance expense on this car. I agree TPMS would be useful, just wish they had provided a near-real time display for the money.

Mark

Evoque was great, now in an RRS SVR
25-12-2011 09:23am
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Evo-king
 

Posts: 2,102
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Gloucestershire
Post: #8
RE: What Advantage bigger wheels or not?

After my LR Experience day, I'm seriously thinking about 19" Sparle Style 3's now.

Evoque No3: MY15 Dynamic Lux SD4, Auto, Santorini Black, Pimento Dynamic Plus Sports Seats, Ebony headlining, Pan Roof, Shadow Chrome Alloys.
25-12-2011 10:46am
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broady43
 

Posts: 321
Joined: Nov 2011
Location: North Yorkshire
Post: #9
RE: What Advantage bigger wheels or not?

(25-12-2011 10:46am)Evo-king Wrote:  After my LR Experience day, I'm seriously thinking about 19" Sparle Style 3's now.

Hi,I have 45 profile on the car I have now and they are kerb magnets.That is why I am going for the 19" with the 55 profile.I like to keep my cars in tip top condition,it makes me happy but when I kerbed my brand new car on the first day I was sad Sad
25-12-2011 09:23pm
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ytshome
 

Posts: 550
Joined: Aug 2011
Location: Cheshire
Post: #10
RE: What Advantage bigger wheels or not?

(25-12-2011 10:46am)Evo-king Wrote:  After my LR Experience day, I'm seriously thinking about 19" Sparle Style 3's now.

That's what I'd have picked.

Arrived. Prestige SD4 Auto 5DR OG September 11
25-12-2011 11:18pm
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