If I buy a Skoda Yeti, can I specify smaller wheels to improve the ride quality?

I am proposing to buy a new Skoda Yeti 1.2TSI SE to replace my 2003 Honda Jazz 1.4 SE Sport (a brilliant, reliable car) to get a more comfort for longer journeys. The suspension on the Jazz has always been hard (I live in Hackney where every road is infested with speed humps/bumps) and there is a lot of road/wind noise at speed on motorways. I had a test drive in a new Yeti and was slightly disappointed by the firmness of the ride and wondered whether a Yeti was the right car? It was a 1.2 SE on 17-inch wheels with 50 profile tyres. I see on the internet that it is possible to persuade Skoda to fit 16-inch wheels with 60 profile tyres, although it is not an advertised option. Would the 16-inch wheels make a significant difference to the ride?

Asked on 26 October 2013 by DF, London E8

Answered by Honest John

A refreshed range of Yetis was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show. They now come as 2WD ‘city’ versions or 4WD country versions and the most powerful (and expensive) is a 170PS 2.0TDI with DSG and 4WD. Happily, the best Yeti of all, the 1.8TSI 160 4WD has been re-instated to the range. The 17-inch wheels with 50 profile tyres are not too bad, but the 16-inch wheels with 60 profile tyres will help over road humps and potholes, as long as the tyres are not stiff sidewall low rolling resistance tyres, or reinforced van tyres.

Tags: ride comfort wheels and tyres wheel sizes specification

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Skoda Yeti (2009 - 2017)

Unique styling. Solid build. Excellent petrol engines including frugal yet peppy 1.2 TSI. Good space in the back. Frugal 1.6 TDI Greenline can return 60mpg+.