New 17" alloys. Do i need to mod.

I have just bought some Dotz roadster wheels for my mk2 gti.
I have ordered 17" with 205/40-17 tyres.

My question is do you think i am going to do any mods to the arches.

i have currently got 16" alloys with 195/45-16 tyres which are fine.

 

should be fine mate as far as i no .

no mods needed unless u plan to lower more than 40mm

 

17's on a mk2??

not good

 

And they're 5 stud.


FAIL.

 

I have lowered it by 60mm. However the 16" wheels i have are fine and the pfofile of the tyres means they should sit the same. Of course if the offset is different it may rub.

 

They are 4 stud

 

they wont be very comfortable or handle well even if they don't rub

 

I'm running 8 x 17 ET20 on my MK2
http://www.modifiedvws.co.uk/new wheels 6.JPG

 

17s on a Mk2 are just wrong. Fact. Been there, done that...

Handling wasn`t as good, nor was acceleration due to the increased unsprung weight.

 

Well wheels went on today. They look excellent and dispite being lowered by 60mm they dont rub at all.

 

Wrong !! Fantastic on a race car. My 8 x 17's are lighter than my 15's and with 350BHP i could do with less wheel spin off the line so perfect for my aplication.

 

nice wheels - are they braids ?

 

Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 9kgs

 

I`ll concede, that on a high powered race/track car (such as yours) then the extra mass can help, but on a road car I`ll still maintain they are the wrong way to go...

 

Yeah maybe if your driving a 1.3!!! the difference in acceleration is going to be minute and the handling is the same, if not better as generally the tyres are a lower profile.

Love the wheels, great choice, same as mine

 

mmmm WTF are you on?? ^^^^ hate to tell you this but the profile width has a much less effect on handling than other things such as unsprung weight, wheel radius.... a 15 inch wheel with a higher profile will turn in quicker, ride rough surfaces better, weigh less (generally) and mean you can lower the car further thus resulting in less body roll which will effect the handling 10 X more than the profile of the tyre's...

 

Lowering the car does not result in less body roll, I've got first hand experiene on the fact that 8 x 17's on Slicks out perform 7 x 15's on Circuit.

 

Well my 17" wheels are no different to my originals. Car handles exactly the same and its lowered by 60mm. It obviously feels the bumps more but otherwise its fine. Cant understand the people who say that 17 s are a no no. I think they look great.

 

so your telling me that lowering the car (hence firmer suspension) doesn't reduce body roll? and that tyre profile has a bigger effect?

PS... ^^ yes they do look good, its just a handling/ride debate.

 

Ok, i agree with most of what you said, but i higher profile tyre will loose grip a lot quicker closer to the limit.