Sorry, can't find the "edit" .... Spell check not working ,,,lol

 

19s all the way. Perfect balance of handling and comfort. Plus not so much wheel vs tire that you risk wrecking the wheel on curbs

 

We have discussed this before. The majority vote was that the 18 was the overall winner.

19 is a small amount better on road, but I would not want to take them off road ever.

There are a lot more choices available in the 18 tires.

Price and compare what is available in the 18 selection vs the 19 selection. That alone makes the 18 the winner since there are a lot more selection in 18 tires and they cost a lot less.

Just my opinion but I would rather have the tire that I want in 18 than to have my second choice in 19.

TireRack in 18, We found (71) tires for...

TireRack in 19, We found (17) tires for...

 

Well covered!
I found 18" better all round, maybe not quite as sharp on bitumen! I went from std. 21" on V8 TDI to 18" and found them generally better with good quality tyres

 

The tires you gain going with 18s over 19s is negligible. I just compared them and the only noteworthy tire you get, in tire rack anyhow, over the 19 is the
CONTINENTAL
EXTREMECONTACT DWS 06. All of the other tires are ****kickers and wouldn't ever be on my radar anyhow.

The fact is, ANY stock touareg tire size is very specific and difficult to shop for. You have to alter width or height in order to get the wild tire sizes to fit.

With that said, it depends on your idea of off roading. I take my 19s to the boat launch, down dirt roads, down rutted up service roads, through blizzards etc. Would I take 19s through mud holes, rock climbing etc? No.

 

Appreciate the feedback , This all helps .

Would one have any advantage over the other when towing ?

 

As long as the Touareg tire has an XL load rating, there should be no difference or advantage between 18,19,21 etc. No one who tows seriously should be driving faster than speed limit anyway, nice and slow and steady will get you there safely.
I tow a heavy 6000 pound trailer and have 18's. As long as my rear pressures are 5psi over normal (44 psi) when towing, all is good. My trailer also has dual axles and ST with load range E (80psi) tires so the stiff trailer tire sidewall helps with stability.

 

In theory the larger the wheel, the more stable and controlled the wheel will be as opposed to a small wheel with a large squishy sidewall.

 

Lots of good information ... thank you

 

I run 21" with 285 summer tires (Q7 take off wheels) and spacers to bring tires flush with fender. LOOKS mean. I lowest suspension setting, REALLY nice. The mass of the large wheels is noticeably sport setting. Otherwise (its a 6000lb truck) not that bad
My winters are 18" and narrow (snow tires), for obvious reasons. With the tall sidewall (tons of rubber/flex) the steering/handling is similarly noticeably 'soft'.
But either way, both are suitable for a truck (but would obviously NOT been tolerable for a sports car).

 

Not go be nitpicky but only 4700lb not 6,000

 

With winter looming in Minnesota, I needed to find some winter tires and wheels for my new-to-me 2014 TDI baby. Stumbled across a take-off set from another 2014 being sold out of a back shed at a VW dealer. The guy said the Blizzak tires only had one winter on them and they were mounted on some sort of aftermarket wheels. When I got there I saw the 255/55 tires looked like new AND the wheels were German made 18 x 8 Alutecs! I snapped them right up! Standing the summer and winter setups side by side, the size looks identical in total. Obviously the winter tires will handle much much differently than the summer tires, so not sure how much value I am adding to this discussion but I wanted to crow about my new Alutecs!

 

Crowing accepted!

 

Our 2008 V10 TDI came with a worn set of 265/60-18 BFG All-Terrain KO2 tires on factory 18" wheels as well as a set of 19x9" take-off's from a Porsche Cayenne, We mounted those with a set of 255/55-19 Continental Terrain Contact AT's. They are one of the few, if any All-Terrain tires that meet the weight and speed requirements of the truck. They still clear the intercoolers, which can be a problem with tires larger than 31". They are 1" taller at 30" than the 29" 255/55-18's that we are running on my son's 2004 V8 Toureg and wife's 2013 Volvo XC60. They corner way better on our steep mountain roads than the BFG's. They aren't nearly as aggressive off-road. I will be mounting some more mud-friendly tires on the 18's this winter.

 

I ran 20's (stock) in the summer - with Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06.
I ran 18's (a set of 18" stock rims I found locally) in the winter - with Nokian Hakkapelitta R2 SUV.

20's (275 width) is just too wide for a winter tire.

Also, I towed like crazy with the car - summer and winter. It met it's end when I smoked a deer while towing my boat.

 

2014 TDI

I'm looking for everyone input on performance , ride and any significant changes if I go from 19's to 18" wheels ?

Than

2014 TDI

I'm looking for everyone input on performance , ride and any significant changes if I go from 19's to 18" wheels ?

Thanks,

Rich

I ran 20's (stock) in the summer - with Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06.
I ran 18's (a set of 18" stock rims I found locally) in the winter - with Nokian Hakkapelitta R2 SUV.

20's (275 width) is just too wide for a winter tire.

Also, I towed like crazy with the car - summer and winter. It met it's end when I smoked a deer while towing my boat.

2014 TDI

I'm looking for everyone input on performance , ride and any significant changes if I go from 19's to 18" wheels ?

Thanks,

Rich

I use 19 inch factory wheels with pirelli scorpion verde plus for the summer and Michelin X-ice on 18 inch tire rack wheels for winter. The winter wheels/tires are about 20 pounds lighter. I get better gas mileage with the snow tires than the heavier summer setup, I think the physics of rotating mass has a lot to do with it. I would switch to 18 except I will never save the 600 dollars so 19 it is. 2013 TDI.

2014 TDI

I'm looking for everyone input on performance , ride and any significant changes if I go from 19's to 18" wheels ?

Thanks,

Rich

 

I can't speak for the US. but in OZ. the available choice of tyres for 19" rims is very limited, and generally more expensive. so the 18's is a better choice.

I actually have 20" rims for on-road ( commuting to work and back ) and a set of 18" for off-road use.

 

2014 TDI

I'm looking for everyone input on performance , ride and any significant changes if I go from 19's to 18" wheels ?

Thanks,

Rich

 

Purchased in 2014 TDI Touareg, live in MN. Have 19" rims and Perrelli from late spring thru October. Change to my 18" rims and Nokian Hakkapeliitta snow tires every yr. Both excellent tires.

 

Hi all, I live in west OZ and have owned a 2015 TDI since new which has been a great car. ive just retired and bought a 2.5 tonne boat /trailer which I will occasionally need to beach launch down in Albany ( aka paradise), i Have changed the 20 inch rims with low profile continental tyres to 18 inch rims with pirrelli scorpion a/t plus. Can’t feel the difference on road but on sand and boat launching they are really good . Extra side wall means i can drop pressure down around the 18 psi mark which gives me the tread spread to do the job really easily. With the air bag suspension and new wheels and A/T tyres I can hit the beach and the bush real easy...... love my touareg!

 

I had to go look up Albany. I'm so jealous it has ruined the rest of my day, especially with winter fast approaching in Minnesota. Cheers mate.