Author Topic: GTi Clubsport - 18" wheels > 19" wheels  (Read 65654 times)

Offline Exonian

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Re: GTi Clubsport - 18" wheels > 19" wheels
« Reply #210 on: 25 February 2025, 22:34 »
I went 8x19 and 235/35/19  Michelin PS4S tyres.

Maybe 30kg with tyres fitted! In fact that wouldn’t be far off as I nearly got a hernia fitting the darned things. I did weigh one of my wheels, I can’t remember how heavy it was now, but 12-13kg would be ballpark
‘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 Beebopper

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Re: GTi Clubsport - 18" wheels > 19" wheels
« Reply #211 on: 26 February 2025, 09:26 »
Apologies for the thread resurrection, especially for a first post!

Recently picked up a 23 plate Clubsport, unfortunately the car is fitted with standard Richmond alloys which I want to change, as per this thread.

Not sure whether to stick with 18” or go 19”, I’d like to keep close to OEM spec and don’t want to change the feel of the car.

I quite like dark spoked style like Pretoria and Scottsdale Clubsport wheels and ideally I’d like to stick to OEM VW wheels.
Looking through classified ads on Facebook, eBay etc. and struggling to find anything less than £2k that isn’t damaged, repaired, scuffed etc.

Looking at the copy/replica wheel sites and CM Wheels have 19” Scottsdale replicas in satin black at quite a decent price, however the size is 19 x 8 x ET42

Most of the other replica VW wheels are ET45, I understand the originals are ET50.

Is offset of ET42 going to push the wheel too far out and will it change the feel of the car?

Welcome and congratulations on the new car! (Good choice  :smiley:).

I have just been through a similar process as I wanted to change the factory alloys, I used this web site to check the different sizes and impact on the wheel position, it's a very good calculator:
https://www.willtheyfit.com/

As you have found, the OEM wheels are very expensive but also good to keep things in spec. However, I read good reports of the CM wheel options, I nearly went that way too. In the end I went for some Racingline R360's, ET44 and slightly wider at 8.5J, the impact on the drive is positive as it feels more stable and planted in the corners.

If you plug the CM wheel options into the above calculator, it will show the you additional poke on the wheel compared to stock (how far out more it would sit). On the Golf's and a lot of VAG vehicles, you find the wheels do sit inward quite a lot, so a few mm of extra width is not a bad thing for looks and also feel.

During my research, I found that the Passat/TROC Pretoria alloys have an offset of ET44 and are of course a direct fit, these would work well if you liked those rims and the style. Hard to find, but can be had from Germany wheel companies for around £1400 a set new.
Prior - MK2 GTi Big Bumper in White
Current - MK8 GTi Clubsport in Moonstone Grey
(Plus Many other non-Golf hot-hatches in-between!)

Offline Bizarro

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Re: GTi Clubsport - 18" wheels > 19" wheels
« Reply #212 on: 26 February 2025, 09:50 »
Thanks Beebopper

Thanks for the pointer on Passat/TROC Pretoria’s.

Difficulty with buying from German company is trying to find out what you would actually pay in import duties and VAT.
From what I understand you don’t pay the German VAT and are liable to UK duty and VAT which would be about 25% of the total purchase price.
None of it very clear, a lot easier prior to Brexit!

Offline UNCLE27

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Re: GTi Clubsport - 18" wheels > 19" wheels
« Reply #213 on: 26 February 2025, 09:57 »
Thanks Beebopper

Thanks for the pointer on Passat/TROC Pretoria’s.

Difficulty with buying from German company is trying to find out what you would actually pay in import duties and VAT.
From what I understand you don’t pay the German VAT and are liable to UK duty and VAT which would be about 25% of the total purchase price.
None of it very clear, a lot easier prior to Brexit!

You don’t pay German VAT (19%) but you then add Import duties of 20%. Think that’s also applied to the postage cost.