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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: DAVEMARX on 12 June 2009, 19:16

Title: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: DAVEMARX on 12 June 2009, 19:16
at the moment ive got stock suspenstion on 17's but i want to drop it 40mm with 18's

will they fit or do i need the arches folded?

whats the widest wheel and tyre size i can fit and do i need spacers etc

cheers

dave
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: DAVEMARX on 12 June 2009, 19:23
while im here my interia has seen better days and i really need to change it..

While at the scrappy at the weekend i found a mk4 with really nice seat.

Do they fit the mk3 and if not hhow much work is involved to make them fit?

I was thinking of a steering wheel swap aswell with airbag from the same mk4.

are they a simple swap with the same electrics for the airbag??

dave
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: VR6-Joe on 12 June 2009, 19:30
Why the fook would you wanna put 18's on a Mk3? 16's are more than enough, 17's can look good.. but 18's? Seriously :huh:

No, Mk4 seats will not fit, unless you weld the correct mounts onto the floorpan iirc

Not sure how much work is involved fitting a Mk4 steering wheel but I think it is quite a tricky job, try and track one down from a 3.5 cabby :wink:
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: boneybradley on 12 June 2009, 19:33
18's will make the car drive shi7e!! and looks bad too!
seats would need mk3 subframes welding to them
mk4 will not fit easily (you'd need to modify the wiring quite a bit) but as said the mk3.5 (mk4 cabrio) wheel is a direct fit
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 12 June 2009, 20:08
at the moment ive got stock suspenstion on 17's but i want to drop it 40mm with 18's

will they fit or do i need the arches folded?

whats the widest wheel and tyre size i can fit and do i need spacers etc

cheers

dave


Ewwww....  :sick:
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Len on 12 June 2009, 20:12
On 18's you will need 35 profile or even 30 if you want to go as wide as poss (215)


So being sensible "wildest" you can go is 215 wide tyres on 17x8 wheels.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Wayne on 12 June 2009, 20:21
I struggled with 17"s why you want to go bigger is beyond me.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: ace on 12 June 2009, 20:25
18's will be too big for a mk3, pretty sure u would prob need arch work done as well
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: spunkymonkey on 12 June 2009, 20:37
when fitting big rims on a mk3 its all about width not height.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Wayne on 12 June 2009, 20:40
A guy on ed38 has 7x18's but not lowered to be honest it looks daft.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Adam on 12 June 2009, 21:39
18's will make the car drive shi7e!! and looks bad too!
seats would need mk3 subframes welding to them
mk4 will not fit easily (you'd need to modify the wiring quite a bit) but as said the mk3.5 (mk4 cabrio) wheel is a direct fit

 VR6Dan did it, he had to cut off a bit of the metal plate.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 12 June 2009, 22:56
A guy on ed38 has 7x18's but not lowered to be honest it looks daft.

Pfft, that's nowt. Go large and whack some 40's on there!

(http://www.anniemayhem.com/blog%20pics/WildCar.jpg)
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 12 June 2009, 22:58
Whilst you're at it may as well go the whole hog.

(http://stupidlookingcars.freecarblogs.com/files/2009/03/golf_from_space.jpg)
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Grim_Reaper on 12 June 2009, 23:07
when i bought my first mk3 it came with 18's on 18/35/215 on a 40mm drop with dead shocks (call it 45/50mm)

handled crap and looked crap as the brakes were the size of milk bottle tops lmao

no arch mods needed though if you go for a proper size (mine was 215 tyre with no stretch, so whats that 8j?)...only on the front the front plastic inner arch covers were badly eaten from the tyres catching on full lock
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Grim_Reaper on 12 June 2009, 23:11
Whilst you're at it may as well go the whole hog.

(http://stupidlookingcars.freecarblogs.com/files/2009/03/golf_from_space.jpg)

bruv dats da lik init...propa wiked

in all hostly, i dont think there is a word in the english dictionary that will decribe how poop that looks...i only hope that mug taking the picture is taking it only to put it on barryboys lol
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: DAVEMARX on 13 June 2009, 16:28
Lets not get carryed away here but small rims on a mk3 look 'pants'

The 17's ive got on it now are lost in its arches and dont look big at all.

Im not going for a high performance feel here as the car is just a run around and an 8valve gti so its not exactly what you'ed call fast if i wanna go nuts on the tarmac i'll take a spin in my mk2.

im just gonna fit black 18's, 40mm drop with quads, rear red/clear/smoked lenses and a nice back box.

refurb the engine and fit new brakes , tidy up the interia and that will do.

thanks for the input

dave
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Wayne on 13 June 2009, 16:47
Lets not get carryed away here but small rims on a mk3 look 'pants'

The 17's ive got on it now are lost in its arches and dont look big at all.

Im not going for a high performance feel here as the car is just a run around and an 8valve gti so its not exactly what you'ed call fast if i wanna go nuts on the tarmac i'll take a spin in my mk2.

im just gonna fit black 18's, 40mm drop with quads, rear red/clear/smoked lenses and a nice back box.

refurb the engine and fit new brakes , tidy up the interia and that will do.

thanks for the input

dave

Your biggest problem is that 18”s will not fit without a serious amount of work, I was running 17”s and lowered and had issues with them rubbing the arches etc, why do you want to fit 18”s being honest they will look silly plus you going to need 215/30/18’s which in turn is going to give you a car that will drive crap sorry to be blunt but it is going to tramline and bumpsteer like no tomorrow also the ride will be shocking.

I don’t think small rims look pants at the end of the day it is how a car drives and I preferred the way mine drove on 15” than the 17”.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Wayne on 13 June 2009, 16:49
I take it at the moment yours is standard height, if so lower 1st on the 17"s, this was mine and I cannot see why you would want bigger.

(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/Vw%20Golf/2008_0601golfs0025.jpg)
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: DAVEMARX on 13 June 2009, 17:04
I take it at the moment yours is standard height, if so lower 1st on the 17"s, this was mine and I cannot see why you would want bigger.

(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/Vw%20Golf/2008_0601golfs0025.jpg)

good point m8 yours looks alright, i like your style im going for a nice clean look like yours.

I wanted to fit 18's coz i want to paint and fit audi rs4's.

The car is black so i think the'll look pretty good.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Wayne on 13 June 2009, 17:07
Rs4's are available in 17" as well.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Mikester on 13 June 2009, 17:53
Tractor. Is your name giles?
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: robz on 13 June 2009, 19:46
i think the 17's on a mk3 look the nuts out of all the wheel sizes to be honest....
the ride however is awful...
but heres a side on of mine...
17" rs4's...
(http://i677.photobucket.com/albums/vv134/robz88/golf4.jpg)
(http://i677.photobucket.com/albums/vv134/robz88/golf5.jpg)
(http://i677.photobucket.com/albums/vv134/robz88/Golf1.jpg)
hth :)
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: rob026 on 13 June 2009, 23:06

Im pretty sure this mk3 is on 18s, and it looks sweet :cool:

(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg243/robaustin026/005.jpg)
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Wayne on 13 June 2009, 23:31

Im pretty sure this mk3 is on 18s, and it looks sweet :cool:

(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg243/robaustin026/005.jpg)

Yes it is, only issue is it is not what you would call driveable.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: MowatGTI on 14 June 2009, 00:52
Im sorry to do this.

But interia?

You kidding me?  Gansta?

It wasn't untill you mentioned it second time round I realised what you meant....interior.

I'm rolling 17's on mine with standard suspension.  I had a 45 profile tyre when the wheels were bought which scrubbed the sidewall in the rear arches.

Put 40's back on and the rubbing went away.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: davero on 14 June 2009, 01:36
(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/davero_photo/dave1011.jpg)
17's handled like a dog
(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/davero_photo/dave1012.jpg)
16's handles perfect
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: DAVEMARX on 14 June 2009, 12:45
i think the 17's on a mk3 look the nuts out of all the wheel sizes to be honest....
the ride however is awful...
but heres a side on of mine...
17" rs4's...
(http://i677.photobucket.com/albums/vv134/robz88/golf4.jpg)
(http://i677.photobucket.com/albums/vv134/robz88/golf5.jpg)
(http://i677.photobucket.com/albums/vv134/robz88/Golf1.jpg)
hth :)

nice.. this is pretty much the look im going for.  But to be fair the wheels still dont look huge and sit in the arches nicely.

robos pic on the other hand just looks fooking mean on 18's  and i love the way the wheels sit under the arches. It may drive sh!te but like i said before low and slow is for me on this 1.  Im after the look and not the feel of the car.  Performance means fook all when all you got under the bonnet is an 8 valve.

As for the spelling... blame the weed  :laugh:
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: DAVEMARX on 14 June 2009, 12:51

Im pretty sure this mk3 is on 18s, and it looks sweet :cool:

(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg243/robaustin026/005.jpg)

Yes it is, only issue is it is not what you would call driveable.

I love the jetta front end and bumper side repeaters to...

Are the wings the same and is it just a case of slam panel and bonnet swap...

Dave
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Grim_Reaper on 14 June 2009, 13:05
from what i was told you need matching vento wings and bonnet too
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: boneybradley on 14 June 2009, 13:40
from what i was told you need matching vento wings and bonnet too

wings are the same..but the bonnet is needed and that one in the pic also has the deeper vento bumper
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Wayne on 14 June 2009, 15:48
i think the 17's on a mk3 look the nuts out of all the wheel sizes to be honest....
the ride however is awful...
but heres a side on of mine...
17" rs4's...

hth :)

nice.. this is pretty much the look im going for.  But to be fair the wheels still dont look huge and sit in the arches nicely.

robos pic on the other hand just looks fooking mean on 18's  and i love the way the wheels sit under the arches. It may drive sh!te but like i said before low and slow is for me on this 1.  Im after the look and not the feel of the car.  Performance means fook all when all you got under the bonnet is an 8 valve.

As for the spelling... blame the weed  :laugh:

I am sorry but what is the point in building a car you cannot drive.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 14 June 2009, 17:13
(http://ihasahotdog.wordpress.com/files/2008/11/funny-dog-pictures-jackpot.jpg)
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: DAVEMARX on 14 June 2009, 18:56
what do you mean 'cant drive' wayne.

Its the same as if you had 16's on it. You get in turn the key and of you go like any other car.

i didnt know big wheels would stop the engine working and i would'nt beable to drive it....shame
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Wayne on 14 June 2009, 19:05
what do you mean 'cant drive' wayne.

Its the same as if you had 16's on it. You get in turn the key and of you go like any other car.

i didnt know big wheels would stop the engine working and i would'nt beable to drive it....shame

Right I might be wrong here but I like a car that handles as well as looking nice, lowering a car and fitting 18"s as per that photo is to me stupid, you will not be able to drive like you should with the floorpan dragging the deck and wheels beating hell out of the arches, you also said low and slow which is pointless to me, sorry to be harsh.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: boneybradley on 14 June 2009, 19:07
the ride and handling on the mk3 with 18's suffer and make the car feel bad!! (I had 17's on an old mk3 which suffered from tramlining!! especially at higher speeds  :shocked:)...and it would bang and crash around on uneven roads too!! and that was before it was proper low
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Wayne on 14 June 2009, 19:11
the ride and handling on the mk3 with 18's suffer and make the car feel bad!! (I had 17's on an old mk3 which suffered from tramlining!! especially at higher speeds  :shocked:)...and it would bang and crash around on uneven roads too!! and that was before it was proper low

Spot on, it was one of the reasons I switched back to 15"s, the handling was miles better.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: DAVEMARX on 14 June 2009, 19:18
Fook the handling its not a touring car.  I use it to go to work and to the shops and things im not thrashing it down to the nurberg ring on the weekends...

I just want it to look cool and drive at normal speeds.  Like i said before ive got a mk2 gti 'a proper driving car' if i feel the need to act like a 12 year old pretending to be lewis hamilton.

I didnt ask for an opinian, i asked if i needed the arches worked on for a 40mm drop on 18's.

thats all

has anyone got an answer?
 
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Wayne on 14 June 2009, 19:28
Fook the handling its not a touring car.  I use it to go to work and to the shops and things im not thrashing it down to the nurberg ring on the weekends...

I just want it to look cool and drive at normal speeds.  Like i said before ive got a mk2 gti 'a proper driving car' if i feel the need to act like a 12 year old pretending to be lewis hamilton.

I didnt ask for an opinian, i asked if i needed the arches worked on for a 40mm drop on 18's.

thats all

has anyone got an answer?
 

Yes as I said in a previous post your going to need serious work done to the arches, to run 17"s I had to bin the plastic arches plus cut the rear lips back, even then they still rubbed, 18"s are taller even with lower profile tyres so will be worse.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: DAVEMARX on 14 June 2009, 19:37
cool nice 1 thats all i need to know....

cheers
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: doely85 on 14 June 2009, 20:15
As for the spelling... blame the weed  :laugh:

Im also going to blame you choice of rim size on the weed  :huh: :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: DAVEMARX on 14 June 2009, 20:17
Na the rim choice is all mine    :cool:
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: robz on 14 June 2009, 20:18
if you wanna put 18's on its your choice fella, but i dont like the way the mk3 drives on the 17's...
it really cant cope with big wheels on.... tramlining and bump steering like a twit...
but its your choice... my opinion is the 17's look best but it is just me!1 :)
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: doely85 on 14 June 2009, 20:20
Na the rim choice is all mine    :cool:

 :grin: was only joking dude, whatever floats your boat
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Grim_Reaper on 14 June 2009, 22:24
just let him do it...he will realise how crap his car feels once hes had it for a while lol
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Dec on 15 June 2009, 15:35
I know someone with a Mk2 on 18's :smiley:

Not my personal choice, but hey, everyones different. This guy wants to do something different so why not let him?

Everyone has warned him of the concequences that the handling will be pants but if he still decides to go ahead, its his choice.

Personally, I think that 16s are best suited. My car now that I have the correct size tyres (not ultra low profile) on there handles like poop and theyre 16's.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 15 June 2009, 22:11
Surely the suspension must be a massive playing factor on yours then, Dec?
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: boneybradley on 15 June 2009, 22:15
Dec if it handles crap..then it handles like a mk3 should  :wink:  :lipsrsealed:

(but tryes can make the mk3 handle very different...I had some falken's up front that were rated highly by blackcircles and it spun and slid everywhere...swapped for fulda's and it gripped and rode much much better!)
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Mikester on 15 June 2009, 22:23
Tbh, when you pimp your ride, with body mods, paint, rims, and slam it as low as possible. You dont want handling, you want to roll around looking sick.

As it wont handle, so whats the point in trying and binning it.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Dec on 16 June 2009, 11:50
Surely the suspension must be a massive playing factor on yours then, Dec?

My suspension is fine. I have FK Highsports and before changing the tyres, it was fine, so im not sure it would all of a sudden make such a huge difference.

Dec if it handles crap..then it handles like a mk3 should  :wink:  :lipsrsealed:

(but tryes can make the mk3 handle very different...I had some falken's up front that were rated highly by blackcircles and it spun and slid everywhere...swapped for fulda's and it gripped and rode much much better!)

Handled fine before :) Still handles well, just not quite the same. Grips like no tomorrow (4 on-the-limit tyres before), just doesnt feel quite as sturdy for some reason :huh:
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Mikester on 16 June 2009, 12:21
are the new tyres a bigger profile, and not stretched? If so its probably just a bit more bounce as there is actually room to move for the air. lol.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Dec on 16 June 2009, 13:02
Yer thats what I put it down to. Need an oxygen mask because my cars so high now...
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Mikester on 16 June 2009, 13:09
Why did you let them put those tyres on? And pay for it?

Could of just got some more stretched on at the place jake goes to in maldon surely?

And i thought you had some mk4 mot wheels from ur dads mate sorted?
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: VR6-Joe on 16 June 2009, 14:28
As said previously, lower your car on the 17's and then go from there.

You said you want it to be low and slow too - you can't really get that low on 18's!

My old Mk3 was lowered approximately 100-110mmm (compared to a standard height Mk3) on 17's and I think it looked pimp as fcuk.. handled quite well too!! But the sills and splitter still weren't low enough to the ground for my liking.

(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa29/GCL731Y/Updates/S7001397.jpg)

On 15's, it was pretty much on the floor and I found going over speed bumps to be a complete nightmare cus I just beached it all the time, although it handled 100x better and I enjoyed it a lot more

(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa29/GCL731Y/Updates/DSC00173.jpg)

And my new car on 16's is just perfect all round in my opinion

(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa29/GCL731Y/10-06-2009/W1.jpg)
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Dec on 16 June 2009, 15:04
Why did you let them put those tyres on? And pay for it?

Could of just got some more stretched on at the place jake goes to in maldon surely?

And i thought you had some mk4 mot wheels from ur dads mate sorted?

I was talking to him about it for ages. He said they wouldnt make too much difference (which 8mm isnt that much at the end of the day) and apparently they would still be stretched. They are slightly, but not at all compared to some/the old ones.

Didnt know where jake uses, and my tyres were all illegal so didnt have time to get them done elsewhere.

The Mk4 wheels were miles too big and didnt fit :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Wayne on 16 June 2009, 15:27
Why did you let them put those tyres on? And pay for it?

Could of just got some more stretched on at the place jake goes to in maldon surely?

And i thought you had some mk4 mot wheels from ur dads mate sorted?

I was talking to him about it for ages. He said they wouldnt make too much difference (which 8mm isnt that much at the end of the day) and apparently they would still be stretched. They are slightly, but not at all compared to some/the old ones.

Didnt know where jake uses, and my tyres were all illegal so didnt have time to get them done elsewhere.

The Mk4 wheels were miles too big and didnt fit :laugh: :laugh:

Why not change the tyres on the mk4 rims.
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Dec on 16 June 2009, 15:33
Theyre just standard rubbish ones mate, but they had brand new tyres on already so thought they would do for a week or two till I sorted out some new wheels :(
Title: Re: will 18's fit mk3
Post by: Mikester on 16 June 2009, 18:23
Thats a bit gay. TBH i wouldnt trust a garage that is law abiding, when it comes to something as dodgey as stretched tyres. lol.