[roscoetuff]

I'm told the standard wheel size is 19" on the Pro-S. I "think" the Gradient gives you 20-inch. Not sure I'm aware of what the PROS and CONS are. Looks are one thing. Functional benefits? Appreciate any insight here. Thanks!

 

[Geo]

Yes, Gradient has 20" wheels and a few other touches, like silver trim on the rear pillar. The only functional benefit I can determine is aesthetic - the wheels look better. But they're also heavier, which means the lighter 19" wheels give you 10 miles more range.

 

[roscoetuff]

That's very helpful. "Range is good!" Thanks!

 

[Nai3t]

And there may be a ride quality difference. If you can drive both, you may want to just to satisfy your curiosity.

I don't find the ID.4 ride quality harsh on the 20s but haven't driven the 19s to compare. My flexy Flex came with 20s and a stiffer stock suspension due to my options package so I "downgraded" to 18s to smooth out the ride. My i3 has 19s because I preferred the ride vs. a side-by-side test drive on 20s, though they're both a little harsh.

 

[KB57]

I'm told the standard wheel size is 19" on the Pro-S. I "think" the Gradient gives you 20-inch. Not sure I'm aware of what the PROS and CONS are. Looks are one thing. Functional benefits? Appreciate any insight here. Thanks!

We have the FE and it comes with 20s. They really fill the wheel wells nicely. You will lose a little mileage and a little comfort (hardly noticeable) with the 20s.

 

[ygrec]

I've reserved the AWD Pro S which has 19" wheels. One of my kids (5 yrs old) has started complaining of car sickness on longer trips. I drive a 2019 eGolf SE right now.

 

[wtatun]

I have both an FE (20”) and Pro/S (19”) - I think they both ride great and I cannot really tell the difference.

 

[hilld]

I've reserved the AWD Pro S which has 19" wheels. One of my kids (5 yrs old) has started complaining of car sickness on longer trips. I drive a 2019 eGolf SE right now.

Out of curiosity is the kid watching a screen while getting car sick such as an iPad or phone? Happened to one of my kids. Take away the screen and the car sickness was solved but of course that created a different problem. 😩

 

[bobdavisnpf]

Wheels are stiff, tires are not. A larger wheel - and smaller tire sidewall - will have less side-to-side flex and vertical deformation in corners and bends in the road. The handling improvement is mostly apparent when the driver is in "sport mode" - not a typical behavior for a standard-issue ID4 owner. It makes a big difference in evasive-maneuver situations, but during those split-second events there are many other factors that are usually more prominent.

None of us is likely to make the effort, but I'm sure a pair of drivers with the 2 wheel sizes could do an A/B comparison at a Car Control Clinic, and would quickly learn to spot the differences every time. The most important variable is the driver, but in successive runs with each car, you (and the observing instructors) would the difference in measurable ways.

I find it odd when wheel-size packages do not also include some mention of suspension upgrades: a stiffer wheel/tire combo should imo be accompanied by a stiffer suspension, or a significant part of the upgrade is lost to body roll and steering geometry. Makes me think that the suspension is tuned to one wheel size or the other and we just don't know which.

 

[bobdavisnpf]

Out of curiosity is the kid watching a screen while getting car sick such as an iPad or phone? Happened to one of my kids. Take away the screen and the car sickness was solved but of course that created a different problem. 😩

Focusing out the window is huge plus for controlling car sickness. I've found the roof window is also a big benefit for this, as the more bendy roads around here also have more trees overhead, another thing that helps my passengers stay connected to their world.

But I'm starting to think the biggest variable is how I drive: by slowing and anticipating turns I can carve a gentler curve, reducing body roll and side-to-side motion. My granddaughter has taken the same route with me behind the wheel and with her dad, and was less prone to car sickness on my runs. Obviously our driving habits aren't the only variables - she's less used to riding with me, so may have been on higher alert - but to the extent you can choose your driving style, you may have an impact on it.

 

[clayof2day]

I have both an FE (20”) and Pro/S (19”) - I think they both ride great and I cannot really tell the difference.

@wtatun do you have any real world range reports on FE vs Pro-S? There is a LOT of talk on a range penalty for 20" wheels, but the EPA has rated Pro-S and First Edition the same at 250 miles. None of the write ups from EPA Pro-S state that it includes gradient. I've been really trying to hunt down Pro-S vs. Pro-S gradient reports and I have yet to find the info!

 

[ygrec]

Out of curiosity is the kid watching a screen while getting car sick such as an iPad or phone? Happened to one of my kids. Take away the screen and the car sickness was solved but of course that created a different problem. 😩

No screens.