Pot hole situation! 19" wheels

[p3eps]

I'm waiting for my Golf R which is now a build week 9 - and likely to be with me mid - late March.
I specced the 19" wheels, which seemed like a good idea at the time.

Just now I've been given a shot of a Daihatsu Terios (kind of like a Rav 4 for those who have no idea what it is!!) which is fine as a run around - and has nice big meaty 4x4 style tyres on it!

With the recent snow and ice, the roads are pot hole hell - and its difficult to drive anywhere... even on main roads without encountering pot holes that put a shock right up your spine!  On the Terios, this doesn't cause too much problem as the tyres have a huge profile.  On the 19" wheels I have on order - this is going to be hell!  35mm between them and the wheel 

I'm hoping in another 8 weeks the council will have got their fingers out and filled in / resurfaced most of the main roads - but I'm not holding my breath.  It makes me feel pretty worried, as a friend had to replace 2 alloys at the weekend as they both got buckled on a pot hole.  The council will apparently refund you £100 per wheel - but a new R wheel / tyre will probably cost about £500+.

I'm in two minds already to order a set of winter wheels / tyres - and get an old set of 16" / 17" wheels with winter tyres... and just put them straight on the car until the main pot hole situation is cleared up.  Will any Golf wheels fit, or do they have to be a certain offset?

I'm guessing that a 19" wheel with profile 35, means an 18" with 45, 17" with 55, and 16" with 65?

It'd seem such a shame to have the new car with manky looking wheels - but I'd rather than than destroy the new wheels within the first few weeks!

[mac7]

Because of the size of the front brakes the smallest you can go on the R is 17" with 205/50R17 (narrower winter size) or 225/45R17 tyres (GTI size). 18's would use 225/40's. In Germany they spec a 6x17 alloy winter wheel called the 'Meribel' but I don't know what they look like. Standard offset for the GTI is ET51 and I assume it is the same for the 7.5x18 and 8x19 Talladegas, but I'm not sure.

As for pot holes - we'll all just have to keep our p3epers open. If they resurfaced them properly in the first place instead of dropping some tar and throwing stones over it, they might last a bit longer. It's getting tiresome in this crap country with its crap roads.

EDIT: I am told the 8x19 Talladega is ET41, but this is not confirmed.

[Snoopy]

The roads in the north east are just stupid and i know what you meen about low profile, its why im still in two minds about fitting 19s or even 18s! to my car. The amount of cars we use to get in at my mates garage with buckled wheels was just eye openning. Its not always noticable either till you get them on a 2 post in the air and spin the wheels and look at the inside edge rim of the alloy (weakest point due to lack of suport). Big alloys may look good but im getting to the point of thinking are they really worth the hassle just for looks.
It would be interesting to find out what the offset is on the 'R' wheels as it maybe different to the rest of the range due to the 4wd system as im not sure but i think the S3 is different to the golfs.

[mac7]

Its not always noticable either till you get them on a 2 post in the air and spin the wheels and look at the inside edge rim of the alloy (weakest point due to lack of suport).

Yes, I've had this when I drove over an open storm drain. The wheel looked fine from the outside but was bent so much in the inside edge it lost pressure.

Big alloys may look good but im getting to the point of thinking are they really worth the hassle just for looks.

They are definitely worth it just for looks. You're just getting too sensible 

The Meribel winter wheel, 6x17, offset 48.5mm:

[p3eps]

The Meribel winter wheel, 6x17, offset 48.5mm:

They actually look OK!
Can we get them over here, or are they another German only thing?
Since we don't really know the R's offset, I don't suppose theres any point in rushing out and buying something yet.

[Hawk29]

Do you still get a spare on the R?? I personally wouldn't spec 19's, I got a puncture with 19's after hitting a rogue cats eye, spent two hours on the side of the M25 waiting for the recovery truck... Just glad I wasn't with my missus and little boy, It was quite scary!

[Booski]

I think you get a space saver (ss) on the R
you definately get a ss with the 18" as I lifted the boot carpet to check on the R I saw at Stockport VW. I assume we'll get an ss with the 19" also? 

[DonnieDarko]

i'm still waiting for something from Kent Council when i crunched a wheel (last) winter. they rejected it first time out, then said they'd put it back to the legal team. no word so far.

[Snoopy]

[p3eps]

Thanks Snoopy... Meribels are ET48.  Do we know what the R wheels are though?
I did read on a German forum the guy had them on his R32.  I'd imagine they'd be the same.

I wonder how much they are with a set of winter tyres on them?