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There are many reasons why people change their wheels. Most do so for cosmetic reasons and might even collect several different sets - It may be described as the male equivalent of the female desire to collect haute couture shoes. Others, probably the minority, do so for primarily functional reasons but, of course, cosmetic considerations will always be included in the final decision.
Personally, I absolutely love the design of the oem BBS Monza's and would not have changed them for simply aesthetic reasons. I totally blame friends on this forum for suggesting I consider a lighter weight wheel and subsequently encouraging me to part with even more money on modding my car.
I considered several manufacturers wheels but found it very easy to choose OZ and their Alleggerita for its straightforward stylish simplicity. I chose 18" although I realise that 17" would be slightly lighter and even better if I did lots and lots of trackdays or was chasing lap times. In fact I believe that the Alleggerita 17" are currently the lightest TUV approved wheel.
WHY A PERFORMANCE WHEEL?Anyone who has studied Physics will probably be familiar with the 'F=mv2/r' formula and so an added benefit is apparently also an improvement which manifests itself in both acceleration and braking, but this is science in detail. In simpler terms, the lighter wheel reduces the unsprung weight significantly when in motion. A lighter wheel is kinder to the suspension and also improves grip. All these are reasons why motorsport cars ideally have lightweight wheels.
^ It's a nice touch that OZ label each rim leaving their factory with a label stating weight ^
The Monza 18 weighs ~12kg whereas the Alleggerita 18 weighs ~8kg, both without tyres. So the total weight saving is substantial.
FACTORS EFFECTING CHOICE:There are literally hundreds if not thousands of wheels/rims/alloys out there to choose from and also replicas - Some replicas being better than others. Styles follow fashion trends but if it's function you prefer then you'll be looking at lighter weights but not so lightweight they aren't strong enough for everyday road use. Prices vary enormously too.
As you narrow down your choices you'll be faced with the fundamental question of whether that rim you fancy will actually fit your car. The Golf Mk5 has 5-stud fixings and the ET of the oem Monza is 51mm. 'ET' and 'Offset' both have the same meaning and value. The term ET originates from the German word 'Einpresstiefe' which translates as 'insertion depth' [No comment!].
The greater the difference of ET/Offset that your wheel of choice is from the oem ET51 value, the more you will need to make other adjustments such as to avoid wheel arch rubbing or to use spacers - It's very important to use hubcentric spacers on the Golf but opinions whether spacers are a good mod or not are somewhat split, so I don't currently favour their use. The OZ Alleggerita 18x8 has ET48.
There is also the important consideration of brake caliper clearance but this is easily checked with your aftermarket brake manufacturer. Mine, AP Racing, supplied me with a technical drawing to pass on to OZ in Italy for checking clearance.
WHY CHOOSE OZ?Lots of reasons - Not in order of importance: Proven OZ reputation, Lightweight, Stylish, TUV and ISO 9001 Certified, Exciting colour range. Established in 1971, OZ are an experienced and dedicated Italian company specialising in designing and manufacturing wheels for both road and track - Their success in many motorsport categories at major international level means they are in the forefront of technological and design innovation.
^ The 8th colour Titanium isn't shown and is OZ's stock colour. The other colours are manufactured on order.
^ I think that the Matt Blue Alleggerita would look especially good on a white car ^
^ Black Alleggerita's ^
^ Quite a lot of Scooby owners choose OZ rims ^
^ Ultraleggera's are a popular design from OZ but they are nearly 2Kg heavier than the Alleggerita's in 18x8 size ^
LIGHTWEIGHT ALTERNATIVES TO ALLEGGERITA'S:-
Team Dynamics: Unbeatable value-for-money but not the prettiest in my opinion. Having said that, they suit some cars better than others. They were my first consideration but I'm one of those guys who
generally doesn't like black rims very much - It's just individual taste and many people love that look. Having said that, if the rim edge is picked out so it visually separates the wheel from the tyre then I think a black wheel is improved. Slightly heavier than Alleggerita's but still lightweight enough to make a big difference.
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Neuspeed: Very similarly priced to OZ but greatly lacking that Italian elegance. Similar weights to OZ and TD's too - So performance will be similar. Easily available.
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Dymag: The absolute king of all rims in terms of performance but also many times more expensive at about eight times the cost of TD's and four times OZ's. Would I want some? - Of course I would!
There are other lightweight alternatives of course but I think those I've listed are the main ones.
^ Team Dynamics ^
^ Dymag - Carbonfibre porn! But I don't think they are TUV approved ^
SOURCING:I approached several suppliers as I wanted to try to obtain these alloys before a trip to Nurburgring and Spa. All except one were very helpful but Keith at Revolution247 in Gateshead had the edge and kept me fully informed of all progress. The listed OZ supplier closest to me is local and I still haven't even heard back from them over a month later!
Web:
Revolution247Phone: 0845 002 3000 - Keith Tyler (General Manager)
Email: keith@revolution247.com
Price: £1,220 inc vat and shipping. Other supplier's prices were closer to £1,500.
INSTALLATION:
Straightforward. Simply a wheel change. I always use a wheel assist bar to reduce the risk of damage - Available from Awesome in Manchester. OZ include a very comprehensive installation guide.
PLUS POINTS:- Tangibly improves the feel of the steering. It instantly feels much more direct and responsive - Driving hard at La Source hairpin and the very tight Bus Stop chicane at Spa demonstrated that beyond any doubt.
- An important piece in the jigsaw of suspension components which improve handling and give tactile feedback to the driver.
- Good brake caliper clearance and very open 9-spoke design for brake dust dispersal and general brake ventilation.
- Very easy to clean.
- In Titanium HLT they make a car look more purposeful.
- The Titanium finish still looks good when they are filthy dirty. Back home after over 1,200 miles in Europe in bad weather : -
MINUS POINTS: - May transfer more sound and vibration from the road surface to a level which some may find unacceptable in a road car - I don't know how the Alleggerita's would be on standard oem suspension or just with lowering springs. But I find the difference in comfort/sound levels between Monza 18s and Alleggerita 18s to be negligible when either alloys are combined with KW-V3 suspension.
Try as hard as I can, I can't think of any minus points. But, as always, a lot depends on what the individual wants and expects from a car.
SUMMARY:Functionally, having lighter weight wheels is a subtle mod and is merely part of the whole suspension and handling package - It results in greater feedback which in turn encourages more spirited and enjoyable driving and it doesn't mean you have to drive at illegal speeds to have that fun.
To drive, the car didn't feel sloppy before but it now inspires even more confidence and exercise of that Quaife diff. In fact it's very difficult to see how you could further improve an aftermarket handling package of professionally setup coilovers, more powerful brakes, Quaife ATB diff, anti-roll bars, and Whiteline anti-lift bushes when you add lightweight wheels.
I think that nowadays with so many rim designs available, people's expectations are usually for something fancier or more visually distinctive. Plus the GTI's 'telephone dial' Monza is very distinctive and a hard act to follow. As a lightweight, these Alleggerita's are primarily functional and at first sight just a plain 9-spoke design. However, the detailing is superb and the Titanium colour stunning (in my opinion) and goes especially well with carbonfibre.
Like a good woman, LeggyRita's beauty is more than skin deep.
