The difference between 15" and 16" prestiges

[TDHFastback]

Never having compared them side by side, I picked up some 16" ers today and put them alongside the 15" wheels on my Sterling.

Cripes what a difference I didn't think 1" would make much difference





The holes are much bigger and they seem to have more presence. Mine look weenie in comparison.
Were they are dealer optional extra for Fastbacks as well or were they just Coupe specific?

Kate
ps Prestiges are by far the finest wheels for a Sterling.

[Lord Sterling]

The 16' Prestiges were fitted to Coupes exclusively from 1991 to 1994. From 1994 to 1996 all V6 Sterling Saloons, Fastbacks and Coupes all got the 16' Prestiges. Then from 1996 onwards, it reverted back to only Coupes receiving 16' Prestige alloys as they did from '91 to '94. The Sterlings in Saloon and Fastback form reverted back to using 15' Prestiges.

My 1995 Rover Sterling saloon got 16' Prestiges as standard:

[deano]

The 16" looks better on all cars...
Are these the ones off ebay the other day ?
Looking good

[Lord Sterling]

The 16' alloys that Kate has in her post are the ones I won off ebay. They will be going onto the Grey car in my picture. The tyres on the above Grey car are shot so the 16's I bought and Kate picked up for me will replace the original 16' with shot tyres on my stored Grey car.

I will retain the 15's on my Grey KV6 as the tyres are fine.

[TDHFastback]

Thanks for the information on the wheels Mo. I'm learning all the time.
Quick question
If I bought a brand new Sterling, in say, 1998 could I have specified 16" wheels as and additional cost optional extra?

Kate

[Lord Sterling]

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[Captain Slow]

Nor were Vitesse wheels IIRC but plenty were sold with them! i'd think a dealer would have done it as an accessory Kate

[Very Tall Brad]

No Kate, they were not an option.

Yes they were. You could specify 16" Prestiges as a factory fitted option on the 2.0 and 2.5 saloon/fastback cars from 1996 to end of production.

[Very Tall Brad]

Nor were Vitesse wheels IIRC but plenty were sold with them! i'd think a dealer would have done it as an accessory Kate

16" 7 spoke (1992-1996 Vitesse style) alloys were an option on the whole range (apart from the Vitesses themselves) from 1996 to end of production. These were a free option on the Sterling Coupes.

[TDHFastback]

Thanks Brad.
I like to keep my cars original and really like Mo's 16" wheels. Having a think about fitting a set to the Sterling, now I know.

Do they alter the ride at all ?

Kate

[Very Tall Brad]

I can't tell any difference in ride at all. But they do look better than the 15" wheels.

[thamestyres]

when they are side by side off the car they should be almost the same in diameter/height... very slight difference in ride but much better handling around corners ect.. regards ricky

[rovering]

I have put a set of Prestige16's that I have put on to my Mk1. Sacrilege I know!
I did have a set of Prestige 15's on the car, but was never really satisfied with them.
The 16's were immediately noticed by a car enthusiast friend of mine (non Rover!).
I do notice a better 'feel' in the steering now.
So would recommend them.
Another fact is I find I can also get a better choice of tyre with the 16's versus the 15's.
Graeme

[scoobyh123]

Sometime in the not too distant future i will have 8 Prestige wheels of the 16" variety Kate. Should even be tyres on most of them too. They're in good condition but sadly i don't like Prestiges so have just collected a set of 16" 7-spokes which (once refurbished) will release the Prestiges from duty on the coupe.

Like others have said, the improvement is marked with 16" wheels as opposed to 15", it's a very worthwhile improvement and as for originality, who is to know yours didn't leave the factory with 16" Prestiges as an option and some bright spark changed them back to 15" trying to preserve the originality?

[Lord Sterling]

who is to know yours didn't leave the factory with 16" Prestiges as an option and some bright spark changed them back to 15" trying to preserve the originality?

Its a shame your Coupe won't have Prestiges, this is basically what adds to the looks of the Coupes for me, without them they just wouldnae look right. Without wishing to be disparaging about your choice, I reckon any other alloy on a Coupe just cheapens the look somewhat. But of course that is only my opinion and of copurse its each to thier own and all that...

Most post-96 Sterlings left the factory with 15" Prestiges (unless options changed otherwise) I was told that you could ask for 16" Prestiges but they were not an 'official' option. I doubt any punter would have known then unless there was some sort of enthusiast for these then or someone very, very picky about there alloys.

I reckon Kate or whoever wants these alloys will want a set of 5 leaving 3. If that's the case, I'll take the remaining 3. My old mate Hyden wants 2 Prestige alloys for his '95 Sterling, one as a spare and one to replace one alloy. Then I can have a spare left over and chuck them on my pile of 16" Prestiges. I got a set (I think of 4 or 5) from Whitelion some years ago sans tyres.