Should I?

[Darth IQ73]

Hello all,

I'm typing this like I know you all, the truth is, I only know 1 person on this forum, and thats David (Tarquin) who very kindly did a few (faultless) jobs on my IQ1 a while back. Another project will hopefully be in the pipeline, when he can fit me in. . .

Anyway, I FEEL as if I know a load of you, from all your posts and updates. It makes me laugh how so many of you bicker and argue between yourselves!!!

Please keep it up!!

I'm planning on taking myself, and hopefully a very dear friend of mine, along with me on a roadtrip to Scandinavia. The thing is, since I have upgraded my wheels from the 15" originals to some 17" Momo Quantum's, I have noticed a very small drop in MPG, in that I am not getting my high 50-60 MPG's now. (Oh, the 15" wheels are for sale if anyone fancies a set, locking wheel nuts and tyres all included).

I'm a bit dense with things like this, but why would getting larger wheels drop my MPG ?

I took my IQ1 on a European roadtrip a few years back and she handled it spectacularly, those Alpine passes are quite scary!

I can post some pictures of my little jaunt if anyone would like to see them, and Darth (my IQ).

So, my question to you all is, should I.

Should I still go, even though my MPG is going to be heavily reduced, even though I'll probably have to put a load more petrol into my car, and I've heard that petrol is expensive in Norway, Denmark etc. . .

What do you think. . . . .

[FROSTYBALLS]

Depending what tyre/wheel combination you now have, you may have altered the gearing and also the fuel economy - which is presumably why you're getting different mpg. Also you will get poorer mpg in the winter months than the rest of the year due to colder temperatures.

[craggle]

Wider tyres will have more rolling resistance but will offer greater levels of grip as more of the tyre is in contact with the ground.

The iQ does use pretty skinny tyres as standard and they use "Eco" tyres as standard to further reduce the rolling resistance. It's a trade off of economy and wide, good looking grippy tyres.

Craig.

[ianlinux]

Hello all,

Anyway, I FEEL as if I know a load of you, from all your posts and updates. It makes me laugh how so many of you bicker and argue between yourselves!!!

Shut it

Anyway, welcome thee to the forum and......Nice Wheelz-ah

I love Scandinavia (Been to Denmark, Norway (favourite), Finland and Iceland) and wouldn't hesitate driving there. But they are very considerate drivers and the law there expects you to be...so observe everything literally because you will get booked if you don't.

EDIT - When I was over there, fuel wasn't that much more (apart from Norway (2011)). In Iceland (2012) it was less at times if I remember. Denmark (2012) (and Sweden where I haven't been) = pretty much the same. Finland - didn't drive so didn't bother researching but remember it being lower than UK. Try here: http://www.drive-alive.co.uk/fuel_prices_europe.html

EDIT2 - Found another site for November 2013 diesel prices. Norway most expensive followed by UK. Other Scandinavian countries lower.: http://www.mytravelcost.com/petrol-prices/11/12/

EDIT3 - This site (http://www.fuel-prices-europe.info/index.php?sort=4) for 95 petrol RON prices has Denmark slightly higher, whilst Sweden and Finland are marginally the same to UK at today's prices. Iceland marginally lower. Consistently, Norway comes out on top as the most expensive: so by cunning route planning, perhaps you can do your trip quite reasonably - even by going into Norway.

EDIT4 - If you're going into Scandinavia in winter, there will be rules on winter tyres - some mandatory: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/snow-chains-winter-tyres.html

[aaronfife]

If I'm brutally honest, going from 15s to 17s makes not much of a difference or shouldn't do depending what tyre choice you made. I went from 175/65/15 to 205/45/17. I toke a while to calculate figures so my mph and spec should be the same apart from obviously larger wheels and wider tyres.

I haven't noticed much drop in mpg and the IQ is one of the most fuel efficient cars in its class so therefore I wouldn't worry about such a minor thing. If you are worried just stick the 15s back on :)

[s44gtw]

Enjoy your trip.

Unless you are carrying 2 spare tyres to suit the vehicle,

i would consider if you go with the 15" or 17" rims on.

Check and see if the tyres for the 17" rims are readily and easily available every place you are going.

Maybe the case is, that the tyres for the 17" wheels are more readily available. than the standard tyres for the 15" rims.

That is just incase you needed to get a replacement tyre at some point in the trip.

You could just carry a 15" Spare, wheel/tyre and use that in an emergency,

driving to allow for having that tyre on.

http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator

?? What size tyres are now fitted to the car?

How many miles does your car go fully loaded,(indicated by the car miles)

if you use 32 litres of 95 ron, using the 17" rims?

george

[tarquin]

Mmn Tyres

This sounds bizaar but the original tyres i had put on my 18's x 215 were 35's stretched on the rims, so visually appeared chamfered and of course offered no protection as a first line of defence to hitting the kerb. Consequently scuffed the wheel a few times. They ran on flat and the front right split to the point you could fit your hand inside. Anyway have a new set now and they are a world of difference. Even with the same pressure 33 when warmed up, the ride is so much better. And mpg increased and thye protrude the rim a bit. Wish i got offered these when i initially bought the wheels. Could be i suppose the fronts had worn down to just inside the legal limit and i just forgot what they were like new. Oh well.

David

[MattIQ73]

Thanks for all your updates.

Ianhilux - some tasty words of warning there, cheers.

Yeah, I've heard they are hot in Norway on speeding over the set limit. Which may all add to my lighter use of the GO pedal and soak up the scenery more.

Sounds like petrol is a tad more, but it's not as if I go here every week. It's a holiday after all, and these things you need to cater for.

I was looking at camping there a few nights too, as that seems actively encouraged.

TBH my car is never fully loaded, and the extra I'll have in it, a cool box, spare petrol can (filled to the brim!) clothes and/or my friend with me (she's not that heavy !!!!) then the weight will be negligible.

I think I'll decline from taking a spare wheel, just try to rely on the gunk in a can puncture fixers.

Can't wait to go now - looking forward to the tunnels, the fjords, scenery and all that. Should be very memorable!!

Thanks again for your updates and assists.

Matt

[johnan]

Just a couple of notes, Matt, if you don't take a spare wheel and tyre I would take more than one Holts type of sealant/inflater in case there is a problem with the MrT one.

And also, it is some years since I did a grand tour of Europe by car, but the ferry companies were very keen in those days that you did not carry petrol in containers in your car onto the ferry.

Rules may have changed but you may have to take an empty "can" and fill up when you land at the other side.

Look out for the deer!

John