Wheel size...which is better?

[Hurdy]

I've just made the swap from 18" to 19" and can feel the difference, but it is still more subtle than you'd think. The lower profile means that the bumps, ruts and road surface variances are transferred more readily to the cabin, although it doesn't necessarily transfer feel at the steering wheel. There is a little more mechanical grip as the 19's are 235 section, rather than 225 section, so I'd say the transfer from 17 to 18 would be less marked as they both have 225 section rubber and ergo similar contact patch.

HI Hurdy,

Could you tell me the dimensions of your alloys and tires please as im still so lost on what size fits perfectly on the MK5, eg offset 51 19x9.5 alloys, 235x35x19 tires, many thanks C4

Yes,

My wheels are 19" x 8" with a 48 offset and 235x35x19 tyres - no scraping or rubbing

[lookoutsmudger]

Could someone be kind enough tell me what a wheels 'offset' is as I notice most Monza reps are less than the OEM size of 51? Appologies but i've ridden superbikes for the last 20 years!!! 

[andrewparker]

To quote the Evo Tyre Test:

The GTI has always felt pretty good on 18in wheels and slightly lower profile tyres (225/40 R18s), so day one of the test provided a big surprise. For familiarisation laps of the wet circuit, Bovingdon used the GTI Anniversary on its standard 18in rims, to which Bridgestone had fitted RE50-As. On the fractionally higher profile 17in tyres, Bovingdon noted significantly more turn-in bite and the Golf was around 2.5sec a lap faster...

I think turn-in feel is particularly important in front-wheel drive cars, but would agree that the 18s look nicer. Although I've played with the idea of fitting larger wheels to my GTI I don't think I could justify the cost (I'd only be happy with OEM which would cost a bomb) just for cosmetic effect. At the end of the day, you can't see the wheels from the drivers seat can you?!

[Hurdy]

Could someone be kind enough tell me what a wheels 'offset' is as I notice most Monza reps are less than the OEM size of 51? Appologies but i've ridden superbikes for the last 20 years!!! 

The wheel's offset is how far the face of the alloy sits from the centre of the alloy. The easiest example is that if the mounting face of the alloy is on the centreline of the wheel, then the offset is zero.

There are positive and negative offsets to wheels - negative means the mounting face is nearer the centre of the car, and positive means the mounting face is nearer the outside of the car.

The bigger the positive offset, the more the wheel will be under the arch. The less the offset (or higher negative offset) the more the alloy will poke from under the arch.

This pic should help

[lookoutsmudger]

Cheers Hurdy for the info. Most rep Monzas i've seen are 35 offset or thereabouts so I take it they would stick out a bit too much? I think I shall stick to the OEM 18's to make things easier, thats if i can find a decent set for reasonable money. Cheers again

[Spaced]

To quote the Evo Tyre Test:

The GTI has always felt pretty good on 18in wheels and slightly lower profile tyres (225/40 R18s), so day one of the test provided a big surprise. For familiarisation laps of the wet circuit, Bovingdon used the GTI Anniversary on its standard 18in rims, to which Bridgestone had fitted RE50-As. On the fractionally higher profile 17in tyres, Bovingdon noted significantly more turn-in bite and the Golf was around 2.5sec a lap faster...

I think turn-in feel is particularly important in front-wheel drive cars, but would agree that the 18s look nicer. Although I've played with the idea of fitting larger wheels to my GTI I don't think I could justify the cost (I'd only be happy with OEM which would cost a bomb) just for cosmetic effect. At the end of the day, you can't see the wheels from the drivers seat can you?!

If performance is a priority over looks then 17" or even 16" alloys are about as big as you should ever have, even the Mclaren F1 only had 17s (mind you 315 sections on the back!)

[Gene Hunt.]

What is the offset on orginal Monza alloys please ?.

51 offset.

.......thanks Hurdy.

[Hurdy]

To quote the Evo Tyre Test:

The GTI has always felt pretty good on 18in wheels and slightly lower profile tyres (225/40 R18s), so day one of the test provided a big surprise. For familiarisation laps of the wet circuit, Bovingdon used the GTI Anniversary on its standard 18in rims, to which Bridgestone had fitted RE50-As. On the fractionally higher profile 17in tyres, Bovingdon noted significantly more turn-in bite and the Golf was around 2.5sec a lap faster...

I think turn-in feel is particularly important in front-wheel drive cars, but would agree that the 18s look nicer. Although I've played with the idea of fitting larger wheels to my GTI I don't think I could justify the cost (I'd only be happy with OEM which would cost a bomb) just for cosmetic effect. At the end of the day, you can't see the wheels from the drivers seat can you?!

If performance is a priority over looks then 17" or even 16" alloys are about as big as you should ever have, even the Mclaren F1 only had 17s (mind you 315 sections on the back!)

Err, I'd be wary about generalisations like that

Tyre size and alloy size are all about the particular application you are wanting them for. Performance applications will still vary the size of alloy you require, along with the width of tread and depth of the sidewall. Would the Focus RS be better with 17" alloys or have they extensively researched the handling and decided upon the 19" alloy it comes with!

A thread like this will run and run. Even if there was definitive proof that one size wheel suited the standard GTI over all others, there are plenty of people on here who have suspension and power upgrades that may mean a different width of tyre or a different size alloy would be better for them.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

If performance is a priority over looks then 17" or even 16" alloys are about as big as you should ever have,

Nope, that is pure fiction.  The larger the wheel - the better the true performance will be.  But granted, 'feel' at the steering wheel will diminish as the tyre sidewall height gets smaller.

even the Mclaren F1 only had 17s (mind you 315 sections on the back!)

Erm, McLaren and co only run little simply wheels because they are all restricted by the FIA Formula 1 technical regulations. 

So, by using your logic, McLaren also run at 18psi pressure in their tyres - so are you stating we should all drop our pressures in the GTI to 18psi too? 

[Spaced]

Erm, McLaren and co only run little simply wheels because they are all restricted by the FIA Formula 1 technical regulations. 

So, by using your logic, McLaren also run at 18psi pressure in their tyres - so are you stating we should all drop our pressures in the GTI to 18psi too? 

I run 25psi in my Mclaren F1 is that too much?