Anyone gone from 16"RFTs to 18"Non-RFTs?

L

lacroupade

Veteran
Sorry to start yet another tyre-related thread, but I didn't really realise what I was asking previously......fundamental question is, if I go from 16s to 18s and RFTs to Non-RFTs, would I end up with pretty much the same ride characterisics as a result of the reduced sidewall profile, or will there still be a bit of ride improvement left?

Since I use my car pretty much daily, or for long weekend commutes, the ride is quite important to me (no not the one waiting at home before you ask!) and I'd like it to be a wee bit softer if possible - lord knows its not great on 16s so how anyone on 18s and RFTs manages to keep their spine intact is a wonder to me! If such a change in wheel size won't give me that little bit of improvement (and I'm thinking that it won't, even as I'm asking), I'm sorely tempted to keep my sad little 16-inchers and just bang a set of Primacys on instead..

Your experiences would be of great help...

Cheers

paul
 
I changed the original 16" Bridgestone RE050A RFT for 18" GoodYear Eagle-F1 Asymmetric (non-RFT) on my 2.5i roadster.
As far as i can tell, the ride is maybe a very tiny bit softer with the 18" than the 16". It's not a "day and night" change, but it's definitely there.
 
I was at my local stealer today discussing RFT - the service manager recons the ride is SOFTER with RFT. I was very tempted to quote the forum but decided it'll be better to smile politely.....

Interestingly, they had no problem changing it to non RFT if I wanted to.
 
We swapped from 16" RE050 runflats to 18" ellipsoids with Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta's. The ride was noticably softer and noise was greatly reduced. Highly recomended :thumbsup:
 
I went from 16 RFs to 17 non-RFs. First point is that the 16s just looked out of place, whereas the 17s look much bigger and badder. The next day, took SWMBO for a ride without even mentioning the change (she who knows not much about such things). In the first minute she noticed the improved ride. That was all I needed to confirm my decision. I shouldn't think the 18s would be that much firmer.
 
Thanks guys - nothing like a bit of actual product knowledge and experience! Looks like a must - just need to identify some suitable wheels now...I'd love 108s but I can't bring myself to pay for something with such a diabolical warranty record.....even a second hand set is going to need a hefty professional refurb job so I think third party has to be the way to go.....

thanks again for all the input, really helped to make up my mind. :thumbsup:
paul
 
Style 203 are nice and OEM. Similar style to the 108s in fact I prefer then but I would say that :D
 
I changed from 16" RFTs to 18" non-RFT and haven't looked back.
I no longer have to fight the steering wheel against tramlines going down country lanes. The ride seems to be less crashy too but I don't think it is massively different, it's taken the edge off the bumps though!
The lack of tramlining is the most noticeable difference. Which IMHO was worth every penny for the upgrade. That and the fact that I now have much nicer rims 8)
 
lacroupade said:
gannet said:
Style 203 are nice and OEM. Similar style to the 108s in fact I prefer then but I would say that :D
Click to expand...

and now you're gonna post me a pic to show me why... :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
just a few snaps of my car then:
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Pic1.jpg

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:thumbsup:
 
gers said:
i gather you dont garage your car at night :wink: ,nice pics gannet, :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

whatever gives you that impression :oops:

truth is even if the garage was clear (and it is alot clearer now than when that photo was taken) I could not get the car in or out of it due to the angle of the drive to the garage :headbang: and even then getting out of the car with the roof up would be a challenge...
 
If you asked my car what a garage was it would just sit there and look at you blankly.

Thats what it did to me anyway..... really.... I dunno.... :camera:
 
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