17"s on mk2

[Spyda]

Im thinking about fitting a set if 17 x 7.5 on to my mk2 gti.
The tires are 40mm profile, will they fit?

I know MK2GTI has 17's but i cant remember his tire profile.

What needs to be done to fit them and do i need lower profile tires?

[GermanwithaVdub]

Im thinking about fitting a set if 17 x 7.5 on to my mk2 gti.
The tires are 40mm profile, will they fit?

I know MK2GTI has 17's but i cant remember his tire profile.

What needs to be done to fit them and do i need lower profile tires?

what do you mean 40mm profile? the profile rating on tyres is not a measurement in units, its simply a proportion of how wide the tyres are. ie: the sidewall (profile) will be much bigger on tyre size 275/40/17 than it will on 205/40/17.

that being said, personally if i fitted 205 wide tyres (which im guessing you are), i wouldn't want to go lower than 40 profile.

but then again if i was you, i wouldnt be fitting anything bigger than 16's on an mk2 anyway

[16v80]

Hi

When I bought my mk2 it had 17's on it with 205/40/17 tyres,
In my opinon they ruined the car(looks & handling),

It now has 14" steel rims, it stops/turns and drives far better with the smaller rims.
As Germanwithadub said 16" are the biggest I would be fitting to a mk2 with 195/45/16 tyres or if you want to pay the extra 195/40/16

Ian

[Spyda]

thanks guys, anymore input?

[evorobin]

Yeah 35 profile if you can. I run 205/40/16 so the size you described (17's)would make the rolling circumference bigger than std.

Speedometer reading 3.6% too slow to be exact.

4.8% difference from my tyres...

205/35/17 = 0.4% smaller than stock

[GermanwithaVdub]

aaaaand if you try to take a corner you'll be running on the rim

[rayray086]

aaaaand if you try to take a corner you'll be running on the rim

Not quite the same, but you get the picture

But yeah, try and stick with the stock rolling diameter so your speedo doesn't change too much. Muck around with this tyre size calculator and find what size tyres you can use, and what manufacturer makes them. Keep in mind though that it's an American site so some tyres may not be available down under.

[Spyda]

aaaaand if you try to take a corner you'll be running on the rim

What do you mean?


So handling will be sacrificed, but how badly? Will I have to role the arches? Any other rubbing issues?

[evorobin]

Rubbing depends on the offset of the wheels. MK2's can handle 205's unless slammed. Ride will be a bit bumpy on 35 profile but no way are you going to get sidewall roll like someone just described

[GermanwithaVdub]

What do you mean?


So handling will be sacrificed, but how badly? Will I have to role the arches? Any other rubbing issues?

are you after show or go?

if i was you id be fitting 205/40/16 on 9" wide rims. in face i will be doing that very soon gives a nice stretch to keep the sidewall rigid but not ridiculously low profile and the size of the wheel suits the car... plus it looks fat

[Water Boy]

15x7 for the real euro look and rubber is cheap

[moto]

are you after show or go?)

That's really the question.
The original 14" wheel/tyre configuration was just right for balance & nimbleness. Maybe many would disagree but I reckon increasing the rubber takes more away from the driving than it gives back. That might not be true on the track but it seems to be true for public roads where a greater variety of conditions operate.

There's a money consideration too. For the price of cheap Korean 17s you can get top brand 14s. If you want to put the steelies away I'd look out for some original Mk2 BBS alloys.

[GermanwithaVdub]

15x7 for the real euro look and rubber is cheap

why that size? you dont get stretch or low profile

That's really the question.
The original 14" wheel/tyre configuration was just right for balance & nimbleness. Maybe many would disagree but I reckon increasing the rubber takes more away from the driving than it gives back. That might not be true on the track but it seems to be true for public roads where a greater variety of conditions operate.

There's a money consideration too. For the price of cheap Korean 17s you can get top brand 14s. If you want to put the steelies away I'd look out for some original Mk2 BBS alloys.

yes if you're using it daily it would be wise to fit 14's or 15's but in my case its only gonna be for weekends and tracks hence the lower profile

[86gti]

ive had 3 sets of different 17s on my mk2...
Lowered on Jammex springs...I would say 205/40s but there is variation between some brands too. Pov pack Nankangs etc are a little wider and rub (just) on hard corners. It also depends on what offset you want.....
Running silverstones now with no problems at all, even lowered it anothe inch or so still with no probs...My volk replicas have been good as far as clearance etc,,they are 17x7 tho.. but IMO 17s really do spoil a mk2
so ive gone 16x8 .....
17s will make a mk2 look like an ATV unless you get the right offset.
here is mine on 17x7 with 205 /40
how it looked b4 it was dropped a bit more..........


and after more lowering

[Water Boy]

Yeah sorry im on drugs.... 16x8 for shiz