Downsizing from 19s to 18s ??

R.Bot

Active Member
Oct 30, 2019
77
42
I'm considering downsizing wheels from the 235/35/19 to 235/40/18, primary reason being hopefully improved comfort on neglected roads and as a secondary bonus tyres are a bit cheaper. Has anyone with a cupra st done this and is there any noticeable difference when driving on a crummy road surface/was it worth it? Looking at BBS SR 8x18 et45. Thanks.
 

eltawater

Full and wholesome member
May 1, 2008
305
45
I move from 19s to 18s for winter. Can't say I see much comfort difference, main difference is the tyre cost :D
 

Mikertroid

Active Member
May 31, 2019
142
39
I have a set of Dezent TZ 7.5J x 18s arriving this week, fitting Goodyear Vector 4seasons G3 225/40 R18s. Massive difference in cost too Compared to the stock size tyres.

Seem to be OEM spec for winter wheel/tyre combo. I plan to use them all year round as my 65 each-way commute is just too rough for the 19s.
 

jt20vt

Active Member
Sep 17, 2010
185
41
18s will be fine and others have had similar wheel offset with 19s. I currently run 17s on a 225/45 with et 50 as they are oem wheels fitted to my cupra st as a winter wheel setup so will be fitting them back on soon.
 

Butty

Active Member
Sep 7, 2018
156
46
Yup, I changed down to 225/40/18 on a Cupra ST and they've stayed on every since. The 19's will be refitted when it comes to selling up. I don't miss them at all as there has been no obvious downside to the change.
I swapped to some Audi S line wheels so there were no fitting issues.
 

R.Bot

Active Member
Oct 30, 2019
77
42
Thanks for the replies and points raised. Made my mind up to go ahead. Going to keep the 19s with some tread on in storage, for when time comes to move on. BBS can then be sold to recoup some cost or kept for next car which will probably be something from vwag anyway.
 

Old hoburn

Active Member
Jul 2, 2020
5
2
highly recomend the good year gen3 all seasons brilliant improvement in ride quality and noise(225 40 18)
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
I recently put 16'' winter wheels on our FR which normally wears 18'' wheels. The difference in ride and handling is slight, it's the suspension that matters.
 

Zer0

Active Member
Jun 22, 2019
522
242
Yeah it will work, we had a chat about this in the summer - https://www.seatcupra.net/forums/threads/wheel-tyre-size-change-cupra-300.459279/

I went for the Bola B14 with PS4. Absolutely love them - apart from keeping 100miles away from every kerb stone while parallel parking! The wife wont park the car now as she knows the tears will come if she kerbs them!

Nice looking wheels :)

I'm on 18" for my winter setup.

Screenshot_20201123-183100.jpg


Screenshot_20201123-183125.jpg
 
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R.Bot

Active Member
Oct 30, 2019
77
42
Update, So, I finally went ahead and downsized the cupra to 18 inch wheels. Wheels are such a hard choice to make, went for MSW 72 in the end, wanted a slightly more aggresive offset than standard and the BBS without having to use spacers. These are 8x18 ET42 with 235/40/18 with Eagle F1 Assy 5. Cold weather not the best for testing but initial impressions are good, feels much happier being on 18s rather than 19s, for our poor roads. I know a lot of people don't like the polished wheels, for maintaining, but I've never had a problem with them, just wash them regularly and no harsh cleaners etc. I'm hoping MSW quality will be good, they're something to do with OZ wheels and they wouldn't put their name to them if they weren't decent? Bonus was they accept OE centre caps, and I got a brand new set of S ones for £8. just need to get the black plastic bolt caps to fit back on now, they are a bit loose and will probably fall off. I'm not 100 percent on them yet, going down to 18s they will never look as a good as the 19 performance pack ones, but they are growing on me.
PXL_20210102_153128184[1].jpg
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
Looks ok to me? A dod of grease on the bolts will hold plastic caps on. Little lick is all you need.
 
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