GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: Dave80s on 10 December 2005, 17:47
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Hi all, this is my first post, I have just purchased a 96P Gti 8v and very nice it is too.
It was quite cheap so it has some niggling faults - I think I will be on here a lot!
The purpose of this post is to ask you what the standard tyre size of my wheels should be.
They are the 9 spoke 15" alloys with 205/50/15 tyres, is it possible to change to 195/50/15? Because the 205's rub the inner arch on full lock and the steering feels quite heavy.
Also 195/50/15 is a lot cheaper and I need 4 new tyres. e.g I have seen Goodyear Eagle F1s for £35 on mytyres. The best 205 price I could find was Toyo 610's at £41
What advice can you give me? Anyone done this swap?
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The standard size is 205/50/15. The factory GTI rims wear this size rubber - my 97 8v for instance although they don't rub the arches on either steering lock. Does your car have lowered suspension?
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I'm surprised they rub as I'm running 215 17" rubber without any rubbing at all!!!!!
Stu
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I had a good look yesterday and the inner arch had come loose and was rubbing against the tyre - I have fixed it by cable tying it back and the rubbing has stopped.
The car has the standard 9 spoke Gti wheels, do you reckon I should stick to 205/50/15 then?
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The car has the standard 9 spoke Gti wheels, do you reckon I should stick to 205/50/15 then?
Yep.
I've heard insurance companies will not pay out in the event of an accident if you deviate from the original spec of the tyres....
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I'm surprised they rub as I'm running 215 17" rubber without any rubbing at all!!!!!
Stu
i had 17's on 215/17's and when youve got people in the back or take a corner sharp they would rub and grind like mad!, you must have just been lucky with you arches ;-)
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p.s. I have standard suspension.
Gonna go for Toyo R610 in 205/50/15 size at £39 each from black circles. Cheapest half decent tyre I could find.
They are only H rated but that will do me as I only use the car for the daily commute.
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I'm surprised they rub as I'm running 215 17" rubber without any rubbing at all!!!!!
Stu
i had 17's on 215/17's and when youve got people in the back or take a corner sharp they would rub and grind like mad!, you must have just been lucky with you arches ;-)
Alright, you got me there :embarassed: They do rub at the back under extreme load. What i should have said was, the fronts dont rub at all under any load. In my defence, Dave80s question was about rubbing at the front, not the back :grin:
Stu
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p.s. I have standard suspension.
Gonna go for Toyo R610 in 205/50/15 size at £39 each from black circles. Cheapest half decent tyre I could find.
They are only H rated but that will do me as I only use the car for the daily commute.
Worth having a look on www.mytyres.co.uk as they are usually cheaper than black circle and the price you see on mytyres includes p+p, whereas on BC they add about £10 for two tyres if you choose mail order. Toyo Proxies are a good tyre, either the run out T1-S or the replacement T1-R. Unless you can find a nice friendly fitter most places (local to me anyway) charge about £10-15 per tyre for fitting
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Just got a call from blackcircles - they haven't got any Toyo R610 left! No wonder they were cheap, they don't make 'em any more.
All they could offer me were Toyo Proxes T1-S at £10 each more. (£48). Postage is £9.50 for all 4 tyres on top.
Mytyres have Toyo T1-R at £47 each inc postage.
Mytyres also have Kuhmo KU31 for £40, I thought that these may be more of a budget tyre than the Toyo's, what do you all think?
These prices are all exclusive of fitting. It is £12.50 ish a corner for fitting with blackcircles and mytyres, so I will just use a local tyre fitter.
Has anyone else got a recommendation?
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Personally mate I would go for the Toyos but it depends what you are after from the tyre. I have had numerous sets of Toyos and really rate them for handling characteristics and for price. Last time I had to replace all 4 tyres and couldnt get the Toyos from either website so went for the Kumho Ecsta 712s....they were ok but not a patch on the Toyos and when they get low (but still legal) on tread I found them shocking so was pleased to have a new set of Toyos fitted on the front last monday!
Used both websites and found them good, altho black circles slightly dearer. Slight side point, but near me I reckon the tyre fitters have twigged onto the fact websites can supply tyres a lot cheaper so many have now bumped the price up for fitting them to make up for lost business. I used to be able to have a tyre fitted, valve and balance for about a fiver but now nearer £14.