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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: dubsport on 04 November 2007, 18:00

Title: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: dubsport on 04 November 2007, 18:00
collected my 15" winter wheels today, at the moment they have 195-50-R15 on, all tyres will need to be replaced soon, would like some low profiles on so what kinda of size am i looking at?

thanks
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: Simpson on 04 November 2007, 18:07
handle better with 185 55 15s  :smiley:
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: sesterfield on 04 November 2007, 18:50
Wouldn't recommend 45s, got a set on the wheels I just bought and they're pretty harsh  :undecided:
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: dubsport on 04 November 2007, 19:33
cheers guys ... the 195 50 15 look quite big compared to whats on already,

this is the new alloys resting against the car ... looks like a monster truck :(

(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/nhoyglun/0704120025.jpg)

would 195/45 R15 be alright do you think? im not to bothered about the harshness of the ride .... yet  :laugh:
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: sesterfield on 04 November 2007, 19:36
I'll get a picture of my wheels tomorrow if you want a comparison?
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: dubsport on 04 November 2007, 19:39
yeah that would be great, cheers  :smiley:
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: vw-bob on 04 November 2007, 22:41
dude. i got 205/50 i think on my RA's.....now thats tractor treads
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: Mew on 04 November 2007, 22:43
handle better with 185 55 15s  :smiley:

Any ideas why?
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: mk2mark on 04 November 2007, 23:41
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Original tyres were 185/60/R14 IIRC, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Your suspension was designed with an overall diameter in mind, makes no sense whatsoever to alter that.
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: Mew on 05 November 2007, 00:16
Rolling radius of a 185/60/14 tyre is the same as a 195/50/15 though
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: sesterfield on 05 November 2007, 10:37
Crappy phone pics but here it goes:

(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n280/sesterfield/IMAGE_014.jpg)
(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n280/sesterfield/IMAGE_015.jpg)

Yes I know it needs lowering  :laugh:
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: Simpson on 05 November 2007, 12:50
i have had both and they were designed to run on 185 55s, dont ask me why they handle better as one would think there would be more tyre flex.
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: VeeDubGTI16v on 05 November 2007, 13:59
those wheels are 6j, id stick with 185 width
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: dubsport on 06 November 2007, 12:45
cheers sesterfield for the pics  :smiley:

mk2mark, people put 17s on etc ... im only going for 15s surely that cant be as bad  :huh:

what would be best then keeping in mind my car is lowered 40mm?

thanks
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: 8vRicey on 06 November 2007, 14:13
Mine is lowered -40mm on Eibach springs.
195.50.15's on RA's, handles a treat !!  :laugh:
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: mk2mark on 06 November 2007, 14:35
mk2mark, people put 17s on etc ... im only going for 15s surely that cant be as bad  :huh:
Sure, but that doesn't make them all right does it? Incidentally 17" rims with 195/35 rubber will have the same rolling diameter as the original golf wheels, so you can get away with it - but I wouldn't want to personally, I think you can go too big, and questions of taste aside you're introducing a much larger amount of unsprung rotational mass which is not good.
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: dubsport on 06 November 2007, 16:08
im not saying its right im just saying people do it ... lodas of people on this forum have 15s i was just wondering what tyres they have on them  :huh:
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: b4rks on 06 November 2007, 17:59
I'm up for a slight hijack here.....

My car's still got the tyres on it that came with when I bought it a couple of weeks ago..... which are different sizes on the front and back (don't ask me why!?)

I was planning on ordering 4 online then getting them fitted and tracked after she's been in to have the top mounts and wishbones (?) changed.  Don't want to order the wrong size, and as I have two different sizes I don't know which is right, the pics below, any recommendations including brand?  Don't want to spend a mint, but I'd like it to stick.

(http://www.b4rks.me.uk/images/2.JPG)

Cheers.
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: mk2mark on 06 November 2007, 18:48
i've settled on Falken Ziex ZE 512's, a little more expensive than the cheap nankangs, which to me seemed quite ok :undecided:. Regardless these are better and you get a brand name with them, so if there is any truth to what some people say you're safe enough. Between the golf and the tyres the handling is just superb, VERY confidence inspiring since the cars limits are so far beyond what's legal/sensible. My reccommendation is 195/50's, If you get them I'd also be interested in how you find them compared to the toyos you have on the car.
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: VeeDubGTI16v on 06 November 2007, 19:04
i went for some goodyear eagle f1 last time which i think are awesome! like toyos but grip far better in the wet and last a hell of a lot longer! they cost me £160 fitted in 195/50/15
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: 8vRicey on 06 November 2007, 22:02
i went for some goodyear eagle f1 last time which i think are awesome! like toyos but grip far better in the wet and last a hell of a lot longer! they cost me £160 fitted in 195/50/15

I concur !!  :smiley:
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: clipperjay on 06 November 2007, 22:59
P-Zero Nero's Nothing touches these on the road..... just don't expect them to last as daily's, but weekend fun driving they stick to the road like glue in the wet especially! :smiley:
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: Ben Lessani on 08 November 2007, 11:00
How no-one has mentioned Uniroyal Rainsports I don't know. Its the poor man's Eagle F1. I love them to bits, my car sticks to the road rain or shine with no understear/overstear at all @ £30 each, I aint complaining.
Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: b4rks on 09 November 2007, 08:24
Ended up just getting two new Toyo backs to match the fronts, as money's getting a bit tight now.  It did have 195/55/15 on the back and 185/55/15 on the front so now (obviously) it's got 185/55/15s all the way round and feels so much more planted on the road...... which seems strange to me, how come less width (that's right isn't it??) on the back feels better?

And coo-er blimey, had the bottom arms, ARB links, strut mounts and track rods replaced and it feels SOOOOOO much better.   No little bumps, the steering's tight and precise and it goes in a straight line when I accelerate and brake now - happy days :)

Got it compression tested too, apparently all fine there, but it's losing oil from the sump gasket (easy fix innit) - just the clocks to go, and a full weekends cleaning and I reckon she's finished :)

What an excellent car!!

Title: Re: what do you wrap on your 15's?
Post by: rubjonny on 09 November 2007, 17:34
std fit from vw was 185/55/15.  These are quite a bit more expensive, the closest match is 195/50/15, and are also listed in the back of the owners manual too.

The reason it'll feel more planted is you now have a smaller sidewall.
185 = width of tyre
55 = size of tyre wall which is a percentage of the tyre width
15 = diameter of wheel

So the old tyre would have had a 107.3mm side wall, and the new ones now have a 101.8mm sidewall.  In comparison a 195/50 has a 97.5mm sidewall, so the lowest profile of the lot, plus more width than the std fit tyre.