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
).
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.
