The Official Mk7 Wheel Thread

[GTI_PAPA]

I just drove past a Taureg with these very same wheels this afternoon...

This image is from over in the headlight thread I am curious as to what these wheels are? At first I thought they were Pretoria's but then I realised they are something else.

[Dutch77]

I just drove past a Taureg with these very same wheels this afternoon...

Ok so VW do a 20 inch wheel called the Pikes Peak as an option on the Touareg:



I'm still going to run with my original idea that the wheels on the Golf are not OEMs, as the spokes on the Pikes wheels are a bit thicker.

However for someone chasing an OEM wheel these are a fairly close proxy - for extra information I understand the Pikes wheels are manufactured by Borbet, and come in 20 x 9 ET57 which could be made to work on a Golf - where the issue will be is that the Touareg has a 5x130 PCD v 5x112 PCD for Golf which would require adapters and illegal fitment.

[Dutch77]

VW KARTHOUM
Specs: 18 x 8, ET50, weight tbc







These were available on the Mk5/6 as an option in both the pictured silver and also a black version with silver lip. They crop up on the forums both locally and overseas from time to time, while they are also available new from forum sponsor ECS.

[Dutch77]

AEZ TACANA
Specs: 17 x 7, ET38, weight tbc









Note the owner has added some red strips to the wheels post-purchase.

[jimarco]

Guys, I am looking at buying the new R, can you put 18in wheels on the Aust Golf R? I have been getting different stories from dealers.

[popcorn]

Jimarco, yes you can put 18s on a Golf R. They come standard with 18" Cadiz wheels, but you can option 19" Cadiz or Pretoria's (which are far nicer than the Cadiz imo).

[team_v]

Jimarco, yes you can put 18s on a Golf R. They come standard with 18" Cadiz wheels, but you can option 19" Cadiz or Pretoria's (which are far nicer than the Cadiz imo).

Can't option Pretorias in Australia.

[popcorn]

Can't option Pretorias in Australia.

:O they were my favourite wheel for the mk7! Guess the mk7 R can't be purchased with a pretty wheel then

[Dutch77]

Golf R is standard with 19s only in Australia (Cadiz). Apparently some dealers will get in Pretorias but they are cost prohibitive.

The car is certainly ok to run on 18s as the default stock wheel is an 18 inch Cadiz in a lot of other markets, so long as what you're fitting meets your states guidelines on plus/minus size changes then shouldn't be an issue.

Certainly a light weight set of 18s would be better for the track than 19s.

[jimarco]

I was told that the R's that come to Aust are fitted with bigger brakes and will not fit the 18in here. Does not sound right to me.

Shame we only get one choice.

[team_v]

I was told that the R's that come to Aust are fitted with bigger brakes and will not fit the 18in here. Does not sound right to me.

Shame we only get one choice.

That is false, no increase in brake sizes.
Golf R purchases are only optioned with the Cadiz style wheel in 18 or 19".

As Dutch has said, you could get someone at VW dealership to bring in a set of Pretorias as a dealer extra but you cannot purchase a car from the dealer with these wheels fitted from the factory.

[jimarco]

That is false, no increase in brake sizes.
Golf R purchases are only optioned with the Cadiz style wheel in 18 or 19".

As Dutch has said, you could get someone at VW dealership to bring in a set of Pretorias as a dealer extra but you cannot purchase a car from the dealer with these wheels fitted from the factory.

Cheers, I do like the look of the Pretorias, but I have 19in on my current R and find the ride very rough. Looking at 18in for a comfort thing.

[Dutch77]

Cheers, I do like the look of the Pretorias, but I have 19in on my current R and find the ride very rough. Looking at 18in for a comfort thing.

Have you test driven the Mk7 Rs on 19s yet? It is supposedly much better in the ride stakes than the Mk6, although the 18s are always going to provide a better ride regardless.

You may find the Mk7 on 19s is fine, or just go after-market with 18s.

[jimarco]

Have you test driven the Mk7 Rs on 19s yet? It is supposedly much better in the ride stakes than the Mk6, although the 18s are always going to provide a better ride regardless.

You may find the Mk7 on 19s is fine, or just go after-market with 18s.

Have had a test drive in the new R, still found it firm. However, a short test drive is not the same has driving for a few days.

[Dutch77]

Have had a test drive in the new R, still found it firm. However, a short test drive is not the same has driving for a few days.

Agreed, although that is hard to hook up.

Thing is, if you're definitely buying an R then it's easy - you suss out the 19s over the first few weeks and then if too firm go after-market to 18s. Then you get to pick whatever design suits, and as per this thread there are quite a few designs that not only look pretty OEM but will easily take the VW centre cap as well.. if you want to maintain that OEM look.