17 or 18 inch for my Jetta

[jake85]

Hey Guys,

Its time to replace my stock 16" wheels, I have decided on the following wheel but I cannot decide whether to get 17 or 18"


I'm concerned that 18's will feel too hard on the road and be uncomfortable. I also think I'm going to have to lower the Jetta because it kind of sits high stock.

any opinions or advice ?

I want these :


http://www.tempetyres.com.au/packages_section_details.php?Code=2&Wheel=17x7.5-ttrs-5/112-p45

[brad]

17" x 7.5" ET45 with 235/45r17 Michelin PS3 - you'll get out of it for <$1300

[jake85]

17" x 7.5" ET45 with 235/45r17 Michelin PS3 - you'll get out of it for <$1300

they also come in ET35 any difference ?

[brad]

they also come in ET35 any difference ?

They stick out 10mm more. You could probably get away with ET35 if you want it to look "aggressive"

I'm not sure how the guard clearance on the Jetta is. I have an Octavia (how different can they be?).

I've had 17x8 ET35 (so they stick out another 6mm on top of the 10mm) and they stuck out past the front guards by about 8mm. They were perfect on the back guards.

My last set of rims were 17x7.5 ET45 and I really liked how they sat in the guards.

I currently have 18x7.5 ET51 with 225/40r18 and they look a bit too lost. They lack stance and presence. My car is lowered 30mmF/10mmR and they still look too small. The 235/45r17 are a size up from standard and will help fill your guard area.

[jake85]

They stick out 10mm more. You could probably get away with ET35 if you want it to look "aggressive"

I'm not sure how the guard clearance on the Jetta is. I have an Octavia (how different can they be?).

I've had 17x8 ET35 (so they stick out another 6mm on top of the 10mm) and they stuck out past the front guards by about 8mm. They were perfect on the back guards.

My last set of rims were 17x7.5 ET45 and I really liked how they sat in the guards.

I currently have 18x7.5 ET51 with 225/40r18 and they look a bit too lost. They lack stance and presence. My car is lowered 30mmF/10mmR and they still look too small. The 235/45r17 are a size up from standard and will help fill your guard area.

thanks for info, some more info to think about now.....

[Haydennedyah]

17 for comfort if thats what you want but you could go to 18 even as well, as for me, 18s are still comfortable plus im
sitting pretty low, its subjective i guess.
Before my Jetta I had a 97 starlet with blown shocks and cut springs (not by me) so from that to a jetta lowered its comfortable.
buy 18s and my springs I have for sale and you will be fine

[brad]

I agree that 18" are comfortable enough. I'm on Eibachs & koni sport set quite stiff with 38psi in the tyres and it's quite acceptable.

I just think the 18x7.5 ET50 with 225/40r18 look really piss-weak and out of proportion. Maybe an 8" rim with more poke (ET45?) & a 235/40r18 would look better.

It's all personal preference and I'll admit to being an old geezer with some old fashioned taste in how to mod a car (hence I like the rake that my uneven lowering has given)

[Haydennedyah]

I agree 8 inch is a must IMO,
i personally had the same set up as yours I believe as I had VW motorsports,
Im now on standard 16 inch wheels which annoys me, as im awaiting my 18x8.5 +35 wheels

[kaanage]

Normal vehicle usage need to be considered

Do you often drive on rough country roads? Lots of the ultra large rim/ultra low profile tyre brigade experienced damage to tyres and rims after the big rains ruined the roads surfaces in Queensland a couple of years back.

Also, one Octavia owner went down to 16" rims so he could drive faster on rough country roads (NSW from memory)

I prefer higher offset wheels for the better steering rather than going for poke - it depends on your priorities for looks vs performance

[jake85]

Only Sydney peak hour traffic driving for me


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Haydennedyah]

18s and springs 80 % comfort

[kaanage]

80% relative to what??

To the OP, 18" rims+lowering springs would seem to be what you're after

[jake85]

So I went to buy the wheels but they didn't have any stock (of the ones i wanted), this is all they have :

I'm going to have to shop around.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jake85]

but I have definitely decided to get 18's

[wfdTamar]

I had the same question recently and have bought 225/40x18 wheels. Should be sticking them on my (currently 16") standard height Octavia soon (will post pics in my thread - below). I am worried that, as Brad says, they will look lost because the car is not lowered. Also that they may be too uncomfortable. There is also quite an increase in unsprung weight with larger wheels.

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f39/wheels-give-me-opinion-109054.html