Split Decision

Martyn Knowles is in a dilemma: buy new aftermarket alloys or refurbish existing ones?

It’s been nine years since I bought my 2003 Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI PD. Being the second owner, I did manage to talk with the original owner about his four-year journey with the Octavia. However, I didn’t discuss the BBS alloy wheels that the car had fitted when purchased, so I don’t know if he ordered them from the dealer or had them fitted later.

Now, these BBS split rims are looking very shabby. Corrosion has set into the alloy and the lacquer is almost nonexistent on the fronts. Years of brake dust erosion and using those hand car-wash places that spray ‘who knows what’ onto them prior to power-washing off, have given the split rims a sad look.

The time has come to either change them for new or refurbish the old. In fact, I’m doing both! I thought it would be good to have two sets – one for winter tyres.

I went in search of some fancy new wheels that were different to BBS. I found a Kent-based mail order wheel company – www.rimstyle.com – that operates an easy-to-navigate website offering most of the top-selling alloys.You input your vehicle model and a selection of appropriately sized alternatives are shown.

Not wanting to change the diameter of the current BBS style, a 16in alloy was chosen and near-on 100 designs were offered. Black alloys are popular at the moment, so I clicked on black as a chosen colour to whittle down the options. I then narrowed the design to a set of two and asked Rimstyle to help me choose.