Improve ride quality — softer sidewalls or smaller wheels?

[GTIfan99]

Won't that make the speedo and tach read incorrectly? But the OP wants a softer ride.

At lower speeds, it's off by 1mph or so.

It's actually a really good compromise in my experience. I've run 225 45 10, 245 40 17 and 255 40 17..

The 245 40 17 is the sweet spot.

 

[GTIfan99]

You might be able to choose a different profile in VCDS/OBD11 that corrects the speedo.

Tach and wheel size wouldn't have anything to do with each other.

I will end with 3 different sets when I'm done, so I'm not going to bother correcting the speedo, because it's not a big deal.

245 40 17 is perfect for street and track.

265 35 18 is what I'll end up with for my third set of wheels dedicated to autocross.

 

[jimlloyd40]

I will end with 3 different sets when I'm done, so I'm not going to bother correcting the speedo, because it's not a big deal.

245 40 17 is perfect for street and track.

265 35 18 is what I'll end up with for my third set of wheels dedicated to autocross.

Keep in mind that the OP wants a softer ride. Taller sidewall.

 

[jimlloyd40]

You might be able to choose a different profile in VCDS/OBD11 that corrects the speedo.

Tach and wheel size wouldn't have anything to do with each other.

You're correct I should have just said the speedometer.

 

[tarheelbob]

Went with the Apex 17x8.5 ET43 and love them. The Continental summer performance Extreme Contact Sport in 235/45 R17 are a great match. Grippy as heck, but comfortable ride and very quiet for performance tires. Here's some pics:

 

[GTIfan99]

Keep in mind that the OP wants a softer ride. Taller sidewall.

245 40 17 is.

 

[jimlloyd40]

245 40 17 is.

Not by much. I put 235 45 on my 17's. What size are the OP 's 18's?

 

[GTIfan99]

Not by much. I put 235 45 on my 17's. What size are the OP 's 18's?

I don't know, but 245 40 17 sidewalls are taller than stock.

 

[Desslok]

245/40/18 is an option.

 

[tarheelbob]

For MK7.5 GTI, the sidewall heights (thickness) for the mentioned sizes:

stock 225/40 R18 = 90mm
235/45 R17 17x8.5 = 106mm
245/40 R17 = 98mm
245/40 R18 = 98mm

 

[Desslok]

And 225/45/17 would be 101.25mm.

 

[bentin]

Also worth noting that the OP is on a pretty stiff tire, the AS3+ is rougher than the AS4 or PS4s by a pretty good margin. Just changing to an AS4 would be a slight improvement, running AS4's on 17's would be a very noticeable improvement.

 

[mrmatto]

Also worth noting that the OP is on a pretty stiff tire, the AS3+ is rougher than the AS4 or PS4s by a pretty good margin. Just changing to an AS4 would be a slight improvement, running AS4's on 17's would be a very noticeable improvement.

This is a very helpful insight, thank you.

 

[cb1111]

Won't that make the speedo and tach read incorrectly? But the OP wants a softer ride.

You might be able to choose a different profile in VCDS/OBD11 that corrects the speedo.

Tach and wheel size wouldn't have anything to do with each other.

I think Jim meant the odometer, not the tach.

 

[jimlloyd40]

I think Jim meant the odometer, not the tach.

Correct, thank you.