GTi Clubsport - 18" wheels > 19" wheels

[BillSan]

I'm not talking about saving £150 when I'm spending £40k here Dav3.  I'm spending £420 a month and a whole new set of 4 tyres (plus 19" wheels!) is a significant spend.  I have anticipated a new set of 18"s (c. £800) as I know I can't stand the Richmonds. 

[Dav3smith]

Sorry if it came as across as rude, no offence was intended.

Enjoy the car should be a cracker whatever shoes its wearing.

[BillSan]

No worries Dav3. 

[Exonian]

Welcome BillSan.
I have a white base spec Clubsport too and the first thing I did was change the wheels!
I actually don’t hate the standard 18’s but they do sit too far into the arches in my opinion.

I had a set of 18” Pro Race on a mk6 GTI about ten years ago. They were very popular with the mk5 GTI race car brigade and were also fitted to quite a few fast road cars which ran modified brakes as there was plenty of room for bigger callipers behind the spokes.

In my eyes the nicest looking lightweight aftermarket 18” wheel is the Borbet FF1. High quality and OEM looks from an OEM supplier.

In your shoes I’d actually check out CM Wheels who do a range of replica VW style wheels that are of reasonable quality and go down either 18” Reifnitz, Estoril or Pretoria wheels route in 8x18 ET45.

I thank you and good night 

[BillSan]

Thanks Exonian.  Those Borbets that you've suggested are very nice looking wheels and just the kind of look I want.  I think I'll need:  8 x 18" • 5x112 • ET45 to fit the original tyres but would be grateful if someone could confirm.

I promise I'll post up a pic when I get my new wheels on!

[carbon337]

After much deliberation I order std 18 Richmonds yesterday, white with winter pack. I test drove on 18s with no DCC and it was great.

I’ll see how I get on with std wheels but likely a £480 order of some cm wheels will follow. Convince me I’m wrong, I’ve got until tomorrow morning to amend the order. I’m really not keen on 19s with potholes here (mrs actually cracked a 19 on an old car we had)

I think the cm wheels option gives best of both worlds, I can chose an alternative 18, cheaper than oem, cheaper tyres and from what I’ve read the Richmonds are lighter than the 19” options. Can only be a good thing to keep the car agile and alive.

[Exonian]

Welcome carbon 
My thinking is always that at least the CM Wheels alloys are fairly cheap to replace if one does actually get wiped out by a pothole. Plus they’re a better offset and can reuse OEM bolts and covers.



BillSan, yes, those are the correct dimensions you’ll need.
You can often get them in the correct centre bore for VW’s too (57.1mm) so won’t have to use spigot rings.
Another plus is the VW bolt covers fit ok over the (supplied) bolts which is rare with aftermarket wheels.

[BillSan]

Thanks again Exonian.

I'm now in two minds as the 18" CM Wheels Pretoria's look good but won't really make the car stand out.

Oh well whereas something like the Borbets you recommended look a bit more special.

Are CM wheels TUV approved/good quality?   Only asking that as they appear significantly cheaper than other 18"s.

I'll make a decision one way or another in the next month and post up pics to let you see which way I've gone.

[Exonian]

The CM Wheels Pretorias are Chinese made replicas hence cheapness.
They don’t carry TüV approval (they’d cost a lot more if they did!) but are stamped JWL on the back which is a Japanese wheel quality and safety standard. Whether the wheels have actually been through those tests is anyone’s guess!

[BillSan]

That's what I thought. Will need to shop around a bit more before I decide. Cheers Exonian.