Help: Golf GTI with 16" wheels?

[Unbelievable]

If the wheels and tyres are not rated for the GTI, you may have recourse available as the tyre service has a responsibility to sell and fit only wheels and tyres that are rated for the car. I would be checking out whether the wheels and tyres are in fact legal for the GTI and if not take it to fair trading or a solicitor to ascertain your status.
Cheers

George

Good suggestion George, however unfortunately since the wheels are VW wheels, and the tyre pressure sticker includes that size, I think they must be legal for the GTI.

Basically I was dumb.

[Big Yellow]

Good suggestion George, however unfortunately since the wheels are VW wheels, and the tyre pressure sticker includes that size, I think they must be legal for the GTI.

Basically I was dumb.

I think you will find a smaller tire size to accomodate for the winter tires mode (correct me if i'm wrong).

however since we dont have that here, it may not apply. Also, check whether fitting smaller wheels is legal too.

[Mischa]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170306395524&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=007

[DubSteve]

dude give the guy a break,

im sure everyone gets stooged by someone at one stage of their lives!

Thanks for your help

Yeah probably but me if you can't see that one coming going from a legal wheel to a smaller size

Either way front up to his shop and say I have legal aid and I want my rims back watch them there pants.

Did the same thing today when the guy offered me $200 when he hit my car. I said no way its more like $500 atleast, he goes I'm not paying that, I go well mate my dads a cop and my mum is a lawyer, who do you want to be up by first?

He made his full comp claim and damages are in the visinity of $2500

[Maverick]

Good suggestion George, however unfortunately since the wheels are VW wheels, and the tyre pressure sticker includes that size, I think they must be legal for the GTI.

Basically I was dumb.

It sounds like they had a buyer lined up for genuine GTI wheels.

Did you have to pay anything or did they just do a straight swap? Any pics of the wheels that they gave you?

[Unbelievable]

It sounds like they had a buyer lined up for genuine GTI wheels.

Did you have to pay anything or did they just do a straight swap? Any pics of the wheels that they gave you?

Not sure how to post pics to this forum yet:

attempt 1:


attempt 2:
The 16" wheel

[Unbelievable]

Yeah probably but me if you can't see that one coming going from a legal wheel to a smaller size

I think I had already admitted to being dumb right...

[Russ59]

Not sure how to post pics to this forum yet:

attempt 1:


attempt 2:
The 16" wheel

Pretty sure they're from a VW Jetta, I have been doing a bit of wheel searching recently and there's been a few sets floating around. One consolation for you is that they might still be OEM wheels anyway, so they should be a reasonable quality replacement. I guess you've learned a lesson as well and at least you have something to show for the experience and haven't been left empty handed over the deal.

Russ

[brad]

I'd still be checking with your Insurance Company, your State Gov't registration institution, VW Aust & your motoring association as to the legality of the wheels.

I would also check that the tyres are the correct load rating & speed rating for the car;

and if all else fails:

I would also be asking the tyre/wheel vendor for a written & signed statement on their company's letterhead saying the wheels & tyres are roadworthy & comply with Australian design rules & local registration rules.

What tyres are they? Does that say SportContact1?

[Guest212]

christ you guys are alarmists.

those tyres and wheels will be perfectly legal for the GTI. Its not a different car to a Golf Edition or even a jetta. It has some different bolt on bits and pieces but on the whole its the same thing.

There is NO saftey issue or legal issue being posed by using those wheels and tyres over the original fitment EXCEPT that those tyres won't have as much grip as the CSC2.

That would be australia wide as well.

[brad]

christ you guys are alarmists.

those tyres and wheels will be perfectly legal for the GTI. Its not a different car to a Golf Edition or even a jetta. It has some different bolt on bits and pieces but on the whole its the same thing.

There is NO saftey issue or legal issue being posed by using those wheels and tyres over the original fitment EXCEPT that those tyres won't have as much grip as the CSC2.

That would be australia wide as well.

You say this from your role as an insurance or a registration/ADR expert?

I don't think we're panic merchants - were just trying to help the guy get his wheels back.

What would you do if you went to buy a GTI and it had 16" rims on it?

If nothing else, I'd ask for a $2000 discount so I could buy some new OEM spec 17" rims.

[Maverick]

christ you guys are alarmists.

those tyres and wheels will be perfectly legal for the GTI. Its not a different car to a Golf Edition or even a jetta. It has some different bolt on bits and pieces but on the whole its the same thing.

There is NO saftey issue or legal issue being posed by using those wheels and tyres over the original fitment EXCEPT that those tyres won't have as much grip as the CSC2.

That would be australia wide as well.

I have to disagree, the GTI is sold with a certain type of tyre and wheel, fitting a lower spec tyre and wheel may at least be unwise and at worst illegal/dangerous.

As the GTI was never sold with 16" wheels this raises the question and in the absence of proof one way or the other I'd err on the side of caution.

[Guest212]

brad: No I go from my knowledge of what is legal and what is not (i've been right through the laws around and about tyres and wheels, both with undersized and oversized combinations - special note, we now have an NCOP for vehicle modifications, although they are simply guidelines rather than the law and it is up to the various states to figure out how they go about supporting them, as far as i know the only state so far which has begun to accept them is Victoria?). But I agree on your other point i would be going back to the OEM or optional fitment wheels as soon as I possibly could and then getting back to driving something which worked just fine on what it came with from the factory.

PS: you will probably find the speed and load capacity of the 17" rubber is higher than that of the 16" rubber BUT you will find that the actual requirement of the vehicle is well below what the tyres are capable of.

A tyre shop is not stupid (well, ok they can be but they're not absolutely brain dead). They will not knowingly fit illegal tyres to a vehicle unless they have made it clear with the owner know that its not legal. IF they were to fit an illegal combination to a vehicle and not inform the owner they leave themselves open for all sorts of legal issues not covered by their insurance.


Oh and I stand by my original thoughts. There is no cause for alarm in regards to the OP's saftey. Reading this thread I can't help but get the impression that some people on here think that these wheels will be dangerous (which is obviously not the case). Tyres rated at 190km/hr fitted to a vehicle which can do 200km/hr will not just explode and cause baby seals to die...unless the vehicle is taken over the rated speed of the tyre. The only danger is rubber not rated to the right weight of the vehicle but this simply won't be the case as the jetta and golf are basically the same weight!

[brad]

A tyre shop is not stupid (well, ok they can be but they're not absolutely brain dead). They will not knowingly fit illegal tyres to a vehicle unless they have made it clear with the owner know that its not legal. IF they were to fit an illegal combination to a vehicle and not inform the owner they leave themselves open for all sorts of legal issues not covered by their insurance.

You obviously haven't dealt with some of the gangsters that sell tyres & wheels in Sydney (yes I realise the OP is from Vic but they have their fair share too I'd guess)

There are several that will fit anything to get a sale.
They import 2nd hand mud&snows from Europe that no longer satisfy the age requirements for European rego; they do grey/parallel imports of new tyres without manufacturers warranty; they get the tyres taken off grey import cars (because they don't pass compliance) and sell them as 2nd-hand; they import cheap alloys that don't comply with the ADRs.

Given the speed that his OEM 17" rims disapeared, I'd venture that the OP dealt with one of the shonkies.


edit: I don't think the wheels & tyres will cause physical danger, I just don't think they are compliant with insurance & rego.

[Greg Roles]

Dude, this is a perfect excuse to start saving for a kick ar$e set of mags for your car. There's always an upside!