« Reply #8 on: 27 September 2011, 16:36 »
I'd personally go for the 17'' Monzas, pick a cheapish set up (there are usually a few sets knocking around for sensible money except when you're actually looking for a set - a wanted ad will be your easiest option as a lot of people chuck them in the garage when they've upgraded to 18s and never get round to advertising them) as the Monzas are really easy to clean and look good on the Golf.
Then again if it's going to get cold enough to warrant winter wheels and tyres the things are going to be covered in salt and road filth most of the time if you do big miles so a set of 16'' steelies are strong and cheap and will take the knocks.
I skidded a works van into a kerb last year on sheet ice, I was only doing about 5 mph before the downhill skid but sped up thanks to the inertia. It was a Ford Connect with steel wheels which took the bump very well and there was barely a mark to the lip of the rim. It sounded like a bomb going off from inside the cab and I thought the wheel and tyre would have been destroyed.
I jumped out and skidded around to the side of the van prepared for the worst only to find the tyre still fully inflated and the wheel looking dandy. No steering knocked out from centre or anything thanks to the big sidewall of the tyre which took the impact. 9 months plus later and the same van has the same wheel and tyre and still fine. An alloy wheel would have been destroyed by that impact I reckon going from the impact noise.
So 16'' steelies are the sensible option.
I'd still go for 17'' Monzas. Happy compromise.
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