Tyre Options

[donweather]

Brad is yours a mk 2 or 3 and RS or non RS?

[brad]

Brad is yours a mk 2 or 3 and RS or non RS?

2007 build MK2 Elegance hatch. M6 1.8tsi, 138,000km. Bluefin tune since 50,000km; Eibach springs, koni yellows, vRS/GTI 312mm front brakes, other minor stuff.

I've had 4 sets of wheels/tyres on it.
16x6.5 ET50 + 205/55r16
17x8.0 ET35 + 235/45r17
16x7.5 ET50 + 225/55r16
17x7.5 ET45 + 225/50r17

[deeps]

So have had the PS3's on for a few weeks now.

They're quiet - and so far stopping and handling in the wet and dry has been good (haven't really pushed them too hard, but have had to make one or two quick stops, and they did well).

However, accelerating relatively hard from a standing stop, particularly when turning, I'm getting a bit of wheel spin.. bit disappointed, I did get it on the stock tyres, but seems worse now.

[donweather]

Deeps, wheel spin or axle tramp? What's your occy model also?

[deeps]

I think it's more axle tramp. Got the 118tsi 2012

I remember about a month back i really floored it from a standing stop and got an almighty shudder. I thought it was the clutch, as it needs to be replaced, but now I'm thinking maybe that was axle tramp too.

[donweather]

Further to my post above regarding the Cades, will the ET42 have any issues with clashing with the RS brake calipers?

[brad]

Further to my post above regarding the Cades, will the ET42 have any issues with clashing with the RS brake calipers?

No. You can run 16" ET52 on the 312mm vRS brakes with about 6mm clearance.

It would have to be a really poorly / weirdly made 17" or 18" to interfere with 312mm vRS brakes.

[donweather]

Ok thanks Brad. With respect to your ET52 response isn't the clash with the brakes worse on a lower ET, say ET42?

[brad]

Ok thanks Brad. With respect to your ET52 response isn't the clash with the brakes worse on a lower ET, say ET42?

All other dimensions being equal (ie: 17x7 rim) the ET50 offset has 15mm less outward poke (or is 15mm closer to the strut) than an ET35. If you change the width of the wheel then the offset distance changes even if the ET remains constant, so you have to consider both width & ET when working out where the wheel sits within the guards.

Possibly this calculator will help visualise what I mean. It shows a strut & the outline of before & after different wheels, tyres, diameters, offsets, etc

[donweather]

Thanks Brad. But its not the clearance to the strut that's the problem. it's the clearance to the brake calipers which are closest to the inside surface of the rim and so with a lower ET you have less room between the intrados of the rim/spokes and the brake calipers.