Hesitating between two wheels options: Wookdstoock (17) OR Valdivia (18)

[feruiz]

I don't fancy the Valdivia for exactly the same reason as @JuanVecino2023 above.
I would go with Woodstock, but if you get a chance to change the tyres on 235/55R17, don't hesitate, as the comfort will significantly improve merely on the fact that that air pressure to run will be 3.0 atm. instead of 3.8 atm. on the narrower 215/60R17.
and the fuel consumption pretty similar.

Hi! @aeicalifornia, thnak you very much for your valuable feedback which I have not taken into account. You're right, T6 accepts !7 rims with 215 and 235 tyres and your proposal sounds pretty good! setting 235 (which fills better the arc) and downgrade the pressure to 3.0.
Nice balanced option!!!
Thank you
BR's
Fernando

 

[feruiz]

Have you considered just having standard wheels and then purchasing a set after delivery with the tyres to your requirements?
You should be able to resell the original wheels & recoup part of the cost in going up a size.

Tyre size 235/55/18 gives a little more sidewall for more comfort and a bit more road speed per engine rev.

Beiung in Spain you have access to Tyreleader wheel supply a link below will take you there.

I avoid Diamond Cut wheels like the plague due to personal experience of them corroding and marking easily.

Llantas de aleación para Volkswagen T6 California (7HMA/7HC) 2015 California 2.0 TDI 199 cv - NeumaticosLider.es

Compre llantas de aluminio para su Volkswagen T6 California (7HMA/7HC) 2015 California 2.0 TDI 199 cv en NeumáticosLíder: disfrute de precios reducidos y de una entrega gratuita.

coche.neumaticoslider.es

Hi! B J G,

thank you very much; are you referring to 235/45/18 or 235/45/17? the 235/45/18 is an option non compatible with the T6; at least in my car papers this option doesn't appear. I was not aware about the wheel supplier and it sounds also interesnting, I'm going to make a look...

THANK YOU!

 

[CamperFam]

For us, 17" zero-cost option made the most sense.

If you're set on some nice alloys, aftermarket is loaded with Transporter-spec'd alloys and very nice ones at that. OEM are very limited, and diamond cut alloys are dreadful. It's only a matter of time till frost etc gets under the lacquer and starts causing peel.

That said, if you're still set on them, go for 17". The ride is nicer, the tyres are cheaper and the only downside is that the arches aren't as 'filled' as they would with 18". But the Cali isn't exactly a looker as a vehicle anyway

 

[feruiz]

18s.

Thank you John for your answer

 

[feruiz]

Second re diamond cut. It’s my reservation with the Woodstocks. The ones on my Abarth are a mess.

Thank you very much for your suggestion, recommendation!

 

[feruiz]

Hi @feruiz, I'm not sure what the roads in Spain are like, but if they are anything like the pot-hole ridden roads here in the UK then I would want as much rubber between the rim and the road as possible.

As @JuanVecino2023 said, go for the 235/55R17 tyres for maximum comfort, we've tried both 17" tyre sizes and it really does make a difference.

John

Hi BigJohn, the roads in Spain overall are very good without relevant pot-holes/issues. Your point is also interesting and I was not taking it into account and I'm also aligned the 235/55/17 is really a good option.
Thanks to your feedback, I've realized that there is remarkabel price difference for 235/55 vs. 215/60. 235 is aroung 40/50 Eurs lower that 215.... interesting...

Thank you!

 

[feruiz]

Just take a peek. Won’t hurt. Much

I think that I'm going to avod the temptation

 

[Californication69]

I think that I'm going to avod the temptation

I think I’m £10k in, already with all the extras.
But no more this year.
Just need to purchase Michelin Agilis at £1k, for the Tomahawk Kato’s, but should last for 8 years, as swap every 6 months for 18” conti winter contacts.

 

[feruiz]

For us, 17" zero-cost option made the most sense.

If you're set on some nice alloys, aftermarket is loaded with Transporter-spec'd alloys and very nice ones at that. OEM are very limited, and diamond cut alloys are dreadful. It's only a matter of time till frost etc gets under the lacquer and starts causing peel.

That said, if you're still set on them, go for 17". The ride is nicer, the tyres are cheaper and the only downside is that the arches aren't as 'filled' as they would with 18". But the Cali isn't exactly a looker as a vehicle anyway

Hi CamperFam,

Thank you very much for your feedback regarding the diamond cut alloys and also for your strong recommendation.

Happy to meet you via social-media, nice videos a great famility experiences. It is the best investment to enjoy with family ... in our case, we're a family of 5 ....

 

[CamperFam]

Hi CamperFam,

Thank you very much for your feedback regarding the diamond cut alloys and also for your strong recommendation.

Happy to meet you via social-media, nice videos a great famility experiences. It is the best investment to enjoy with family ... in our case, we're a family of 5 ....

You'll love it i'm sure! It's a challenge at times - but always worth it!

 

[feruiz]

I think I’m £10k in, already with all the extras.
But no more this year.
Just need to purchase Michelin Agilis at £1k, for the Tomahawk Kato’s, but should last for 8 years, as swap every 6 months for 18” conti winter contacts.

OMG!!!!, definetly, I'm going to skip it.... despite of it, I recognize that it's very nice and very attractive....

 

[feruiz]

OMG!!!!, definetly, I'm going to skip it.... despite of it, I recognize that it's very nice and very attractive....

BTW, here in Spain, you can find Agilis Crossclimate (215/60/R17) around 200 Eurs which it coulb be redeced taking advantage of some of the Michelin promotions (around 20 Eurs reduction per wheel)...

 

[Wannabecamperman]

The first photo looks better to my eyes. Though both work well.

 

[colintfcolintf]

Hi Colin, thank you!... yes Valdivia rims forms part of the T6.1 catalog among others. It's true that, at least in my country (Spain), this model is not very common to sess as others. I had the opportunity to ride both options and I recognize that 17 (215/60) are a bit more agile that 18 (255/45).

I notice that for 18 mounted on my T6 (150CV), the car requieres more inertia on the start/departure as well as when you demand to speed up, it requires more time along the transition. Based on my feelings and perceptions, 17 are quicker on the speed up transions than 18. Also I notice some addional fuel consumptions on short distances/city (I'm stimating around +1-1,5 liter additional/100KM). For long distances/highways, the incremental consumption is minimal, based on my tests: +0.1/0.2liters/100KM)

In any case, the incremental consumption I think that it was expected and it is not going to be the main criteria to choose the wheelset

Thank you Colin

Something I don’t understand, is why running 18’s with the tyre size that VW recommend would make it slower from standstill getting up to speed or would use more fuel ? Can anyone explain please?

 

[CamperFam]

Something I don’t understand, is why running 18’s with the tyre size that VW recommend would make it slower from standstill getting up to speed or would use more fuel ? Can anyone explain please?

Generally speaking, the larger the wheel/alloy, the more weight and by virtue rotational inertia. That then takes a greater force to stop (ie, breakin). It also takes more power to get them to that speed too. But we're talking small amounts in the grand scheme of things.

Also depends how the alloy was made (for example, forged).

If it was a performance car, then it would be all about the micro gains like these, but it's a van at the end of the day.

 

[Californication69]

I didn’t buy a 3 tonne campervan with 4Motion to worry about mpg. Tbh.

 

[Grigio Van Grigio]

I’m really not a fan of those Valdivia‘s. And I’d avoid diamond cut wheels for the reasons stated by others here. Having said that, I got Woodstocks fitted to my van but only on the basis that I’d get more money for them when replacing with aftermarket wheels than the other free options. (That’s been scuppered for now due to having to cancel an order for some 18” wheels when the 10-14 day quoted delivery time was three months and counting).

It’s a very personal thing but I’d personally go for the Woodstocks then sell them and buy some decent aftermarket wheels with the tyres you want. Or, if you could afford them and have the option, go for Springfield’s.

 

[Grigio Van Grigio]

I didn’t buy a 3 tonne campervan with 4Motion to worry about mpg. Tbh.

I’ve done 10,000 miles since July in mine so it’s something I’m constantly thinking about. You’ll find me at 65mph on the M6 most weekends!

 

[aeicalifornia]

Hi BigJohn, the roads in Spain overall are very good without relevant pot-holes/issues. Your point is also interesting and I was not taking it into account and I'm also aligned the 235/55/17 is really a good option.
Thanks to your feedback, I've realized that there is remarkabel price difference for 235/55 vs. 215/60. 235 is aroung 40/50 Eurs lower that 215.... interesting...

Thank you!

the price diff is due to the fact that 235/55 is a more common regular car tyre size, and 215/60 is a commercial van specific tyre, hence the higher recommended pressure 3.8 atm. and uncomfortable riding.

 

[aeicalifornia]

the price diff is due to the fact that 235/55 is a more common regular car tyre size, and 215/60 is a commercial van specific tyre, hence the higher recommended pressure 3.8 atm. and uncomfortable riding.

for Cali you should use 235/55R17 with minimum 103 load rating and XL spec - extra load.
the speed index should be kept as recommended in H if possible, as higher ratings will come with stiffer side walls you won't need for speed and will sacrifice comfort.

 

[feruiz]

The first photo looks better to my eyes. Though both work well.

Hi @Wannabecamperman,
thank you very much for your perspective and opinion; btw, which size/wheels have you setup on your van?
BR's
Fernando

 

[feruiz]

I didn’t buy a 3 tonne campervan with 4Motion to worry about mpg. Tbh.

Hi @Californication69, thank you very much for your comment. I'm also agree with it. In my particular case is more anaesthetic decision (as first criteria) but I recognize that I'm also assessing the comsuption and driving feelings based on the experience of our collegues into this forum.

Thank you! Fernando

 

[feruiz]

I’m really not a fan of those Valdivia‘s. And I’d avoid diamond cut wheels for the reasons stated by others here. Having said that, I got Woodstocks fitted to my van but only on the basis that I’d get more money for them when replacing with aftermarket wheels than the other free options. (That’s been scuppered for now due to having to cancel an order for some 18” wheels when the 10-14 day quoted delivery time was three months and counting).

It’s a very personal thing but I’d personally go for the Woodstocks then sell them and buy some decent aftermarket wheels with the tyres you want. Or, if you could afford them and have the option, go for Springfield’s.

Hi @Grigio Van Grigio, thank you very much for your feedback; unfortunately, in Spain, Woodstock is not free when you're configuring you T6.1, it increases the costs. In my personal case, I've the option to install Woodstock or Valdivia from a mechanical worshop reselling new wheels provide by VW... Springfields are very nice! but unfortunatelly these are the 2 available options as of today... thank you!

 

[feruiz]

for Cali you should use 235/55R17 with minimum 103 load rating and XL spec - extra load.
the speed index should be kept as recommended in H if possible, as higher ratings will come with stiffer side walls you won't need for speed and will sacrifice comfort.

Hi @aeicalifornia!, thank you very much, it´s very valuable feedback that I will consider it, thank you!
BTW, which wheels carries your van? I've curiosity ...

 

[aeicalifornia]

Hi @aeicalifornia!, thank you very much, it´s very valuable feedback that I will consider it, thank you!
BTW, which wheels carries your van? I've curiosity ...

i have Aracaju black/silver as it comes standard to Edition Pack, with 235/55R17 103H XL Bridgestone.
but I would love Posada wheels, I really think they look classic on Transporter.