A few Questions (17" to 18" checks)

[maxamus]

Hi Fellas

I've had 18" Monza reps with 225/40/R18 Goodyear Eagle F1's put on my GTI. Previously had 17" on.

Car drives as per normal if not better. Its got better grip and the handling has been improved. Also, the car looks more chunky and sporty 

There are no problems to report but i just want to know:

1. Should i get my traction checked?
2. Should i get all the wheels aligned?
3. Any other checks i can do...?

The garage who put them on said if the car was not pulling to one side and if it was driving normal previously with the 17" on then there would be no reason to carry out any additional checks when the 18" went on. Is he right?

Im a noob at these things  :embarassed:


Pictures to betaken on Saturday 

[Hurdy]

1) What do you mean by traction check?

2) You shouldn't need to re-align the tracking. Just by having the wheels changed, it would be exactly the same as before. If (as you say) the car feels normal if not better and that you feel you have more grip and better handling then I wouldn't worry. If you really feel you want to have the tracking checked then most places do a tracking check for free and it is only if they have to alter the tracking that you normally have to pay

3) If you don't have the tracking checked then just look at the tyres after a week to see if there is any abnormal wear on the inside or outside edges of them. If they are ok then don't worry. If there is abnormal scrubbing then your tracking may have been knocked out at some point. Otherwise I would just check the trye pressures a couple of times a week for the first two weeks just to ensure that the valves aren't leaking or that the tyres you have bought aren't faulty (punctured!).

Also you may find that on some replicas the offset isn't the same as an original set of MonzaII's are. This may mean that under extreme circumstances (sharp corners at speed, dips in the road etc) you may find that the replica's may scrub briefly on either the inside or outside of the arch. It is nothing to unduly worry about as it would only be briefly and only in extreme circumstances and so wouldn't damage anything.

Oh and BTW, nice choice of tyres

[PabloGTI]

1) What do you mean by traction check?

I would guess he means tracking, which is basically the same as alignment as in question 2.

If it wasnt pulling to either side, AND the tyres on the 17 looked to be wearing evenly I would leave it. Some tyre bays might want to fiddle just to get your £ or $.