17" Rims on a Mk3 GL

[nabes]

I know the question of rims on cars has been asked time and time again but I have another aspect to consider.

I have a 95' Golf GL and I have been looking around for some nice rims and these days all the good ones are 17" inch and up. So having done the calculations on the miata tyre calculator I will probably need to run 35 series tyres on 17" rims, which I am not keen on for a daily driver due to what I expect to be a pretty harsh ride. If I go to a 205/40 the diameter is up by 18mm from stock right. Which is a 3.2% increase. Is this going to make much of a difference. I had a friend who upgraded his rims and they put the speedo out a tuch but stuffed up the ABS in the process. Has anyone put the larger rims on and had this problem.

I guess 16" is probably a sweeter spot for the older cars but they are harder to find.

What have peoples experiences been should I hang out for some good 16"s or go for 17"s. I am planning on putting in coilovers to improve the handling in the near future too.

Cheers,
Nabes

[bombsquad21]

Hi Nabes,

For a Mk3 17's shud be 205/40/17's..but your right 16's are better for the car. But generally they are more expensive and the "wheel and tyre" packages worse value.

If you are truly considering fitting coils, do that first!! Cause if you don't have fresh suspension and u fit 17's you will..

a. wear out your 17inch tyres so fast you'll be back where you started.
b. The ride will suck so badly you will never want a passenger in your car again.
c. The front of your golf will look so high and your wheel gap will be so great that you will bring immediate shame upon yourself and your family.

Post up some pics of the wheels you are considering and also shots of your mk3.

Cheers

Luke

[rayray086]

I totally agree with Luke on going for the suspension first. It's a win-win as your stock wheels will end up looking better with a lowered stance! 16's, 15's, and sometimes even 14's end up looking good.

Anyone know how common 195/40R17 tyres are, and if their load rating is compatible with our cars? Fitting a 195/40 may reduce the rolling diameter closer towards the stock one, if you're worried about the speedo running off.

[The_Hawk]

I have just put the coilovers into my VR6 and on 16's it looks like this:



The wheels I am looking at are a 3 piece custom and can be made to whatever width, offset etc etc so I can build the perfect wheel to suit the Mk3.

At the end of the day I'm still debating 16's vs 17's. I think 16's will give a better ride and handling, but the 17's will look a little better being bigger. Still toying with it, but leaning towards 16's (also the tyres are cheaper! )

[Pullstarter]

Nice work Hawk that looks hot! What type of rims are you looking at Simmons?

[bombsquad21]

that looks hot...coilovers ftw!

[MattyT]

Coilovers indeed ftw!

I have 16s with coilovers. Its nice. Not too harsh, looks pretty good. 17s would probably look better but then your running on razor thin tyres and on public roads and thats just BAD.

[dannylaroo]

I would definately go the 16's... I myself am running Oettinger 17"s by 8", while they look good, I can not go nearly as low as I would like and having 8 inches rims, means you must run the tyres undersized... but I do like this look. The 17's resulte in a need to upgrade the suspension (coil overs) and have the lips rolled and guards pumped... a lot of a hassle, when 16's would have been fine.

I did start with Schimidt 16's by 8" and they were great, could get a lot lower, but silly me and a bit of encouragement from my mechanic upgraded the front brakes, meaning my 16's no longer fitted... How many times have you heard the old saying, if its not broke... LEAVE IT...

Anyway, go the 16's, I still have the Schmidt's up for grabs for those considering 16's.... Details at the following URL.. IM or email me if you want more info..

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....MEUS:IT&ih=018

[bombsquad21]

Remarkable! Thats the best ebay listing i've ever seen, 5x100 16's FOR THE WIN!!

[nabes]

The Hawk. That is one dang fine looking Golf. I must lower mine.

What coilovers did you get. I have been thinking about importing Bilstein PSS from autotech.com since the ozzie dollar is so strong now, but I have read on a lot of the forums that people are sticking Koni's in.

I have two rear tyres up for renewal so was thinking that I'd get the wheels on first. I'm leaning towards 16s but they are so much harder to find than 15s. I think for me 17s are out of the picture. There will be two kids in the back after all and occasionally a wife in the drivers.

I am a fan of the OZ Supertourismo, but admin they are a bit expensive for me. Would like anything in that style or else I don't mind RS4 style wheels either.

My car is business registered though, so all "maintenance" is tax deductible.