Author Topic: Suspension differences between 17" and 18" wheels?  (Read 26563 times)

Offline Ess_Three

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Re: Suspension differences between 17" and 18" wheels?
« Reply #40 on: 05 September 2010, 05:40 »
18" look better.
17" are more comfortable (think about it - they must be), cheaper (to buy and to replace tyres) and faster.

I don't feel the term 'faster' can be used in this way.
Faster how?
Faster top speed - no.
Faster accellerating? Possibly...but if the rolling radius remains the same, it's unlikely anyone would notice.
Faster on the road? That comes down to feel and confidence for most of us...and I'd suggest most will feel the car is faster point to point on 18s.

Reducing my Golf count by the week....
..but gaining motorcycles.

Offline am1w

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Re: Suspension differences between 17" and 18" wheels?
« Reply #41 on: 05 September 2010, 06:19 »
Ok just to clarify...
Mine was delivered with 17" wheels which I then swapped to 18". No difference in ride what so ever.

Gilly, just realised you were going to post pictures of your 'new' wheels a couple of weeks ago. :wink:

Ah, just seen your signature! I did guess they were Audi split-rims at some stage! :grin:
« Last Edit: 05 September 2010, 11:05 by am1w »
RED TORNADO 7R, 5 DR, DSG, DCC, DNS, DYNAUDIO, KI, WP, HBA, LN, SP

Offline Snoopy

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Re: Suspension differences between 17" and 18" wheels?
« Reply #42 on: 05 September 2010, 11:25 »
I found that 18s gave steering kickback on roads i drive.

I wonder how much of this is down to wheel/tyre weight?
I notice no adverse differences going from 18s to 19s, with lightweight 19" wheels....certainly no additional kickback over what I'd expect on the likes of a GTI anyway.

We have discussed the wheel weights previously :smiley:

BBS Monza 17" = 11.16Kg
BBS Monza II 18" = 12Kg
VWR 19" = 13.09Kg

Well, my scales must read differently to yours...I got:
12.55Kg for a single bare VWR wheel (19")
11.25Kg for a single bare BBS CH (18")
12.7Kg for a single bare Monza (18") but made by Ronal, not BBS.

Maybe the BBS/Ronal difference is in the weight?

The 17 and 18 were not measured by me they were measured by redrobin on freshly calibrated measuring scales.
The VWR wheel is a quoted weight from the manufacturer.
I can only comment on what I weighed, in my garage.
I was surprised to find the VWR wheel lighter than their site said...and the comparitive weights for the Ronal Monza and BBS CH were only what I weighed, on my digital bathroom scales, in my garage.
You do realise your talking about 0.7KG(~1.5Lbs) or less difference (either way) between your figures and the ones i quoted, and your talking bathroom scales not proper calibrated measuring scales.

So its really a pointless discussion.
« Last Edit: 05 September 2010, 11:30 by Snoopy »
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Offline Exonian

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Re: Suspension differences between 17" and 18" wheels?
« Reply #43 on: 05 September 2010, 11:53 »
My opinon echos what's generally been agreed on here.
Buy a car with 18s on. Get a cheap set of Monza 17s to run over winter with the appropriate rated tyres.

Where the 17s may look fine on a GT model with its standard bumpers, the GTI has big fat bumpers that look a bit silly with small wheels. Askers meat and two veg analogy sums it up pefectly.
18s are a must on MK6 GTIs.
Penguin's 17s just about get away with it as they're black (but would look a lot better with 10mm spacers on the back IMO  :wink: )

I bought my GTI with 17s, it wasn't a planned act as such; I just got a good deal on it (ex-demo). When I got it home I hid it away in the garage for two weeks until I had time to put my 18''ers on that I had in storage waiting. Sorry, but it just doesn't look like a £25k+ car with the plain jane standard silver Monzas on. The Monza Shadows are like diamond earrings and just add a touch of class as well as visually balancing the lines of the car out.

So in a basic answer to your original question: f**k knows, but if there is a difference it won't be big enough to make a hint of difference how the car drives in normal road conditions if you change your wheels.
« Last Edit: 05 September 2010, 11:55 by Exonian »
‘25 8.5R, ‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten 

Offline Snoopy

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Re: Suspension differences between 17" and 18" wheels?
« Reply #44 on: 05 September 2010, 12:07 »
Best advice.
Now go and buy the car David ASAP before you change your mind and end up with a Skoda!

To put it very basically as this might do the trick!
17" wheels = big dick and small balls = wrong :sad:
18" wheels = big dick with big balls  = perfectly right :smiley:
19" wheels = no comment :rolleyes:
You may find its mainly only men who need big wheels maybe its to make up for short cummings elsewere :smug:

Mk6 GTI  &  Mk1 GTI 
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Offline Exonian

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Re: Suspension differences between 17" and 18" wheels?
« Reply #45 on: 05 September 2010, 12:10 »
Best advice.
Now go and buy the car David ASAP before you change your mind and end up with a Skoda!

To put it very basically as this might do the trick!
17" wheels = big dick and small balls = wrong :sad:
18" wheels = big dick with big balls  = perfectly right :smiley:
19" wheels = no comment :rolleyes:
You may find its mainly only men who need big wheels maybe its to make up for short cummings elsewere :smug:


I need 20s in that case....... :lipsrsealed:
‘25 8.5R, ‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten 

Offline am1w

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Re: Suspension differences between 17" and 18" wheels?
« Reply #46 on: 05 September 2010, 12:19 »
Is that a gun you've got in your pocket or I you just pleased to see me? :grin:
RED TORNADO 7R, 5 DR, DSG, DCC, DNS, DYNAUDIO, KI, WP, HBA, LN, SP

Offline Exonian

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Re: Suspension differences between 17" and 18" wheels?
« Reply #47 on: 05 September 2010, 12:33 »
Man who specced 17''ers:
‘25 8.5R, ‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten 

Offline Ess_Three

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Re: Suspension differences between 17" and 18" wheels?
« Reply #48 on: 05 September 2010, 12:37 »

We have discussed the wheel weights previously :smiley:

Oh yes, hence my comments...
Anyone that can tell a 1Kg difference per wheel/Tyre, on a 1500Kg car with 210+ and oodles of torque, is a better man than me.
I'd always aim for as light a wheel as possible, and keep the rolling radius as close as you can...after that, it's down to feel/looks.

Reducing my Golf count by the week....
..but gaining motorcycles.

Offline david25

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Re: Suspension differences between 17" and 18" wheels?
« Reply #49 on: 05 September 2010, 13:08 »
Best advice.
Now go and buy the car David ASAP before you change your mind and end up with a Skoda!

To put it very basically as this might do the trick!
17" wheels = big dick and small balls = wrong :sad:
18" wheels = big dick with big balls  = perfectly right :smiley:
19" wheels = no comment :rolleyes:
You may find its mainly only men who need big wheels maybe its to make up for short cummings elsewere :smug:

Snoopy, quick question, what tyres come with 17" Monza's 225/45/91Y ?
Now = 2011 MK6 GTI - Reflex Silver
Past = 2006 MK5 GTI - Tornado Red and Solid Black