18" or 19"

[ollie288]

I have finally found a set of wheels I want!  Problem is they are available in both 18" and 19" fitments. I cant decide which size would be better!
The car is used everyday and will be lowered.
Will the 19" be too big and cause me problems? Rubbing, harsh ride etc?
What would people recommend?
Cheers
ollie

[T88OMM]

I think the style of the wheel is important when considering 18' or 19'. Some wheels only look good in a bigger fitment where as others suit various sizes. What wheels you looking at?

You will only get rubbing if the offset or width of the wheel is incorrect so, as a rule of the thumb the MKV platform is ideally suited for offsets between ET42 - ET50 and wheels widths between 7.5-8.5' whether lowered or not. If the wheel you are looking at is within this ranges you should not have any problems with rubbing as long as you don't lower it too much.

I have just recently changed from a 19' wheel to and 18' and the difference is substanial, the ride is a lot smoother and the car seems to handle better also  

[xxx_mojo_xxx]

Ollie which rims are these? 

I know that VWR tend to stick with the 18" on their tracks cars - probably due to handling etc.

[ollie288]

The wheels are the audi splits. I think they are s-line ones.

[ollie288]

I think the style of the wheel is important when considering 18' or 19'. Some wheels only look good in a bigger fitment where as others suit various sizes. What wheels you looking at?

You will only get rubbing if the offset or width of the wheel is incorrect so, as a rule of the thumb the MKV platform is ideally suited for offsets between ET42 - ET50 and wheels widths between 7.5-8.5' whether lowered or not. If the wheel you are looking at is within this ranges you should not have any problems with rubbing as long as you don't lower it too much.

I have just recently changed from a 19' wheel to and 18' and the difference is substanial, the ride is a lot smoother and the car seems to handle better also  

I think this is an example of the wheels looking better in bigger  fitments. The 19 are 8.5 and I think the et is 48. I wont be going to low as it is driven daily but I want it to look right.
Is the ride really rough on 19? Im also worried that they may make the car look like it is on stilts?
Also you have the difference in tyre prices. Does anyone have a rough idea of difference?
Cheers

[ollie288]

If anyone has any pics in 18" and 19" on a mk5 feel free to post them! 

[DPG]

Which Audi split rims are you referring to?

These are 19's (R32UK's old Car)

[candy turbo]

i ve gone from oem s3 alloys(7.5 x 18 ) to rs 4 (8x19 ) and tbh the drive has nt changed , i went for 225 tyres cause if i lower it later it wont rub BUT  personally i think 235 tyres would had been better on the 8" rim
  my 225/35/19 falkan fk452 cost just under £100 a corner and they have lots of good reviews
if your rims are 8.5 wide dont go any less than 235    all imo   

[ollie288]

Which Audi split rims are you referring to?

These are 19's (R32UK's old Car)

Yep those ones! Cheers 

[ollie288]

i ve gone from oem s3 alloys(7.5 x 18 ) to rs 4 (8x19 ) and tbh the drive has nt changed , i went for 225 tyres cause if i lower it later it wont rub BUT  personally i think 235 tyres would had been better on the 8" rim
  my 225/35/19 falkan fk452 cost just under £100 a corner and they have lots of good reviews
if your rims are 8.5 wide dont go any less than 235    all imo   

So the ride quality has not changed! hmmm interesting.....
So there are not real downsides. Tyres dont seem much more than 18" plus I can get trade discount due knowing somebody! 
Cheers   

[ollie288]

Has anyone seen a pic of a mk5 with the 18" version of these wheels so I can compare? Im edging towards the 19"! 

[rskardon]

i ve gone from oem s3 alloys(7.5 x 18 ) to rs 4 (8x19 ) and tbh the drive has nt changed , i went for 225 tyres cause if i lower it later it wont rub BUT  personally i think 235 tyres would had been better on the 8" rim
  my 225/35/19 falkan fk452 cost just under £100 a corner and they have lots of good reviews
if your rims are 8.5 wide dont go any less than 235    all imo   

So the ride quality has not changed! hmmm interesting.....
So there are not real downsides. Tyres dont seem much more than 18" plus I can get trade discount due knowing somebody! 
Cheers   

They probalby weigh a bit more? I noticed a fair difference between my 17's and new BBS 18's, imo it definitely isnt quite as light on its feet in the corners etc...

[ollie288]

This is kind of the stance I would go for. Do you think that there would be any rubbing around this height?




 

[ollie288]

Does anyone know how much lower a R32 is compared to a normal golf? That R32 has been lowered 25mm. Would that be 40mm on a normal golf? 

[ollie288]

i ve gone from oem s3 alloys(7.5 x 18 ) to rs 4 (8x19 ) and tbh the drive has nt changed , i went for 225 tyres cause if i lower it later it wont rub BUT  personally i think 235 tyres would had been better on the 8" rim
  my 225/35/19 falkan fk452 cost just under £100 a corner and they have lots of good reviews
if your rims are 8.5 wide dont go any less than 235    all imo   

So the ride quality has not changed! hmmm interesting.....
So there are not real downsides. Tyres dont seem much more than 18" plus I can get trade discount due knowing somebody! 
Cheers   

They probalby weigh a bit more? I noticed a fair difference between my 17's and new BBS 18's, imo it definitely isnt quite as light on its feet in the corners etc...

I never thought about the weight!