Looking to upgrade to 17" wheels

[Jamar]

Hi all,

Just bought my wife a Bluemotion and now that it's in the garage, I've taken quite a fancy to it. I wasn't planning on making any changes at all but now everytime I walk past it, I can't stand looking at the 15" wheels on it. With the bodykit and all, it just doesn't look right!

I know the Bluemotion is all about economy etc. but I think 17's with low rolling resistance 225/45/17 tyres like the Bridgetone Ecopia PZ-X shouldn't affect the fuel economy too much.

So I've got my eye out for some Seattle wheels but would be open to other VW 17" wheel styles. Would appreciate any leads if you have one..

Oh, and I bought some fogs off ebay, the front bumper is crying out for fog lights!

[brad]

weight & width will both affect economy. What's the point in buying a bluemotion if you make changes that will adversely affect economy.

PS: wife's car - what does she think? The only mods my wife is interested in involve unique bodywork changes caused by sideswiping poles in shopping centres.

[Jamar]

I did think of that but a Bluemotion with 17" wheels will still be a hell of a lot more economical than any other golf on 17's due to the gearing, stop/start, electric aircon etc.

So you get a car that looks good that uses less fuel

[kaanage]

Maybe. I reduced my fuel consumption by just over 5% on average from changing my Polo TDi down from 195 to 175 section tyres.

If you do make the change, can you try to do some accurate mileage checks (odometer vs fuel put in, not MFD) before the change so that you can report on the effect? I agree with brad on the likely outcome.

[Jamar]

Will do kaanage

[brad]

Well, i guess you should aim for a narrow 17" rim (6.5"-7") that weighs a max of 8kg & 205/50x17 tyres (light ones).

I know that if i add 1kg to my tyre/wheel package it costs me 0.5L/100km & it slows the acceleration down.

How many km do you drive each week? Maybe any change in consumption won't matter

[Jamar]

My wife probably does 150 - 200 urban k's a week. Long trips etc.are done in my car.

[Jamar]

Well, i guess you should aim for a narrow 17" rim (6.5"-7") that weighs a max of 8kg & 205/50x17 tyres (light ones).

Are there any factory rims that fit into this category? If I do this, I want it to look factory, not modified.

[brad]

Are there any factory rims that fit into this category? If I do this, I want it to look factory, not modified.

nope

With the mileage your wife does, fuel consumption isn't really an issue. $30 a week?

[Jamar]

Well she just got the car recently so haven't been through a tank of diesel to calculate it properly yet but based on the $1.50 per litre, let's say 5L/100km (factory claims 4.7L/100km urban) it should use less than $15 a week in diesel. Even if that turns out to 5.5L/100km, that would be around $15 a week.

[kaanage]

Well, i guess you should aim for a narrow 17" rim (6.5"-7") that weighs a max of 8kg & 205/50x17 tyres (light ones).

Very hard to do that and maintain the required load rating on the tyre due to the reduced air volume - you might be forced to fit a light truck tyre.

[Diesel_vert]

As valid as the points on increased fuel consumption are, I wouldn't go chasing lightweight wheels for what is an urban runabout for the wife.

Those particular Bridgestones will indeed help to offset some of the energy loss, and if you buy a set by the end of June, you'll receive a $50 fuel card from BP (see Bridgestone's website).


If you want to stick with OEM wheels, VW have about 11 designs in 7.0 J x 17 ET54 for the Mk6 Golf, so you have plenty of choice.


They also have about 5 wheels in 7.5 J x 17 ET51 (for models with sports suspension) but I'd stick with 7.0 J x 17. The narrower wheel will be ever so slightly more compliant as well, in terms of ride comfort.

There's one 6.0 J x 17 ET48.5 wheel that's designed to be fitted with 205/50 R17 93H XL tyres (for winter usage) but I doubt you'll find a set in the country unless it has been ordered from Germany.

[Jamar]

They also have about 5 wheels in 7.5 J x 17 ET51 (for models with sports suspension).

Thanks for the replies all.

The bluemotion does have sports suspension BTW. Are the Seattle wheels 7.5's?

*Edit: Yep, the Seattle's are 7.5

[Diesel_vert]

The bluemotion does have sports suspension BTW. Are the Seattle wheels 7.5's?

The Seattle wheels are 7.0 J x 17 ET54.

There is a mistake in the Australian brochure for the Golf. On page 38, it incorrectly lists them as 7.5 x 17. Yet on page 43, it correctly lists them as 7.0 x 17.

In any case, I'd stick with them. And the Golf GTD has the exact same wheels.

[Jamar]

There you go. I just did some more searching and found a picture of the inside of the wheel that shows the size as 7.0Jx17H2 ET54.

Good to know, thanks Diesel_vert