New Rims for AE

[TDgti]

I'm looking to get some new wheels for my AE. I'm gonna stick with 18, but i'm gonna go black or gun metal with a chrome lip. One thing I don't know is the width of the wheels. I know my wheels are 18x7.5, and my tires are 225/40. What wheel width can I get and still stick with the same tire? Are the 225s even interchangeable? i would think not, but I'm not sure.

[stillVdubbin]

im sure someone has an answer for the new guy? bump.

[dub_show]

you cant run any wider than a 225 in the front. do you want a stretched look on the tire? Id recommend keeping the same size rim/tire on all four. Some ppl run staggered, like blackwidow_dc. Wider tire in rear. this serves no extra purpose other than looks. I run a 18x8.5 rim on a 225/40/18. The tire is stretched to the limit. I would go with a 18x8 rim with a 225/40/18 tire. I run toyo t1s and love them. they are awsome tires as long as you keep them rotated. how much money do you have to throw at a rim/tire deal? www.edgeracing.com and www.tirerack.com are your best bets for packages.

[TDgti]

I was planning on keeping the tires I have now 225/40 and just getting new rims. I assume that it wouldn't be a problem. I'm probably looking to spend 1500 tops on rims.

[dub_show]

you could get some nice BBS for that.

[dub_show]

for $890 before shipping you could get some of these :). Very nice wheel

http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/asa/swap/asa_ar1_blk_ci3_l.jpg

[dub_show]

personally, id get a new tire with a new rim. all to start off on the right foot. A shop will charge you to remove,mount and balance an old tire. youd also have a second set of nice wheels. Wheels tend to sell better with a good tire still on them, if you were looking to sell your old rims. but its your call and your money :)

[blackwidow_dc]

[QUOTE=1.8nes]personally, id get a new tire with a new rim. all to start off on the right foot. A shop will charge you to remove,mount and balance an old tire. youd also have a second set of nice wheels. Wheels tend to sell better with a good tire still on them, if you were looking to sell your old rims. but its your call and your money :)[/QUOTE]

i agree with this. unless you have other than your stock tires on your rims or know someone that can dismount, mount, and balance the new ones for ya.

there are alot of places to get rims. i run 225/40 in the front on 18x8 with little to no stretch my rears are 235/40 on 18x9 and the stretch is perfect IMHO.

what are you looking for in rims?

[TDgti]

I'm gonna stick with 18s, and looking for black/gun metal with a chrome rim. From what you guys are telling me, I'll probably stick with at 225/40 tire and get 18x8 rims. Do you guys normally order from online and take them somewhere to be installed?

IMHO??

[dub_show]

IMHO- in my honest opinion.

If you buy a packaged rim/tire deal. Most good sites mount them on the rim and balance them for you for free. The rims come to your door with your tire on. You can put your rims on at your house. If you dont have a floor jack or anything... you could use the jack in the back of your car (the one for changing flats).

[psionix]

[QUOTE=1.8nes]you could get some nice BBS for that.[/QUOTE]
i agree, and i'm biased.

http://www.eclubvw.com/forums/vbgarage.php?do=getimage&id=298

[dub_show]

i think this is what you want, rim wise?

http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/asa/swap/asa_ar1_blk_ci3_l.jpg

[psionix]

(IMHO = In My Humble Opinion)

[blackwidow_dc]

[QUOTE=TDgti]I'm gonna stick with 18s, and looking for black/gun metal with a chrome rim. From what you guys are telling me, I'll probably stick with at 225/40 tire and get 18x8 rims. Do you guys normally order from online and take them somewhere to be installed?

IMHO??[/QUOTE]

another thing to remember.. if you do decide to buy just rims, make sure that you get the hubcentric rings with your rims.

I bought my rims and tires seperate cause they didnt have any worth while tires in the staggered rim bundles at wheelmax.com. It caused a lot of problems for me. I was at the shop having them mounted and balanced before i found out they didnt come with the hub rings. I was pissed!

there are alot of sites out there to shop for rims on...
here are a few of them...

tirerack.com
edgeracing.com
wheelmax.com
wheelsnext.com
wheelsboutique.com

[BigGTI]

[QUOTE=1.8nes]you cant run any wider than a 225 in the front. do you want a stretched look on the tire? Id recommend keeping the same size rim/tire on all four. Some ppl run staggered, like blackwidow_dc. Wider tire in rear. this serves no extra purpose other than looks. I run a 18x8.5 rim on a 225/40/18. The tire is stretched to the limit. I would go with a 18x8 rim with a 225/40/18 tire. I run toyo t1s and love them. they are awsome tires as long as you keep them rotated. how much money do you have to throw at a rim/tire deal? www.edgeracing.com and www.tirerack.com are your best bets for packages.[/QUOTE]


I ran 235-45-17 in the front....

[blackwidow_dc]

[QUOTE=BigGTI]I ran 235-45-17 in the front....[/QUOTE]

that was with a rolled fender though correct?

[TDgti]

If I get the tire and wheel package, do I have to worry about the hubcentric rings?

[blackwidow_dc]

with the package they should be included but it never hurts to ask :)

[TDgti]

What type of bolt pattern am I looking for in the rims?

(2003 GTI 20th anniversary edition)

[Veedub2.0T]

5x100

[DuffMan]

don't forget about the offset. I think 35mm is stock offset. Someone correct me if i'm wrong

[TDgti]

What do I have to worry about with the offset?

[DuffMan]

Here is a bit of a guide explaining offset:

http://wheeltool.com/info/offset.html

[MrBlueVr6]

[QUOTE=BigGTI]I ran 235-45-17 in the front....[/QUOTE]

no reason to run 235, just so everyone is aware. from a physics stand point, the wider the tire, the larger hte contact point, but u also have a lower contact pressure not allowing the tires to grip.

Our yukon has plenty of power, but it weighs so damn much, that its near impossible to break the tires loose. The tires suck, and arent much wider than 225.

Also, dont go larger than 8.5 wide 30mm offset. I have slight poke and thats my setup. this is all on a 225 tire.

oh ya, 225 on an 8.5 rim with a 30mm offset= a NEED for rolled fenders.

[blackwidow_dc]

[QUOTE=MrBlueVr6]no reason to run 235, just so everyone is aware. from a physics stand point, the wider the tire, the larger hte contact point, but u also have a lower contact pressure not allowing the tires to grip.
[/QUOTE]

i have to say that my 235s gripped nicely in the turns of the Dragon over the weekend. I think that their width helped...

[TDgti]

I think i'm gonna go with 8.0 wheels with the 225 tires, and stick as close to the 35 mm offset as I can. I'm still looking around for stuff I like. No problems there, right?

On another point though. What are your guys thoughts on air/fuel ratio gages and how often do you guys buy from local tuning shops rather than from the internet?

[blackwidow_dc]

this is what the stretch will look like with a 225/40 tire on a 18x8 wheel...


http://www.eclubvw.com/forums/vbgarage.php?do=getimage&id=284

if you have local shops with good prices go for it.
most of us use the internet to get better prices...

[artfuldubber]

Always deal with a local shop if you can find a price within $20 or so. It is better for your local economy and supports good local shops.

Try taking your car to an internet parts vendor next time it breaks down...

[MrBlueVr6]

[QUOTE=blackwidow_dc]i have to say that my 235s gripped nicely in the turns of the Dragon over the weekend. I think that their width helped...[/QUOTE]

a widers tires purpose is to disipate heat better. The wider the tire, the less pressure per square inch of the contact point.

Ask any decent tire place. They will all say the same thing. The reason to go wider is for heat.

[stillVdubbin]

[QUOTE=artfuldubber]Always deal with a local shop if you can find a price within $20 or so. It is better for your local economy and supports good local shops.

Try taking your car to an internet parts vendor next time it breaks down...[/QUOTE]

i wish new orleans had any decent tuning shops. Have to go all the way to alabama or texas just to get chipped..

[TDgti]

What do you guys think about these wheels?

[TDgti]

or these?

[TDgti]

Has anyone ever purchased wheels from WheelMax.com??

[blackwidow_dc]

i did... i had ALOT of problems with them...

[TDgti]

what kind of problems were they?

[TDgti]

actually, how about wheelsnext.com, cuz that's who i'm actually going to order from

[TDgti]

Is there anybody out there that knows the pros and cons between lugcentric and hubcentric wheels. I've heard that hubcentric are better, but more difficult to find in aftermarket wheels. The lugcentric ones give you some more vibration. Also, does anyone know the hub size of the 2003 AE Gti??

[SnowboarderX]

[QUOTE=TDgti]or these?[/QUOTE]

i like those better than the other ones IMO

[mk4gtiboy]

yeah axis are phat

[SnowboarderX]

[QUOTE=mk4gtiboy]yeah axis are phat[/QUOTE]

:thumbsup: