Why did VW put 17's on the GTI as standard?

[sideshowfred]

Sorry if this is in the wrong section, if it is please move it.

Basically i would like to know if anyone knows of a reason why VW put 17's on the GTI as standard? I've got them and they look kak. Were 18's an option and the original owner of my car was being a cheapskate? Car was first registered in March 2006 btw. I'm so bored of looking at them and they make me think it's a wannabe GTI instead of a proper one. Sulk/Rant over 

Fred   

[stealthwolf]

18" Monzas were an option but 17" provide better ride (not sure about handling).

[hugh jass]

VW knew the 18s would be a popular option ££££££

[mkviken]

Simple answer is £

The 17s ride and handle better too but the 18s look much better.

[sideshowfred]

18" Monzas were an option but 17" provide better ride (not sure about handling).

Yeah, I know they provide a better ride. I'm in the middle of a discussion with my mate about whether handling would be better or worse. I think 17's will handle worse (more sidewall movement in the tyres?) but he thinks otherwise. And how many GTI's do you ever see with 17's around and about? I think i've only ever seen about 5 haha

[meady]

I have the 17's on my gti and i hate it every time i walk up to the car, i wana buy a set of the 19" monza replicas. Would look so good and fill the arches nicely :)

[mkviken]

Car is definately lighter on its feet on 17s.

[vRS Carl]

As has been mentioned 17's ride and handle better.

Big wheels and thin tyres are purely for aesthetics. Look at an F1 Car. If big wheels and thin tyres really did perform better they would have done it long ago especially with how safety conscious they became after Senna's death.

[sideshowfred]

I suppose your right. but they still look awful haha. my opinion won't change on that front 

[vRS Carl]

I don't think you will find anyone who says smaller look better

[meady]

i think it would help if they were mirror polished and gloss black like some of the monzas, might make them look a bit nicer ?

would still prefer 18/19 inch wheels though :)

[mvb12]

the 17" don't do the GTI justice, they look aw

Upgrading these should be your 1st stop. 

[ukdub]

Simple answer is £

The 17s ride and handle better too but the 18s look much better.

So true, so the answer is to get some lightweight 18" wheels and have the best of both worlds 

[alackofspeed]

I'm glad they did, as 18" wheels would mean spending even more time driving down the road avoiding pot holes and defects!   I look a like drunk half the time as it is, such is the shocking state of the roads.

I've fitted 200/580/15 (approx 50% profile) tyres on my other car and that gets tracked heavily - there's no issue with sidewall deflection, and the added compliance helps the car track minor surface defects. If you don't need the brake clearance, to a point bigger wheels don't help the dynamic package generally - more rotating unsprung mass, and less tyre compliance.

If you believe opinions of the EVO magazine contributors, then most of the hot hatches they've had in recent time have been a far better steer on the smallest wheel option offered. Megane 250 and Focus ST for example.

There was a thread sort of on this subject on PH:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1111299&mid=0&i=0&nmt=Bring+back+ride+quality!!&mid=0

I must be in the minority as given a choice of two otherwise identical Mk5 GTIs I'd buy the one with 17" wheels.

As to why VW fitted 17" wheels - I can only presume the bean counters and chassis engineers managed to beat up the marketing team, or sold them the concept of rinsing extra money from those wanting bigger alloys.

[jimk04]

Yeah the EVO boys will 9/10 times choose the.smaller wheeled option for ride.and.handling. I'm sticking to 17s, the only reason id go to 18s is for bigger brakes.

Big does.look cool.though, especially slammed on stretched tyres....