Monza 17 or 18 - opinions

[prp74]

Hi,

I have the standard 17" monza's on the car, and before buying the car, I read a couple of reviews that this was the best to go for, especially for ride quality.

Just looking for some feedback from people who have experienced 17 & 18 monza on their car. Love the look of the 18's but don't want to comprise the ride quality. To be honest even on 17's it's still bumpy.

What do you guys recommend?

Was thinking of getting some genuine 18's and changing the 17's to winter tyres.

[mad_pete]

Tyres make a difference regardless of size.  Some people will say the ride is better on 17s some will say it is the same and some will say get 18s as they look great and just suffer the ride.   If you get a second had set with tyres you can try em and sell them on if you don't like the ride.

[biffobear]

just removed my 18,s and replaced with my 17,s for the winter, now it feels a lot more smooth to drive, with the 18,s it was like driving a road roller. Totally feels a lot better to drive with the 17,s, in fact i might sell the 18,s and replace with 17,s next summer.

[MC71]

IMO change the 17" to your winters and go for 18" for the rest of the year. I've had 18" for years on my cars and find them (the ride quality) to be fine. I personally find the ride on 19" to be ok, it's horses or courses. If its purely ride quality your after then stick with the 17", if your after the asthetics and the "look", go 19" but for a bit of both I'd go for the middle and run 18". Get yourself in a Mk5 GTI with 18" and see what you think.

 

[dmac1969]

I can answer this , as I had a 2005 GTI for 2 years that ran the 17"s and only recently traded it in for a 58 plate with 18"s. You can definately feel the ride being harder and more bumpy but the difference is pretty small and IMHO the car looks so much nicer on the 18s.

[RedRobin]

.
My car originally came with Monza 17's in 2005 and later I changed to Monza 18's and expected to feel a difference in ride. I found the difference to be negligable and not a hint of discomfort. You get better road surface feedback from the 18's and especially if lightweight like OZ Alleggerita's.

If I bothered to use winter tyres I would probably not have sold my Monza 17's and used them for that.

[prp74]

Thanks guys, will keep an eye out for 18" monza.

[mad_pete]

Just as a note my 50,000m 08 plate on 18" ran fine,  my 34,000 on 18" I find too harsh.  I swapped the wheels to check tyres and it made some difference but tired dampers give you an easier time.

[homesqueeze]

My 2005 GTI has run on 18's since new and I've found it perfectly comfortable. I've done trips through Europe thousands of miles long and over all kinds of road surface and always had a nice relaxed ride 

[f1fan]

Tyres are as big a part of it as the alloys.  I'm running Hankook V12 Evo summer tyres at the moment and they seem to give a really good ride, I know others have said the same.  I'd pay as much attention to the tyres you are thinking of buying as the size of the alloys.

[Mk5 GTian]

I've had 2 Mk5 GTi's. The first was on Monza 18's from the factory, and the ride was a bit crashy by the time I bought it with 80K on the clock.

However, my current Mk5 GTi came to me with 17" Monza's from the factory, and again had 80K on the clock. The ride was as smoooth as a cashmere codpiece! But, interestingly, I bought a beautiful set of 18" Pescaras from Monte, put those on, and the ride is no different. Still as smooth as Lesley Phillips!

I can only assume that on the old car, 80K on big Monzas with very low profile tyres took it's toll.

[RedRobin]

I've had 2 Mk5 GTi's. The first was on Monza 18's from the factory, and the ride was a bit crashy by the time I bought it with 80K on the clock.

However, my current Mk5 GTi came to me with 17" Monza's from the factory, and again had 80K on the clock. The ride was as smoooth as a cashmere codpiece! But, interestingly, I bought a beautiful set of 18" Pescaras from Monte, put those on, and the ride is no different. Still as smooth as Lesley Phillips!

I can only assume that on the old car, 80K on big Monzas with very low profile tyres took it's toll.

....The stock shock absorbers after 80k miles might have been a factor - It shouldn't be but it could be so.

And, of course, Monza's might give not as smooth a ride as Pescara's - I don't know.

[Mk5 GTian]

I've had 2 Mk5 GTi's. The first was on Monza 18's from the factory, and the ride was a bit crashy by the time I bought it with 80K on the clock.

However, my current Mk5 GTi came to me with 17" Monza's from the factory, and again had 80K on the clock. The ride was as smoooth as a cashmere codpiece! But, interestingly, I bought a beautiful set of 18" Pescaras from Monte, put those on, and the ride is no different. Still as smooth as Lesley Phillips!

I can only assume that on the old car, 80K on big Monzas with very low profile tyres took it's toll.

....The stock shock absorbers after 80k miles might have been a factor - It shouldn't be but it could be so.

And, of course, Monza's might give not as smooth a ride as Pescara's - I don't know.

That's a very good point about the stock shocks Robin. The previous owner from new was described as 'fastidious' in his maintenance of my current car by the VW dealership, and I'd not be surprised if they'd been changed. Also the Pescy's could ride better than Monza's. Alex @ Storm Develolpments described her as a minter, saying all the components on my car look like new including all suspension parts and bushes etc. Very lucky to have found her.

[oo1005]

Coming from an M coupe on 17's and coil overs I find the 18's absolutely fine, not too bumpy and excellent feedback.