235/40/18 Tyres

[sweetfr]

Noticed this size tyre on a new Scirocco which has 8 inch width rims. This got me thinking. Would these be better on the Leon (235/40/18 rather than the normal 225/40/18)?

Advantages

1 Better grip
2 Looks better (tyres look wider)
3 Will protect the rim of the alloy (it is easy to curb the alloy as some on here have found out)

Disadvantages

1 This size tyre costs about £10 - £15 more
2 Speedo will be very slightly out
3 Possible more fuel consumption (due to more drag on the road)

Does anyone have any thoughts on this or is running this size tyre.

PS Like the look of the new Scirocco. It looks really low and wide compared to the Leon. It is actually about 2 inches lower and wider than the Leon. However I think the Leon has the nicer lines.

 

[NickP]

Why would the speedo be out? The only difference is the width of the tyre -

My BBS wheels are 8J but i have the original 225/40/18 tyres on, so they look a little stretched - will be replacing them with 235/40/18 when needed

 

[techie]

Why would the speedo be out? The only difference is the width of the tyre -

The profile is also different.

225/40 = 90mm

235/40 = 94mm

 

[techie]

Oh and....

New 265bhp version out next year also, looking forward to that.

 

[NickP]

The profile is also different.

225/40 = 90mm

235/40 = 94mm

You learn something new everyday

Do you think I'd be better sticking to my current set up or changing to the 235's?

 

[warren_cox]

Oh and....

New 265bhp version out next year also, looking forward to that.

that is one roooooood car. Finally they've made it a car worth having. Must stop lookng at new cars it, its bad for bank balance

 

[sweetfr]

You learn something new everyday

Do you think I'd be better sticking to my current set up or changing to the 235's?

I think my tyres 225's look a bit stretched on my 8 inch rims as well. This was the reason for my original post plus I have touched the kerb with the front passenger alloy. So easily done!

 

[erichuyn]

You learn something new everyday

Do you think I'd be better sticking to my current set up or changing to the 235's?

I think there's gonna be problems with tyres of the 235 kind.

I have 18" BBS CO with ET44, the car is lowered by about 35-40mm. At the moment I have the Continental SportContact 3 on the front.
But because of the, in my opinion brilliant thick wheelprotector, every time I hit a speedbump at speed the front wheels hit the inside of the wheelarch.
Now it is only when I hit those stupid things to fast and only briefly but with a wider tyre I think it's gonna be worst.