Winter wheel size

[Spenaldo]

Does anyone know the smallest size wheel that will fit over the brake calipers?
Need to buy winter tyres as they are a legal requirement over in Germany in the winter.
I don't fancy buying 18" winter boots as they will cost a bomb!

[johanr77]

On a GTD and GTI (without PP) you can't go smaller than a 16" wheel (and you shouldn't it would look terrible)

[Andy_cs]

This is a question I've been trying to get answered. I have a set of 16" Aspen alloy wheels with winter tyres for my Mk6 and was hoping to keep them for the Mk7 when it arrives in the next week or 2. Info around the web is ambiguous. I asked my dealer and they have also been struggling to get a definitive answer, latest info after contacting VW UK is that 16" Mk6 alloys are not suitable for Mk7's and they are waiting for the new accessories catalogue to come out with details.
Personally I'm not convinced but I'm not in a position to argue, that said the 16" wheels look rubbish on my Mk6 GTD so I won't be too upset at having to upgrade to 17". Just have to find a new home for the 16" Aspens
Andy

[Spenaldo]

mmm, i find it odd that VW UK cannot answer such a simple question, i would imagine that the wheels you have used on your Mk6 should fit the 7. The wheel stud fitment is no different (unless someone says otherwise).
I will pop to my local German dealer, they will have the definitive answer.

[Spenaldo]

Ok,
Been on a German Halfords equivalent, its a local place round the corner called ATU, on their online search you can go down to 16"

Take a look at the link http://www.atu.de/pages/shop/alcar/kfz-auswahl.html?todo=&such=&save=&hdl=&modellnr=&txtPosition=2&txtHersteller=VW&chksave=true&zu2=&zu3=&herstellernr=201&modellbezeichnung=GOLF+VII+GTI+BLUEMOTION#scroll

[johanr77]

The wheels have a pcd of 5x112 just like the mk6, even the offsets aren't that different. I'd be stunned if a wheel you used on the mk6 didn't work just fine.

[corgi]

mmm, i find it odd that VW UK cannot answer such a simple question, i would imagine that the wheels you have used on your Mk6 should fit the 7. The wheel stud fitment is no different (unless someone says otherwise).
I will pop to my local German dealer, they will have the definitive answer.

The wheel fitments in terms of PCD may be a match between Mk6 and Mk7; however, this is not the only factor to consider... wheel offset, size of components such a brake disks, brake calipers etc. may mean that even if the PCD is correct the wheel may not fit

I would go and talk to some experts on the wheel front... they should be able to advise you

[Jules Winfield]

The configurator on VW Germany's web site lets you specify 16" wheels for a GTI.  There are two choices listed - 17" alloys ("Dijon") and 16" steel wheels (205/55/16).

It's also worth keeping an eye out for the "Volkswagen Winter Wheels Programme" brochure.  This lists appropriate winter wheels for all models of VW.  The 2012/2013 brochure (in English) is here:

http://www.volkswagen-zubehoer.de/fileadmin/pdf/prospekte/2012/WKR_2012_engl.pdf

It doesn't include the Mark 7 GTI, but does include "normal" Mark 7 Golfs, as well as the Mark 6.  I used this last year to get a set of "Aspen" alloys for my Mark 6 GTD, and they don't look bad at all (and they were quite reasonably priced as well).

[dubber36]

Is there a difference in wheel offsets between MQB platform cars with torsion bar or independent rear suspension? This may preclude fitting wheels from a lesser model.