LIGHTWEIGHT Wheels

[MidKnight7]

Hey all...just wanna share some info for those who are thinking of buying aftermarket wheels.
It is very important to know that you don't buy wheels that are heavier than the factory wheels which i believe is the Santiago 19" which weighs roughly 28lbs (12.5kg) so that you don't damage your bearing etc. (i found out the hard way in the past )

Please feel free to add to the list and share more info on the importance of wheels weight

This list is mainly for those who really wants to have a better performing car specially around the corners, braking and acceleration.

By lightweight that means:
18" wheels around 19 lbs and under.
17" wheels 18 lbs and under.


All the wheels are 5x112

Wheel / Dia / Width / Offset / Weight

Advan
RSII 18 x 8 NA 17

adv.1
Seven 18 x 8 NA 18.4

BBS
Impul 18 x 8 NA 17

Enkei
RSM9 18 x 8 +50 17.5
RPF1 17 x 7.5 +48 15.2
RPF1 18 x 8 +35 18
PF01 17 x 8 +50,+35 16.95,18.20
PF01 18 x 8 +45,+35 18.20,19.20
Fujin 17 x 7.5 +45 16.6
RS05RR 18 x 8.5 +45 18.07
TR MS 17 x 8 +48 16

Forgesstar
Ff14 18 x 8.5 +48 17.6

Neuspeed
RSe07 18 x 8 +45 19.3
RSe05 17 x 8 +45 17

OZ
Alleggerita 17 x 8 +48 16
Alleggerita 18 x 8 +48 17.4
Ultraleggra 18 x 8 18.5

Raderwerks
LW-10 18 x 7.5 +45 19

TSW
Nurburgrings 17 x 8 +35 17.9
Interlagos 18 x 8 18.85

Volk
GL57C6 18 x 8.5 +45 18+?
RE30 18 x 8 +38 16
RE30cs 18 x 8 +47 15.5
G25 18 x 8 +35 17
C345 18 x 8 +45 15.5
TE37LE 17 x 8 +38 15.5
TE37TTA 18 x 8.5 +45 18

credits for gathering all this information on wheels goes to Rotaryknight from the MK6 forum

 

[.:KindiGTI]

Thanks! Very useful

 

[Geomets]

I had a Saxo 1.4 VTS once. I changed the steel wheels with alloys. The comfort was transformed! Due to lighter unsprung weight the absorbers did their job more easily and the wheels followed the anomalies of the road while the car stayed unbothered by them. The same happened when I changed the alloys of my Peugeot to the OZ ultraleggera. Keep in mind that I didn't change the diameter or the offset of the wheels in both cases.

 

[fluidd]

Do you know if there are any HRE wheels are are compatible with our car that is under 19lbs?

 

[MidKnight7]

Do you know if there are any HRE wheels are are compatible with our car that is under 19lbs?

HRE wheels are compatible with vw as they offer wheels for audi and mercedes and also you can custom order your wheel specs....not sure about the weight but seeing as they specialise in forged wheels I would assume they are lightweight...but they will usually cost a bomb...I would always recommend Enkei or OZ cause they are strong and durable as well as light and more affordable

 

[MidKnight7]

I had a Saxo 1.4 VTS once. I changed the steel wheels with alloys. The comfort was transformed! Due to lighter unsprung weight the absorbers did their job more easily and the wheels followed the anomalies of the road while the car stayed unbothered by them. The same happened when I changed the alloys of my Peugeot to the OZ ultraleggera. Keep in mind that I didn't change the diameter or the offset of the wheels in both cases.

Totally agree with...it does make the car more comfortable...and it should make the car more fuel efficient

 

[MidKnight7]

some pics of the wheels listed...will add more soon

 

[Black&White]

Can I have a 19" list please, with photos for each wheel and a list of australian distributors

 

[MidKnight7]

More Pics

 

[MidKnight7]

Can I have a 19" list please, with photos for each wheel and a list of australian distributors

Sorry but i have no knowledge of any distributors in australia...but google should help you...in terms of list of 19" "lightweights" it would be quite difficult to find but i can tell you that you might need to go for forged wheels in order for it to stay light...im sure other are more knowledgable on this

 

[Pieisgood999]

How much difference in performance does it actually make? I get the idea of less inertia etc, but is it actually noticeable?
Also, would you be able to get these wheels (wider?) so that you could fit fatter tyres on the car so it doesn't spin up so much as low speed?

 

[MidKnight7]

It makes quite a difference in perfomance...better handling, better acceleration & deceleration, better turning response, better fuel economy and this is from my experience, there are others who are more technical who can answer your questions

Had a friendly sprint with a friend of mine with a mk6gti with apr stage 2 with a militek exhaust system
- when my car was using the stock wheels, we took off at about the same speed and once we reached 100kmh he was gradually getting away
- when i installed my enkeis, my car beat him from the get go until about 150kmh and he started to gain on me

best explanation i got was from another forum was...imagine jogging in your working shoes...then imagine joggin with proper trainers...thats what lightweight wheels are to cars

hope this helps

 

[Pieisgood999]

Thanks. I've never looked into wheels before in detail.
I get the maths behind it, but was unsure as to the magnitude of the performance gains. The problem is that the factory wheels are SO heavy!
I'm not really a fan of the aftermarket wheel look mind you... Could you get some light ones which look more in keeping with the golf styling, just made out of lighter material or something?
Would you be able to fit a wider rim on the golf so you could get grippier tyres?

 

[MidKnight7]

yes the stock wheels are very heavy...but they are made that way because they need to last and take all the abuse...with lighter wheels will get damaged more easily but that depends on the materials, how they are made and brand

i think you can fit wider tires on your stock wheels also...im not too sure about tire fitments...hope others can answer this

my wheels are 18x8.5 while the stock are 18x7.5, but currently using the stock tires with a slight stretch

style is down to personal taste i guess...can go for forged wheels if you have the money

 

[Pieisgood999]

Well, how flimsy are the oz racing ones and the like?
Don't think forged will fit in my budget XD
Hoping someone will say that you can fit wider tyres on the stock wheels, but I doubt it