GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: gfmr89 on 06 June 2023, 12:13
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Hello All,
I’m a new member and kindly seeking advice on new wheels and tyres.
I have a 2019 Mk7.5 GTI in Atlantic blue with the stock 18s (unsure of the name but diamond cut) and potenzas.
The tyres need replaced and I’ve noticed on two of the alloys what looks like the start of corrosion. Therefore I’ve thought that this might be a good time to change the wheels on the car and put on some fresh tyres.
Here are the options as I see it after looking through the boards and would appreciate guidance to help me decide:
New Wheels
While I love the brescia wheels, I think I want to stay away from diamond cut as the car is my daily. I quite like the Pretoria alloys but I understand a genuine set are very expensive. I know there are after market replica options available, most notably cmwheels or 5 Star Wheels, and cmwheels seem to be well regarded. Are there any issues with going down the replica route I need to be aware of and anything I need to consider or buy in addition for fitting replicas? Alternatively, there is a set of refurbed genuine Santiagos in grey I can get on marketplace. Would this be a better option?
Lastly on the new wheels, what is the ride comfort like on 19s? I don’t have DCC and have a baby on the way so don’t want to have a harsh car ride and the roads where I am are not the best (rural, potholes).
I note you can get the replicas in 18s, would that be a better option than the 19s if I want to maintain ride comfort?
Tyres
What tyres do you recommend for 19s and 18s options?
Apologies if these questions seem obvious but I’ve never swapped the wheels on my car before and want to make sure I do it right.
Thank you! :smiley:
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If you're looking for new alloys that aren't diamond cut, and are concerned regarding quality of originals wheels and replicas. I'd approach VW and see if they have the 18 inch Pretorias available, iirc they come with tyres for circa £1k but it's been a while since I last looked.
Despite my stance on 19s, I'd recommend you go with 18s. Potholes and trying not to wake a newborn would be bad enough, without adding 19s to the mix. Plus if you get distracted an 18 has a bit more rubber should you hit a pothole.
Tyre wise, up in the air at the minute anything Goodyear, Michelin or Continental is a safest bet. My brother got a set of Continental Sport Contact 7's for £360 fitted and I'd probably go with them as they're the current leader in reviews and cost per mile.
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Welcome gfmr :smiley:
There are many options available to you as you’ll well know.
Will has detailed some good points there.
19’s do look nicer but a decent looking set of 18” wheels are a great compromise - slightly better ride and significantly cheaper tyres.
If considering non-OEM wheels it would be worth checking out Borbet and similar OEM rated brands aftermarket ranges too. Most of these will be TÜV approved which carries a bit of reassurance.
Personally I’m running a set of CMWheels Reifnitz which started off as a temporary set for winter use yet are still on the car two and a half years later. I’m not used to keeping a car that long never mind a set of wheels!
As for tyres, I’d also go with any of the ones Will suggested. I’d sway towards the PS5 but that would depend on what offers were on at the time too.
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Thank you both for the guidance!
I'll contact my local VW dealers to see if they can supply the Pret 18s - a genuine set for around £1k is not bad at all.
As for non-OEM, I'll have a look at Borbet. I did see that MAK made the Wolf wheels for the Mk7? Would that be as well regarded as Borbet and a 'L4L' replacement of the stock 18s, even being able to use the VW centre caps and bolt covers? - https://www.performancealloys.com/mak-wolf-silver - A set of them in silver or gloss back would like nice but maybe the offset wouldn't fill the arches as nicely as the cmwheels for example?
@Exonian, I bet the reifnitz look great and keep it OEM+ style! Are you pleased with the quality of cmwheels?
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Another set I always thought were nice, were the VW rotary's (below) you're lucky with a golf lots of choices and a lot look well. Also a fairly common choice are BBS SR's, usually pop up on Facebook for £600-700.
I'm the opposite of Exonian, I've had more sets of wheels than I've had cars :grin:
(https://i.postimg.cc/XJrW5Wpw/h6ouctgnm7s91-jpg.webp) (https://postimg.cc/XG6tMTKJ)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275859908929?hash=item403a882941:g:wakAAOSwiE5kZ6lr&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4NWYZfbvxYgSlHZIvI9eZnbiHeJhyQFpsxyjheh%2FqYsWKTsFpKihMv%2BA9Yc9TuRVQbVKx4zXnnx6QxH1Ehs%2FbXQxV%2FactzSw0xvULRV4vy9FyKTpkTfjK02osFt7GNeY3PFmjBFNL4e4xFHR5MhOFB9DcaIgR1KfWwQG55UxsILHRodEQHBJUP2wjWwGul%2Fjm%2FR57HjCzmEpybw5am1FR5LRlaXav0mJ6wI7HNWkmtOfN6Qt%2B%2Btb7sjgvfhDg5c0QTQ%2B7RnnYKq8sM24pXWnDDhqVvy0ZXUmFVg14hnFfh0T%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-7rsamSYg
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194304469048?epid=9028124396&hash=item2d3d72e838:g:4z0AAOSw-rlh7tu1&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4IzqpMj6W0n1xTU1DcUVosgSEOALAO5o4ghJaqIDHmD6bavjOKgLlb0%2BcdXKlXNoWgjB8TyK10MkOpyRhY8sfTGPOxw9qBkrHQ6hGbQfKYRpqTo18%2FknWc0QBilfTq%2FBP1Sg0vjHe%2BTzaRdXip15%2BSgP%2FSNzmExeLfUQUTqbVWj%2F1rh9RHtne5G9KCZjeXSJtDqWp%2BVv1MoMCAOgH1Lp3Gf3f1H4nnsiLL%2FcrFtWt2HU%2FwuS2ocjdOreCGjIj0Z4mDkPNy0v8ocwwmnMd1DmvByGjAuth5cHzGvX9HkiuhMx%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7S3uKmSYg
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Another set I always thought were nice, were the VW rotary's (below) you're lucky with a golf lots of choices and a lot look well. Also a fairly common choice are BBS SR's, usually pop up on Facebook for £600-700.
I'm the opposite of Exonian, I've had more sets of wheels than I've had cars :grin:
I had VW Rotary alloys on my mk6 Golf GTD; nice simple design, my favourite colour for alloys and they’re also easy to clean;
(https://i.postimg.cc/D0txRT7V/IMG-0385.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
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Here’s the style of Borbets I put on my Mk8 but I think they’d suit a 7.5 too. They’re 18s. Look on eBay for Tunershop-Germany. They have quite a few styles around £700 per set for genuine Borbets who make many of the oem VW wheels. They’re supplied with Borbet centre caps or buy VW stickers from eBay. They’re 8j and come in a variety of offsets. Mine are ET 42 and fill the arches nicely. If you have 225 x 40 x 18 tyres you could swap them or as Exonian said 18s are a fair bit less expensive.
(https://i.postimg.cc/BnxwjTHv/IMG-0113.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PC5Mc86G)
I previously had a 7.5 GTI without DCC and I changed my 19 Santiagos to oem Milton Keynes/Austin 18s as I preferred the smoother ride. Personally, I found the 19 Santiago’s too harsh and my wife really didn’t like them. If I am honest I liked the look of the Milton Keynes better but maybe I am odd. Here’s a photo of one of each on the car.
(https://i.postimg.cc/QCMF66Vp/IMG-3095.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5YZ9ySB0)
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@Exonian, I bet the reifnitz look great and keep it OEM+ style! Are you pleased with the quality of cmwheels?
The Reifnitz reps have stood up well. I’ve been quite impressed by them.
I’m a huge fan of the MAK Wolf. You can buy them direct from Italy for sensible money and they’ll take the original bolts and VW centre caps. I used to bang on about the Wolfs constantly on here some years ago. They’re well worth considering.
I'm the opposite of Exonian, I've had more sets of wheels than I’ve had cars :grin:
Nah, I’ve just got old and calmed down. I generally had two or three sets on a car (and rarely kept a car for as long as 18 months) for years and years. At my worst I had 7 sets (not all at the same time) for my first mk6 GTI back in the day. The following car only had three sets, as did the next… :whistle:
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Some great advice, thank you!
I reached out to my local VW dealer's parts department (not the most helpful and didn't seem to know they could supply OEM wheels and tyres aftersales) and after a painful 10-15 mins of what I guess was them trying to find the 18" Prets on the system, quoted me £485 per wheel/tyre which is more than I can spend. I've reached out to another dealer further away but I suspect their prices will be the same.
I think it's a decision between the CM reps which are tempting for the price alone, MAK Wolfs or the VW rotary wheels (which are really nice, but not sure I can get buy-in from the wife on the cost!).
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Some great advice, thank you!
I reached out to my local VW dealer's parts department (not the most helpful and didn't seem to know they could supply OEM wheels and tyres aftersales) and after a painful 10-15 mins of what I guess was them trying to find the 18" Prets on the system, quoted me £485 per wheel/tyre which is more than I can spend. I've reached out to another dealer further away but I suspect their prices will be the same.
I think it's a decision between the CM reps which are tempting for the price alone, MAK Wolfs or the VW rotary wheels (which are really nice, but not sure I can get buy-in from the wife on the cost!).
It’s always worth asking for discount if buying accessories from a VW dealership - especially if you’re spending a fairly sizeable sum of your ‘hard earned’ on a quite expensive item like a set of new alloys. If you don’t ask, you don’t get, and the VW dealership I use has always given me 10% discount off accessories when I’ve asked.
I’ve not bought anything from them post-Covid so things may be different now, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
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Can I ask if they said what type of tyres were on the alloys? I guess if they are stock items then the tyres could be several years old, probably about £500 of tyre included. Wonder if they would offer the alloys on their own?
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That's a good point by Rudedog, tyres are recommended to be changed every 5/6 years regardless of fitted or not.
If staying under £1k Reps and premium tyres would be my choice, rather than genuine alloys with cheaper tyres.
I also saw these by Japan Racing, which are getting a good name for quality. Just don't buy tyres from Wheelbase as you generally pay over the odds.
https://www.wheelbasealloys.com/alloy-wheels/japan-racing/jr37-8-18/gloss-black/18-inch/volkswagen/golf-gti/mk7?year=2019
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Hi everyone, thank you for the responses and apologies for the delayed reply! Our baby boy decided to make his arrival and needless to say that we're over the moon with him! He's keeping us on our toes and this is the first time I've had a chance to look into the wheels and tyres again.
Some great advice, thank you!
I reached out to my local VW dealer's parts department (not the most helpful and didn't seem to know they could supply OEM wheels and tyres aftersales) and after a painful 10-15 mins of what I guess was them trying to find the 18" Prets on the system, quoted me £485 per wheel/tyre which is more than I can spend. I've reached out to another dealer further away but I suspect their prices will be the same.
I think it's a decision between the CM reps which are tempting for the price alone, MAK Wolfs or the VW rotary wheels (which are really nice, but not sure I can get buy-in from the wife on the cost!).
It’s always worth asking for discount if buying accessories from a VW dealership - especially if you’re spending a fairly sizeable sum of your ‘hard earned’ on a quite expensive item like a set of new alloys. If you don’t ask, you don’t get, and the VW dealership I use has always given me 10% discount off accessories when I’ve asked.
I’ve not bought anything from them post-Covid so things may be different now, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Good point - I'l try that with the other VW dealer local(ish) to me if I can get a hold of their parts department.
Can I ask if they said what type of tyres were on the alloys? I guess if they are stock items then the tyres could be several years old, probably about £500 of tyre included. Wonder if they would offer the alloys on their own?
They come with Premium Contact 6 tyres however they didn't have any wheels in stock and couldn't say when they would next come in.
That's a good point by Rudedog, tyres are recommended to be changed every 5/6 years regardless of fitted or not.
If staying under £1k Reps and premium tyres would be my choice, rather than genuine alloys with cheaper tyres.
I also saw these by Japan Racing, which are getting a good name for quality. Just don't buy tyres from Wheelbase as you generally pay over the odds.
https://www.wheelbasealloys.com/alloy-wheels/japan-racing/jr37-8-18/gloss-black/18-inch/volkswagen/golf-gti/mk7?year=2019
Those Japan Racing alloys look very nice! I know someone via a local VW group who has them on his Mk7 and they suit it quite well.
But overall, reps and premium tyres are looking like the most likely option at this point. However, I wonder if it would be possible to fit new 18 tyres to my stock alloys and then fit them to the VW rotary alloys at a later date so as to spread the costs if the tyre profile/size is the same?
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MPS4 on 18s and 4S on 19s are a formidable package. Equalled and bettered in some ares, but as a real world option still damn decent. 5 now we’ll regarded but the S hides.
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MPS4 on 18s and 4S on 19s are a formidable package. Equalled and bettered in some ares, but as a real world option still damn decent. 5 now we’ll regarded but the S hides.
conti sport contact 7 and Asy 6 are both better than the PS4. PS4 just doesn't give a sporty feel and is too soft in the sidewall.
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19" Brescia's and pilot sport 4S I had on mine best looking wheels you can fit on a 7.5 gti pilot sport 4S transform the car perfect combination.
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19" Brescia's and pilot sport 4S I had on mine best looking wheels you can fit on a 7.5 gti pilot sport 4S transform the car perfect combination.
I'd say BBS CI-R personally, I put my Brescias back on and took them off a week later because thought they looked awful in comparison. I do miss the Pilot Sport 4S though, it's a great tyre, the Pilot Sport 5 just aren't the same, think I'll try the Contact Sport 7's after the PS5's or hopefully the Pilot Sport S5 when it comes out.
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I do miss the Pilot Sport 4S though, it's a great tyre, the Pilot Sport 5 just aren't the same, think I'll try the Contact Sport 7's after the PS5's or hopefully the Pilot Sport S5 when it comes out.
Interesting thoughts on the PS5 Will, dare I ask in what way you find them inferior to the PS4S for general road use?
Many of the online comparison reviews are done on race tracks under lab test conditions so much better to hear real world opinions from actual owners who paid money.
A colleague of mine has had two sets of Goodyear Assy’s crack in the tread block area after only a year or two so buyer beware there - keep an eye on them, one was bad enough for an MOT fail.
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I do miss the Pilot Sport 4S though, it's a great tyre, the Pilot Sport 5 just aren't the same, think I'll try the Contact Sport 7's after the PS5's or hopefully the Pilot Sport S5 when it comes out.
Interesting thoughts on the PS5 Will, dare I ask in what way you find them inferior to the PS4S for general road use?
Many of the online comparison reviews are done on race tracks under lab test conditions so much better to hear real world opinions from actual owners who paid money.
I wouldn't say the PS5 is an inferior tyre more just targeted at a different market segment.
The PS5 is more everyday oriented whilst being an ultra high performance tyre (UHP), much like the GTI it does everyday flawlessly, but with the option to do UHP things. I do notice there is less grip currently versus the PS4S, and actually have seen the traction light come on, which is a first for me in my car.
Whilst the PS4S is an ultra ultra high performance tyre (UUHP) so it's first thought it performance, grip and driving dynamics with everyday comfort being a second thought. So it does ride a little firmer, to give the better driving dynamics which I personally prefer.
I've never struggled for traction with the PS4S except with my old set on 2.8mm and in 4 degree weather (ideally PS4S should be used in 12+ degree weather for max grip).
I would liken the difference as CrossClimates to PS5 is the same as PS5 to PS4S, all great tyres but all for different purposes.
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Thanks Will :afro:
Funny you should mention CrossClimates, even though there’s been no snow down my neck of the woods for five years plus I’m considering a set of CC’s this winter. The PS4S aren’t great in standing water at times and we do get an awful lot of rain where I live.
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Thanks Will :afro:
Funny you should mention CrossClimates, even though there’s been no snow down my neck of the woods for five years plus I’m considering a set of CC’s this winter. The PS4S aren’t great in standing water at times and we do get an awful lot of rain where I live.
No problem!
I had Goodyear UltraGrips on my winter wheels and since sold them, they were great in the cold, wet and snow used them for 3-4 years and when I sold them they still had 6-7mm on them.
PS5 was my compromise for all year round tyres as Ireland is generally fairly warm, just need to drive to the conditions.
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My PS4's have finally worn enough for me to get a set of PS5's, going to have them fitted in a weeks time by a tyre place that do wheel refurb's so I'm hoping they should be ok putting on tyres - they even priced matched BC which had a 15% offer on so got them for £113 per corner (18").