Kombi Highline wheel selection/advice

[Marc Eddon]

On the VW website trying to configure my new motor and would like some advice on the wheel selection please.

I'm not a fan of the 17" options nor do I like the 18" options so I'm going to stay standard and go down the aftermarket route. One of the options is a 16" chassis with 16" brake system. My intention would be to get 18" aftermarket wheels. Will these go on the 16" option? Another option is 17" chassis with 17" brake system but you can only select this if you select the standard 17" wheels. What is the difference between the two options?

Another one, spare wheel option what do most do? Steel, alloy or tyre mobility kit

Cheers in advance

 

[DaveBos]

18" wheels will fit on both options. The 17" option has bigger brakes, which might mean that some aftermarket wheels will not fit due to the larger brakes fouling the wheel.

I think most go with a steel spare which sits underneath the van and is prone to theft in some parts of the country, especially Legoland.

 

[Marc Eddon]

18" wheels will fit on both options. The 17" option has bigger brakes, which might mean that some aftermarket wheels will not fit due to the larger brakes fouling the wheel.

I think most go with a steel spare which sits underneath the van and is prone to theft in some parts of the country, especially Legoland.

@DaveBos cheers, I'm guessing the 16" brakes will be more than enough to cope with the weight of a fully laden camper? I would prefer the 17" brake option but then I'll have to pay £1000+ for wheels I don't like or want.

Steel was my initial thought, didn't even think of it being stolen haha but if 4x camper spares make a set then there's people out there who'll make money from it.

 

[Pauly]

Worth a try speaking to dealer and tell them you want bigger brakes but dont want to pay for wheels, most dealers have a few sets of alloys kicking around they use on demos etc, they may be prepared to remove the 17" alloys for steel/cheaper alternatives and them keep the 17s you never know

 

[VanBlanc]

18" wheels will fit on both options. The 17" option has bigger brakes, which might mean that some aftermarket wheels will not fit due to the larger brakes fouling the wheel.

Where have you seen this?

Certainly on T5.1 a 180 or T32 came with bigger brakes hence the 17" standard rims whereas 17" was an option on everything else.

Looking at the options for T6 T32 and 204 come with 17" so presumably have bigger brakes to cope with all that power and weight but 17" are an option on everything else that comes as std on 16" so why would they have bigger brakes.

Not that it makes much difference as if the brakes are good for 16" wheels why would you need bigger brakes just because you have bigger wheels?

Mid you I have pondered a set of drilled disks and 6 pot callipers

 

[DaveBos]

T32 comes with bigger brakes I thought, with 17" as standard.

 

[StudleyGlass]

T32 comes with bigger brakes I thought, with 17" as standard.

Thats a new one on me ?

 

[RattyMcClelland]

Yep t32 has 340mm front brakes discs and two pot calipers to reduce brake fade from the potential heavier carrying weight.

 

[Marc Eddon]

Worth a try speaking to dealer and tell them you want bigger brakes but dont want to pay for wheels, most dealers have a few sets of alloys kicking around they use on demos etc, they may be prepared to remove the 17" alloys for steel/cheaper alternatives and them keep the 17s you never know

@Pauly you are right however given my circumstances I won't be able to do that. I'm in the military currently serving in Cyprus and we deal with VW direct through a rep out here. Unfortunately we then can't negotiate with dealers.

 

[J6ype]

Thought it was just the 180's had the bigger breaks