18" alloys on a golf

nantony98

I'm getting a new golf sportline 1.4 this week. The plan has always been to put 18" audi rs8's on it but the dealer is doing his best to put me off. I don't understand this. The GTI has 18's and I have seen other golfs on 18's. Are they just airing on the side of caution.
Also I'm planning on getting the wheels from england www.rochfordtyres.co.uk They do the rs8's for 595. Anyone know of a better deal? Anyone used this company before? I could get 17" alloys but I dont think they'll fill the arches on a mark v.

bazz26

The GTi has a different suspension set up than a 1.4 litre Golf.

If you put 17" alloys on and get the suspension lowered with new springs the 17" alloys will fill the arches better.

Anan1

Why do you want 18" alloys?

\m/_(>_<)_\m/

Anan1 wrote:

Why do you want 18" alloys?

because he wants, higher fuel costs, higher tyre costs, louder road noise and a slower car.

Big Balls

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ wrote:

and a slower car.

Myth.

NiSmO

This post has been deleted.

Mr Magnolia

The GTI has bigger arches than the standard golf, check and see if they fit first. Perhaps a slightly smaller wheel and lowering of the suspension, might look better?

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ wrote:

and a slower car.

Big Balls wrote:

Myth.

He's right by my experience.

5500

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ wrote:

because he wants, higher fuel costs, higher tyre costs, louder road noise and a slower car.

Ive had 18's on a 1.4 and the only one out of that list i had was higher tyre prices.I presume he wants them for styling,ive seen 19" wheels on 1.4 golfs aswell as them being lowered 40mil so id have no concerns going with 18's if you want them

maidhc

Big Balls wrote:

Myth.

If you increase the circumference, or if the tyre is wider then the rolling resistance will be greater!

\m/_(>_<)_\m/

Big Balls wrote:

Myth.

the laws of physics are a myth are they...

that's a new one on me and the rest of the world... time for one of us to go back to school...

and what about resistance and fuel cost again simple physics
and road noise WILL increase with the size of the tyre more simple physics
and the bigger the tyre the more expensive it is... now that simple economics

mrbungle

As far as I know there is a legal requirement to flare the arches for the 18"s. Something about it mentioned on the Golf Brouchure.

I had 17's on my olf MK5 1.4, looked smart will try and dig out a couple photos:

unkel

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ wrote:

the laws of physics are a myth are they...

LOL, was going to post something very similar. What an opt-out, Big Balls, to call anything one doesn't understand a myth, a miracle or faith for that matter...

About speed (or acceleration rather) it is fairly straight forward. Going from the 16" Golf alloys to the 18" RS8 alloys, I'd imagine the inertia (tendency of the wheel not to move from standstill) in the bigger wheel is higher, and also the weight of the wheels is higher. Wider wheels increase friction (between the tyre and the road). All these factors reduce acceleration

In a high power vehicle, the car might have too much power for the size of the tyres, preventing efficient traction. In that case a wider tyre might increase acceleration. This is hardly the case in a 75BHP Golf. The 16" are more than plenty for the available power

All of the above applies to straight line acceleration on a horizontal load. Things get more complicated talking about handling on non-straight roads as many other factors such as suspension and unsprung weight (generally not a good idea to increase that one) come in to play

And as others said, there are many other disadvantages of having bigger, wider low-profile tyres

BTW the GTI has 17" alloys. 18" are not a VW option. Big wheels might look good, but there is a lot to say against them, especially with the state of the roads in this country. I have low-profile 18" alloys myself.

mrbungle

unkel wrote:

BTW the GTI has 17" alloys. 18" are not a VW option. Big wheels might look good, but there is a lot to say against them, especially with the state of the roads in this country. I have low-profile 18" alloys myself.

I asked about 18" from my VW dealer and was quoted €810.

rondeco

If I can give any advice, dont go for the 1.4. it is so slow. so slow.

thewing

I've 18" rs4's on a 2.0 gti - the 1.4 couldn't handle these...the anti-roll bar bushes need replacing, as they suspension is getting the sh*t knocked out of by the wheels...I'm cringe every time I got over a bump in the road, and in this country there are lots of bumps - even on bloody motorways...

Big Balls

unkel wrote:

BTW the GTI has 17" alloys. 18" are not a VW option.

That's funny.. I must've imagined VW giving me 18" wheels on my GTI from the factory so while you're quick to try and incorrectly contradict somebody, check out your own facts first.

And I'm sorry lads, I didn't say any laws of physics were wrong. If you go for genuine lightweight wheels and the right profile of tyre, the car will not be slower. You can get 225 17" tyres and you can get 225 18" tyres.

The arches are also not any bigger on a GTI. It's a normal production car, VW are not going to make the arches bigger than the rest of the Golf range.

The extra cost of 18" tyres over 17" ones is not as big as some people make out. I paid €235 for an 18" tyre a few weeks ago.

unkel

thewing wrote:

I'm cringe every time I got over a bump in the road, and in this country there are lots of bumps - even on bloody motorways...

And that's bumps. I nearly cry anytime I hit a pot hole. In nearly 2.5 years of bump hole-avoiding driving on the 18s, I've burst only one tyre in a deep pot hole, but when (not if) it happens, it is bloody expensive and inconvenient

mrbungle wrote:

I asked about 18" from my VW dealer and was quoted €810.

Interesting. It is not on the option list on VWs website, but I suppose you could stick on wheels from other models

unkel

Big Balls wrote:

That's funny.. I must've imagined VW giving me 18" wheels on my GTI from the factory so while you're quick to try and incorrectly contradict somebody, check out your own facts first

Fact

Big Balls

I couldn't give a sh1te if they're not on the website!

They are on the VW pricelist in dealers and they are attached to my f**king car parked outside!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just admit that you are wrong for once.

Anan1

Big Balls wrote:

And I'm sorry lads, I didn't say any laws of physics were wrong. If you go for genuine lightweight wheels and the right profile of tyre, the car will not be slower.

Yes it will. No matter how light the larger wheels & tyres are, increasing wheel & tyre size will increase both rolling resistance & aerodynamic drag. The car will therefore be slower.

Big Balls

Isn't is just AMAZING that some of the best performance cars in the world (Ferraris, 911 Turbos, GT3s, Aston Martins, Continental GTs) all come with 18" and 19" wheels!

Anan1

Big Balls wrote:

Isn't is just AMAZING that some of the best performance cars in the world (Ferraris, 911 Turbos, GT3s, Aston Martins, Continental GTs) all come with 18" and 19" wheels!

Performance cars have many features to improve grip at the expense of speed - big wheels & tyres and spoilers being the most obvious. The cars you mention need the extra grip, and have the power to overcome the disadvantages of the larger wheels & tyres in terms of both aerodynamic drag & rolling resistance. Neither is true of a 1.4 Golf.

mrbungle

unkel wrote:

Interesting. It is not on the option list on VWs website, but I suppose you could stick on wheels from other models

I missed getting 18"s on my GTI as I tried to change my order too late, build was firmed up and VW have issues changing orders at the last minute.

18"s are available, 1 of the reasons why I was thinking about it was because for 4 18" tyres alone, would cost more than €810 then lob in the alloys on top !!

You'd pay through the nose if it was a non-option that you'd have to buy elsewhere.

Also, there are a couple of webpages with free delivery for cheap 17"s and 18"s as discussed here before.

\m/_(>_<)_\m/

Big Balls wrote:

Isn't is just AMAZING that some of the best performance cars in the world (Ferraris, 911 Turbos, GT3s, Aston Martins, Continental GTs) all come with 18" and 19" wheels!

wohahahah hahaha hahah... is this guy for real? and he says his into cars..hehehe

me thinks we are dealing with a little rev head with posters of all those cars he mentioned on his bedroom wall in his mother house...
and knows nothing about power to weight ratios, torque and bhp...
now run along "bigballs" (sorry for laughing) this is for adults.

Big Balls

Yeh that's it you t*at.

Seeing as you're so 'adult', you came back with a very adult reply.

So you've heard of power to weight, what in the name of jaysus has that got to do with 17" Vs 18" wheels??

You might want to look at your own credentials as a car enthusiast and stop using words you've heard down the pub.

Kermitt

Children Children... Calm it down a bit This is a civilised forum.. Let's all agree to get along now shall we!

quarryman

i reckon this thread is about to be closed so i might be better off starting a new thread than asking here:

I have 1.6 Focus Zetec. Currently i have the stock 15" Ford Alloys.

I was thinking of getting a set of 17"s. The one thing that's held me back is that i do a lot of miles weekly and get around 37MPG.

Would increasing the wheels to 17" affect the fuel cosumption greatly?

Big Balls

Not enough to warrant not getting them no...

You may notice a drop of 1 or 2 mpg but you're probably getting low 40s anyway so it's not going to kill you.

I'd take a pinch of salt with what the "men in the white coats" have said earlier in the thread in terms of the real world.

Anan1

quarryman wrote:

i reckon this thread is about to be closed so i might be better off starting a new thread than asking here:

I have 1.6 Focus Zetec. Currently i have the stock 15" Ford Alloys.

I was thinking of getting a set of 17"s. The one thing that's held me back is that i do a lot of miles weekly and get around 37MPG.

Would increasing the wheels to 17" affect the fuel cosumption greatly?

Assuming that the overall diameter of the new wheels & tyres is the same as that of the old, I can't see that it would. That said, 17" alloys are a lot more hassle than 15" on our roads. Unless you're really bothered about what other people think of your car, I'd suggest spending your money elsewhere.

quarryman

Anan1 wrote:

Assuming that the overall diameter of the new wheels & tyres is the same as that of the old, I can't see that it would. That said, 17" alloys are a lot more hassle than 15" on our roads. Unless you're really bothered about what other people think of your car, I'd suggest spending your money elsewhere.

point taken but its not so much what others think so much as it is what i think

another issue i have is "kerbing" them. I've done it once or twice on the ones i have right now and its not too bad since i didn't buy them separately but still...

I hate to do it on an 800 euro set.

I may consider just getting a new car when i have the cash. I'd love a TDI in the Focus but feel like a change in car too...

Anan1

quarryman wrote:

point taken but its not so much what others think so much as it is what i think

another issue i have is "kerbing" them. I've done it once or twice on the ones i have right now and its not too bad since i didn't buy them separately but still...

I hate to do it on an 800 euro set.

I may consider just getting a new car when i have the cash. I'd love a TDI in the Focus but feel like a change in car too...

Sounds sensible to me.

Fabritzo

Has anyone bought a set from Rochford? From what I can see the average price for a set of 18's with some form of rubber is about €1200?

unkel

mrbungle wrote:

18"s are available

Right. Just for the craic I rang Ballsbridge Motors (one of the biggest VAG dealers) and asked specifically if the 18s are available factory fitted on a new GTI. The answer was yes. Quote was €815 incl. VAT

I then sent an email to VW Ireland with the following text:

email from unkel to VW wrote:

Hi, I'm interested in buying a new Golf GTI 3-doors. On volkswagen.ie the standard alloys are 17" and there is no option to upgrade to 18". I just rang Ballsbridge Motors and they quoted me for factory fitted 18" as an option. Could you confirm 18" are indeed a factory fitted option? If so, why is it not on your website, or on the website of any VW dealer for that matter. Please email me at your earliest convenience. Kind regards

I'll post here if / when I get a reply from VW

Big Balls wrote:

Isn't is just AMAZING that some of the best performance cars in the world (Ferraris, 911 Turbos, GT3s, Aston Martins, Continental GTs) all come with 18" and 19" wheels!

Incredible. Do you not read other people's posts at all? :rolleyes:

I explained why bigger / wider wheels can improve acceleration in high power cars but that it will give slower acceleration in a car like the 75BHP Golf. Then Anan1 explained the same thing using slightly different wording...

quarryman wrote:

another issue i have is "kerbing" them

Indeed it is. I thought I had a slow puncture there a few months ago. Turned out the inside of the alloy had dented, letting out air. Took the guy about 10-15 minutes to diagnose and fix. Tyre pressure has been fine since. Owner charged me nought as he was interested in an E38 with M60 engine (my current car with the engine of my previous car) so I had some useful advice for him

mrbungle

unkel wrote:

Right. Just for the craic I rang Ballsbridge Motors (one of the biggest VAG dealers) and asked specifically if the 18s are available factory fitted on a new GTI. The answer was yes. Quote was €815 incl. VAT

Damn. Now I look like a liar, I said €810 !!!

mrbungle

unkel wrote:

If so, why is it not on your website, or on the website of any VW dealer for that matter.

Seems to me that all the VW webpages look the same, didn't see any real difference when I was looking around for my cyar a few months ago.

Only thing that seemed to differ on the VW pages, from garage to garage was Used Cars. Looks like they're powered centrally from VW HQ somehere in Ire.

Only saying this cos I've never seen any individual dealer offers or discounts or anything to differentiate 1 VW page from the other. (Apart from the 'home page').

Besides: Enough, pedants.

cantdecide

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ wrote:

wohahahah hahaha hahah... is this guy for real? and he says his into cars..hehehe

me thinks we are dealing with a little rev head with posters of all those cars he mentioned on his bedroom wall in his mother house...
and knows nothing about power to weight ratios, torque and bhp...
now run along "bigballs" (sorry for laughing) this is for adults.

???
i thought alloys looked good. i was also thinking that when you gain rim, you lose tyre to keep the rolling radius (wrong phrase maybe) correct. there is a red '98 1.4 golf locally with 20's.

the 18's on my previous A4 were actually smaller (but wider) than the original 15" steels and made no discernable difference to acceleration or ride quality.

a lot of jap cars harden up pretty quickly IMO but the vag cars always respond well even if they're lowered.

once you spend any amount of money on wheels, you simply start using your electric mirrors more than you did before. it's the only way to mind them (also, breath down the neck of your tyre fitter and avoid moremiles in ballincollig- i nearly punched him after what he did to my beautiful alloys)

for the new golf, my choice would be RS6s.

Anan1

cantdecide wrote:

???
i thought alloys looked good.

They do, but you can't see them when you're driving. Each to their own, but I have no interest in spending money on making my car look more attractive to other road users. Apart from anything else, I'm not sure that they care.

maidhc

Big Balls wrote:

Isn't is just AMAZING that some of the best performance cars in the world (Ferraris, 911 Turbos, GT3s, Aston Martins, Continental GTs) all come with 18" and 19" wheels!

Because they need the extra grip that the larger contact area that the big wheels offer.

Having a thin sidewall and very stiff ride also has benefits in an Aston that don't apply equally to a Golf.

Anan1

maidhc wrote:

Because they need the extra grip that the larger contact area that the big wheels offer.

Having a thin sidewall and very stiff ride also has benefits in an Aston that don't apply equally to a Golf.

I think he may have run away...

unkel

maidhc wrote:

Because they need the extra grip that the larger contact area that the big wheels offer

Explanation #3 and the shortest and sweetest at that

BTW, I haven't got a reply from volkswagen.ie yet. Will post when I get it

Cyrus

unkel the 18" rims are def a factory fit option on mkv gti, a friend has them

very similar in style to the 17"s but have a dark finish on the inner part of the curves

Big Balls

My point on performance cars was that if 18" wheels + have SUCH a negative effect on cars, why do the best in the world come with them. You were all making out that the worst thing you could possibly do is stick big wheels on your car!!!! I was not disagreeing that a 1.4 Golf does not need 225 wide tyres.

And I'm sorry but the "sure only other people can see the outside of your car" is SUCH a weak argument. YOU know what you own car looks like as you're the one who owns it!!! Whether other people notice your car or not is irrelevant in my eyes.

And I cannot believe there are people still trying to make out that 18" wheels on the GTI are not an option. They also spell xenons incorrectly on the VW Ireland site, I wonder are they not available either!!?

Big Balls

Anan1 wrote:

I think he may have run away...

No Anan, I just have a life and don't hang around this site 24/7.

unkel

Cyrus wrote:

unkel the 18" rims are def a factory fit option on mkv gti

I believe you, others and the VW dealer

Just funny it's not on the website. I can only imagine someone interested in buying a new Golf GTI might also be very interested in getting 18" instead of 17" alloys. A lot of people browse before they call these days. Might put people of that it doesn't seem to be an option on the website. €815 is an ok price for an upgrade (factory fitted) but it would cost a lot more to have it done aftermarket

Still no reply from VW. Nearly 24 hours after my email...

Anan1

Big Balls wrote:

My point on performance cars was that if 18" wheels + have SUCH a negative effect on cars, why do the best in the world come with them. You were all making out that the worst thing you could possibly do is stick big wheels on your car!!!! I was not disagreeing that a 1.4 Golf does not need 225 wide tyres.

Actually, you said that wider wheels will not make a 1.4 Golf slower:

Big Balls wrote:

If you go for genuine lightweight wheels and the right profile of tyre, the car will not be slower.

We said that they will, and explained why. This is the point at which you chose to go quiet, rather than simply accepting that you were wrong.

Hobart

Big Balls wrote:

My point on performance cars was that if 18" wheels + have SUCH a negative effect on cars, why do the best in the world come with them. You were all making out that the worst thing you could possibly do is stick big wheels on your car!!!! I was not disagreeing that a 1.4 Golf does not need 225 wide tyres.

And I'm sorry but the "sure only other people can see the outside of your car" is SUCH a weak argument. YOU know what you own car looks like as you're the one who owns it!!! Whether other people notice your car or not is irrelevant in my eyes.

And I cannot believe there are people still trying to make out that 18" wheels on the GTI are not an option. They also spell xenons incorrectly on the VW Ireland site, I wonder are they not available either!!?

You put forward a thesis that bigger wheels can make a car slower as a myth. The fact is that they do and can. It is not a myth. So, in that regard, you are incorrect.

You then try to add weight to your "myth" argument by asking the question as to why high-performace super cars and the like have 18"+ wheels. That really is quite a silly question, and I even think you realise that.

You were wrong. You are just finding it hard to come to that resolution, thats all.

Unkel. The 18" alloys are a factory fit option here. I have them on my GTI. They can be ordered online in the UK, for some reason, and not here.

Link=> http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/gti/carconfig.jsp?menu=b

Big Balls

Hobart wrote:

asking the question as to why high-performace super cars and the like have 18"+ wheels.

That wasn't a question on my part, I'm well aware why. Again, my point was highlighting that if big wheels are such a bad idea (as was made out in the thread) then why do the likes of Porsche stick them on their cars. Fact of the matter is, they're not always a bad idea and a lot of you were taking that fact away from the original poster by listing off the laws of physics.

Bottom line is, if he wants to stick bigger wheels on his car then there's nothing stopping him!!!!!!!

Hobart

Big Balls wrote:

That wasn't a question on my part, I'm well aware why. Again, my point was highlighting that if big wheels are such a bad idea (as was made out in the thread) then why do the likes of Porsche stick them on their cars. Fact of the matter is, they're not always a bad idea and a lot of you were taking that fact away from the original poster by listing off the laws of physics.

Bottom line is, if he wants to stick bigger wheels on his car then there's nothing stopping him!!!!!!!

I think he knows that.

I also think somebody pointed out that going, for example, from standard 14" wheels to 18 or 19" wheels on a 75bhp car, is not best recommended. Trying to add weight to your argument by saying if big wheels are a bad idea why do they have them on 400+bhp cars, is silly. And I think you realise that.

Anan1

Big Balls wrote:

That wasn't a question on my part, I'm well aware why. Again, my point was highlighting that if big wheels are such a bad idea (as was made out in the thread) then why do the likes of Porsche stick them on their cars. Fact of the matter is, they're not always a bad idea and a lot of you were taking that fact away from the original poster by listing off the laws of physics.

Nobody was saying they're a bad idea in general. We said that they would make a 1.4 Golf slower. You said that they wouldn't. We explained why they would. You appear unable to admit that you were mistaken. What part don't you understand?

\m/_(>_<)_\m/

Big Balls wrote:

That wasn't a question on my part, I'm well aware why. Again, my point was highlighting that if big wheels are such a bad idea (as was made out in the thread) then why do the likes of Porsche stick them on their cars. Fact of the matter is, they're not always a bad idea and a lot of you were taking that fact away from the original poster by listing off the laws of physics.

Bottom line is, if he wants to stick bigger wheels on his car then there's nothing stopping him!!!!!!!

hmmmmmmm... i think you may be confusing yourself.
will i explean for the 100th time "why likes of Porsche stick them on their cars"

Big Balls

Anan1 wrote:

Nobody was saying they're a bad idea in general. We said that they would make a 1.4 Golf slower. You said that they wouldn't. We explained why they would. You appear unable to admit that you were mistaken. What part don't you understand?

I understand it all fine thanks Anan. Have you learnt that roundabout thing yet? Seeing as we're giving out the lessons?