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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: pixelcellar on 19 February 2024, 09:09

Title: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: pixelcellar on 19 February 2024, 09:09
Just pulled the trigger on a TCR, want to add some Reifnitz wheels to it as opposed to the more common Pretoria's ideally.
Anyone got a set for sale? If it helps I have a pristine set of Belveder's coming off that could be part of a swap deal if that works?
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: pixelcellar on 24 February 2024, 16:29
Think I'll be happy with the Pretoria's but they need to be black not silver..... Anyone???
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: willni on 24 February 2024, 18:55
As much as I want your belvederes, you should actually drive on a set of 19s first before selling them.

There's a reason a few of us want the belvederes.
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: pixelcellar on 25 February 2024, 08:31
As much as I want your belvederes, you should actually drive on a set of 19s first before selling them.

There's a reason a few of us want the belvederes.

You reckon there's much of a difference? I've got 19's (Brescia's) on my non DCC car now, would it not feel the same for example?
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: clubsport on 25 February 2024, 08:59
You say you would be happy with the 19" Pretotias. if buying secondhand check them over carefully, the Pretoria in 19" don't seem quite so strong as the Brescia, I suggest this as you often see damaged and repaired examples for sale, no doubt caused by the state of UK roads.
If buying I would want to drive down the road with them on a car first, to see if they were straight under steering and braking.

I have not seen or read anything about the quality of the factory Reifnitz wheels thay are fairly new and possibly harder to find?

There may be a slight difference with 19" wheels on a non DCC equiped TCR as the springs are slightly stiffer over the regular Performance pack GTi, I understand.

You would need to try 19's to see if it suits you, I doubt it is a world away from your 19" Brescia experience. especially with new supple tyres and suitable tyre pressures.
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: Exonian on 25 February 2024, 09:30
Maybe try a set of spacers on the Belvederes to beef them out in the arches a bit?
If you weren’t so far away I’d have loaned you my old Reifnitz replicas to try for a while to see how you get on with 19’s back to back with the lightweight 18’s.

Personally if it was a daily driver I’d store the Belvederes and run a set of CM Wheels replicas which would be less likely to make you cry if you bent one on a huge pothole.
I ran a set of 19” Reifnitz reps for 3 years (26k) and they held up well despite some really badly potholed roads. The NSF took a bit of a slight outer rim bend on a massive fresh hole but not enough for the MOT tester to even mention it. I only expected them to last the first winter before changing them for something else but they looked good and stood up to rubbish roads well.
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: pixelcellar on 25 February 2024, 09:37
Cheers for the advice guys, think I’ll stick my Brescias on and see how they feel, if they feel ok then might go down the replica Reifnitz route, have seen a lot of Pretoria’s that are damaged, pristine sets are not cheap but even then you don’t know what state they have been in. If going the replica route I’ll probably get some Reifnitz clones and maybe get some genuine ones in the future; my brother has a Nurberg problem so is over there a few times a year so could get him to bring me some back cheaper than we can get them here…
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: Exonian on 25 February 2024, 09:42
… or you could go with him and try the TCR on the ‘ring!  :cool:
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: pixelcellar on 25 February 2024, 09:54
… or you could go with him and try the TCR on the ‘ring!  :cool:

Oh hell no, heard too many horror stories and want my car to stay intact; I highly doubt it’ll ever see a track!!
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: willni on 25 February 2024, 10:20
I noticed a massive difference personally going from Brescias (and many other sets) to Belvederes, feels nicer in corners and much better suited to the roads I'm on at least, hence why I'm after another set.
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: Exonian on 25 February 2024, 10:25
Oh hell no

 :grin: I’d be the same!


As a (not very) fascinating aside, you can still get Quaranta/Belvedere wheels fitted to brand new VW’s, they’re fitted in plain gloss black (no polished sections on the spokes) to the US market Jetta GLi 40th Anni.
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: Paul70 on 25 February 2024, 14:58
I noticed a massive difference personally going from Brescias (and many other sets) to Belvederes, feels nicer in corners and much better suited to the roads I'm on at least, hence why I'm after another set.


I second Will’s view. I’ve just changed from Racingline Cups running Michelin Crossclimates (winter set up) to the Belvederes with PS4Ss and the difference was very noticeable- appreciate this was probably more to do with the tyre than the extra 1.5 kg per wheel but small changes can make a huge difference to driving enjoyment. Adding an extra 5 kg per wheel with a set of 19 replicas would be very noticeable but it’s a personal choice.
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: GTIPPKEV on 25 February 2024, 21:24

Message me if you decide to sell your Belvedere's.

I am in Glasgow.


Kev
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: gixerste on 26 February 2024, 10:17
I noticed a massive difference personally going from Brescias (and many other sets) to Belvederes, feels nicer in corners and much better suited to the roads I'm on at least, hence why I'm after another set.

Not VW alloys, but when I replaced my standard 18" alloys with light weight 18" alloys on my BMW F40 135i you could definitely feel the difference, they were much better.  :smiley: 
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: pixelcellar on 26 February 2024, 11:08
So a lighter wheel would feel better, seen someone looking to get rid of a set of 19" oz ultraleggera hlt with PS4's that have barely been driven, anyone have an opinion on them, they seem quite a lightweight wheel and aren't cheap but could be a good alternative to a heavier or more easily damaged Pretoria?
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: clubsport on 26 February 2024, 15:13
The Oz are a great looking wheel...

For the most part 19" wheels do look better on a Mk7 Golf as they fill the arches. The 19" also tend to be slightly wider, running a 235 over 225 tyre, don't forget, when VW built the Clubsport S for the Nordschliefe ring record attempt, they chose 19" Pretoria over the lighter 18". I asssume it was mostly down to the improved mechanical grip of the 19"s ?
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: willni on 26 February 2024, 19:05
It's all to do with unsprung weight, unsprung weight has a multiplier effect of x2-x3. 6kg saving versus the standard 19s is more like 12-18kg a corner. 

@Clubsport was it not to do with the Pilot Cup 2 tyres weren't released in 18in at that point?
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: clubsport on 26 February 2024, 19:44
@willni, I am not sure that makes sense the Michelin Pilot Cup 2 was launched in 2014, 2 years before the Clubsport S.

Quite a few of us have used them in a 225/40/18 Porsche size which is also the size VW would use on an 18" equipped GTi ?

There is more mechanical grip with a 235 on track, they had DCC on the car to ride the kerbs in "comfort" mode.
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: willni on 26 February 2024, 20:12
@willni, I am not sure that makes sense the Michelin Pilot Cup 2 was launched in 2014, 2 years before the Clubsport S.

Quite a few of us have used them in a 225/40/18 Porsche size which is also the size VW would use on an 18" equipped GTi ?

There is more mechanical grip with a 235 on track, they had DCC on the car to ride the kerbs in "comfort" mode.

I thought it was similar to the current Pilot Sport S5, it's been released since March 2023 but the sizes aren't available?
Title: Re: Wanted: Reifnitz or Pretoria Wheels
Post by: clubsport on 26 February 2024, 20:22
If you are on track chasing a lap record you want the most mechanical grip, don't you?

Why would you choose a less grippy 18" tyre (if available), They were clearly available on sporting cars in 19", no doubt due to manufacturing demand?... Why didn't manufacturers run sporting cars on 18"?.....for the latest  german track weapons they are running 20/21" with massive clearance for brakes!
All very confusing!? :)