olegd

My brother just took delivery of a 2018 Golf GTI (Autobahn trim). Beautiful car, but we found out the hard way that the 16" winter wheels from the Golf TDI he traded in do not fit over the larger disks and calipers of the new car.
He will most likely have to go with 17" wheels, but I am not 100% sure which ones will fit. Would like to avoid buying a set from the dealer, so I am looking for some advise on rims that would fit and not break the bank at the same time.

Tim_Perley

I just sold my winter wheel set-up for the 2016 GTI that I traded in on my 911. It's too bad, I would have rather sold them to another enthusiast.

Most 17" wheels will fit. I was using a set of factory 17" GTI rims from a MkV model, you can usually find them relatively cheap on Kijiji. Paired with a set of LM32 Blizzaks and the car was a fantastic!

The caveat is whether you have the Performance Package (although I think they may have dropped that) - the brakes on those vehicles are slightly larger, so not all 17" wheels will fit.

If you're okay with aftermarket, TireRack is always a good option. I've had good luck with Tires23 if you want a local solution.

Adrian

olegd

Yes, they dropped the Performance Package. Autobahn models include the upgraded disks and brakes. This, and the fact that most online stores do not have 2018 GTI in their databases yet, makes it risky to order rims.

BIG smoke

17's with snows without sensors will run you new $1200 ish from most tire places. I have fair pricing out of Steelcase tire and Mega wheels in Mississauga, on an aftermarket replica.
x2 on Kijijijijij. I would prefer hubcentric. If shopping for used, bring a jack and test fit. If you are buying new, the shop will make sure they fit.
And if you need new bolts? Make sure you pack your stock bolts in your trunk for use with your factory spare wheel !

Tim_Perley

I'd suggest looking for rims that fit a Golf R or a 2017 GTI w/ Performance Pack

VW Vortex can sometimes be a good resource (you just have to filter our some of the infantile threads)

Mumbles

Get steel rims from dealer. Get tires and sensors from Costco. Done.

Vise

I got a set last year for our Golf R from a tire place on Kijiji in Brampton, was in the same boat as I didn't want anything crazy since they will just get beat up (wife's car). Got a set of gunmetal 18" Audi replica wheels with Pirelli Sottozero tires for $1250 tax in, can't really go wrong and they look decent. Not as nice as the stock Pretoria 19s but they work.

Tim_Perley

Steel wheels from the dealer will cost the same as aftermarket alloys.

Any financial savings from Costco vs dealer is offset by the time and energy of shopping at 2 places (and in my opinion Costco isn't competitive).

lastly, unless things changed for 2018, VW doesn't require sensors in Canada.

Adamant1971

I agree costco is not very competive. I got better pricing at Tires 23, having both dailies done tomorrow with the new conti winter SI. All in taxes and road force $920 for each.

Also im not sure what type of balancing Costco does, do they do road force?

I second that steell wheels are a waste of $, and they look like crap after a couple seasons.

olegd

If you wash steel wheels regularly they last. Check out my brother's set here, this is after 4 seasons, and he drives daily.
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-tires-rims/m...teLocale=en_CA

olegd

I've been looking at some Audi A4 17" winter sets on kijiji. Looks like they use the same 5x112 bolt pattern and 57.1 center bore. Only question is if the offset is suitable.

theiceman

fify

Mumbles

Another avenue is to check with wrecker yard for an alloy set of wheels to put Winters on..... Lots of new cars get wrecked

olegd

My brother decided to go with new alloys. Got these replicas of VW Pretoria from Weelsco:

https://www.replika.ca/productinfo.a...er+silver+dark

17" rims wrapped in Nexen winters for $1260 all in.