Talk to me like I'm stupid

[15volk]

Please. I won't even be mad. LOL I'm turning my 2015 GTI in to a dedicated track car. The car is still on stock suspension with a Neuspeed sway bar in the rear and Moog end links. Wheels are F1R F101 18x8.5 et38 with a 5mm spacer up front to clear the Stoptech ST40 brake kit. After the last track day, I took the Michelin 4S tires off and mounted a set of Hankook Ventus F200 slicks 240/640/r18. Now, let me just say I'm NOT surprised the tires are rubbing. But I need to rectify the problem before the next track day.

Options I'm considering are wider fenders or obviously suspension.That's where I need help. I know I'll need to change a lot of parts eventually given the way the car is being driven and to get the most out of it on track but I'm confuuuuused. I'm reading about camber and wheel offset, etc but I don't understand most of it. I'm also going to buy a dedicated set of track wheels but I don't know which ones clear the ST40 kit, with the exception of the Konig Countergram and even those require a 3mm spacer.

The rubbing is occuring on the outside edge of the fender. We removed the screw but haven't bent or removed anything else in the wheel well. Removing the screw did nothing but make it worse, likely due to remnants from the screw removal. The fenders haven't been rolled yet, fyi. As you can see from the pictures, there is quite a bit of poke. The tires are meatier than the Michelins, meatier than I imagined they would be. I didn't understand the middle number in 240/640r18, obviously. LOL

So for those who've done similar things to their GTI's, please enlighten me. I don't care about streetability. I just need to get rid of that rubbing! Would coilovers help? Alignment? Different wheels? Fenders? Which fenders? I'm currently in talks with SRS-TEC but I'm looking at a full four weeks before delivery. Is there a company in the US who sells them? Or a similar width fender? SRS-TEC's fenders are 2.5cm.

What would you do???

Note: I've posted this in another forum which I will delete now.

 

[777-300ER]

I wouldn't go with a wider fender for that. If you are seriously doing this buy good suspension with some kind of camber adjustment.

 

[Cptnjosh]

Camber and a wheel with ET 43-45 that is designed for big brakes. Eurosport makes some static camber strut mounts which might be a good place to start. They are not too expensive. Then swap out wheels if u need more clearance. Cruise the light weight wheel thread for ideas

 

[EpicTech]

I was able to roll mine slightly, but also added coil overs and 1 degree of camber in the front.

 

[IanCH]

The spacer is what is killing you.

Also that tire spec makes no sense. I'm guessing but maybe you have 245/40/18 tires?

 

[Dog Dad Wagon]

Yeah the tire spec you stated doesn’t exist. Start with that lol.

 

[seanmcd1]

Just cut out all your fender wells you stupid moron. (just following your title's orders)

 

[Diggs24]

 

[averyislost]

Hi stupid, I’m dad

 

[GTI Jake]

If you really want to track the car on slicks you’re gonna need coils and -2.5-3.5* camber.

There’s tons of information from the track rat guys, but per your request here’s the no fluff truth.

SELL THE SLICKS. You’re asking questions you’d know the answers to if you truly had the experience to safely run those tires. You’re asking for trouble and endangering yourself and others on the track.

 

[Dog Dad Wagon]

per your request here’s the no fluff truth.

SELL THE SLICKS. You’re asking questions you’d know the answers to if you truly had the experience to safely run those tires. You’re asking for trouble and endangering yourself and others on the track.

Agreed. You said talk to you like you’re stupid...

you don’t sound like you understand nearly enough about cars (I mean, you can’t even tell us what size your tires are... that’s a big giveaway), or at the very least the MK7 Golf/MQB platform to be spending the money you’re spending on these upgrades, or to be going for the kind of track performance you seem to want.

why do you want it?

have you taken SCCA driver classes?

how much research do you do before buying products?

you sound like youre dropping thousands on brakes etc first then asking questions later. It goes the other way around bud.

my advice: slow down. Ask yourself what your goals are. Why are those your goals? Are they realistic? Ask questions first and know what you’re doing and WHY you’re doing it before buying/installing anything

 

[SouthFL_Mk7.5]

Yeah the tire spec you stated doesn’t exist. Start with that lol.

640 refers to Overall Diameter (in mm) for R Compound track spec tires. Has nothing to do with the height of the sidewall.

As for turning the car into a track car. Start with safety equipment. Work with a 200tw tire for a while before jumping to R Compound. Find Negative Camber up front. Brakes can be PP with a good dedicated track pad and fluid at first. Upgrade to fixed caliper would be nice but can wait.

 

[IanCH]

You learn something every day - never even looked at full slicks to see there was a different convention.

 

[XM_Rocks]

Def get a wheel that fits better. An et45 8.5” wide would work better.

I personally would pass on turning a GTI into a track car. The inherent FWD nature of these cars, repairs when they break/smash things and aftermarket go fast part costs would steer me towards something more fun, cheaper to fix and rewarding to drive fast (ie. E36 or E46 M3, Miata, S2000, C6 Corvette, BRZ etc).

 

[JerseyDrew77]

Classic "Airplane" movie scene!