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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: John W on 24 December 2013, 12:57

Title: Tyre question....
Post by: John W on 24 December 2013, 12:57
Guys
My Son has an 8V GTI with standard suspension. He's thinking of buying a set of 17" Monza replicas for it, ET 35. What size tyres would he need to fit to get them under the arches and keep the speedo within limits, and is he likely to get any clearance problems?
Thanks for your advice!
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: gazareth on 24 December 2013, 14:49
I would not put 17" wheels on a mark 2. it will destroy the good handling. and with the state of the roads these days he will soon tire of the constant banging from under the car. personally I would stick to a 15" rim with 185/55 0r 195/50 tyres.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: gasketface on 24 December 2013, 15:35
mk 2 ???.

16 inch are best on a mk3.17 inch can be fitted but if you get the offset,lowering and/or width wrong you are prone to probs.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Len on 24 December 2013, 16:31
17's are fine!

You can go up to 215/40 but that can cause problems at the rear if lowered too much!
I would go with 205/40 as a safe max.
Or 195/45

There is a tyre size chart up in the Maintenance/Info section
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 24 December 2013, 16:36
Surely 16s are the way to go on a Mk3?
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Wayne on 24 December 2013, 17:12
17's are fine, I ran them all OK on mine with 205/40/17 tyres.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: hobbiniho on 24 December 2013, 17:35
depends how much its lowered if at all this is my car with 17's with 205/40/17 and its pretty low and the wheels dont catch  :cool:
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r301/hobbiniho/2013-07-29182908_zpsa543b465.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/hobbiniho/media/2013-07-29182908_zpsa543b465.jpg.html)
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r301/hobbiniho/2013-07-29182931_zpsd782c9c0.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/hobbiniho/media/2013-07-29182931_zpsd782c9c0.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 24 December 2013, 18:24
But for optimal performance and handling 16s would be better surely?
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 24 December 2013, 18:25
I am looking at going from 17s to team dynamics pro race 16s atm
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 24 December 2013, 19:41
"Performance" aside, 15 & 16 inch rims are a lot more comfortable and forgiving. 16's for me personally.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: tweed on 24 December 2013, 23:30
I am looking at going from 17s to team dynamics pro race 16s atm

Best thing ive ever heard  :grin:

Surely tyre width depends on the wheel width?
With 17's I wouldn't go bigger than 7.5" et35 is good best tyre would be 205/40, but for more room a 195/40 will give plenty. 
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Len on 26 December 2013, 10:33
I have a set of 17x8 Momo wheels that I ran with 215/40 tyres.
That was when it was standard height.

Performance wise I would say 17's and 40 profile and as wide as you can go.
But if you want a bit more comfort and give in the tyre (If you cant handle a car properly) then 16's and 45 profile
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: tweed on 26 December 2013, 12:02
As a performance rule you fit as small diameter wheel as the brakes allow!

The bigger the wheel the higher the weight and unsprung weight (wheels & brakes) have a huge affect.

So bigger the wheel the slower you get to 0 to 60mph and so on.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: tweed on 26 December 2013, 12:18
Read this. Keep in mind the 17 and 18 are a lot wider and have smaller tyre wall. So give the 15 and 16 8" wide and same size tyre they will match the grip on the skid. So this test shows that smaller the faster and  8" wide wheels with low profile tyres give best grip.   http://www.caranddriver.com/features/effects-of-upsized-wheels-and-tires-tested (http://www.caranddriver.com/features/effects-of-upsized-wheels-and-tires-tested)
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Len on 26 December 2013, 15:30
Forty odd years of driving and nearly 11 years with my Golf I dont need to read anything!
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: tweed on 26 December 2013, 15:45
Doesn't matter how long you've been driving or what car, the fact is the physics are the same.

A larger wheel needs more force to move it and more force to keep it moving. So its a slower wheel and needs more force to keep at a constant speed than a smaller lighter wheel, so you will have poorer MPG also.


If big wheel are good why do F1 cars have 13" diameter wheels?
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 26 December 2013, 16:47
I worked out if I down sized from 17's to 16's with  low profile tires I would save over 11kg in weight at the wheels. Personally I think 17's don't look as smart on Mk3's as 16's if set up correctly. Looking forward to changing mine when I have the money. 
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Wayne on 26 December 2013, 23:03
You can get lightweight 17 wheels, I had 18 pro race on the Skoda and the difference against the CH reps was massive.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: tweed on 26 December 2013, 23:11
You can get lightweight 17 wheels, I had 18 pro race on the Skoda and the difference against the CH reps was massive.

I wont argue that but a 15" or 16" pro race wheel will still be lighter  :wink:

For performance for a mk3 golf I would say a 16" x 8" team dynamics pro race with 225/40/16 tyre but that will need arch work.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: hobbiniho on 27 December 2013, 00:09
i agree with tweed there is noticeable difference between the 17's that i have and the standard wheels but i dont care  :grin: the 17's dont spin nearly as easily as the 15's :laugh: so actually make the car better to drive
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: tweed on 27 December 2013, 01:13
i agree with tweed there is noticeable difference between the 17's that i have and the standard wheels but i dont care  :grin: the 17's dont spin nearly as easily as the 15's :laugh: so actually make the car better to drive

That comes down to tyres mate.  Buy something better and accelerate faster   :wink:
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 27 December 2013, 07:41
I really wish people would listen to the wheel specialist :angry:
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: hobbiniho on 27 December 2013, 17:30
That comes down to tyres mate.  Buy something better and accelerate faster   :wink:

even with the parada's on the standard wheels it was sh!t  :grin:
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: tweed on 27 December 2013, 17:49
That comes down to tyres mate.  Buy something better and accelerate faster   :wink:

even with the parada's on the standard wheels it was sh!t  :grin:

sh!t tyres thats why haha
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: John W on 29 December 2013, 12:36
Thanks for the advice chaps. He's bought a set with 205/40 fitted-arriving tomorrow, so fingers crossed!  :wink:
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: John W on 30 December 2013, 16:43
They've arrived! One final question-what are the best tyre pressures to use? Same as standard?
Thanks.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Len on 30 December 2013, 20:45
I really wish people would listen to the wheel specialist :angry:

There is a wheel specialist here?????   :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Len on 30 December 2013, 21:01
Doesn't matter how long you've been driving or what car, the fact is the physics are the same.

A larger wheel needs more force to move it and more force to keep it moving. So its a slower wheel and needs more force to keep at a constant speed than a smaller lighter wheel, so you will have poorer MPG also.


If big wheel are good why do F1 cars have 13" diameter wheels?

So what force is that then? Potential or Kinetic energy?

The rolling radius of all of these combinations is aprrox the same right.
So are you saying because you use a smaller wheel diameter with a larger tyre height it needs less force to move it?
So you are saying that rubber is much lighter than alloy?
Give me their relevant masses and I'll work it out for you.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: tweed on 30 December 2013, 21:22
Did you read my link? Its all in there  :wink:
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 30 December 2013, 21:26
Good read that
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: tweed on 30 December 2013, 21:37
They've arrived! One final question-what are the best tyre pressures to use? Same as standard?
Thanks.

34/32psi front. 32/30psi rear.

Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: John W on 31 December 2013, 10:07

34/32psi front. 32/30psi rear.

Thanks !  :smiley:
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Wayne on 31 December 2013, 11:45
They've arrived! One final question-what are the best tyre pressures to use? Same as standard?
Thanks.

I have always used standard pressures for aftermarket alloys.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: gazareth on 31 December 2013, 16:35
yeah second that. an increase in tyre pressure is only necessary if the weight of the vehicle has increased for some reason. it has very little to do with width or profile.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: John W on 04 January 2014, 17:40
Thought you might like to see the car with the new wheels. No clearance problems whatever.

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/jwindwood/golfnewwheels_zps93805f5c.jpg) (http://s251.photobucket.com/user/jwindwood/media/golfnewwheels_zps93805f5c.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: tweed on 04 January 2014, 18:47
Because its on stilts  :grin:

Looks nice but be awesome lower.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Screech16v on 04 January 2014, 19:39
 :huh:   Tweed             awesome              5dr  :undecided:













must not of noticed  :grin:
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 04 January 2014, 20:04
Not my cup of tea
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: tweed on 04 January 2014, 23:42
:huh:   Tweed             awesome              5dr  :undecided:













must not of noticed  :grin:

You're right I didn't notice that.  :grin: I was just being nice
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Wayne on 05 January 2014, 00:09
Needs a smack with the lowering stick :grin:
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: John W on 06 January 2014, 19:08
'twill be lowered in due course.... :wink:
To be fair, the angle of the photo makes it look much higher than it does in the metal.
I wasn't sure about the design when he ordered them, but to be fair they look really good.
Views please on how low to go without compromising usability. 20mm enough?  50 too much?
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 06 January 2014, 19:32
40mm is pretty tried and tested for a goid balance between comfort and aesthetics.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: tweed on 06 January 2014, 22:35
40mm is pretty tried and tested for a goid balance between comfort and aesthetics.

Second this.

Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: John W on 07 January 2014, 06:20
Thanks chaps. Any particular brand of springing?
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Wayne on 07 January 2014, 10:51
Thanks chaps. Any particular brand of springing?

Just get a good quality matched spring / shock kit.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Len on 07 January 2014, 11:19
Weitec are good but on the dear side and more expensive still are Bilstien and Koni.
Good compromise is Spax.
Try Larkspeed, found their prices keen.

As everything you get what you pay for! Cheap as chips ebay crap is just that!
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Len on 07 January 2014, 11:20
And you could try a PM to Boneybradley as he may be able to help! :wink:
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 07 January 2014, 15:06
Eibach or H&R springs offer 30-40mm lowering whilst retaining the ability to drive over a fallen leave without breaking your back or car.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: Screech16v on 07 January 2014, 18:03
 :grin: I ran over a crisp packet today with my hot tuning coilovers and got air.
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 07 January 2014, 18:11
 :grin:
Title: Re: Tyre question....
Post by: xionsolaris on 07 January 2014, 22:11
lol  :laugh: