18" vs 19" - Which One in Calgary

[RC-Cola]

So I got a new GTI over the winter and now that summer is approaching I'm going to get some rims.

I was thinking that I should go 18's due to the potholes in town and that they weigh less...

But the 19's look mighty fine...

18's for my car are 225/40/18
19's are 225/35/19 (do I have to worry about destroying them with small sidewalls?)

http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy141/rc_cola45/FrontViewWeb.jpg

[benyl]

Go with 19s.

You are giving up a quarter inch of sidewall height for a nice looking ride.

Go with 235/35/19.

Besides, 18s bend just as easy as 19s.

Hell, I have bent 17s in Calgary.

[Kloubek]

Personally, I think the stock GTI wheels are some of the nicest stock wheels around. I wouldn't spend the money.

But each to their own...

[JustinGTP]

Originally posted by Kloubek
Personally, I think the stock GTI wheels are some of the nicest stock wheels around. I wouldn't spend the money.

But each to their own...

He has the base 17" wheels. I like the 18" upgrade to the GTIs.

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/5687/gti18.jpg

Anyways to answer the question, I would go with the 19s.

[scat19]

Originally posted by benyl
Go with 19s.

You are giving up a quarter inch of sidewall height for a nice looking ride.


Math FAIL.

19" - 18" = 1"

Therefore, you have 1/2" sidewall height difference.

[JustinGTP]

Yup, it's a .4" difference of sidewall. The 19" tire gives you an overall diameter of 25.2" vs. 18" at 25.1" (almost no difference)

18" Sidewall = 3.5"
19" Sidewall = 3.1"

I don't think .4" will save you from a pot hole.

[Kloubek]

Originally posted by JustinGTP


He has the base 17" wheels. I like the 18" upgrade to the GTIs.


Oh, I see. Yes - the 18's look better than the 17's. And is the plan for the 19's to be GTI style as well? If so, and if you are spending the money anyway, I'd go with the 19's.

[benyl]

I suggested 235s

1010tires:

225/40/18
Sidewall Height: 3.54 in 89.916 mm
235/35/19
Sidewall Height: 3.23 in 82.042 mm
225/35/19
Sidewall Height: 3.10 in 78.74 mm

For 225, you are right. 235 gives him a bit more cushion and basically a quarter inch less. Sorry, just under 1/3 of an inch. ok?


Originally posted by scat19


Math FAIL.

19" - 18" = 1"

Therefore, you have 1/2" sidewall height difference.

You aren't the brightest bulb are you? Sidewall height is based on width and percentage. It isn't simply math like you suggest.

[revelations]

IMO, generally any sidewall thats 40 series or below in Calgary is asking for problems.

This isnt California, or even Vancouver for that matter.
Our roads are in constant state of disarray due to the freeze-thaw cycles we experience.

[JustinGTP]

Originally posted by benyl
I suggested 235s


Not sure why you would recommend the 235s? They give an overall diameter of 25.5". That's .4" MORE than stock and will put out the speedo and km reading on the car. It's 1.5% too fast.

The tire size he put originally for 19s works much better IMO, it's only .1" higher and .7% faster.

[benyl]

Originally posted by JustinGTP

It's 1.5% too fast.


You mean too slow.

3% is acceptable change.

More grip, more sidewall, better looking depending on wheel width. I know VW guys are all about stretch, but I don't think the OP is looking for that.

1.5% slow also racks up 1.5% less kms... haha

[JustinGTP]

Originally posted by benyl


You mean too slow.

3% is acceptable change.

More grip, more sidewall, better looking depending on wheel width. I know VW guys are all about stretch, but I don't think the OP is looking for that.

1.5% slow also racks up 1.5% less kms... haha

No, I meant what I wrote and I wrote 1.5% TOO FAST.

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4193/tiresx.jpg

[benyl]

Wow, I must be retarded today.

You were talking about the speedometer, not vehicle speed.

At an indicated 100 km/h, the vehicle will be going 101.5 which is too fast.

At a vehicle speed of 100, the speedometer will read 98.5 km/h, which is too slow.

[RC-Cola]

Originally posted by Kloubek


Oh, I see. Yes - the 18's look better than the 17's. And is the plan for the 19's to be GTI style as well? If so, and if you are spending the money anyway, I'd go with the 19's.

The cost to upgrade to the 18's from VW was $1000 and I'm not that big of a fan. For an extra $200 I can gt a set of wheels from VMR that I like a lot better.

http://www.velocitymotoring.com/links/images/VMR_Wheels_VW_GTI_Red_V710_19_Hyper-Silver_320.jpg

Or Tirerack

http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_garage/BigPic.jsp?wheelMake=Enkei+Performance&wheelModel=EKM3&wheelFinish=Bright+Silver+Paint

My intention is to sell the 17" tires and use the factory rims with winter tires.

[scat19]

Originally posted by benyl
You aren't the brightest bulb are you? Sidewall height is based on width and percentage. It isn't simply math like you suggest.

What? You were proven wrong in this thread twice already and you're still challenging me. :rolleyes:

If the overall diameter is X, and we are decreasing rim size by Y, the difference can be calculated by simple math.

We're plus sizing to keep same overall diameter, not bringing weird tire sizes into the equation. (yes I do know how tires work)

[benyl]

Haha, ok.

I am done.

You guys are right. My bad.

[atgilchrist]

Originally posted by RC-Cola
So I got a new GTI over the winter and now that summer is approaching I'm going to get some rims.

I was thinking that I should go 18's due to the potholes in town and that they weigh less...

But the 19's look mighty fine...

18's for my car are 225/40/18
19's are 225/35/19 (do I have to worry about destroying them with small sidewalls?)

http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy141/rc_cola45/FrontViewWeb.jpg

Nice car! I just ordered the exact same one (4dr Carbon Steel), should have it later this week/early next week. I got the 18" option, feels like a nice solid ride, but not too punishing. 19's might be a bit rough, IMO.

[JustinGTP]

Originally posted by benyl
Haha, ok. I am done. You guys are right. My bad.

Don't worry about it you were just trying to help

[RC-Cola]

Originally posted by atgilchrist


Nice car! I just ordered the exact same one (4dr Carbon Steel), should have it later this week/early next week. I got the 18" option, feels like a nice solid ride, but not too punishing. 19's might be a bit rough, IMO.

Thanks, it's changed a bit since this picture. I tinted and 3M the car, tinted the sidemarkers, added a laser jammer and radar detector.

Oh and got the APR Stage 1 chip, taking it up to 250hp, 280lb of torque. :burnout:

[Wrinkly]

Damn, I was about to order 19's - all excited, but now all this talk about damage, stiffer ride etc :confused: :confused:

Damn they look good though - 19's it is :D

I vote 19's for your GTI too, OP (nice car, almost bought one). Though I'm not so keen on the stock style myself.

[scat19]

the people who complain about so called "damage" and complain about the harsher ride are just babies.

[atgilchrist]

Originally posted by RC-Cola


Thanks, it's changed a bit since this picture. I tinted and 3M the car, tinted the sidemarkers, added a laser jammer and radar detector.

Oh and got the APR Stage 1 chip, taking it up to 250hp, 280lb of torque. :burnout:

How is the Stage 1? That is, of course, one of the first things I'd like to do!

[GTI CANADIAN]

Calgary roads are a dream compared to the east coast. You peeps don't know the meaning of pothole till you drive out there.

anyways,

Are you gonna slam this ride?

Slam, Stretch, poke. Low and Slow.


pchopped
http://i35.tinypic.com/2daceoh.jpg

http://i808.photobucket.com/albums/zz5/wrxah/2010vwgtifd_007.jpg



Also: www.eurodrivers.ca


Dude on Kijiji is selling 18" Huffs AKA Detroits

[RC-Cola]

Originally posted by GTI CANADIAN
Are you gonna slam this ride?

Slam, Stretch, poke. Low and Slow.



Not sure, I'd like to, but I won't slam it like your photo, it wrecks the ride, ruins the tires from rubbing etc. I'm debating about putting coils on so I can raise it up for the winter.

[Aleks]

I'm going to run 265/30/R19 for my rears this summer. We'll see how that works out.

[RC-Cola]

Originally posted by atgilchrist


How is the Stage 1? That is, of course, one of the first things I'd like to do!

Awesome, I got it done from Concept-1 when I had 180km's on the car just to take advantage of the introduction sale.

I left it in stock mode until I passed 1600km's to break it in properly. Turned it on this past weekend and so far I'm really impressed.

It ride fairly stock while driving normally, then when you step on it, the car simply takes off... honestly from a stand still the car spins through first, second and most of third. I'm getting better at throttling back so it simply doesn't peal out, but it's still fun!

This is also part of the reason I want to get rid of the stock Conti's, they are loud and brutal for traction.

[atgilchrist]

Agreed, wish we had the summer tire option like the US.

Thanks for the input!

[Kloubek]

Originally posted by Wrinkly
Damn, I was about to order 19's - all excited, but now all this talk about damage, stiffer ride etc :confused: :confused:


Don't worry about it J. I put 20's. (yes, 20's) on my A6, and noticed only a slight reduction in ride quality. Ran them for 2 years, and never bent a rim.

I cannot recall which profile I went with, but I remember it was very low. 35's perhaps?

[Kloubek]

pic:

[Wrinkly]

Originally posted by Kloubek


Don't worry about it J. I put 20's. (yes, 20's) on my A6, and noticed only a slight reduction in ride quality. Ran them for 2 years, and never bent a rim.

I cannot recall which profile I went with, but I remember it was very low. 35's perhaps?

Yep - talking to tirebob about it, going to be 235/35 Toyo's I think :thumbsup:

[GTI CANADIAN]

I picked up some fk silverline coilovers - Height adjustable only.

I also got a set of Stern ST-8 18x8 et33 wheels that I'm gonna wrap with 205/40-r18 nitto neogens.

Should be able to slam it, and it will have a fairly aggressive stretch and poke.

I drive a mkv

[RC-Cola]

I thought I should update this post. I decided on 18's and got them delivered on Friday:

http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy141/rc_cola45/Rims.jpg

Now if the crappy wweather would go away next week I could get these mounted and enjoy some good tires for once! :burnout:

One other question, where can I get chrome valve stems for these? I think that rubber ones won't look very good.

[Aleks]

Are those Miro wheels? They'll looks great on the GTI.

I just mounted my 19s Alufelgens. Really hope the forecast for next week is going to change...

[RC-Cola]

Originally posted by Aleks
Are those Miro wheels? They'll looks great on the GTI.


Yep, the Type 111's. Hopefully they hold up well enough.

[Redlyne_mr2]

Nice choice 19's look to big on that car.