MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: xxx_mojo_xxx on April 07, 2009, 08:29:03 pm
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I'm considering to go for slightly lower profile tyres when they are due for replacement. At the moment my car has 18" wheels with a 40 profile.
If I was to change these to say 35 (all four tyres) would that causes any problems? I'm specifically thinking about the ESP system, ground clearance, and ride comfort, etc.
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i don't recal having experience with 35 profile tyres on an 18inch rim, but you will probably loose a tad of ride comfort. Overall you will loose 22mm of diameter of the tyre. It will probably look a bit better. I suspect you might find they will be more expensive tyres. Plenty of cars run a 35 profile. You should be ok.
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Wont it also affect the speedo accuracy? :confused:
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What about the readout on my speedo? Will that be out because of the difference in diameter?
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whats the point of doing this ? :confused:
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thought it might may the car look better - lower stance, etc. I guess, it would also provide a lower centre of gravity which is a good thing, yes?
With the tyres having less smaller side walls may improve cornering.
All theories...wondering if any of these would have a certain element of truth. :confused:
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imo it wont do any of the above :confused:
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Use this website clicky (http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator)
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That's a great link thanks... so what tyres do the GTi's come with the standard 17" wheels? Are they 17x40s - that would cause the speedo to be inaccurate?
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45's on the 17's IIRC
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Just get bigger alloy wheels!
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or lower springs
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Lowering springs already fitted.
If I was going to go to 19" I would probably go to a 35 profile in any case. Any one got 19" with Eibach sportlines? need to check if there are any clearance issue with the larger wheels in the arches?
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I have H&R sorry
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i have 19" for sale check em out.there in the for sale section
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You will knock the speedo out and then also the tacho (mileage counter etc). You can calculate by how much it will be out using that website which was posted above.
The alternative is to change diameter of the rim, or the tyre width. Either way, it can be dangerous running on low profile tyres. A friend of mine owned a scoobaru with 18's on and he ditched the car into a field. One of his "low-profile" tyres completely ripped off the rim while he was giving it some.
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"it can be dangerous running low profile tyres",
what a strange statement, many cars including the GTI come on low profile tyres, not sure they would be fitted if they were in anyway dangerous
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altering the profile in combination with tread width but keeping within a reasonable percentage of the OE rolling radius is in theory fine :happy2:
In combination with a reduced ride height it may indeed give you the look you are after.
Be wary though moving away from 'known' combos (17's 45profile , 18's 40profile , 19's 35profile) may give you ride/wear and handling issues you wouldnt expect. Rim protection will also be reduced.
If you want to do it fine, go for it :happy2: Personally I would be looking at others ways to enhance your car but sometimes its good to be different......
One of the GTI's facets is great agility/handling which you dont want to spoil , but you never know it may improve to your liking :happy2:
note that jonnyc is moving away from std sizes to fit certain rims and tyres
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"it can be dangerous running low profile tyres",
what a strange statement, many cars including the GTI come on low profile tyres, not sure they would be fitted if they were in anyway dangerous
Strange? I suppose I should of been more specific. Try "Lower profile tyres".
For example you have the Monza GTi setup of 18" rim on a 225/40/18. Then fit 225/35/18 and the side wall is now only 35% of the nominal width = 78.75mm instead of the stock 90mm. Have a play with this: http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html (http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html).
Using the above calculator to save me having to do the numbers, you'd need a 255/35/18 to produce the same size of sidewall.
The use of "low profile tyres" is a bit of a given these days on performance cars. Better side-wall technology has made low profile tyres possible. But manufacturer's choose a tyre setup very carefully, moving away from a stock tyre setup just for the sake of it looking better is just asking for problems in my opinion.
My friend with the scooby fitted aftermarket wheels and didnt realise he needed to look into what the best tyre/rim combo should of been for the rim width/diameter.
As JOHN_O has already mentioned the "known" combos are known for a reason. Because they give safe side-wall's (amongst other things).