Going from 17's to 18's - Anything else needed?

[SeanyK]

Hey folks,

If I was to upgrade my 17" Monzas to a set of 18" Monzas from another GTI, ET51 etc, would I need anything else? Could I re-use my existing wheel bolts?

Would anyone be so kind as to let me know the torque setting required to tighten the bolts?

Also, re; insurance, is this a 'modification' as such as surely it's something that was an extra from VW at the time, I can understand aftermarket wheels being a modification, but if these are genuine VW wheels?

[Nasir]

You have to inform the insurance company as the car has changed specification since it left the factory, bigger wheels make it more attractive to thieves and all that BS they feed you to cough up more money

[Top Cat]

Nothing else required, except for bigger tyres. 
All bolts should be fine, and you need to check whats written down in your policy details concerning the insurance, if you stated that it had 17" wheels on when you gave them the details, then i would say you need to inform them, if it never the you should be fine. 

[SeanyK]

Nothing else required, except for bigger tyres. 
All bolts should be fine, and you need to check whats written down in your policy details concerning the insurance, if you stated that it had 17" wheels on when you gave them the details, then i would say you need to inform them, if it never the you should be fine. 

And to think, I changed the title, it was originally 'anything needed?' which was just asking for 'Errr, yeah, 18's' lol :)

Thats cool though many thanks for help, now just got to track a decent set down :)

[SeanyK]

Update - got a set of Monza 18's - just need to get 2 tyres sorted for 2 bare ones!

Oh, and get them couriered to me!

[kirkland]

Pretty sure the handbook says 120 NM torque...

[Nasir]

Update - got a set of Monza 18's - just need to get 2 tyres sorted for 2 bare ones!

Oh, and get them couriered to me!

www.camskill.co.uk

[SeanyK]

Kirkland > Thank you very much mate, much appreciated :)

Nasir > Good call mate,

The best i've got so far, is 2 x 225/40R18 FALKEN FK452 92Y tyres, fitted for £158 all in at a local tyre center.


And working in transport has it's benefits... Alloys are being collected by one of our trucks and sent down to me free of charge

[SeanyK]

Fitting these tommorow - anyone know if it will knock the speedometer off? Being a different rolling radius?

Also - take it the spare wheel is ok to use the same as previous? (Space saver?)

[JPC]

They shouldn't be a difference in the rolling radius. The tyre will be slimmer remember. It might be a tiny bit different but not much

[wigit]

a couple of links we had posted on rocco central which may be of use 

Tyre size calculator (when changing alloy size to avoid possible speedo errors): http://www.alloywheels.com/tyrecalc.asp

Wheel Offset Calculator: http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp

[Nasir]

As long as it's a 225/40/18 tyre you'll be fine.

[SeanyK]

Briliantly helpful as always guys, thanks very much :)

Indeed they are 225/40/R18 :)

[rdfcpete]

Sean you'll be fine as said by the guys  I did exactly the same move and had exactly the same reservations.

Depending on which wheels you choose and which tyres you fit, the only change I noticed was a very mildly firmer ride on certain things - Not as noticeable as I thought though. I went from Michelin PS2's on the 225/45/17 genuine Monzas to ContiSport 3's on 225/40/18 tyres with Audi S Line Split wheels on a 7.5 width too. There are no suspension changes and it's no different really. The odd speed bump feels harsher but you have to really concentrate on feeling it in the ride.