18” to 19” - car feels slower

[scanesare]

Was about to pull the trigger on a set of 19" V1s weighing 24lbs to use as my main, summer set but this thread has got me really worried. 24lbs isn't the heaviest wheel out there, for reference Leon Cupra Sub 8 19" wheels weigh in at 26lbs after all. However the stock 18" Belvedere wheel of the Clubsport is a forged ultra lightweight wheel weighing in at a mere 16.8lbs, so I'm going up 40% in weight and I imagine it will be quite noticeable?

[monsta]

I went from 18" Austins to 19" MOMO Revenge alloys and definitely less economical.  Speed wise, can't say I've noticed much but perhaps now you mention it...

[I wanted a GTi]

I went from standard 18" Nogaro to 19" Santiago and the only difference I felt was lack of grip on the Pirelli tyres.

[Talk-torque]

According to this tyre size calculator, by fitting 235s you are gearing up by 1.6%. If you had fitted 225/35/19s, you would only have geared up by 0.5%.

No idea how this contributes to your feelings with the car, but it will make a difference. As said, the increased rotating mass is the main factor.

[Guzzle]

A 235/35 19 tyre has about 7mm greater diameter than a 225/35 19 (3.5mm deeper tyre wall x 2 sides).

[mkviken]

I fitted 235/45/17 on in place of 235/35/19 and the dieter etc is near as dammit the same. 0.5% speedo error.

Car feels very slightly slower on the 17s as they’re very heavy compared to the Pretoria’s though it’s probably in my head.

[mcmaddy]

I went from standard 18" Nogaro to 19" Santiago and the only difference I felt was lack of grip on the Pirelli tyres.

Both use the same 225 width tyre do you shouldn't have noticed anything really.

[2007GTI]

Good article in Top Gear magazine this month (I didn't buy it), saying that making us hanker after bigger wheels is a massive con by marketing executives.  If you look at high performance cars from 20 years ago, I think he used a BMW as an example, the ride was way better back than, as it had smaller wheels and bigger tyres than the current models. Another example was a F1 car, small wheels, chunky tyres.  I tend to agree, as the ride in Mk5 on 17s was way better than the ride in my Mk7 on 18s. You live and learn.

[itavaltalainen]

I actually prefer my GTD on 205 55 16 winters over the 225 40 18 summers, at least in terms of ride comfort.
Makes a massive difference on the pothole ridden Oxforshire roads.

Also feels quicker on the 16" wheels, probably because they have a lot less intertia (the 16" are lighter).

[Eccie]

I actually prefer my GTD on 205 55 16 winters over the 225 40 18 summers, at least in terms of ride comfort.
Makes a massive difference on the pothole ridden Oxforshire roads.

Also feels quicker on the 16" wheels, probably because they have a lot less intertia (the 16" are lighter).

I run 17” wheels in the winter shod with winter tyres which are a softer compound, and like you the ride is definitely more comfortable than my 18’s