On my last 2 Freelanders I have had 17" rims and had no worries about damaging the tyres or rims on potholes, kerb climbing etc.

Now that I am switching to an evoque with 20s - am concerned that if my wife does her usual and drives over kerbs and down some of the badly potholed roads down our way, the rims and/or tyres will be damaged. There seems to be very little 'tyre' on a 20" rim!

Is my concern legitimate? (Coming) 2016 RR Evoque td4 180 HSE Dynamc
(Going) 2013 TD4 GS Auto - Santorini Black with black leather. Cold Climate, UK Lighting & Armrest Packs. Privacy Glass. LR Rubber Mats. Full size spare.
60 000 miles averaging 35mpg

(Gone) 2010 TD4 Manual GS - Stornoway Grey. Sold at 3yrs old & 64k miles. Final average consumption 39.2mpg.

Unfortunately, yep! Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

You should try running 22's with an aspect ratio of 35! Your pish will boil whenever you give your car keys to someone else


Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

Sadly, yes.
That's why I am changing the 20"s on my DS to 18"s

Much better. 

Guys sometimes there is little point of worrying over something that has not happened! If your really a worrier then get a set of steel wheels and a good quality hammer  MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

I wanted 17" but my car only came with 18" Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

flylr wrote:

Now that I am switching to an evoque with 20s - am concerned that if my wife does her usual and drives over kerbs and down some of the badly potholed roads down our way, the rims and/or tyres will be damaged.

Add to that the terribly hard ride. I don't see the point personally.

Only wheel I have damaged in 5 years of 17" use was by little old me, and I dont mother cuddle the car and 12,000 miles a year

Chelsea tractor wheels are for Chelsea so anyone that really needs traction would be best getting 17 " wheels and leaving the "girl-lie" wheels back at the ranch (in my biased opinion)

Oh one last thought always worth telling an Insurance company about anything coming off supplied factory /dealer spec. We have Winter tyres on the other car from Euroland and I made sure it was noted as I went down a rim size for the comfort factor.  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Last edited by Yorky Bob on 6th Mar 2016 9:58 am. Edited 1 time in total

Plus the fact that they turn a very capable off-roader into an incapable one, and that the suspension is tuned for 16" and 17" which were the originally-available options (18" and 19" came later for the fashionistas). Large rims don't suit the FL2 on any level!

Theres quite a few silver kerbs around if you look, thats how some folk stop, friction between it and the wheel.

pab wrote:

Plus the fact that they turn a very capable off-roader into an incapable one, and that the suspension is tuned for 16" and 17" which were the originally-available options (18" and 19" came later for the fashionistas). Large rims don't suit the FL2 on any level!

Girlie wheels for girlie cars! My old Shoguns managed perfectly well on 15" wheels and the tyre prices were great. It's just fashion - emperor's new clothes style. Nothing to do with a capable car, it's all bling! Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne

My DS with black 18"s
20"s did look a little better, but ruined the ride.

Click image to enlarge

I understand that steel wheels are both lighter and stronger than alloys so why do we bother with alloys? When the car is moving you can't see them anyway.  3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE