How are you fitting 19s on your MKV legally?

[Corey_R]

Yeah - this is why I argue that the "sticker" in your fuel cap which is there to give you inflation pressures for the stock tyres is not what people should be looking at for load ratings - because there are contradictions all over the place when attempting to use that as what is legal as far as load ratings goes.

But in any case - when it comes down to it - they simply do not make any 92Y tyres in this size... so...

[Diesel_vert]

Homologated fitments for the Passat R36 include:

235/40 R18 95Y XL
235/35 R19 91Y XL

The problem for R36 owners who wished to upgrade to 19" wheels, but didn't order them from the factory, was that they had to procure the proper placard as well (an option that doesn't exist for R32 owners).

One can take some comfort in assuming that, had 19" wheels also been a factory option for the R32, they probably would've been approved, since the Passat just sits on a stretched Golf platform and is in fact actually heavier than the Golf.

And unlike the R36, you can even maintain the original specified load capacity on the R32.

But I'm afraid that, if the authorities were feeling particularly miserable and uncooperative, nothing short of an engineering certificate would stop them from defecting your car (though I'm sure the degree of leniency varies from state to state).

[Corey_R]

Yes, that's a perfect example of what I'm talking about.
The placard for 18" says 95, yet the car is fine to run on 91 - IF you got the 19" wheels from the factory... crazy

[Diesel_vert]

FYI, there are two types of 235/40 R18 tyres - standard load 91, and extra load 95.

The placard for 18" says 95, yet the car is fine to run on 91 - IF you got the 19" wheels from the factory

I know what you are trying to say, but that statement is incorrect. Just because one has factory fitted 235/35 R19 91Y XL tyres shouldn't mean that one can then fit 235/40 R18 91Y tyres in the future.

It would be more accurate to say - the only tyre that has been approved for the R36 to run on 91, is 235/35 R19 91Y XL, and that this does not diminish the need to run 95 for 235/40 R18 tyres.

[Corey_R]

Yeah - I understand that.... I'm talking about going the other way around.
If you only got the 18" wheels from the factory and your placard only mentions them and the need for 95Y. If you wanted to put 19" wheels on you'd HAVE to get 91Y tyres (cause that's all that is available) and these crappy rules say that it's illegal, yet if you did get the 19" wheels from the factory, then it IS legal because the placard then has a 91Y tyre listed.

It's the same issue that the OP has with this R32. Only a 18" is listed. Thefore 92Y is the lowest rated tyre on his placard - yet the 91Y would be fine for a 19", it's just it's not listed...

This is a silly system...

[Diesel_vert]

If you only got the 18" wheels from the factory and your placard only mentions them and the need for 95Y. If you wanted to put 19" wheels on you'd HAVE to get 91Y tyres (cause that's all that is available) and these crappy rules say that it's illegal, yet if you did get the 19" wheels from the factory, then it IS legal because the placard then has a 91Y tyre listed.

Ah, I see. That is indeed how the law would interpret it.

One could use the same 19" tyre placard to fit 235/40 R18 91Y tyres on their R36 (god knows why) even though the 18" tyre placard would normally prevent that.

Kinda dangerous though, in terms of safety and liability.

[Corey_R]

Yeah, and with the R32, we're not talking about changing the tyres to 4 ratings lower (75kg less PER tyre). We're talking about 1 rating lower, which is only 15kg per tyre, or 60kg across the entire vehicle.

615kg * 4 is 2460kg - well beyond the load of the R32 anyway...

[Diesel_vert]

Rather than the maximum weight (gross vehicle mass), one needs to concentrate on front & rear maximum axle loads.

Specifications for the MkV Golf R32 DSG (taken from a 2008 UK brochure):
Front axle load limit: 1110 kg
Rear axle load limit: 1040 kg
GVM: 2100 kg


A 225/40 R18 92Y XL tyre has a maximum load capacity of 630 kg per tyre (1260 kg per axle, 2520 kg total):
Front axle margin: 11.9%
Rear axle margin: 17.5%
GVM margin: 16.7%


A 235/35 R19 91Y XL tyre has a maximum load capacity of 615 kg per tyre (1230 kg per axle, 2460 kg total):
Front axle margin: 9.8%
Rear axle margin: 15.4%
GVM margin: 14.6%


A 225/35 R19 88Y XL tyre has a maximum load capacity of 560 kg per tyre (1120 kg per axle, 2240 kg total):
Front axle margin: 0.9%
Rear axle margin: 7.1%
GVM margin: 6.3%


You can see that even if the GVM margin appears to be acceptable, the front axle margin may be a lot smaller than you think.
If you don't take this into account, it may lead to a false sense of safety.


Also note that the maximum load capacity of a standard tyre is reached at 2.5 bar (36 psi), and for extra load tyres it's 2.9 bar (42 psi).
A reduction in inflation pressure from these prescribed values corresponds to a reduction of load capacity.

[Corey_R]

Yep.
But as you can see - there is no issue going from 92Y to 91Y on an R32.
88Y is pushing it though...

[Stalker]

Who cares about the technicalities....achieving this look will be worth some prison time!

[noisuf]

PHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

There're smokin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and I just noticed the Brembos!!!! Wow...

[Stalker]

Thought you might like!

My 18" GTC GT-CX rims (VMR 710 look-a-likes) are in the garage and slotted rotors are on order. Just need to get some rubber and I'll have the poor mans version of the above. haha

Good luck getting the VMR's!

[noisuf]

my vmrs are are at the docks in the states. however, will take around 8 weeks to get here though...

which rotors are you getting? Dba 4000s? With 18s, at least you won't run into load issues.

Are you lowering? It would be interesting how much closer to the fenders you get with 8.5in width at et45 offset. Theoretically should only be 11mm closer. Make sure you do the fender mod!

I'm doing a bit of work to the forrie also...STI headers...3in TBE.

[Stalker]

Awesome. Will look mad when you get them on.

Rotors are Adams Rotors. AR Race design.



Will lower depending on looks. The ride height is nice and practical now.

Glad to hear the foz isn't missing out too! Can't say the same thing about mine....maybe next year.

[noisuf]

Missed out on the Adams Rotors GB unfortunately. I'm usually get DBA 4000 wiper slots but they don't make them for the R32 fitments.

Remember to show us your pics when you get all installed! Rotors are awesome!