17 inch alloys to 18 inch
- Thread starter Adn4n
- Start date
Replacing with genuine Seat 18" wheels and tyres of the correct size for the Leon will just bolt on.
If aftermarket wheels - you need to do more checking.
The better 18" ones?
Why do you think the 18" alloys are better? Look better?
When I was searching for a 2018 FR in 2019 I tried to find one with the standard 17" wheels, but all had the optional 18s.
I prefer my car when on its winter 17s. Much easy to keep clean and better ride. Can't sense any difference in steering feel, handling or road holding.
Why do you think the 18" alloys are better? Look better?
When I was searching for a 2018 FR in 2019 I tried to find one with the standard 17" wheels, but all had the optional 18s.
I prefer my car when on its winter 17s. Much easy to keep clean and better ride. Can't sense any difference in steering feel, handling or road holding.
I agree completely, but you and me have cars with the bigger option sized wheels and have chosen to do the smart thing for winter use, I wonder if both of us would have considered "going upp a size" if we were in the position of the OP.
My wife's previous car a 2002 VW Polo SE 1.4 16V 75PS, came with 15" alloys from factory, the change in general comfort when changing to the 14" alloys in winter was quite dramatic, with her current car, a 2015 VW Polo SEL 1.2TSI 110PS, changing from its 16" alloys to 15" alloys in winter is not so obvious.
My 2011 Audi S4 came with the 19" alloy option when new, there is not much of a change changing to the 18" winter wheels - okay for both these newer cars, maybe some of the influencers are the tyres, in the case of the 2002 VW Polo, by the time I bought a set of winter wheels, both the summer and winter tyres were Michelins - Exalto in summer and Alpins in winter. For the newer VW Polo it is a change from Conti in summer to Michelin Alpins in winter, the S4 has P Zero Rosso in summer and Michelin Alpin Pilots(?) in winter.
Wife's car goes from easy clean 5 spokes in summer to not so easy to clean 7 spokes in winter, my S4 goes from terrible to clean 7 double spoke in summer to easy to clean 5 spoke in winter - sometimes you have to buy what is available!
My wife's previous car a 2002 VW Polo SE 1.4 16V 75PS, came with 15" alloys from factory, the change in general comfort when changing to the 14" alloys in winter was quite dramatic, with her current car, a 2015 VW Polo SEL 1.2TSI 110PS, changing from its 16" alloys to 15" alloys in winter is not so obvious.
My 2011 Audi S4 came with the 19" alloy option when new, there is not much of a change changing to the 18" winter wheels - okay for both these newer cars, maybe some of the influencers are the tyres, in the case of the 2002 VW Polo, by the time I bought a set of winter wheels, both the summer and winter tyres were Michelins - Exalto in summer and Alpins in winter. For the newer VW Polo it is a change from Conti in summer to Michelin Alpins in winter, the S4 has P Zero Rosso in summer and Michelin Alpin Pilots(?) in winter.
Wife's car goes from easy clean 5 spokes in summer to not so easy to clean 7 spokes in winter, my S4 goes from terrible to clean 7 double spoke in summer to easy to clean 5 spoke in winter - sometimes you have to buy what is available!
It's stating the obvious I know, but you should check your insurance company are OK with it.
Agree.
But generally - as long as you are using OEM alloys and tyre sizes ( as offered for that model of car ) - insurance are ok with it.
Some of the Cupra guys have dropped from 19 to 18.
Because the 18 is listed as a winter wheel / tyre size - the insurance seem ok with it.
As my alloys are 17 inch stock dyu reckon it would just be better to buy 17 inch custom alloys rather than 18 inch FR alloys?
If i change to 18 inch alloys thoe i will have to get tires with a smaller wall to keep height of car the same
Yes, you’ll need tyres with a lower profile than your existing tyres to ensure the overall rolling radius of an 18” alloy plus tyre is the same as your existing wheel / tyre set up.
The tyre size that Seat fits to 18” alloys for the mk3 and mk3.5 Leon is 225/40 R18.
As a couple of us have already said changing from the standard 17" (225/45-17) to 18" (225/40-18) seems to us to make the car worse.
Some opinions are it improves the look of the car but it firms up the ride even more & has little effect on handling, road holding & steering feel. Just choosing different 17" tyres can have far more effect.
18s look way better and the ride is fine, just get decent tyres on them
17 to 18 is noticeable but I think tyre choice is more important. I'd rather have good tyres on 17 thab crap tyres on 18.
Hi.
If you have any issues with insurance for a change of wheels then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.
If you have any issues with insurance for a change of wheels then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.
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