newcomer needs some wheel advice

[sammyboy92]

hi guys, ive recently got myself a mk3 gti 8v, it currently has the standard 5 stud 15" wheels , and im looking to get some nicer ones on it, my question is what do all the numbers mean , i get the size and that 5 x 100 is the stud pattern , but the rest i cant figure out , ive always had bikes so assumed the codes would be the same principal but sadly not. does anybody have an advice on what wheels fit and what sizes i should go for , i was thinking 16" as id like to get some coilovers n get it lower in the future ?

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

6.5J, 7J, 7.5J, Etc. Thats the rim witdth in inch's.

ET35, ET40, ET42, Etc (Thats the Offset). Them are the numbers you need to worry about. That basically tells you how the wheel will sit against the hub. Easier way to tell is. The higher the number, the more it will sit in the arch. The lower the number the more it will sit further away from the arch.

And then you've got 15", 16", 17", I'm sure you know how they work 

[sammyboy92]

  brilliant cheers thats cleared alot up ! does 16" sound like a good size for a mk3 seen as im planning on lowering it abit at some point ?

[kodkod.84]

Yes 16" is a good size on the mk3- I've lowered 40mm and car handles (and looks) a lot better

[Foreveryoungaus16v]

I  getting rid my 17's for some lightweight 16's