What size tyre should I fit?

**leegil** · 02-12-2011, 12:24 AM

Just ordered the tyres...finally committed (through Bob Jane, Kumho approved pricing). Went with Kumho KU21 at $160 each fitted. Will be getting the 215/35/18 size on Monday.

Given that I am not consistently hammering the car and I do drive in a range of conditions (incl to the snow), Ben (from Kumho Aust.) advised that KU21 was a better option. It will give similar characteristics with better tread wear and will also be much quieter once it wears in. Ben indicated that KU31 could be a little noisy when worn in a little. He could do the special price once I told him I was buying from Tempe Tyres, a parallel importer which I was not aware of. He was more than happy to do a deal and it ends up being cheaper (factoring for fuel) than driving up to Syd and losing 5hrs in a day for commuting. You have to love competition.

Kumho Aust also provides the Road Hazard Warranty which will provide temporary peace of mind with the new tyres, something that a parallel importer would not be covering. The decision was thus simple when the price, warranty, most suitable tyre and convenience all added up.

Ben also suggested the KU39 in 215/35/18 (yes, it does come in that size-not on their website) if I was really interested in a top performing tyre (approx $30 extra each) but after research, it is soft and has very low tread wear life (280 tread rating). If anyone is interested then feel free to give Ben from Kumho a buzz. **Note that I have no affiliation with Kumho whatsoever, just passing some info on savings if anybody is interested.**

**kaanage** · 02-12-2011, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by leegil

The offset is ET45. I know they fit as they are the same as the Lavinhard FIN advertised at Ozzy Tires (they also have a pic of the polo GTi with them installed). I had a chat with Brad from Ozzy and he confirmed the fit

Can you confirm that every thing clears with the 45mm offset once you get it all mounted?
I didn't think there would be enough backspacing with the wide tyres/rims in that offset. Or will you be running spacers?

Importing Speedy wheels from the US is just weird

I would have thought that they could special order the different colour for you.

**leegil** · 02-12-2011, 08:20 AM

I am going to pop the wheel on the car to see the clearances tonight. Obviously without the tyres I will not be able to confirm if there is rubbing or not (will advise once I know). If there is rubbing then spacers will be used (+longer lug bolts). I will let you know once I know about the rubbing outcome.

I wanted the hyperblack and simply put, I tried to buy it from Aust and UK and absolutely no option whatsoever (they no longer make it in that colour). Nothing on the secondhand market either (they get snapped up very quickly). Speedy aust wasn't that willing to help in that space either. I do like the multifit PCD holes that my wheels have (makes it easier to sell in the future).

Buying it locally and then getting it painted to the colour I like would have been expensive (noting that the hyperblack finish cannot be painted from what i was advised-something in the way it is applied provides the finish). The cheapest I could get the wheels in Aust (in silver) +KU31 was $1500 from SYD +$80 petrol from Canberra to collect them. My combined US wheel and local KU21 tyre cost is $1817. The difference is $237, which is much cheaper than having the wheels painted locally (approx $400) which would require me stripping the silver paint off them.

I really didn't want to order from overseas because the shipping was so expensive, though it only took a week to arrive.

**kaanage** · 02-12-2011, 09:11 AM

Thanks for the info - it will be VERY useful for a wheel purchase that I am considering as I'd like the highest offset that I can get away with.
If it helps, a database from one of the tyre dealers has the maximum offset as 38mm for 7.5 width rims on a 9N3.

I wasn't being critical of your purchase, though - more confused by Speedy's lack of customer service as they used to be pretty good.

**Blitzen** · 02-12-2011, 11:23 AM

I'd be very worried about the clearance to the inner struts on the front, and the shock absorbers and fuel filler neck on the rear with that large an offset.
My 18x8 +35 offset wheels JUST clear at the rear, and I have 5mm clearance to the struts at the front.
Just my opinion, but I would never run spacers. They are illegal in Australia (unless fitted as OEM like on some Porsches), and if they are found on a car, you can be defected, and could lead to your insurance being voided if in an accident. It's your car though, and I'm just giving you a heads up.

**kaanage** · 02-12-2011, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Blitzen

My 18x8 +35 offset wheels JUST clear at the rear, and I have 5mm clearance to the struts at the front.

So logically, the maximum offset for a 7.5" width rim would be +41mm and for 7.0" would be +47mm.
I might not need spacers (they'd only be for track use anyway)

**Blitzen** · 02-12-2011, 12:13 PM

Yeah. They may just fit. I hope they do for him though.
The way I look at it in my twisted logic is the difference between the 7.5in and 8in wheel is about 12.6mm, and the difference between my +35 and his +45 offsets are 10mm, so 12.6 - 10 = 2.6mm.... Therefore his inner wheels will be 2.6mm closer to the struts/rear damper/fuel filler neck than a 18x8in +35 offset wheel.

**vwthunder** · 02-12-2011, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by Blitzen

Just my opinion, but I would never run spacers. They are illegal in Australia (unless fitted as OEM like on some Porsches), and if they are found on a car, you can be defected, and could lead to your insurance being voided if in an accident. It's your car though, and I'm just giving you a heads up.

I dont know what the laws are in Canberra but in Vic your 18X8's are illegal, you can only go 1 inch wider, so standard is 6.5 you can only go to a 7.5inch wheel

Oh and your rolling diameter is illegal too

**dylan8** · 02-12-2011, 12:33 PM

leegil when you test fit the wheel make sure you put all the cars wieght onto the wheel... dont just bolt it up and leave the car in the air on the hoist/jack.
215/35 sounds best. should sit pretty straight and be close to your roller dia compared to 215/40.
Blitzen he should actually be more like 4mm closer on 7.5et45 vs your 8et35, but then again cars height, wheel brand, tyre brand can all make a difference. even the car itself can make a difference to the next polo gti sitting besides it.