Wheel Advice

[Obvious]

Just wondering if anyone can help me out here... I'm just wondering what's the best 17" wheel setup to run... I've seen some wheels at 7.5"x17" and a few others at 8"x17".. Which of these would fit better without the need for some serious mods to the arches when the car comes to get lowered?  Tyre sizes I've heard that running 205/40-17 is probably best, but would they go onto an 8"x17"rim?

Any help would be appreciated before I part with my hard earned cash 

[NEILS-GTI-MK3]

hi mate.

On my last golf 3  I had 17" x7 With 205 45 17. lowered by 40mm and thay fit fine.  And I've seen 17" x8  on a golf's and if you get 215 40 17 tyres,  you should be ok. but you may get a slight rub on full lock when turning.
 I think you need to make sure your offset is right aswell on the bigger size.

Hope this helps   

[golfpro]

mine are 7.5x17 and iv got 215/40/17 tyres on them. Im lowered 40 all round and theres no probs at the front. at the back though when i hav passengers in there theres a bit of a rub round corners etc. just ned to get rid of the lip inside the arch. Its been done on one side but not the other, il get round to it at some point.

its hard to say whats best as there are so many possibilities with size wheels - width and round, size tyres and if your goin to strech them on or not, and how much your lowered/goin to lower by. imo 17s do fit well on a mk3. 40mil drop gets them sat nicely under the arches. go for 7 or 7.5 for the widht to avoid needin arch work and 205/215x40 or 45 tyres. lower profile can make it look lowered more and the wheels look bigger wich is a plus!

thats not really helped has it.

[Obvious]

Thanks for the advice, I most appreciate it Certainly made things clearer before I go shell out...

Am I right in thinking that 205/40-17's will fit onto a 7.5"x17" rim? Or will I need a 215/40-17 tyre? Thing is you see I have two good tyres on the old wheels and they are 205/40's so I was hoping to put them on the new wheels to save a little when it comes to buying new tyres.

cheers once again,
Mike

[golfpro]

205 will be fine. my 215s just cover the edge of the wheel a little more and with the width of the roads around here its a neccessity (excuse the spelling)

You can get a fair bit less tyre on there too if your goin for the streched look. Theyre a pig to get on but on oldskool/euro styled cars they look awesome. just mind those kerbs!

[Obvious]

Cheers bud, much appreciate the advice Now I just got to decide whether to keep the Pirelli P-Zero's on or Get Toyo Proxes T1-R... Any suggestions on which is the better tyre?