Smaller wheels on MK7

[2007GTI]

I test drove a MK7.5 GTI this week, it had 18's on it, I found the ride really crashy and uncomfortable and it had DCC and I played with the settings, I must admit not very good London roads.

This is a crazy idea I know, but I just wondered if anyone has put 17" wheels on a Mk7? I had 17s on my Mk5 and it was fine!

[Exonian]

They come as standard with 17's in many markets.
However I suspect the issue here is the car still had the transport pucks in the suspension.
Try another car.
I've had 4 mk7's (yes, I have a problem and I'm seeking professional help) and driven numerous others and even with no ACC they ride reasonably well for sports hatches.

[Watts]

Sounds odd, I'm on 19s, live in London, no DCC and I find the ride 90% of the time to be excellent. Perhaps there was something not right about it?

[Daz Auto]

I test drove a MK7.5 GTI this week, it had 18's on it, I found the ride really crashy and uncomfortable and it had DCC and I played with the settings, I must admit not very good London roads.

This is a crazy idea I know, but I just wondered if anyone has put 17" wheels on a Mk7? I had 17s on my Mk5 and it was fine!

There is a video on the subject here - http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/The-differences-between-17-18-and-19-inch-tyres.htm

I drive a Mk6 GTD with 17 inch alloys and adjustable suspension. I found the Mk7 GTD on 18inch uncomfortable, but it had no DCC. Though, the GTD I tested with DCC really did smooth out the ride much better.

Changing the OEM Bridgestone tyres would probably help too.

At the end of the day it is sports suspension with 18 inch low profile tyres. It is never going to be as comfortable as our other car with normal suspension and 16 alloys. However, our other car does not handle like a performance Golf.

Did you notice any change in comfort when you changed the DCC settings? Are you sure you changed DCC and not just 'drive mode'.

[2007GTI]

Thanks all.

The car had 500 miles on it, so I doubt it had the transport pucks left on it, but it did cross my mind afterwards. I test drive a 63 plate a year ago and it wasn't as bad.

I didn't notice much difference changing the DCC, but it was only a 20 min test drive.

I've gone off the idea of a new one now anyway, so will try and find a another second hand one to try.

[Don76]

I've got a 7.5 GTD on 19s and the ride is superb albeit with no DCC.
Defo try another car.

[Eccie]

I test drove a MK7.5 GTI this week, it had 18's on it, I found the ride really crashy and uncomfortable and it had DCC and I played with the settings, I must admit not very good London roads.

This is a crazy idea I know, but I just wondered if anyone has put 17" wheels on a Mk7? I had 17s on my Mk5 and it was fine!

To answer your question I run 17" wheels on my GTi pp, so they do fit over the big brakes. They have winter tyres on and the ride is definitely softer due to the smaller wheels and softer compound tyres.

I have DCC on my car & run it in comfort setting most of the time (on 18" summer wheels & tyres) as others have said and speaking from experience of Bridgestones, Choice of tyre makes a difference. That did I'm surprised you found the ride uncomfortable I think that VW (or the chap they had in from Porsche to fine tune the suspension) did a very good job.

[JoeGTI]

17's are standard in lots of markets, including the fatherland Germany. So no issue with fitment. Obviously the ride will be much better but will look a lot worse (imo). Large wheels are always a compromise on looks versus comfort.
I've always maintained that the Golf even on 19's rides perfectly fine. But then this week I had a spin in a new e-Golf (don't ask) and it was like riding on a magic carpet compared to my R. So yeah, 19's on a Golf are very harsh, there's no getting away from it.

[fredgroves]

The GTD Blueline comes with 17's as standard  - other than that its a normal GTD.

Therefore, 17's go on just fine...

As others have said, in Germany a GTI comes with hardly anything, including 17's as standard. Mind you, it does only cost something like 14000 euros or something.

[2007GTI]

Thanks again all.

From googling around I found this thread in the USA, the roads in NJ sound like London!

http://www.golfmk7.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20482