Fitting damptronic to a passive car ? Advice needed

[Pete-r36]

Hi folks, can you fit aftermarket damptronic to a passive car?

My 7.5 GTI is on passive shocks, 18” Parker wheels and Potenza tyres but the roads where I live are really poor and the ride is too firm for my liking.

Would a tyre swap help, or could I fit aftermarket active suspension (KW, B16 etc) with a separate control? And if so, does anyone know how these systems in their comfort settings compare to passive?

Thanks.

[baka]

I had the same issue and fixed it by going down to 17's. That's obviously not to everyone's taste though.

[mcmaddy]

You could try changing to Michelin PS4 tyres first as they are really soft on the sidewalls compared to the factory Bridgestones.

[Pete-r36]

Thanks for the replies, I think the potenzas are pretty rubbish all round so a swap to PS4 would be a win win and might try that. I think lighter wheels might also help to get the unstrung mass down.

Not seen a 7.5 GTI  on 17, but I used to run my mk5 on 16s in winter and it was lovely. I’m guessing it’s tight on the performance front calliper?

[willni]

You could also change the tyres to slightly wider or a higher profile 225/40R18 being standard, 235/40R18 (-1.24% Speedo error so when showing 70mph it's actually 69.132mph) or 225/45R18 (-3.41% Speedo error when showing 70mph it's actually 67.613mph).

[baka]

Thanks for the replies, I think the potenzas are pretty rubbish all round so a swap to PS4 would be a win win and might try that. I think lighter wheels might also help to get the unstrung mass down.

Not seen a 7.5 GTI  on 17, but I used to run my mk5 on 16s in winter and it was lovely. I’m guessing it’s tight on the performance front calliper?

I'm running factory 17's from the GTI in a bunch of other markets, so no clearance issues. I think most OEM 17's and aftermarket wheels in the right fitment are ok.

I went to PS4's at the same time but not from the original Flintstones so can't really comment, other than a lot of people have said they ride like crap and Michelin's are a improvement.

These wheels but not  my car.

[fredgroves]

Seventeens and light as possible alloys is the answer.

Seventeens are perfectly OK, in Germany they are standard fitment.