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Author Topic: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI  (Read 8321 times)

Offline morty

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #40 on: November 15, 2006, 03:08:49 pm »
Sorry...kinda lost it on this thread...

The V will give you better handling as it has a stiffer casing. So, if you want a little better cornering (snow tire) the V would give that over an H-rating.

The 205/55/16 is the same OD or as close as you can get. So, no speedo adjustment would be necessary. You are correct in stating more sidewall less wheel. We do have steels for your application if you want to go utilitarian....also will have some replica options...
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #41 on: November 15, 2006, 03:25:28 pm »
Quote from: morty on November 15, 2006, 03:08:49 pm
Sorry...kinda lost it on this thread...

The V will give you better handling as it has a stiffer casing. So, if you want a little better cornering (snow tire) the V would give that over an H-rating.

The 205/55/16 is the same OD or as close as you can get. So, no speedo adjustment would be necessary. You are correct in stating more sidewall less wheel. We do have steels for your application if you want to go utilitarian....also will have some replica options...

Thanks Morty.

Do you think there will be a difference in wear between the two? I would like a better ride than with the current 18"ers and I would imagine any 16" will give me that. Will likely notice the drop in handling capability, but don't think it will be a big deal for me. I will hunt for the V's, but may wind up with the H's - but would prefer to buy the one which would likely wear best.

I wound up buying Jetta 16" alloys already, as I couldn't find take-offs or nice replicas or aftermarket alloys I liked enough that were within my price range anywhere (or I just wasn't resourceful enough).
« Last Edit: November 15, 2006, 03:28:09 pm by sirAQUAMAN64 »
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Offline quadzilla

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #42 on: November 15, 2006, 03:34:59 pm »
How much do you drive?

Lets say that the average winter tire can go 40,000kms safely and you put them on in November, take them off in March.

40,000 / 4 years = 10,000 per year
10,000 / 5 months = 2,000

So if you drive only 2K per month most tires would be fine for your needs.

* This is far from any scientific results, just my jibber jabber.
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #43 on: November 15, 2006, 03:39:57 pm »
I drive 30-45K a year now. A little under half of that will be on snows. So 15K a year X the 5 years I'm earmarking for keeping the car = 75K in total. Hmmm...

Gee, was just curious  ;D
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Offline quadzilla

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #44 on: November 15, 2006, 03:45:46 pm »
Personally I don't like to run winter tires past 75% as they are past their prime for traction.  So I figure you will have to either buy a second set of tires in year four or buy another car by then.  :P
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #45 on: November 15, 2006, 04:06:40 pm »
Quote from: quadzilla on November 15, 2006, 03:45:46 pm
Personally I don't like to run winter tires past 75% as they are past their prime for traction.  So I figure you will have to either buy a second set of tires in year four or buy another car by then.  :P

Damn!  :shake:
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #46 on: November 15, 2006, 05:44:45 pm »
Found the V's at TireCraft in Ontario. Unfortunately, $607 taxes-in. Higher than good 'ole TireTrends  ;)

This compares to their price of $565 for the H's, which is significantly more than the retailer I was originally going to go with who priced the H's at $520 (difference of $45) but didn't have V's in stock and didn't sound enthusiastic about getting them for me. I do want the V's. So now, question is if I can bar-goon something off the $607 figure? I'll add, I hate this.
« Last Edit: November 15, 2006, 05:48:08 pm by sirAQUAMAN64 »
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Offline morty

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #47 on: November 16, 2006, 12:24:34 am »
FYI...we have 1 (one) set left...
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #48 on: November 16, 2006, 04:24:25 pm »
Quote from: morty on November 16, 2006, 12:24:34 am
FYI...we have 1 (one) set left...

Thanks Morty. Trust me, if I didn't have the wheels already I'd be ordering from you as you're an invaluable resource on here and we've spoken on the phone before and you were exceptional  :bow2:

Called around and pricing varied quite a bit. For the V's, low of $570 installed taxes-in to a high of $760! 2 places were really great to talk with (the Nantucket Scarborough TireCraft and Steelcase in Markham), so I took the lower priced of those two (TireCraft said they couldn't budge on pricing and were $19 higher) even tho it wasn't the lowest price overall because although I could tell it was superbusy they were polite and answered my questions - I appreciated it and feel more comfy with them putting my car on the hoist. So, final tab is to be $588 tomorrow when I get my baby new sneakers  :) Let's hope I'm still smiling then.
« Last Edit: November 16, 2006, 04:26:27 pm by sirAQUAMAN64 »
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #49 on: November 17, 2006, 04:00:44 pm »
I wasn't smiling  :-\

They priced and ordered the H's by mistake. Didn't have any V's for me. In the end, I questioned whether or not the price difference was worth it and wound up going with the 91H's for $520 all in from the place I originally called.

Drove home and they absorb bumps a bit better. Noticed they seem to wander a tad more on the highway but the car still tracks straight and they're quiet. Best part was that they seem to be netting me noticably better fuel economy (I'll eyeball it over time, but think it's true). Okay, NOW let the snow fly!  ;D

The wheels/tires look small on the GTI. I'm not particularly fond of the bioline Jetta alloys on Golf/Rabbits, but I'll learn to like it and cound have done worse :)

For anyone in the GTA looking for a physical tire outlet, I highly recommend Tires23 in Mississauga. They took care of my parent's tires and I used them today. I couldn't come close to beating the prices judging by the dozen or so places I called, there was next to no wait, quick with answers to my questions, and encountered no hassles. 5 stars.
« Last Edit: November 17, 2006, 04:04:59 pm by sirAQUAMAN64 »
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Offline quadzilla

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #50 on: November 17, 2006, 04:19:23 pm »
Any pics?
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #51 on: November 17, 2006, 04:24:16 pm »
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Offline morty

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #52 on: November 18, 2006, 01:31:02 am »
No Worries...lastr set is gone and only H left. Can only sell them once ;D
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #53 on: November 18, 2006, 01:01:31 pm »
Here they are...
(and to think, I just washed the car for the 2nd time on Thursday  :-\)
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Offline quadzilla

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #54 on: November 19, 2006, 09:04:44 pm »
Thanks for the pics and they look great.  Are they 16's because they don't look that small in the picture. Can't wait to hear your real winter reports.  Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
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Offline airbalancer

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #55 on: November 20, 2006, 08:29:36 am »
Looking good! :thumbup:
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: Winter Alloys and Tires for 2007 GTI
« Reply #56 on: November 20, 2006, 12:23:55 pm »
Quote from: quadzilla on November 19, 2006, 09:04:44 pm
Are they 16's because they don't look that small in the picture.

Yeah, they're 16"ers. I think the effect of the grey painted portion of the alloy (and what I hoped it would do) is to highlight the unpainted portion making the spokes and outter lip look larger than they otherwise would. I'm liking them more than I thought I would, so think I made the right move. In person it looks like the brake caliper barely fits inside it - the cameraphone doesn't have the best image colour clarity.

The tires are fine - a tad smoother over small imperfections. I'm already used to the car feeling a bit lighter on the highway with them on (that slight wandering I noted). So far, so good. Came out of work last night to a dusting of snow on the car and 0dC temperature, so was the right time to do the swap. I likely won't be able to give one of those comprehensive tire reports or analysis (the Ice Bear is more of an ice tire than a deep snow traction tire anyway) but will note if they seem to be lacking in grip or startability in snow over Winter. If I get stuck or feel like I'm sliding all over, you'll know.
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