Confusion over wheel sizes.

[chiefwhosm]

Hi,
    I have two golfs, one 1.4 (think its a ryder) with alloy wheels (think they're bbs) and the 1.9 with vw steel wheels (presume standard).
I'm confused though because I thought the standard sized wheels were 15" on the mk3 range.
The steel wheels tyres are 175/70R/13 which makes them 13" wheels doesn't it?
This seems rather small to me if the default is 15".
The alloys are rated 195/60R/14 which seems to tie in for bbs 14" wheels from my google search.
I'm thinking of using the alloys from the 1.4 donor on the 1.9 (the steel wheels are somewhat rusty anyway) and wondered if this will affect the rpm,speedo etc at all? I presume if they are meant to be 15" wheels then the 13" will have effected things more than 14" wheels.
Also since the alloys need new tyres, is the tyre rating given the best one for an unlowered car so that I order the correct ones.
Part of me wonders about new alloys since while the alloys aren't too bad looking, I think it's mainly lacquer damage, the last owner has snapped the hubcap holder alloy off the wheel, and had been holding some on with screws.
If I were to go for new alloys, for the correct wheel size should they be 13,14 or 15" wheels for a 1.9 diesel CL?
Thanks,
           Chief.

[itavaltalainen]

Gti and VR6 have 15" standard (and they need them cos otherwise wheels won't go over brakes)
Most medium range Golf up to the 2 litre estate has 14"...
Small ones like 1.4 quite often came only with 13"

mounting 14" on the 1.9 should not be a problem. 195/60/14 is standard size for them

[boneybradley]

golfs are easy... just think

175/70x13
185/60x14
195/50x15

although vw did mix things up using 205/50x15 and 215/40x16 but all have around the same rolling radius....

[thai-wronghorse]

Don't forget 205/45/16.

[boneybradley]

Don't forget 205/45/16.

I was using o.e sizes to make things a bit easier but yeah they will also go on fine (amongst others with the same rolling radius)

[Len]

With 215/40 x 17 being the largest!