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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: encee on 17 December 2005, 00:26

Title: 17`s versus 18`s
Post by: encee on 17 December 2005, 00:26: I`m a newbie who is (excitedly) getting ready to pick up his first GTI on Monday. It`s an `05 model, and currently has the standard 17`s fitted.

Has anyone any thoughts on preference for the 17`s or 18`s in relation to ride quality, handling etc..........

IMHO the 18`s look the best, but are they necessarily better for the car ?
Title: Re: 17`s versus 18`s
Post by: jonny_d on 19 December 2005, 19:14: obviously the 18's look better full stop. but in terms of ride quality i'm guessing 17's as theyre what are standrd on the car. i dont own one unfortunately but ive got a mk4 and have just put 18" mille miglia cup 3's on it and the ride has changed quite a bit for the worse
Title: Re: 17`s versus 18`s
Post by: encee on 19 December 2005, 23:02: Quote from: jonny_d on 19 December 2005, 19:14
obviously the 18's look better full stop. but in terms of ride quality i'm guessing 17's as theyre what are standrd on the car. i dont own one unfortunately but ive got a mk4 and have just put 18" mille miglia cup 3's on it and the ride has changed quite a bit for the worse

Thanks for that Jon, you`re a gent. I think I`m going to stick with the 17`s for now, as the ride and handling with them on is out of this world !
Title: Re: 17`s versus 18`s
Post by: gg on 20 December 2005, 14:50: :cool:

hi encee,
best feeling ever driving out showroom in gti! As for tyres i went for the 18's and the ride is surprisingly smoothe(apart from sharp speed bumps). The handling is amazing though. But the real plus as u mentioned is the incredible profile they give the car. The huge rims glare from miles away in streetlight and side by side demolish the standard look of the 17's. However its a personal thing and i just love the bling!
gg
Title: Re: 17`s versus 18`s
Post by: golfpro on 20 December 2005, 15:00: in my humble opinion the 18s just fill the arches a bit better and give it a more manly stance (no offence ladies) Id go for the 18s if it was me, the tyres bein a little wider should help handelin if anything
Title: Re: 17`s versus 18`s
Post by: Ali-Jay on 20 December 2005, 17:05: Hi again encee, slight correction to golfproÃƒâ€šÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s previous post, both wheels have 225's on them but the 17's are 45 profile whereas the 18's are 40 profile. I'm sure there must be some affect on ride quality, but I think it's pretty minimal & it doesn't spoil the ride for me. However as golfpro says 18's fill the wheels arches a little better making it look a tad more purposeful IMO - that's the reason I went for them anyway.

One thing that isn't apparent from some of the photos of the two different wheels is that each have different types of finish. The 17's have a uniform silver coating (paint or powder coating) where as the 18's are polished & clear lacquered on their outer face with charcoal grey metallic finish (paint or powder coating) in the cut outs & bolt recesses.

HereÃƒâ€šÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a close up pic of the18Ãƒâ€šÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s; (http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d96/Ali-Jay66/A-Jmk508.jpg)
Title: Re: 17`s versus 18`s
Post by: >>Mart<< on 05 January 2006, 13:31: the 18s do look better eventhough i think they still look a bit small :rolleyes:

the r32 style ones on her mk5 look pretty good the handling seems better and as for road noise its hardly noticable i think it just depends what compound of tyre you get put on ie softer is better
as for tyre size its running 215/40/18
ride quality is hardly different either

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/gallery/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=21581&pos=-479
Title: Re: 17`s versus 18`s
Post by: charri42 on 14 January 2006, 00:08: I am looking at a mk5 gti and have managed to drive cars with both 17 and 18 inches. It was hard to tell if there was any major difference, both rode well, but crashed a bit on slower poor quality roads. I really don't think you could tell the difference, or if so, only very mild.

The only negative I see for the 18" (aside from initial cost and tyre cost) is the laquered finish. Which looks great new, but ALWAYS has problems later with water damage / peeling / needing refurb etc. But I assume they would be replaced under warranty? so what the hell!
Title: Re: 17`s versus 18`s
Post by: fcukruss on 15 January 2006, 18:23: why stop at 18`s

on ebay there are a set of rs6 wheels/tyres Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£595.

now were talking bling!!!!!!!

russ :cool:
Title: Re: 17`s versus 18`s
Post by: Magblixt on 31 March 2006, 13:19: I just traded my 17" in for a set of 18". The ride is not worse (at least not much). What does get worse is the road noise though. But people getting the 18" are sure to happily live with that downside, considering the improved handling and the superb head-turning looks!
Title: Re: 17`s versus 18`s
Post by: AlexRWD on 31 March 2006, 14:56: Collecting new GTi with 18's tomorrow, obviously key reason is the looks, but have also been pleased to see quite a few road tests claiming the lower profile 18's do slightly sharpen up the handling, so all sounds good to me :smiley:
Title: Re: 17`s versus 18`s
Post by: The Doc on 15 April 2006, 17:36: 18's all the way

No difference in ride but handles better and look great :shocked: - unless ya missus drives yer car then stick with the 17's :grin: