MK4 Golf - 16" or 17" ?

[Isabella]

I currently have 15" VW hubcaps on my MK4 Golf (see avatar)...they're not the most stylish wheels! Well, at least not the sportiest.

I'm looking at purchasing either 16" or (preferably) 17-18" alloys for my MK4 Golf. I was told that I would need a new suspension package if I were to install 18", even 17" wheels on my Golf. Is this true?

Also, how do 16" wheels look on the MK4 Golf? I want a sporty, GTI look; I don't want them to look small, but I don't want them to look ridiculously huge.

Help me out guys, thanks. :)

[dylan8]

people give out wierd info when it comes to upgrading wheels...
no you dont have to change suspension when going to a 17 or 18 (even 20" wheel on a mk4) as long as you keep your rolling diameter close to standard you'll be right
17s and 18s are probably what you'd aim for if going an after market wheel
I had 15" alloys originally and sold them to upgrade to some bora 4mo 16s to keep as my spares. and thats basically what they look like... spares/stockies.

look for either some genuine mk4 wheels, or try to get some replicas. basically aim for something like a 17x7.5" et30-35 with a 225/45/17 tyre, or a 18x7.5-8" et 35ish with a 225/40/18 tyre.

if you get 16s maybe get a stock wheel (like a bora or gti wheel) and youll be looking for 205/55/16 size rubber.

boras and mk4 golfs came with 17x7et38 and 18x7.5et38 wheels as standard so can be done no worries.
Other wheels to look out for are from EARLY audi S3/TT/A3. normally have a nice 'standard' looking upgrade of 17x7.5et32 wheels, youll often see them on ebay, sort of a chunky 7 spoke wheel

[Mr Scruff]

Really good advice there Dylan! Listen to this man he knows how to make a MK4 look good. :D

As above really i'd be looking at 17"s and up. 16"s look a little lost on a MK4.

[Isabella]

Brilliant advice, thank you so much! That's made things a lot clearer.


boras and mk4 golfs came with 17x7et38 and 18x7.5et38 wheels as standard so can be done no worries.
Other wheels to look out for are from EARLY audi S3/TT/A3. normally have a nice 'standard' looking upgrade of 17x7.5et32 wheels, youll often see them on ebay, sort of a chunky 7 spoke wheel

Are you sure? My car has 15" wheels and they are stock.

[Seph]

However, without suspension mods, the car may look like its on stilts.......

[Isabella]

However, without suspension mods, the car may look like its on stilts.......

? How so?

[leighaus]

basically, the rolling diameter stays the same.. so theres more rim, less rubber. So the actual rim is closer to the guard, but the top of the tyre to the gaurd is still the same. So if its on bog stock suspension with 17/18s, it looks kinda strange.

like this...

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/738738May_2004_053.jpg

[schoona]

As Dylans advice.

Sydney? I usually hate the idea of ripoffs, but you can have a look on the Tempe website to get an idea of what will work on a VW. they have Mk4 R32 reps, MkV GTI reps, TT reps in 17s and 18s with the 5x100 PCD you need to fit your Mk4. Good luck

[Isabella]

basically, the rolling diameter stays the same.. so theres more rim, less rubber. So the actual rim is closer to the guard, but the top of the tyre to the gaurd is still the same. So if its on bog stock suspension with 17/18s, it looks kinda strange.

like this...

*Bleugh*!

So I would need a new suspension kit to make it look decent? Could I just lower it instead?

[schoona]

New suspension causes the lowering.

Springs - cheapest (H&R/Eibach/Neuspeed etc)
Springs & Shocks matched - matched together to give good performance, lowering and ride.
Coilover system - most expensive (though some coils can be cheaper then springs/shocks) but offer choice of height and comfort etc... Look into FK coilovers or ST coilovers perhaps

[Isabella]

Springs - cheapest (H&R/Eibach/Neuspeed etc)

How much would they be, roughly? Would the new springs work with the stock parts?

[schoona]

Yes they do work with stock parts.
I have H&R springs only on my R32.
I paid 200 second hand.

I believe new they are aroun 4-500 with install on top of that. Best to get a refresh kit (suspension mounts, bearings, perches etc - pretty cheap) at the same time as well.

Are you in Sydney?

[Isabella]

Yep I'm in Sydney, I was browsing through Tempe's replica VW wheels online and they look great.

I'm assuming the springs will make the ride a lot more comfortable too?

[dylan8]

Are you sure? My car has 15" wheels and they are stock.

I meant they were the biggest options available from factory in AUS, I think there was some 17x8 and 18x8 also a upgrade from factory by oettinger.

I had stock suspension when i changed my 15s to 18"
my bora is basically the same as your golf. just with a boot.
Stock suspension and stock wheels:
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/dylanbodyboarder88/Volkswagen%20Bora/PC280068.jpg
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/dylanbodyboarder88/Volkswagen%20Bora/PA270136.jpg
Stock suspension and new wheels (18x8et45 (do not suggest getting et45! get 32-35) with a 225/40/18 tyre):
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/dylanbodyboarder88/Volkswagen%20Bora/IMGP4909.jpg
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/dylanbodyboarder88/Volkswagen%20Bora/IMGP4893.jpg
Stock suspension in front, coilovers in the back half way through the install:
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/dylanbodyboarder88/Volkswagen%20Bora/PA170110.jpg
Coilovers in all round but wound up a fair way...
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/dylanbodyboarder88/Volkswagen%20Bora/PB300171-1.jpg
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/dylanbodyboarder88/Volkswagen%20Bora/PC220195.jpg
Coilovers + 17s and undersized tyres:
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/dylanbodyboarder88/IMGP6590.jpg
Coilovers wound up to 100mm clear. bora 17 on the back, bora 16 on the front:
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/dylanbodyboarder88/Volkswagen%20Bora/P2280306.jpg
Coilovers wound up to 100mm clear. 19" wheels: (black so actually look like 18.5" wheels...)
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/dylanbodyboarder88/Axis%2019s/IMGP8384.jpg
Same but lower:
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/dylanbodyboarder88/Axis%2019s/IMGP8439.jpg
and two examples of a touch lower again with 18" wheels:
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/1584/img1622mx.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6321683596_74abd9996e_o.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/381318_303847756309321_261370870557010_1124007_144 6093147_n.jpg
18" on the golf, 19" on my bora:
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/310312_10150386095577642_539842641_10426890_150571 5982_n.jpg

Isabella, hope that helps with suspension heights VS look of different sized wheels
to go back to your orginal post. I much prefer when my car had stock suspension and bigger wheels then when it was on stock suspension with 15" wheels

[dylan8]

Yep I'm in Sydney, I was browsing through Tempe's replica VW wheels online and they look great.

I'm assuming the springs will make the ride a lot more comfortable too?

lower springs GENERALLY will make the ride firmer and in most cases the comfort level gets worse the more the springs lower your car.
I originally changed because my rear shocks had died and I picked the coilovers up for what i thought was a cheap price at the time

[Keizer23q]

Honestly get 18s looks much better get king springs as well you will feel the performance difference here is a pik of mine with audi rs4 wheels picked them up for approx 1200 installed balanced and alligned from agr tyres and wheelshttp://img.tapatalk.com/3cf23eb6-c413-fc6b.jpg