Leon Cupra 265 and 280 power outputs badging

jimiC

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Mar 3, 2015
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i just went and looked to see how that worked out. i never knew the profile figure was a percentage of the width. 82.25mm vs previous 86mm. there's no reason for concern, the difference really is irrelevant :)
 
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Biker

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i just went and looked to see how that worked out. i never knew the profile figure was a percentage of the width. 82.25mm vs previous 86mm. there's no reason for concern, the difference really is irrelevant :)

Be careful Jim, observations like that won't go down well with the 19" wheel haters on this site.........
 

jimiC

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Mar 3, 2015
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Lol that's ok, im not here to disagree with opinions. must admit im not a fan. i saw someone on here using 18" Momo's as winter's and they looked really good but there's no way id throw a 280 off a buying shortlist just because it's got 19's. anyway 19's with DCC doesn't feel or ride like 19's on most other cars i've driven :hide:
 
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simonali

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Apr 3, 2014
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But the correct 18" equivalent is 235/40 R18 which would be roughly 12mm difference. That is noticeable...

When I contacted the company who did some chassis mods on my old Golf they said the first thing I should try is binning the 19" wheels as they ruin the handling on FWD hatchbacks.

:p
 

kazand

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Had 18's on an FR, no sidewall damage in 30k miles. 19's on R, 30k miles, two completely destroyed tyres due to potholes, a further two with bulging sidewalls. ( changed as soon as I noticed) tyres on FR were Pirelli P Zero's , as were ones on R. After that, changed to Goodyear Assys , no further problems.
Do I hate 19's? Not really, but still wary of the diamond cut ones on latest Cupra especially as GF occasionally parks 'by feel' :cry: If 18's had been an option I'd have gone for them as I cant see what advantage 19's give other than filling the arches a bit more.
 

jimiC

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Mar 3, 2015
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But the correct 18" equivalent is 235/40 R18 which would be roughly 12mm difference. That is noticeable...
i guess not comparing against my old 215's would've helped :)

i've only ever had one tyre deflate after catching a pothole and two suffer bulges which i didn't think too bad over 98,000 miles.
 

Seastormer

Cupra Leon VZ2 300/CBF1000
Apr 25, 2014
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Lol that's ok, im not here to disagree with opinions. must admit im not a fan. i saw someone on here using 18" Momo's as winter's and they looked really good but there's no way id throw a 280 off a buying shortlist just because it's got 19's. anyway 19's with DCC doesn't feel or ride like 19's on most other cars i've driven :hide:

The 280 (in comfort mode) on the 19's is way softer than the standard ride (no modes) than my Biza Cupra twincharger ever was and that was on 17's.
 

Seastormer

Cupra Leon VZ2 300/CBF1000
Apr 25, 2014
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But the correct 18" equivalent is 235/40 R18 which would be roughly 12mm difference. That is noticeable...

When I contacted the company who did some chassis mods on my old Golf they said the first thing I should try is binning the 19" wheels as they ruin the handling on FWD hatchbacks.

:p

So you are saying that the car that still holds the ring record for a FWD car (with 4+ seats) and is far quicker than the Golf R7 on same, can't handle, behave yourself.
 

simonali

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Apr 3, 2014
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I didn't say it had poor handling, I said it was better on smaller wheels than on bigger ones.
 
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Ocularis

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Jan 2, 2015
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Lol that's ok, im not here to disagree with opinions. must admit im not a fan. i saw someone on here using 18" Momo's as winter's and they looked really good but there's no way id throw a 280 off a buying shortlist just because it's got 19's. anyway 19's with DCC doesn't feel or ride like 19's on most other cars i've driven :hide:

That's mine - thanks for the nice comments :D The ride is really soft, partly due to the 18's and partly due to the REALLY REALLY soft winter tire (its very bouncy lol). For just cruising around, its a lovely soft ride, even in "Cupra" its almost bearable on a bumpy B road.
 

Biker

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But the correct 18" equivalent is 235/40 R18 which would be roughly 12mm difference. That is noticeable...

When I contacted the company who did some chassis mods on my old Golf they said the first thing I should try is binning the 19" wheels as they ruin the handling on FWD hatchbacks.

:p

This thread was comparing the 265 to the 280, so my original comment was relating to the standard tyres fitted to these two cars.

I agree if you were fitting 18 inch wheels to your 280 the tyre of choice would be a 235/40x18, so that is the size of winter tyres I am running.
And I would also agree that between those two tyre sizes I can detect a difference but where we will disagree is that I don't think the 18 inch wheel improves the car.
 

zondaff

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Mar 8, 2015
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Has anyone seen the new Seat configurator? It looks brilliant compared the outgoing version, much more like the Volkswagen config.
 

kazand

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The 280 (in comfort mode) on the 19's is way softer than the standard ride (no modes) than my Biza Cupra twincharger ever was and that was on 17's.
Took a friend out for a cheeky pint last night, first time he'd been in new car. He remarked how much better the ride was ( I had it in Cupra first then comfort as he is advancing in years - sorry Dave!) than previous R ( he'd been a passenger a few times) even in Cupra mode.
 

Seastormer

Cupra Leon VZ2 300/CBF1000
Apr 25, 2014
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Took a friend out for a cheeky pint last night, first time he'd been in new car. He remarked how much better the ride was ( I had it in Cupra first then comfort as he is advancing in years - sorry Dave!) than previous R ( he'd been a passenger a few times) even in Cupra mode.

My Bizas had been getting better over the years, as the worse was the PD160 I had new back in 2004, the ride was commented on by mags that even at Santa Pod it felt uncomfortable, folk at my work never liked going anywhere in it, as it did their backs in on those little bumps you get before r a bouts on dual/ motorways. The 280 as you say even in Cupra mode is softer than the last twincharger I just swapped from, and that was the best riding one of the lot.
 
Mar 13, 2011
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Do I hate 19's? Not really, but still wary of the diamond cut ones on latest Cupra especially as GF occasionally parks 'by feel' :cry: If 18's had been an option I'd have gone for them as I cant see what advantage 19's give other than filling the arches a bit more.

This sums up my views on the 18" v 19" arguments. It has been pointed out that 225/40/18 are only 7mm higher sidewall than 235/35/19 but even that is going to allow a bit more give / flex. The ride certainly won't be any worse! Not that I have a problem with the ride in comfort mode, I think it is damn good. The thing is, and I may be in the minority, but I prefer the looks of the standard finish 18" wheel to the diamond cut 19". Plus the rubber is significantly cheaper, or it was last time I checked. Two reasons why 18" seem a better idea for me, what were the advantages of the 19" again? Someone remind me :)

Big wheels on a family hatchback does come across a bit "fashion victim".
 

simonali

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Apr 3, 2014
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A lot of people have been mulling the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres as a Bridgestone replacement. These are £50 cheaper in 225/40 R18 than 235/35 R19. That's a big saving if you buy four!

If my car was bought, not leased, I'd be looking to try and swap wheels with a 265 owner I'm that convinced that 18s are the way to go.
 
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Biker

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A lot of people have been mulling the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres as a Bridgestone replacement. These are £50 cheaper in 225/40 R18 than 235/35 R19. That's a big saving if you buy four!

If my car was bought, not leased, I'd be looking to try and swap wheels with a 265 owner I'm that convinced that 18s are the way to go.

Why would you spec the 225 tyre for the 280, you said yourself (and your insurance company would probably insist) the 235 tyre is the one to go for.

But the correct 18" equivalent is 235/40 R18

I priced up some F1 Asymmetric 2's earlier as I want rid of the Bridgestones, the 235/35x19 cost £116 and the 235/40x18 cost £113. So comparing like for like there isn't much in it.
 
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dw911

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Mar 30, 2013
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This sums up my views on the 18" v 19" arguments. It has been pointed out that 225/40/18 are only 7mm higher sidewall than 235/35/19 but even that is going to allow a bit more give / flex. The ride certainly won't be any worse! Not that I have a problem with the ride in comfort mode, I think it is damn good. The thing is, and I may be in the minority, but I prefer the looks of the standard finish 18" wheel to the diamond cut 19". Plus the rubber is significantly cheaper, or it was last time I checked. Two reasons why 18" seem a better idea for me, what were the advantages of the 19" again? Someone remind me :)

Big wheels on a family hatchback does come across a bit "fashion victim".

As mentioned the difference in sidewall height between 18's and 19's is not huge
I've found the ride quality between different brands/makes of tyres is a far more noticeable factor, some brands/makes/models give a really hard ride, yet others are a much smoother forgiving ride especially on UK roads
 
Mar 13, 2011
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Why would you spec the 225 tyre for the 280, you said yourself (and your insurance company would probably insist) the 235 tyre is the one to go for.



I priced up some F1 Asymmetric 2's earlier as I want rid of the Bridgestones, the 235/35x19 cost £116 and the 235/40x18 cost £113. So comparing like for like there isn't much in it.
Not according to the brochure. The cupra 18" wheels are shod with 225/40/18 92Y, not 235 from factory. Same as my mk2 cupra was.
 
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