MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: xjay1337 on September 18, 2013, 01:10:44 pm
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Hi
So I thought I would write a bit of a guide as there are lots of threads where people have questions about what will fit, what won't fit..
I'm not going to get into the whole thing of "if you pull your front arches and put camber adjustable top mounts on you can fit 11" on the front" - I'm going to be working on the assumption that the arches are standard, assuming you have done the arch screw mod as that is something that anyone can do.
Obviously rolling your arches or pulling them will only give you more clearance.
Let's quickly recap..
Wheels
Incase you don't know, or have forgotten, the ET (or offset as it's sometimes referred to) is how far in, or out, the wheel "sits". Basically a higher ET sits further in the arch (tucks) and the lower the ET the further out of the arch the wheel sticks (pokes).
The width of the wheel is given as a width, in inches, for example 7.5j.
The PCD or the stud pattern is given as yXy - for example 5x112.
The Diameter of the wheel is given in inches as well, and is the size of the wheel - for example 18 inches
All wheels have a CENTER BORE. This is normally given in mm. This is the size of the bore in the center of the wheel on the back. This is what sits on the hub and helps to locate the wheel.
The centerbore of the wheel should be the same or bigger than the hub otherwise you're gonna get problems..
Add all of this together and, when describing a standard Monza 2, you could say that the wheel is 18x7.5 et51. with a cb of 57.1
Tyres
Tyres come in all different kinds of sizes dependent on application.
The best way to explain this is to look at the below picture
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skiddystyres.co.uk%2Fimages%2Fimage-1.jpg&hash=70a1646d64bc6be66a314acc64c50e8fd3b76d90)
Generally when we are fitting summer tyres you do not need to worry about load or speed ratings. Of course buy the ones suitable for your application.
What is the standard fitment on a Golf Mk5 then
Standard fitment alloy wheels for the Golf Mk5 fitment are generally no more "aggressive" than 18x7.5j with an ET of 51. All are 5x112 with a center bore of 57.1
On a Mk5 Golf GTI the tyres come in either 225/45/17 or 225/40/18
Other tyre sizes on the Mk5 Platform are also 195/65/15 and 205/55/16.
You will notice that these all keep more or less the same rolling diameter (that is, the diameter of the wheel (with tyre mounted) is near as makes no difference the same between all of the tyre sizes.
Another thing to be aware of is the tolerance in tyre size - For example Falken tyres run narrow and Vredestein run wide.
A 215/35 Falken tyre on a 8.5 rim will give more clearance than a 215/35 Vredestein tyre on the same rim width.
So the take away from this is that you will generally have a 17x7.5 et 51 with 225/45/17 tyres fitted, or 18x7.5 et51 with 225/40/18 tyres fitted.
Lowering - things to be aware of
Everyone likes their wheel and tyres to look good in their arch, so people often lower the car, not just for looks but also for the performance benefits.
There are a couple of ways to lower your cars, you either have
- Lowering springs
- Coilovers
- Air ride
There are a few considerations to think about when you are thinking of lowering your car in conjunction with aftermarket wheels.
First of all (and perhaps most importantly from a safety point of view) is the inner clearance
This is the clearance between the wheel and tyre, and your suspension strut.
As a rule of thumb, and as a base for calculations, anything wider than a 9 inch rim with an offset of higher than 46 will hit the suspension strut (again this is very particular on what kind of suspension set up you have and should only be taken as a rule of thumb)
With a 7.5inch rim you can have around ET65.
Generally stock (or aftermarket dampers) give the best clearance as they maintain a spring perch above the wheel itself.
With aftermarket coilovers, you need to be very careful of the clearance between the coilover adjustment ring and the wheel and tyre.
PLEASE NOTE SOME COILOVERS ADJUSTER RINGS SIT AT DIFFERENT HEIGHTS. FOR EXAMPLE YOU WILL HAVE MORE CLEARANCE WITH APS AND JOMS THAN YOU WOULD WITH FK COILOVERS
Failure to do so will cause rubbing between the adjuster ring and the tyre, which is annoying at best and downright dangerous at worst when it gashes through your sidewall and you have a blow out.
For those with air ride you have to pay attention as well to ensure your wheel or tyre doesn't touch the bag, having a bag blow out is arguably more dangerous than having a tyre blow out.
Now we can move to the outer clearance, that is the clearance between the tyre and the bodywork (the wheel arch).
This is almost always dictated by the offset and width of the wheel
GENERALLY assuming you put the necessary tyres onto your car, the diameter of the wheel does not come into whether it will fit or not, it's mostly down to the width and offset
If you fit wheels which are wide and/or have a low offset you risk catching the tyre on the arch.
If you are really unlucky this will happen!
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7431%2F9257719670_f2ddf37140_b.jpg&hash=32db612159e737295c5cc205e2cecda3c28155ec)
That is where my E-level had a spazzy moment and dumped one corner while maneuvering in a car park.
Now damage like that is rare, normally you would just rub off a bit of paint which would in turn, eventually, lead to rusting. To me this is not a major issue with the cost of replacement wings but if you are not quite so carefree then you would need to bear this in mind.
**You can roll the front arches on a Mk5, they are quite easy to do, any decent bodyshop can do this or there are specialists who do it. Be aware that sometimes you will need to have the arch repainted where it was rolled as the paint may flake off**
To avoid rubbing this is where you carefully consider the tyre size for your particular offset and width, along with your ride height.
What lowering does to clearance?
IT REDUCES IT.
Generally, outside of the adjuster ring, lowering a car does not effect inner clearance at all.
What it does is reduce the distance between the tyre and the arch. HOWEVER there is some good news amongst all of this.
The lower you go, naturally due to the suspension design, the wheels and tyres naturally "tuck" in (front and rear) and the rear wheels naturally add camber (which is factory adjustable if you didn't already know!)
So if you are 26inches FTG (fender to ground, American term :confused:) your wheel may appear to stick out past the arch, but when you lower the vehicle you may notice that your wheel actually sits further IN the arch.
It is for this reason that I always recommend LOWERING YOUR CAR TO YOUR CHOSEN AMOUNT BEFORE FITTING/BUYING/TESTING WHEELS
This is for several reasons
First and foremost it looks naff.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autoalloys.com%2Fimage%2Fcache%2Fdata%2Fcustomergallery%2Fvw%2Fgolf5%2Fgolf518axeex130113-800x600.jpg&hash=003ef8cdcf1c2f2b6bf8f4b215caadf6d2b60691)
Wheels are not half bad but it looks like a Saxo with the arch gap. No offense haha :P
Secondly, you can never really and truly tell what your fitment is going to be like until you have the car at the correct ride height. Then you can test fit your wheels and decide where to go from there..
That's all well and good but what tyre size should I buy?
As mentioned hundreds of times this all depends on i) how low you are and ii) what your wheel width and offset are.
So for example on standard Monza 2 - 18x7.5 et51 - you can use a 225/40 and you can go pretty low indeed before you would rub on the outer arch. Inner arch clearance is generally fine.
However if you wanted to put, let's say.. 18x8.5 et 45, not only is the wheel itself one inch wider, but it sits 6mm further out. So the outer lip of the wheel will sit approx 31mm further out from where a standard Monza 2. If you put the "normal" tyre size on this wheel, probably a 235/40/18 or a 245/40/18 - You then also have another 10-20mm of tyre
What does this mean? MAJOR RUBBING.
I'm rubbing on my wheel arches in fast corners or at full lock, what can I do?
This is where what's known as "tyre stretching" comes into play.
Stretching is the term where you fit a tyre that seems to be too narrow for the general width of rim.
For example on a 8.5 rim, as mentioned, the natural tyre size may be a 245 section.
Stretching would be putting, say, a 215 section tyre on.
This means that the tyre sidewall curves inwards as opposed to sticking out, meaning you have more clearance and will not rub/rub much less.
Spacers, adaptors, and spigots
Just a quick recap incase we don't already know..
Either bolt through or bolt on, come in a variety of sizes, from 3mm to 50+mm, these in effect sit between your wheel and hub and "push" the wheel out. The practical effect is that they reduce the offset of the wheels. EG, A wheel with an ET51 fitted with a 10mm spacer, in effect, makes that a ET41 wheel. Please note that with bolt through spacers you will need to get longer wheel bolts. The stock wheel bolt length is approx 28mm so if you fitted 10mm bolt through spacers you will need to buy 38-40mm long bolts.
- Adaptors - AKA PCD Adaptors
These are all bolt on, minimal width is around 15-18mm, this is due to safety reasons. They enable you to change the PCD of a wheel to something else. For example Porsche wheels are 5x130 so if you wanted to put Porsche wheels on your car you need to buy PCD Adaptors that are 5x112 (Hub) to 5x130 (Fitment).
- Spigots - AKA Spigot Rings
These allow for easier fitting of a wheel. Different manufactures use different sizes. EG Mercedes use 66.6. So if you fit Mercedes wheels to your VW (Which is 57.1) you are strongly recommended to buy spigot rings. These fit inside the wheel or onto the hub and locate the wheel centrally.
Special consideration needs to be taken into account when buying wheels from other OEM manufacturers. For example if you buy Porsche wheels which are 5x130, let's say you get some Cayenne alloys which are 18x8 et 50 (from memory, it's around that) , you can't go thinking "those will fit as they are 8 inch wide and have an offset of 50" - You will need to buy PCD adaptors to get them to fit, let's say you buy 20mm PCD adaptors - This makes them 18x8 et 30 - So you'd need to factor all of these calculations into whether your wheels will fit or not.
Bolts bolts and more bolts
Wheel bolts are equally as important when fitting your wheel, after all they are what secure the wheels to the car.
Some aftermarket wheels use different "seat types" for the bolts. This is the part of the bolt which sits in the lug holes and provide the pressure between the wheel and hub.
This guide is pretty handy and allows you to see easily which kind of bolts you have.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tirerack.com%2Fimages%2Fwheels%2Ftech%2Flug_nut.jpg&hash=413e06366b7c2445ff6745410d47e63854d2ffaf)
OEM VW cars use BALL SEAT. The bolt type is a M14x1.5 - Please ensure that any wheels you buy also take an M14 thread, or you will need to have them drilled out which is not always possible.
Some early Mercedes are M12 and will not fit. Obviously larger than M14 thread would not work unless you fitted bolt-on spacers (such as in the case with Land Rover wheels).
It is important when using PCD adaptors and spacers that you use the CORRECT BOLT TYPES. Most PCD adaptors and bolt-on spacers come with the relevant bolt to attach the adaptor or spacer to the bolt.
Please check with your aftermarket wheel provider or spend 2 minutes on Google finding out which kind of bolt or adaptor you need.
Some wheels have deep lugs and thus require longer wheel bolts. Mercedes do this a lot with many of their wheels. For example my wheel bolts are 45mm long and I do not have spacers. Some may require shorter bolts. Check how much bolt protrudes from the back of the wheel before fitting.
There are special kinds of bolts you can buy called WOBBLE BOLTS. These do not wobble rather the have a free-floating seat (whether ball, tapered, whatever) so it allows a tiny amount of movement when fitting.
This is normally used to fit 5x110 wheels to 5x112 or conversely, 5x114.3 wheels to 5x112, or any sort of combination where the PCD is 0-2.5mm different
These are JUST AS SAFE AS NORMAL BOLTS once torqued up. However it is VERY IMPORTANT to tighten the bolts a little bit at a time in a star-like pattern as they each have to move slightly to take up the slack. If you bolt one down the whole way you may find you can't do up another bolt as there's no movement.
They will NOT do conversions like 5x130 to 5x112.
This is how they work.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.raderwerks.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fparts_image_14twelve_1.gif&hash=cb8caa692a8a1a7edf19ff4760c7c1f5adb0a19a)
Another video is :
However as I mention, have wheels that suit the car, don't work the car around the wheels.....
FITMENT
Fitment is what we refer to when we talk about how a wheel sits in an arch, whether it tucks, sits flush, pokes, whatever. When I say aggressive fitment I mean a wide wheel with a low ET.
When you are considering your wheel and tyre options you do need to bear in mind everything I have mentioned .. your width, offset, and what tyre size.
A typical size of wheel is 18x8 et 45. You can fit a 225/40 quite happily on there.
If you were really low then you might want to consider putting a 215/40 or a 205/40 on for a bit of extra clearance at the front. At the rear you will be fine with 225/40 especially considering the camber.
A lot of people say that 8 inch wide and et45 is the furthest they would go and if you want to keep stock tyre sizes then this is completely correct.
I run 18x8.5 et44 front and rear, with 215/35 tyres all round. As I am on air ride I do sometimes drive stupidly low and at full lock I can catch an arch however I'm running about 22" FTG which is incredibly low. My normal height is more around 23ft and I do not get any rubbing at all with those wheels and tyres at that height. This is not considered an aggressive fitment.
You can use that to help your own calculations.. With a 18x8 et 44 you could use a 225/40 tyre!
Anyway, that's most of the information you need to get you going.
AGGRESSIVE FITMENTS
When I say aggressive fitments I'm generally talking more than a 9inch rim.
Feasibly you can get a 9j ET41 with a 215/35 tyre on the front and a 9.5 et 35 with 225/40 and maximum rear camber. You can also fit a 215/40 if you want but I wouldn't personally go more stretch than a 225/40 on a 9.5 (see the FAQ with regards to legality for my reason..)
I have been asked a few times about 10j or even higher.. the long and the short of it , is no they will not really work.
Here are some reference photos.
Here is a photo for reference.......
Standard arches
9.5 et35 on the front
10.5 et35 on the rear
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fmm269%2Fslowsilvers2k%2Fbbs5.jpg&hash=1258d326707d81fc9d565631c716642a771825b7)
Here's a 10j et 45 on the rear...
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fvv159%2Fokidiamante%2F2011-12-09_21-49-18_209.jpg&hash=26208588dd39fbe993ad91a86c9892ca28da00de)
Nowhere near max camber either..
You can fit a 10j on the rear, Et35 would be the sweet spot, you'll be able to max camber then. But then your problem is outer arch clearance. If you go for a higher offset you'll hit the damper even sooner.
Here are 10j et 44...this is what happens when you try to add the camber required to clear.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ash4%2F296088_10150320470963440_619213439_8087841_2145031653_n.jpg&hash=356a76ba590ac7219d16a0dd60d1e5bfeb487dbf)
(that is apparently WITH a 3mm spacer)
Now with lots of arch work yes you could fit a 10J or even more on the rear - But this is not one of those threads as I said at the first.
FAQs
Q: What's the most aggressive fitment I can put onto my Mk5 Golf?
A: Without rolling your front arches or having them pulled I would not recommend anything more aggressive than a 9 inch rim with ET 41 (Bentley wheels are usually this). This would require 215/35 tyres - Any more and you will rub a lot.
For daily driving I would go no wider than an 8.5 with ET44 based on my personal experiences
Q: Is stretch legal, can I be fined?
A: A bit of a grey area, but officially - NO - Stretch is legal. There is no law in the land prohibiting stretch. However the law simple states that the tyre should be of a suitable size for the time - So you do need to consider what the tyre companies permit as it is basically their law. Falken and Toyo are probably the most friendly in terms of fitment, Falken for example permit you to put a 225/40 on a 9.5 Rim - You should apply common sense and follow what the manufacturer says. However if Goodyear for example say the widest rim you can put a 225/40 on is an 8 inch, and you put it on a 8.5, that would be fine for handling and fine for safety. Make your own minds up ultimately!
Q: What are the standard specifications of a Mk5 wheel bolt?
A: M14x1.5 approximately 27mm in length with a BALL SEAT.
Q: Is Poke legal, will I get fined?
A: Again this is a slightly grey area however - the official rules are as follows - the tyre TREAD must be under the arch (not the sidewall) and the outer edge of the wheel can be no further than 30mm past the furthest out section of the arch - BASICALLY you can have 30mm of poke with stretched tyres.
Thanks to jonnym for this link - https://docs.google.com/file/d/12mKnLS-jBdCC3CVN_n31FPiScR-j2QZ5ZzgjkPZ2u6TlbncdCJTBJnaZdU7S/edit?usp=sharing
Q: I'm getting some slight rubbing on my rear arches with a car full of passengers, do I need to get smaller tyres?
A: Well, you could - However to save money you could take your car to an alignment centre and have them add additional rear camber, generally around 1 degree more than what you currently have would be sufficient.
Q: Is there some place I can go to calculate fitment for me?
A: Yes. You can GOOGLE IT. Or you can use a fitment calculator. This one is one of the best. - http://www.willtheyfit.com/
Q: Will an 18x8 ET60 work.
A: No, you will need to space the wheel out otherwise your wheel/tyre will catch on your suspension strut.
Q: I want to know how <certain tyre size> would look on <certain rim width>, where can I go?
A: http://tyrestretch.com/
Q: Is there an at-a-glance chart somewhere of what tyre size I should buy for my wheels?
A: YES there is. Google.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Faa1%2FRabidRabbit33%2Funtitled-1.jpg&hash=8924ccf4f800d58a3d8904a649e0f78edd87e33f)
Q: What is a good fitment that looks "good" (scene basically)
A: A decent fitment that's guaranteed to cause you no problems (so long as you do the arch screwmod) is 18x8.5 et 42 at the front with 205/40 tyres and 18x9.5 et 40 at the rear with 225/40 tyres and camber.
Q: What are the smallest wheels I can get on my GTI?
A: As a rule of thumb the minimum size wheel to fit over GTI brakes (312mm) are 16 inch. Any OEM VW 16 inch wheel for the Mk5, A3 or Leon/Altea platform will work. These are normally used by people as winter wheels
I will add to this guide as time goes on and update with any other questions people ask.
Footnote.
I have written this guide entirely myself. Feel free to share it on any owners sites freely but I would like to be credited if you do please.
However some images I have taken from various owners forum posted publically as well as other publically available sources such as Google Image Search. These images are used for information only and no copyright infringement is intended and I do not claim to have taken any pictures other than those of my car or ones which I explicitly state are mine.
Thank you.
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Epic! Well done :congrats: Alot of useful information there
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Thank you for posting this - really useful :congrats:
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good work :drinking:
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Great post and thanks for the effort and consideration to share your knowledge and experience. :congrats:
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Jay that's an excellent guide! Thank you for taking the time to do all that! A lot of questions answered there!!
This link may also help - I did some work on the legalities or wheel poke and stretch for those interested - used my golf as it was as the example:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/12mKnLS-jBdCC3CVN_n31FPiScR-j2QZ5ZzgjkPZ2u6TlbncdCJTBJnaZdU7S/edit?usp=sharing
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Some helpful info there mate, hopefully people will search for this guide before posting!
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Had a rough idea but this really cleared it up :happy2: thanks mate
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Not been on here long but just come across this guide. Very very useful, I feel like my mind has been read as all the questions in my head re tyres & wheel have been answered! Cheers! :notworthy: :congrats:
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Thanks everyone. Glad it was helpful.
Can think of worse ways to spend an evening than writing up a guide haha.
If there any questions feel free to ask! And I will answer them. Any fitment questions, about offsets or whatever.. fire them over.
After all the more questions asked the more I can add to the OP :happy2:
Jonny - Thanks for the link, I have updated this within the OP.
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Jay, might be worth mentiong what offset, without spacers, will clear suspension etc?? I'll have a look but then atleast people can use that as a starting point in working out spacer sizes.
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Yes good idea J I will do that. :)
Edit:
Updated for inner clearance.
As a rule of thumb, and as a base for calculations, anything wider than a 9 inch rim with an offset of higher than 46 will hit the suspension strut (again this is very particular on what kind of suspension set up you have and should only be taken as a rule of thumb)
With a 7.5inch rim you can have around ET62.
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Great guide Jay :happy2:
I've always found this site useful for when dreaming of new rims:
http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Wheel-Offset-Calculator
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Great guide Jay :happy2:
I've always found this site useful for when dreaming of new rims:
http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Wheel-Offset-Calculator
X2
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1010 is similar to willtheyfit.com
Depends on personal preference what tool you use :happy2:
Added section on wobble bolts under the BOLTS subsection.
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Excellent post and helped me decide which wheels to go for
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Excellent mate great write up !! :happy2:
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Tyres come in all different kinds of sizes dependent on application.
----------------------------------------------------------------- :fighting:
FIFA Ultimate Team Coins (http://www.fifautc.com/)
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Fantastic write up Jay :congrats:
I have recently acquired a set of Charletons and trial fitted them to my Jetta today and have a few questions for you.
Rear nearside
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fag38%2Fstanipkiss%2FIMG_0778_zpsf3ec8f3a.jpg&hash=f4186131d67885c84a93675f9c17de3b68c5b409)
Front offside
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fag38%2Fstanipkiss%2FIMG_0779_zps1671a123.jpg&hash=dcbd34015f9904d729ac53232c7ccb42a3c4a819)
Q1 Would fitting 5mm spacers push the wheel out closer to the ET44 of my BBS VZ033's? (Charlestons have ET51)
Q2 What happens with the spigot if you add spacers? Do you need extended spigots?
Q3 Are these bolts suitable>> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M14-X-1-5-40MM-LONG-EXTENDED-TAPERED-ALLOY-WHEEL-BOLTS-LOCKING-BOLTS-V2-/200999835059?pt=UK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Wheels_tyres_Trim_Nuts_ET&hash=item2ecc8615b3
Thanks in advance
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1) The ET will reduce (wheel will be pushed further out)...5mm on an ET51 will give you an ET46.
2) Spigots don't effect the ET. The Spigots sit in the hub on the wheel so it should have no effect anyway - They fit on spacers provided the CB of the spacer is the same.
3) I don't know what bolts those Charletons take. I would imagine if they are genuine they are 27mm ball seat so you'd need approx 32-35mm ball seat bolts for 5mm spacers.
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This just solved so many wheel and offset questions I was going to ask. Good and informative
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If anyone is interested I have actually been doing quite alot of research and dynamic testing at work into tyre and wheel size combinations for a future model that is under devlopment and final stages of prototype testing.
Essentailly tyre stretch cause a stiffer sidewall but also speeds up the response time, for example a steering input. this is why BMW actually use a small amount of stretch on their wheels and why the S3 will have 18x8 instead of 18x7.5 pescara's on the same size tyre 225/40/18. it makes that car that little sharper as delay is reduced as well as incereasing steering feel and lowering tyre costs for customers (reducing ultimate grip levels also)
obviosuly this is all good up until a point and then performance drops off but apart from helping with clearance/looks it will effect the dynamics of a vehicle and can be used to peoples advantage if done correctly. :driver:
Nice work on the guide Jay! :happy2:
I have an offset/ wheel size/ tyre calcuator in excel that i can stick up if anyone would like, usefull for when drastically changing wheel size. If I can ever help at all or go into more detail, please give me a shout. Self proclaimed dyamics geek :ashamed:
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Superb guide jay, helps out with many, many queries I'm sure many of us have!
Top Job!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)
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I would like to add something to Jay's excellent guide:
Even if tires are said to be 225 wide (for example) the actual width differs from one tire (manufacturer and tire type) to another.
For example:
225/45 R17 Dunlop Direzza 03G have an actual width of 230mm
225/45 R17 Kumho v70a have an actual width of 224mm
225/45/17 Yokohama Advan ad050 have an actual width of 227mm
I had some info about some other tires but I can't find it... Anyway, you guys get the idea: if you have very little clearance watch out for the exact tire width not the declared one...
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If anyone is interested I have actually been doing quite alot of research and dynamic testing at work into tyre and wheel size combinations for a future model that is under devlopment and final stages of prototype testing.
Essentailly tyre stretch cause a stiffer sidewall but also speeds up the response time, for example a steering input. this is why BMW actually use a small amount of stretch on their wheels and why the S3 will have 18x8 instead of 18x7.5 pescara's on the same size tyre 225/40/18. it makes that car that little sharper as delay is reduced as well as incereasing steering feel and lowering tyre costs for customers (reducing ultimate grip levels also)
obviosuly this is all good up until a point and then performance drops off but apart from helping with clearance/looks it will effect the dynamics of a vehicle and can be used to peoples advantage if done correctly. :driver:
Nice work on the guide Jay! :happy2:
I have an offset/ wheel size/ tyre calcuator in excel that i can stick up if anyone would like, usefull for when drastically changing wheel size. If I can ever help at all or go into more detail, please give me a shout. Self proclaimed dyamics geek :ashamed:
Ahh missed this, but likewise i'm interested in all this aswell. I focussed on aerodynamics but obviously this all has a lot to do with overall aerodynamics of car in general. No doubt the minor tweet from 7.5 to 8, had a big difference on the technical side of perforamnce.
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Jay this is a quick question for you, I've been told that bentley wheels have a wrong offset for a mk5 golf and they won't work? I've test fitted them and it appears they may work just fine? There 9"x19" et 41..
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They will be fine with 215/35 tyres mate.
You may catch every so often..rolling arches will be fine :)
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They will be fine with 215/35 tyres mate.
You may catch every so often..rolling arches will be fine :)
Thanks buddy
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Hi all,
I don't really understand offset and if a higher one would be closer to the strut or poke more.
So basically would:
18"
9J + 10J
5x112
ET48 front
ET40 rear
fit my golf?
thanks!
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A higher offset sits further in... and a lower offset pokes more. Thought I put that on the guide?
and no, I specifically mentioned 10"'s not being worth the effort on the back without pulling the arches. And the 9j front would catch the strut.
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A higher offset sits further in... and a lower offset pokes more. Thought I put that on the guide?
and no, I specifically mentioned 10"'s not being worth the effort on the back without pulling the arches. And the 9j front would catch the strut.
Ok, thank you.
I just wanted to make sure I had it right before conmiting to buy a set of alloys.
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If I run 8.5 x 18" fronts with 225/40 and 9.5 x 18" rears with 235/40, lowered on eibach springs, am I likely to run into problems?
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Hi , I have a question about the CB, does it have to excatly the same ?, the wheels i want to get are 18x8 , ET45 but with a CB of 73.1 ,will this still work ? cheers
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To correct CB you can buy a set of spigot ring from ebay from as little as £4 for 4
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ok great thanks, should be able to get a set with the wheels then, cheers
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Hi all, just recently register here ... Was in the Mk4 game for previous 2 years and time for a change... dont have a MK5 bought yet.. but looking at the possibilities for fitting my current wheels over..
There 18" Genuine Rotiform NUE's , 9.5" all round, ET35.... there 5x100 so I guess ill need 5x112 adapters that will be 20mm... will 9.5" ET15 be way to wide? I will have air in the car aswell so want to get good fitment... if its too much hassle ill be getting rid of them :)
Thanks in advance...
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Absolutely no way you will get those to fit.
Plenty of buyers and wheels out there to probably sell them and then buy some correct PCD ones without much extra cost.
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Absolutely no way you will get those to fit.
Plenty of buyers and wheels out there to probably sell them and then buy some correct PCD ones without much extra cost.
RH zw4... grey centres , poilshed lips :smiley: be another 3/4 wees before have them... Still need to buy a MK5 though haha... I now have Air and Wheels but no car...
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Another guestion following my last!! New wheels are 8" 18" ET60 .... 225/40/18 tyres... what sort of spacers will I need to have on for good fitment?? I will be on air too :) thanks
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you can have those at like et35.
hopefully the idea of my guide was to give you enough information to be able to calculate these things yourself now. :wink:
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http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/wheel-nuts-bolts/mcgard-black-edition-locking-wheel-bolts
Looking at these, what shaft length do I need, the 3 options are 26.7, 34.5 and 41.0mm.
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running spacers or anything?
if the stock bolts are 27mm and you are running bolt through spacers then get the ones for the extra 5/10mm etc...
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No spacers or anything, I'm not cool enough to need those... 26.7mm it is then. Cheers mate! :drinking:
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Would these be ok with no rubbing problems??
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 - 225/40 R18 92Y XL FP TL
Going on to BBS 18 x 8.0" 5x112/N
Probably getting lowered with H&R Springs
This will all go on to my gti
Would appreciate advice
Thanks
Jase
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Good Afternoon guys!
Ive recently joined the forum and am currently on the look out for my first vw.
Currently an e46 driver but previous owner Clio 172's and lots of MX5's in various states of tune.
As i skim through the pages im learning as i go but thought id start out by trying to clarify something from the initial post. Apologies if its already been covered.
See quote - "However if you wanted to put, let's say.. 18x8.5 et 45, not only is the wheel itself one inch wider, but it sits 6mm further out. So the outer lip of the wheel will sit approx 31mm further out from where a standard Monza 2."
This doesnt seem quite right to me and may mislead others. Yes the wheel is an inch wider... but its half an inch wider in both directions.. so surely it would be half an inch plus the 6mm increase in offset wider (so 18.5mm wider rather than the 31mm quoted. We are working off centre lines so we dont add an inch to but sides?
For example.
My plan is to run 3sdm 0.05 at 18x8.5 on the front. ET42.
This will result in around 21.5mm extra poke and 3.5mm extra inset.
Does that make sense? I dont want anyone to read anything as gospel without using sites like willitfit or be put off running there desired wheels without doing a bit of leg work etc :happy2:
Hello again everyone. Excellent site!
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Would these be ok with no rubbing problems??
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 - 225/40 R18 92Y XL FP TL
Going on to BBS 18 x 8.0" 5x112/N
Probably getting lowered with H&R Springs
This will all go on to my gti
Would appreciate advice
Thanks
Jase
Hi Jase
Offset is the most vital aspect of wheel fitment which you haven't provided.
Between et 38 and 50 would be fine.
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Good Afternoon guys!
Ive recently joined the forum and am currently on the look out for my first vw.
Currently an e46 driver but previous owner Clio 172's and lots of MX5's in various states of tune.
As i skim through the pages im learning as i go but thought id start out by trying to clarify something from the initial post. Apologies if its already been covered.
See quote - "However if you wanted to put, let's say.. 18x8.5 et 45, not only is the wheel itself one inch wider, but it sits 6mm further out. So the outer lip of the wheel will sit approx 31mm further out from where a standard Monza 2."
This doesnt seem quite right to me and may mislead others. Yes the wheel is an inch wider... but its half an inch wider in both directions.. so surely it would be half an inch plus the 6mm increase in offset wider (so 18.5mm wider rather than the 31mm quoted. We are working off centre lines so we dont add an inch to but sides?
For example.
My plan is to run 3sdm 0.05 at 18x8.5 on the front. ET42.
This will result in around 21.5mm extra poke and 3.5mm extra inset.
Does that make sense? I dont want anyone to read anything as gospel without using sites like willitfit or be put off running there desired wheels without doing a bit of leg work etc :happy2:
Hello again everyone. Excellent site!
yes bud you are right.
Have noticed it before but never got around to changing it... will do so when i have some time. cheers :happy2: :drinking:
this is quite a relaxed site for "sceney-ness" and no-one really runs extremes of offsets or widths, willitfit is great for calculating differences but does not take into account bodywork and strut positionings.
the point was to provide people with basics understanding so they can hopefully figure it out for themselves without having to go "can i fit this on this" :signLOL:
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I've certainly really taken to this forum. It's seems an excellent resource and good community for sure!
I'm just itching to drop on the right car so I can properly get my teeth into first time vw ownership.
:smiley:
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Great write up. Will certainly use this if I get mine.
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Cheers for the info Jay, good read
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Brilliant write up here cannot tell you how many questions you've answered! Cheers!
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Have a question already :(!
I am looking to install some Koni shock with some H&R springs. I am unsure of the ride height afterwards, but wanted to ask, how can i tell if wheels are going to fit (offset and width etc) before bidding or purchasing (will probably be buying used and bidding on ebay).
Thanks
Vish
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Question here too. Would they be any poke or would they tuck in or be in line with the arch if i buy 18x8.5 with an offset of 47. Any help would be great. What tyres should I run with this? Will be lowering the car on springs around 50mm. Thanks.
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I'm still quite confused
I'm looking at getting Mercedes amg magnesiums, fitment is 5x112 et 35
8.5 fronts 9.5 rears staggered, will 225/40/18 tyres fit?
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Yes those tyres would fit but I would suggest getting at either 205/35, 205/40, 215/35 or 215/40 as a 225 on a 8.5j will have next to no stretch with a 225/40 so is likely to catch/rub on the arch depending how low you choose to go.
225/40 on a 9.5j should fit nicely though.
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Front 205/35/18 8.5j et35 no camber and rear 215/40/18 et35 with 4.5 degree camber - with standard camber arms all the way in 3.0 degree and 1.5 natural, with over 100mm drop - nothing rubs at all at any point ever. But rear arch had a bit of a roll so have 5mm Clarence between arch and lip.
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Hi,
Can anybody confirm that a set of 5x112 et45 18x9 will fit on the rear of a GT Sport 2.0 without any mods? Car is on 30mm apex springs.
They're a staggered setup, 8j et45 on the front so from reading, these should be fine. Just worried that I will have issues on the rear as suggested by the 'rule of thumb'.
Thanks
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Hi,
Can anybody confirm that a set of 5x112 et45 18x9 will fit on the rear of a GT Sport 2.0 without any mods? Car is on 30mm apex springs.
They're a staggered setup, 8j et45 on the front so from reading, these should be fine. Just worried that I will have issues on the rear as suggested by the 'rule of thumb'.
Thanks
Boing....
Can anybody assist?
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Depends on tyre width, I'd say you'd be fine with 225 or less :happy2:
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225/40/18's by all accounts! :jumpmove: :jumpmove:
Happy :happy2:
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Thanks for the help on this, all fitted now!
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F15%2F04%2F14%2F4372a2aebe34ac85beb77753cf102933.jpg&hash=7f816ae6631c6f5d03eac95d6463fb28f5c4b085)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F15%2F04%2F14%2F8531387f865a8760d0a135d9ecdd6249.jpg&hash=91cc22a055f4e70f156d28567f2ea91c8500eb16)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Great write up and excellent additions throughout the topic! I am looking at swapping my Monzas over to Porsche 911 Twist 18's, Am I right in thinking these will slip straight on?
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If they are genuine Porsche wheels they have a pcd of 5x130 rather than vw 5x112. So you would need adaptors.
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Evening
BBS CH028 18x8 43et
Will those for my standard mk5 R32,without any issues
Thanks
Simon
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Sorry I need some assistance please, I have run the wheels I am looking at through
the ' willtheyfitguide ' and the difference does not seem too great. Most of the info seems to change the Offset which I can understand will complicate matters but the one's I have in mind have an almost identical ET
They are a set of Audi 18" 5 x 112 with an ET of 52 fitted with 245 40 18 pirelli's
Being in Crete I cannot get the car and wheels together for a trial fit, i intend to buy them and ship them to Crete so I would really welcome your input please.
Thanks in advance Steve
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You havent put width on.
But yes they will fit, albeit you may need spacers to clear your suspension strut if you are on coilovers.
Slightly smaller tyres wouldnt be a miss either..225 or 235/40 on an 8 or 8.5 would be fine.
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Sorry about that, they are 9" wide, the car is on standard suspension and ride height.
The guide seemed to show an even increase front and back over the existing wheels, 20mm nearer the strut and an extra 18mm poke.
I was going for either Pescara or omanyt because I have always felt any given car looks better with oem wheels of the era, but some of the newer oem Audi wheels look really tasty, so I am being drawn towards them.
Regards
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Yeah no that would probably rub the strut at the front. You'd need a bit of a a spacer on the front end.
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Thanks once again, had a bit of a feel behind the existing std set up and they are running very close to the strut already.
There seem to be lot of variations of width and ET on the wheels I am looking at, they do an 8j version with 225 40 so might look for a set of those instead.
Regards Steve
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Thanks once again, had a bit of a feel behind the existing std set up and they are running very close to the strut already.
There seem to be lot of variations of width and ET on the wheels I am looking at, they do an 8j version with 225 40 so might look for a set of those instead.
Regards Steve
You're better off getting the 8J. With 9J you either rub the strut or you rub the wing arch (you can get them rolled, not sure if that's enough for a 9J).
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Thanks for your help guys, this is dead now I have decided to look for some others more suitable.
Steve
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Good read1
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I have 17" golf gti denvers on my golf with 225/45/17 tyres. I want to buy higher profile tyres: 225/55/17 to increase comfort because lately I've had to drive through pretty poor roads and I am sick and tired of trying to avoid potholes and stressing if I hit one. Can the Denvers hold such a high profile tire? Will stock gti clearance be enough or will I need spacers?
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FTHAgLvL.png&hash=d4f0dae82717ab93d1b0184b915e2db456b88ab3)
BTW very usefull write up
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Stick to 225/45 tyres.
Won't really make much difference and will put your speedo out quite a bit.
Will also drive poop.
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Very informative post mate! :smiley:
Looking at some new wheels. Not lowered yet but looking at coilovers in the near future.
Would they fit:
19x8.5 et 47 on 225/35/19
or
18x8 et 48 on 225/40/18
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To put some dust off this topic, i have a question for you wheel experts. have anyone been rolling on 19x9.5 et 40 on the rear. the fronts are 19x8.5 et45, so there no problem. i am just worried about the rear, as the wheel is big and i dont know if i can put it on the car
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Still very useful thanks!
Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk
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Would 18x8j et40 work front and rear with 225.40.18,wanting to just fill the arches abit more
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What tyres do people recommend for a Mk5 R32? It's on the standard 18" wheels so 225/40.
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Sorry double post..
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What tyres do people recommend for a Mk5 R32? It's on the standard 18" wheels so 225/40.
Michelin pilot sport 4
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What tyres do people recommend for a Mk5 R32? It's on the standard 18" wheels so 225/40.
Michelin pilot sport 4
Thanks.
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I haven't found anything remotely like this in this forum. There may be, I'm just not seeing it. So, I'll post it and perhaps the OP can copy and paste in the first post so to be easier to find. I know it is relative to original ride height given it relates to drop, but it is somewhat close regardless.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49838044173_b86a3a0cd8_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iW21cF)
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I have just joined. I’m hunting for edition 30 alloys for my standard Mk5 GTI. Has non Vw monzas on it which I don’t like. If anyone can help?
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Hi guys is it too much to put 16" 6.5j et33 on regular mk 5 (not GTI) or it will look good? I m speculating about that offset. What is the maximum offset for 6.5 16"? Regular is, if im right, about 48.
Tyre is 205/55.
Thanks.
Sent from my M2101K6G using Tapatalk
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Hi guys is it too much to put 16" 6.5j et33 on regular mk 5 (not GTI) or it will look good? I m speculating about that offset. What is the maximum offset for 6.5 16"? Regular is, if im right, about 48.
Tyre is 205/55.
Thanks.
Sent from my M2101K6G using Tapatalk
(https://i.postimg.cc/xd6sMWt2/fit1.png) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/hjh2rp57/fit2.png) (https://postimages.org/)
I have 225/40/18 et 45 right now and it sits perfectly in-line with the fender (no rubbing). 6.5 with et 33 should fit without issues and also look better. I have 205/55/16 et 48 on my old one and that sits so far in that it actually looks bad.