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18x8.5 ET42 on 245/40R18 or better 235/40R18 ??

Bassman

Go Kart Newbie
Location
Greenville, SC
Car(s)
2017 GTI SE DSG
I searched already a lot in this forum, but I couldn't find the right answer.

Today I test fitted some 18x8.5 ET45 rims which did not clear my PP front brake calipers.
So to clear the front PP brakes I will have to add a 3mm spacer.

Effective I will have a 18x8.5 ET42 front fitment.
I'm lowered on the European Eibach Pro-Kit (E10-15-021-02-22), which is about a 0.75" (20mm) drop.

I was thinking to get 245/40R18 tires but now (with the 3mm spacer) I'm unsafe if it will fit without rubbing?
Will a 235/40R18 my better and safer alternate?
What spacer size could I run on the rear wheels?

Anyone who has pictures of a 18x8.5 ET42 fitment on lowering springs or coilovers?

Thanks in advance! :)
 

Bassman

Go Kart Newbie
Location
Greenville, SC
Car(s)
2017 GTI SE DSG
Stock Austin rims 18x7.5 ET49 compared to my new rims 18x8.5 ET42.



 

Bassman

Go Kart Newbie
Location
Greenville, SC
Car(s)
2017 GTI SE DSG
After some intense research:
Probably thinking to go with Firehawk Indy 500 in 235/40R18 all around.

What do you guys think?

Here she sits on Motegi Traklite 17x8 ET40 with 235/45R17 Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 (ET35 rear -> 5mm spacer).

 
Last edited:

PLF8593

Drag Race Newbie
Location
Philly
Car(s)
19 Alltrack 6MT
After some intense research:
Probably thinking to go with Firehawk Indy 500 in 235/40R18 all around.

What do you guys think?

Here she sits on Motegi Traklite 17x8 ET40 235/45R17 Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 (ET35 rear).




Wait the wheels have staggered offsets??? Never heard of that before. Fucking awesome for this car


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Bassman

Go Kart Newbie
Location
Greenville, SC
Car(s)
2017 GTI SE DSG
Wait the wheels have staggered offsets??? Never heard of that before. Fucking awesome for this car


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk



No! All four have ET40.

I run a 5mm spacer at the rears.
This is effectively ET40 - 5mm = ET35
 

blaqsheep

Autocross Champion
Location
Canada
Car(s)
IS38 GTI
You'll most likely rub with the 245's without fender screw mod. If you were on stock suspension you'd be okay. Go with the 235's to be safe?

(https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthr...ur-MK7-R&p=105613913&viewfull=1#post105613913)
Konig Hypergram 18x8.5 ET43
ExtremeContact Sport 245/40R18


235 vs 245 on 8.5" wheel

Fender rubbing:

The 235/40 Michelin PSS just barely contacts the fender (mounted on 8.5" wheel) leaving a faint ring of scuffing where the lettering is. This isn't the audible, problematic rubbing that most people consider "rubbing". I consider it acceptable but it is a good indication that 235 is approximately the limit. This wear is not shown in the picture below.

Other wear considerations:

After 2 days on track my 235s looked like this. What you're seeing is not fender rubbing but rather wear from the tire rolling over. 235 is slightly stretched on the 8.5" wheel and I think this contributes to the degree to which the wear goes beyond the tread blocks.

I'm still using this set up as-is but thing the issue could be improved by using camber plates and a 245. The 245 will have more square sidewalls and the camber plates will both allow clearance and help out with the rolling through added negative camber. Ground control has a design for the mk6 that allows adjustment without removing the strut but they haven't released a plate for the mk7 yet. I've been pestering them via email and they suggest it is close.

TLDR: 235 is the best fit without altering camber but 245 might be ideal with enough camber to clear.


Gunmetal 18x8.5 with 245/40:



 
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carchrism5

Go Kart Champion
Location
CT
Car(s)
GTI
Here is my experience on this car with wheel/tire combos.

Lowered on PSS10s nearly all the way down.
18x8 et 45 with 235/40 Indy 500 tires - no rubbing whatsoever even at autocross track
Added BBK and had to go with 12mm spacers to clear - rubbed instantly even on slight bumps (only did one 5 min test drive like this).
Then I did the screw mod and raised the car maybe a half an inch, no more rubbing at all.

Switched wheels to 18x9 et 45, wanted to go with 245s but unsure of rubbing as I still needed a 5mm to clear my BBK so I bought 235/40 Indy 500 again to be safe. There was no rubbing with this setup and it has 10mm in the rear.

I recently switched over to H&R Performance Plus coils that have camber plates and I think I'm going to go with 245s next time around.
 

rcb020

Passed Driver's Ed
Location
Dallas
I recently switched over to H&R Performance Plus coils that have camber plates and I think I'm going to go with 245s next time around.

What made you switch from the PSS10? You could have added camber plates to them right? Just curious as I am looking at them. Can you compare them to the H&R?
 

ejones725

Passed Driver's Ed
Location
North Carolina

blaqsheep

Autocross Champion
Location
Canada
Car(s)
IS38 GTI
Im surprised that 235's look that stretched on a 8.5. I have 225s on my 8.5's and they're obviously pretty stretched, but i thought 235 would be mostly square. Are you lowered with 245s?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

245 would be more square, this also depends on the tire spec as well.
 

Bassman

Go Kart Newbie
Location
Greenville, SC
Car(s)
2017 GTI SE DSG
Thanks everyone so far for the input :)

Just ordered a set of 235/40R18 Firestone Firehawk Indy 500.

I will post pictures here when I got my new wheels/tires mounted, so stay tuned.
 

XM_Rocks

Autocross Newbie
Location
Austin, TX
I’ve had 235/40-18 and 245/40-18.

I prefer 245/40-18, meatier tires, extra wheel protection and extra sidewall for comfort.

235/40-18 MPSS





245/40-18 PS4S



 

Bassman

Go Kart Newbie
Location
Greenville, SC
Car(s)
2017 GTI SE DSG
@XM_Rocks
Your setup looks very nice. Especially the 245 setup, I like the look of meatier tires on our GTI’s!
Are you lowered ?

Some people say that the Indy 500 runs wide for an 235 tire.
Not sure if I could fit them in 245 on 18x8.5 et42 without rubbing ?

I don’t want go with a too aggressive setup because it’s my daily.
 
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