confused - 16" -> 17"

[IbizaGTI]

been looking for some rims, gathered all the info - 16" 100x4 PCD ET35-38 57.1 centre... and went out looking. still haven't found anything I like... do some more research come across this:

16" Alloys
Full Lock: Yes
Will it rub: No
Arch modification No

17" Alloys
Full Lock: Just, yes!
Will it rub: Yes
Arch modification No and Yes, depends how wide the wheels are and there offset
from here

I'm at a wheel dealer the other day and ask about 17" and he says they will be illegal...

then come across this beautiful tool on the car bibles


this one showing my current 185\60\r14 (grey) with 205\40\r17 which is a tyre size that is available and would fit a 17x7 rim as far as I understand...

So if a 205\40\r17 and a 215\45\r16 and a 185\60\r14 all have very similar rolling distances and size why can't I have the 17"?

[mikinoz]

it is illegal as it is more than 1" greater diameter than the original wheels on the car. 15" alloys were an option making 16" legal.

Search wheels on RTA website for more info.

[IbizaGTI]

Thanks Mikinoz,
I just checked the Transport SA website (RTA equivalent in SA) and they allow 50mm (almost 2") above the original wheel size quoting:
"Vehicles manufactured on or after 1 January 1973 (ADR 24) are not permitted to increase or decrease the diameter of the wheel by more than 50 mm than the largest or smallest wheel listed on the tyre placard."

Mk2 Ibiza came with 14" until the Cupra came out late 98 with 16"

don't suppose I can argue that the cupra was a mk2 Ibiza too...

[Golf Houso]

They came with optional larger wheels, every dealer had them, didn't necessarily mean that people got them though. I looked in my mk3 manual and it mentioned something about not being able to put snow tires on the optional 17/215/40 tires provided as an option by customer request. Whether this was offered in Australia i really don't know . You could always argue it, whether that be via 16v point of argument or the manual.

17's look hot though I must say!