Wheel Choices for the Mk7 TSI

[Diesel_vert]

The reason I sought the advice of this forum was to get a heads up in case I had to put an option on a TSI 90 Comfortline (with 16 inch wheels) as a back up.

It's not likely anyone else on this forum would've been able to provide genuine feedback if no test vehicles were generally available.

I would expect a firm but forgiving ride, geared towards high-speed stability for cruising on the Autobahn (if past German suspension design philosophy is anything to go by) but I haven't driven the new Golf, obviously.

One positive is that it would appear sports (or lowered) suspension is not fitted as standard on the Highline in our market. I skimmed briefly through the brochure on this site - Auto Blog Australia: Volkswagen Golf MK.7 Australian Brochure - but you may want to read it more carefully.

You also have the option of fitting comfort-biased tyres on the 17s if you like the look.

TBH, I don't expect any nasty surprises regarding the new Golf's ride compliance, but you'll be the judge of that.

[DoggieHowser]

Over in Singapore, they have a Highline with Equipment Pack that adds the bixenon sunroof among others and that comes with 18" rims. Can't say it's harsh. But then NSW roads can be a bit nasty compared to Singapore or QLD.

[Diesel_vert]

But then NSW roads can be a bit nasty

That would definitely be an understatement!

[idaho]

I have ordered a new Golf 7 103TSI Highline, which comes with standard 17 inch wheels. This worries me because I fear they may make the ride too harsh (they are the same size wheels as the GTI model). I am not a sporty person - just a regular midde-aged driver who likes quite a smooth ride.
...

I think you will be ok with 17" wheels. We have a Mk5 GT Sport with 17" wheels and 225/45x17 tyres and it has a nice confident ride without being harsh. Having said that, I wouldn't like to go any lower profile/bigger wheel combination as I think the sidewalls would be getting too small for road conditions.

[Kevin87]

Hey cuthbert I just pmd you

[Diesel_vert]

So, in the end, you cancelled your order for the Highline and got the Comfortline instead - but for reasons of interior aesthetics, it would seem to appear.

Anyway, having since driven the Highline (225/45 R17), albeit briefly, do you feel there are any differences in compliance on poor road surfaces compared to the Comfortline (205/55 R16)?

[Ryan_R]

I honestly didn't notice any difference in comfort when I drove the Highline last week.

[Kevin87]

My partner and I have just ordered a comfortline but I really want the 17 inch dijons wheels. If anyone wants to swap I'm all ears

[Buller_Scott]

Hi Cuthbert, I'm an away-VAGger at the moment, but if I might interject...

Tyre choice and tyre pressures play more of a part in ride comfort, than the size of your wheels, to an extent (IMO).

Tire choice will obviously take a backseat to things until it comes time to replace your from-the-showroom-floor set, but in the meantime, go to Autobarn and get a digital tyre pressure gauge for a piddly $30, and measure all four corners - the gauges at the servo can't really be trusted.

Different sized tyre, but I would run mine at 40.5 front and 37.5 rear hot, and then for the trip to sydney, let 'em right down to around 35.something front and 33.something rear, after a few clicks on the highway.

Makes a world of difference.

My 2c.

[kaanage]

Sorry Scotty but I have to disagree - the rim diameter and tyre width determines the profile for a given rolling diameter and the profile has the largest bearing on tyre compliance. Plus low profile tyres pretty much force you to run higher tyre pressures to protect the rims so compliance is further reduced.