Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
I did search the forum and found 20 posts, but none about upgrading ideas. My GTI has 17" alloys which I will use as a winter set, and have been looking for 18s. There are a couple that have caught my eye, including Japan Racing JR37 wheels. This is my first Polo so any ideas will be helpful
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Last edited by Sbal on Wed Jan 25, 2023 8:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
They look good, but on Japan Racing’s own website the only alloy they have listed for the AW/BZ Polo GTI is the JR29 and not in an 18”.
https://jr-wheels.com/category/jr29
I know VW’s obsession with diamond cut alloys means that’s all they fit to the GTI - either the standard 17” Parker’s or 18” Faro’s, but the diamond cut finish isn’t as durable as alloys with a powder coated/ painted finish, so are susceptible to white worm corrosion (quite a few cases on various VW forums of this happening within the first three years - happened to the diamond cut alloys on a Golf GTD I owned at between 2 - 2.5 years). With this in mind, I personally wouldn’t run a car with diamond cut alloys during the winter months as I really dislike the white worm look for my alloys.
I’ve mentioned my dislike of diamond cut alloys more than a few times on the forum, so apologies for mentioning again ). I swapped mine for a set of 18” RC Design RC32 alloys in a satin Ferric Grey powder coat finish and they’re on the car all year round. They’re exactly the same size and spec 7.5J x 18” ET51 as the optional 18” VW Brescia alloys that VW fitted to the pre-facelift (AW) Polo GTI / GTI+ and unusually, they have the same centre bore size as VW OEM alloys and they use the OEM radius / ball seat bolts (most aftermarket alloys have a larger centre bore and use bolts with a conical / tapered seat). Being powder coated, there’s no potential issues with white worm.
If you do fit different alloys don’t forget to inform your insurance company as it’s classed as a modification.
Here’s my car with the RC32’s fitted;
https://jr-wheels.com/category/jr29
I know VW’s obsession with diamond cut alloys means that’s all they fit to the GTI - either the standard 17” Parker’s or 18” Faro’s, but the diamond cut finish isn’t as durable as alloys with a powder coated/ painted finish, so are susceptible to white worm corrosion (quite a few cases on various VW forums of this happening within the first three years - happened to the diamond cut alloys on a Golf GTD I owned at between 2 - 2.5 years). With this in mind, I personally wouldn’t run a car with diamond cut alloys during the winter months as I really dislike the white worm look for my alloys.
I’ve mentioned my dislike of diamond cut alloys more than a few times on the forum, so apologies for mentioning again ). I swapped mine for a set of 18” RC Design RC32 alloys in a satin Ferric Grey powder coat finish and they’re on the car all year round. They’re exactly the same size and spec 7.5J x 18” ET51 as the optional 18” VW Brescia alloys that VW fitted to the pre-facelift (AW) Polo GTI / GTI+ and unusually, they have the same centre bore size as VW OEM alloys and they use the OEM radius / ball seat bolts (most aftermarket alloys have a larger centre bore and use bolts with a conical / tapered seat). Being powder coated, there’s no potential issues with white worm.
If you do fit different alloys don’t forget to inform your insurance company as it’s classed as a modification.
Here’s my car with the RC32’s fitted;
Re: Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
Thanks, SRGT for the advice, this white worm issue seems to be a real menace!! It may make sense as you say to go for the same set you have, they look very tidy on your car. I've bought wheels from Wheelbase over the last few years, and they have always matched wheels to my car with no issue. I went for something different on my TT recently and feel like doing the same for the Polo. I may even go for the same wheels I'll keep throwing ideas out there, and if anyone else has any ideas I'd really appreciate it
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Re: Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
Nice TT . The VW dealer I use has VW, Audi and Seat brands on one site and I once got an Audi TT as a courtesy car when my VW was in for servicing. The TT gained quite a few extra miles that day as I was off work, so I spent time enjoying driving it .
Yes, white worm is a real pain in the butt. The main problem stems from the poor durability of the finish (clear lacquer on a bare metal surface). Bare metal doesn’t provide a good ‘key’ for the lacquer to bond to, so it only takes a small stone chip in the lacquer, and that allows the ingress of moisture and oxidation under the lacquer, which then creeps over the diamond cut surface. For anyone who’s not familiar with what it looks like, just do an internet search on ‘white worm corrosion’ and there are plenty of good pictures.
IMHO only way to really rectify white worm (if you want to keep the diamond cut finish) it is to get the wheel professionally refurbished, which involves re-cutting the face of the wheel with a diamond tipped cutting tool on a CNC lathe. However quite often, white worm will come back 12-24 months later. Some refurb companies are now using a powder coat based clear lacquer which is supposedly better at bonding to the diamond cut surface, so this may help in preventing the reoccurrence of white worm; time will tell if this provides a solution to the problem. Alternatively, white wormed alloys can be refurbished with a painted powder coated finish which gets rid of the problem once and for all.
For me, the downsides of diamond cut alloys are;
Apologies - I’ve gone off topic (again! ), but IMHO the above is relevant to anyone considering buying new / replacement alloys.
Yes, white worm is a real pain in the butt. The main problem stems from the poor durability of the finish (clear lacquer on a bare metal surface). Bare metal doesn’t provide a good ‘key’ for the lacquer to bond to, so it only takes a small stone chip in the lacquer, and that allows the ingress of moisture and oxidation under the lacquer, which then creeps over the diamond cut surface. For anyone who’s not familiar with what it looks like, just do an internet search on ‘white worm corrosion’ and there are plenty of good pictures.
IMHO only way to really rectify white worm (if you want to keep the diamond cut finish) it is to get the wheel professionally refurbished, which involves re-cutting the face of the wheel with a diamond tipped cutting tool on a CNC lathe. However quite often, white worm will come back 12-24 months later. Some refurb companies are now using a powder coat based clear lacquer which is supposedly better at bonding to the diamond cut surface, so this may help in preventing the reoccurrence of white worm; time will tell if this provides a solution to the problem. Alternatively, white wormed alloys can be refurbished with a painted powder coated finish which gets rid of the problem once and for all.
For me, the downsides of diamond cut alloys are;
- Poor durability of the finish and susceptible to white worm.
- More expensive to refurbish than a painted / powder coated alloy. With diamond cut alloys, because the refurb process involves recutting the face of the wheel and removing a layer of metal, they can only be refurbished twice - more than twice and too much metal may have been removed, so the structural integrity of the wheel can be compromised.
- They seem to be easily damaged by tyre fitters and poorly maintained tyre changing equipment.
Apologies - I’ve gone off topic (again! ), but IMHO the above is relevant to anyone considering buying new / replacement alloys.
Re: Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
That is a very comprehensive case for avoiding diamond cut wheels! You make some very good points there. I'm still hunting, should be working but I'm scrolling wheel websites
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Re: Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
Happy hunting! It can be a bit overwhelming as there are so many choices. When you’ve got a shortlist of possibles, be sure to post them up.
Some alloy wheel websites have a configurator so you can get a good idea of what your chosen wheels would like on your car (some configurators are better than others - e.g. some let you change the colour of the car to match your own). Add ‘alloy wheel configurator’ to you internet searches .
Re: Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
?
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Re: Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
Simple
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Re: Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
The MAM gets my vote. The design of the Rotiform is a bit too fussy for me, and I’m not too keen on the two colour finish.
Just my opinion though. Ultimately, it’s what you think that counts .
Just my opinion though. Ultimately, it’s what you think that counts .
Re: Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
I've just started fitting my new 18" wheels with the recommended 215 tyres
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Re: Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
Are they the Mam’s with porsche caps.
I’m not sure about them tbh. Maybe wiv some lowering springs.
I’m not sure about them tbh. Maybe wiv some lowering springs.
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Re: Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
Wow they look big compared to the Parkers.
Re: Not another wheel upgrade thread?...
Yes, the original wheels were subdued but classy, the new wheels are very bold and bright in comparison. The silver coloured ones were the cheapest and to be honest the car does a 400 miles a week school commute, so soon they will be a more subtle brake dust grey
The car has changed it's character with these 18's