tire sizes and offsets.

[LedJetta]

lets discuss them.

hopefully some of you mongrels can learn something in here.

ask questions, make comments, lets refine our knowledge and ability to set up a good stance.

ill start.

in my personal opinion, the ideal wheel/tire setup on a mk3:

16x7.5 et25 front and 16x8.5 et10 rear with 195/40s up front and 205/40s rear.

this would accomplish tuckable fronts and rears with a subtle amount of poke. i like that.

[CoolJetta3]

well, what else is there to discuss, you got it

[LedJetta]

well considering how many confused posts ive seen on t he subject lately we could have a help session.

we can discuss tire sizes that exist (195/45/14) and tire sizes that dont exist (185/40/17) or whatever else.

[rlsib16]

can we get an imaginary tire size list going?

beat me to the suggestion.

[jron]

If you're low, and are planning on running 17s between the widths of 7 and 8.5, you want a 205/40/17 tire.

[yeayeayea]

et35, 15x7, H&R Cup Kit, stock fenders

195/50 if you want to run a 50 series tire, a 205 will rub too much.

[Rub a dub dub]

205/45/16's are balloooooons.

[LedJetta]

^^ YES.

3 good ass ones.

[Moe Sizlack]

i enjoy this, and will continue to enjoy it.

[2.0lover]

Quote, originally posted by Rub a dub dub »

205/45/16's are balloooooons.

truth, i made that mistake last year.

anyways...

16x7 et35 wheels. i was going to get 205/40's this spring. should i be considering 195/40's?

spacers will be added to the mix, but i need to get the tires and wheels on the car first.

[DertiJerzi]

Quote, originally posted by coppertone »

As far as a tire size 215/40/16 on the rears and 195/40/16 for the fronts.

why???

Modified by DertiJerzi at 4:46 PM 1-23-2007

[LedJetta]

Quote, originally posted by 2.0lover »

truth, i made that mistake last year. anyways... 16x7 et35 wheels. i was going to get 205/40's this spring. should i be considering 195/40's? spacers will be added to the mix, but i need to get the tires and wheels on the car first.

either would suffice in my book.

205/40s = very good choice
195/40s = going the extra mile, icing on the cake

[PrupleGTI]

the great wheel debate;

For years now I've toiled and had many arguments either on the Internet or in person about what wheels look good on a MKIII
How a set of wheels can make or break the look of a car.
Even how good or bad some cars can look with the same wheels

for myself Its been a mental process of actually settling on a set of wheels.

Its not so much as the style of the wheel but how the wheel fits the complicated mathematics of Offset + Spacer/Adapter =final ET
after that is settled you get the great Debate;
will it rub ALLOT,
Not at all
or just a little?
do you need fender rolling?
will it crack your paint?
what do you do if it does crack your Paint?
what id you put all that time and effort into it and you don't like the end result ?
what if you buy Scion wheels?

there are the questions I always have

16X6.5 et 43 + 15mm front and 20mm rear spacers = fender work? Rubbing Issues? Tire Size?

that is my world and I am consumed by it

[TRAP STAR]

Quote, originally posted by JRon24 »

If you're low, and are planning on running 17s between the widths of 7 and 8.5, you want a 205/40/17 tire.

on a 7 to 7.5 is good for me but on 8.5 is too much stretch for me

[Moe Sizlack]

ethan, it would seem as though you enjoy a comfortable ride in lieu of a nicer looking tire. [/random observation]

[DertiJerzi]

Quote, originally posted by JRon24 »

If you're low, and are planning on running 17s between the widths of 7 and 8.5, you want a 205/40/17 tire.

I like the 195.40 conti's

[LedJetta]

Quote, originally posted by Moe Sizlack »

ethan, it would seem as though you enjoy a comfortable ride in lieu of a nicer looking tire. [/random observation]

well i would say either of those is a comfortable ride compared to a 165/45/15 haha.

but real world, ive never noticed a HUGE difference between 195/40s and 205/40s as far as looks are concerned. several other factors play a role in this thought as well: i think on 8s-up falkens stretch as well, or better than the contis (maybe the toyos too) and price wise you cant beat em.

that being said im gettin 195/40s next time the phone dials need rubber.

[Moe Sizlack]

i know where you can get some 165's in 16" tires. nudge nudge, wink wink.

[LedJetta]

Quote, originally posted by PrupleGTI »

there are the questions I always have 16X6.5 et 43 + 15mm front and 20mm rear spacers = fender work? Rubbing Issues? Tire Size? that is my world and I am consumed by it

i would do 195/40s if you plan on being low enough. if not, do 205/40s all around.

20mm spacers front, 25mm rear.

light roll of the fenders in the rear, fronts will be fine.

[jron]

Quote, originally posted by DertiJerzi »

I like the 195.40 conti's

for sure. but most wouldn't be low enough on 17s to warrant getting them

[PrupleGTI]

Quote, originally posted by LedJetta »

i would do 195/40s if you plan on being low enough. if not, do 205/40s all around. 20mm spacers front, 25mm rear. light roll of the fenders in the rear, fronts will be fine.

I'm in your debt a small bottle of Clamato Juice the next time I see you

Modified by PrupleGTI at 5:02 PM 1-23-2007

[Rollin_GTI]

PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS

i think i got my point across......

it alwaysis easier to agree when you see it.

[PAULITO]

ideal 16x9 setup for stock rolled fenders:
-et 25 front
-et 15 rear
-215 40 16 or 205 40 16

[Moe Sizlack]

Quote, originally posted by Rollin_GTI »

it alwaysis easier to agree when you see it.

try and use your head for once.
it's good for you.

[PAULITO]

oh and another one...
-just because the offset is low doesnt mean it cant fit on stock fenders, it depends on the et and the width. with narrow wheels low et is fine and vise versa

[dilated1734]

Quote, originally posted by LedJetta »

lets discuss them. hopefully some of you mongrels can learn something in here.

everyone gather around the medicine man for epic tales of et and backspacing

[PrupleGTI]

Quote, originally posted by Rollin_GTI »

PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS i think i got my point across...... it alwaysis easier to agree when you see it.

how about we keep the Pictures out of it and enjoy an "tech" type thread for once

[2.0lover]

calculated the overall diameter of wheel+tire:

195/40/16 = 22.14"
205/40/16 = 22.46"

not much of a difference, however, when we are talking about the 'perfect' stance, a third of an inch ends up being more than it sounds....my concern is the rockers of death found on cabrios. i wan't my tires tucked ever-so-slightly, but i don't want to put my rockers through the pavement.

ps... this is the kind of thread i dream of waking up the next day and still finding it on the first page of the mk3 forums. lets see this one get to 10 pages!


Modified by 2.0lover at 4:46 PM 1-23-2007

[The Great Decay]

original ET of 56 + 20 and 25mm adapters. Whats the final coming out as?

[CamelSkull]

I'd just like to point out 165/45/15's have been done on 7's and even 8's.

That mentally opens up a pretty interesting world of 15x9's, 9.5's even wider with 195's.

15x8 165/45's
15x9.5 195/45's

[DertiJerzi]

Quote, originally posted by PrupleGTI »

how about we keep the Pictures out of it and enjoy an "tech" type thread for once

agreed

Quote, originally posted by The Great Decay »

original ET of 56 + 20 and 25mm adapters. Whats the final coming out as?

36 and 31

Just subtract the adapter width from the original et


Modified by DertiJerzi at 5:41 PM 1-23-2007

[MINT GTI]

i think it all has to do with ride height... the smaller the wheel/tire combo the lower you gotta go... for me.. ive learn i cant roll on anything smaller than a 17. but im happier on my 18's. my pan is simply too low otherwise.

on the other hand.. not all tires are the same... while they may be the same in theory.. for example. the smallest 205/40/17's i know of are dunlop fm901's, falken 512's, and older Wanli's. i have 205/40/17 BFG KDW's on my porkers and they are simply ballons.

soo1 had this issue. he had 195/40/16 t1r's on his typeA's well they were rubbing.. so he swaped them for 205/40/16 falken 512's and the problem was solved.

[LedJetta]

Quote, originally posted by MINT GTI »

i think it all has to do with ride height... the smaller the wheel/tire combo the lower you gotta go... for me.. ive learn i cant roll on anything smaller than a 17. but im happier on my 18's. my pan is simply too low otherwise.

this seems like a good compromise on a car like yers.

Quote, originally posted by MINT GTI »

soo1 had this issue. he had 195/40/16 t1r's on his typeA's well they were rubbing.. so he swaped them for 205/40/16 falken 512's and the problem was solved.

were they def 195/40s or were they 195/45s?

[yeayeayea]

a post I made on vwfixx, hope it is all 100%

My tires are rubbing, what is causing this?

1) Tire rubbing comes in different forms.
a) rubbing on the inner wheel well or endcap or trans
b ) Rubbing on the outside edge of the fender
c) Both

2) In reference to a), tire rubbing on the inside of the rim, such as on the endcap of the transmission, can be solved by spacing the wheels out slightly. For light rubbing, only a couple MM's should be necessary. For heavier rubbing, wider spacers or different offset wheels are necessary.
3) In reference to b ) Tire rubbing on the outside wheel well means that the wheels or tires are too tall or too close to the fender, or both. Many times, a slightly narrower tire can remedy this problem, such as going to a 195/50 as opposed to a 205/50. If major rubbing on the fender occurs, either the fenders will have to be rolled (mild), Pulled(moderate) or Flared (major)
4) In reference to c), The wheel is most likely too wide, or the car is lowered too much. Fixing this will require wheel spacing to correct the inner rubbing and fender modification to fix the outer rubbing.

[ThatGuy]

Quote, originally posted by MINT GTI »

soo1 had this issue. he had 195/40/16 t1r's on his typeA's well they were rubbing.. so he swaped them for 205/40/16 falken 512's and the problem was solved.

So what your telling us is that falken's sidewalls are smaller than toyo's? If so, I think most people know that.

Kinda depends on the compromise that you want to put forth.

On a side note, does anyone have pictures of a 205/45/16 on a 9.5?