Cognomen
New member
- Location
- Warner Robins, GA
- Car(s)
- '18 GTI SE DSG
Hi folks,
I drive an '18 GTI SE and it's time (finally) to replace my stock tires, and I decided to go ahead and make the switch to 17's as well.
I decided to go with the Motegi MR131's 17x8, ET40 (due to affordability, weight and looks) and some General G-max RS tires in 235/45R17.
I know several people on here run these wheels, and while some needed to run spacers, from what I gather those guys are running the 17x7 rather than 17x8 size.
However, Tirerack's sales rep called me and warned me that there may be clearance issues with the balancing weights and the calipers. I mentioned that if I ran into clearance issues with the balancing weights, I would just run some spacers. After that, they changed their story to saying that the wheel's 'drop center' (aka the skinniest part of the barrel) itself would not clear the brakes. I told him this is a known working setup, and even provided a picture of the same wheel/tire combo on a '17 GTI with PP brakes and explaining that they are the same size (340mm disc) as my '18 brakes.
I have gone back and forth with him, and he keeps relaying his technical folks' response, which never comes with any reasonable explanation other than 'it won't fit'.
They are treating me like I'm crazy at this point, warning me that the wheels won't be returnable if I try to test fit them and damage occurs. They also said I would have to order the wheel/tire package without it being associated with a vehicle, and that they won't provide lug bolts, because they can't provide hardware to mount this setup safely (this one angers me a bit, since they state on their website that the price of the mounting hardware is figured into the wheel price). Essentially, corporate ass-covering rather than trying to figure out why their computer says this setup won't work, even though I've shown photographic evidence that it will.
I guess I'm just wondering if anyone knows of a reason I should choose a different wheel, or if I should stick to my guns and order the setup I want.
I drive an '18 GTI SE and it's time (finally) to replace my stock tires, and I decided to go ahead and make the switch to 17's as well.
I decided to go with the Motegi MR131's 17x8, ET40 (due to affordability, weight and looks) and some General G-max RS tires in 235/45R17.
I know several people on here run these wheels, and while some needed to run spacers, from what I gather those guys are running the 17x7 rather than 17x8 size.
However, Tirerack's sales rep called me and warned me that there may be clearance issues with the balancing weights and the calipers. I mentioned that if I ran into clearance issues with the balancing weights, I would just run some spacers. After that, they changed their story to saying that the wheel's 'drop center' (aka the skinniest part of the barrel) itself would not clear the brakes. I told him this is a known working setup, and even provided a picture of the same wheel/tire combo on a '17 GTI with PP brakes and explaining that they are the same size (340mm disc) as my '18 brakes.
I have gone back and forth with him, and he keeps relaying his technical folks' response, which never comes with any reasonable explanation other than 'it won't fit'.
They are treating me like I'm crazy at this point, warning me that the wheels won't be returnable if I try to test fit them and damage occurs. They also said I would have to order the wheel/tire package without it being associated with a vehicle, and that they won't provide lug bolts, because they can't provide hardware to mount this setup safely (this one angers me a bit, since they state on their website that the price of the mounting hardware is figured into the wheel price). Essentially, corporate ass-covering rather than trying to figure out why their computer says this setup won't work, even though I've shown photographic evidence that it will.
I guess I'm just wondering if anyone knows of a reason I should choose a different wheel, or if I should stick to my guns and order the setup I want.