Polo 9N3 GTI Alloy Wheel Selection

Post Reply
User avatar
PiRACY
Enlisted
Posts: 24
Registered for: 6 years 11 months
Car Make: VW
Car Model: Polo 9N3 GTI

Polo 9N3 GTI Alloy Wheel Selection

Post by PiRACY »

Finally getting some OZ Superturismo GT wheels for my Polo 9N3 GTI. It has standard calipers etc, but will soon be running a Bilstein B12 kit which supposedly lowers it another ~1.5cm ... anyway ... Anyone happen to know which would be best suited between either:

7x17 / 5x100 / ET38

or

8x17 / 5x100 / ET35

Considering the original 'Denver' Mags are (supposedly?)6.5x16 ET38 ... will the 8x17 too wide and likely to rub, or is the different offset liable to have my brake caliper grind the **** out of the new inner wheel? There is barely 2mm of clearance between the caliper and stock alloy wheel as it is.
G-spot
Committee Member
Posts: 5802
Registered for: 16 years 6 months
Car Make: Vw
Car Model: Audi S3 Sedan
Membership No: 1215
Location: Wild Wild West

Re: Polo 9N3 GTI Alloy Wheel Selection

Post by G-spot »

you will be fine in both cases
Grant Hendry
Membership no.:1215

Current:
2016 Audi S3 Sedan
1978 VW Golf 1100 GL
Ex:
2012 VW Golf GTI Edition 35
2007 VW Golf GTI
2006 Polo 1.9 TDI Sportline
2012 VW Polo GTI
User avatar
PiRACY
Enlisted
Posts: 24
Registered for: 6 years 11 months
Car Make: VW
Car Model: Polo 9N3 GTI

Re: Polo 9N3 GTI Alloy Wheel Selection

Post by PiRACY »

G-spot wrote: Thu May 03, 2018 7:52 pm you will be fine in both cases
Really? If the offset is lower on the 8x17 (35 instead of 38) will that not alter the offset of the hub-face? Will it have *more* clearance between the brake caliper and spokes, or *less* clearance (potential collision with caliper) ? I really don't want to have to use spacers.
User avatar
Neuk
Treasurer
Treasurer
Posts: 49805
Registered for: 18 years 4 months
Car Make: Volkswagen
Car Model: Touareg 3.0 V6 TDi R-Line
Membership No: 806
Location: Johannesburg

Re: Polo 9N3 GTI Alloy Wheel Selection

Post by Neuk »

Try something like this, it should answer your questions...

https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/
Current Garage:
Daily Drive: 2014 VW Touareg 3.0 V6 TDi R-Line
Project Fes: 1982 VW Golf GLS 1.5
Project FeO: 1966 VW Type 2 Transporter Kombi Split Window

Previous Garage:
Roxy: 2015 VW Golf R
Vagon: 2005 Audi B6 A4 1.8T (140kw) Avant
Project XXXX: 1967 VW Type 3 Variant (Squareback)
Project Betty: 2005 Polo 1.9 TDI (PD130) Sportline
Weekend Warrior: 1993 Volkswagen Caddy 2.0 16v ABF on ITB's
G-spot
Committee Member
Posts: 5802
Registered for: 16 years 6 months
Car Make: Vw
Car Model: Audi S3 Sedan
Membership No: 1215
Location: Wild Wild West

Re: Polo 9N3 GTI Alloy Wheel Selection

Post by G-spot »

PiRACY wrote: Fri May 04, 2018 1:44 am
G-spot wrote: Thu May 03, 2018 7:52 pm you will be fine in both cases
Really? If the offset is lower on the 8x17 (35 instead of 38) will that not alter the offset of the hub-face? Will it have *more* clearance between the brake caliper and spokes, or *less* clearance (potential collision with caliper) ? I really don't want to have to use spacers.


The simple answer is I had 8x17's et35's on my polo and they cleared by miles

The long answer is:

0 offset means the hub face is inline with the center of the wheel, Positive offset means its more towards the outside of the wheel, Negative more towards the inside
So the lower the offset the further outwards the wheel sits, The offset is lower on the wider wheel so that you have the same clearance to the shock strut/wheel well between the 2 wheels

Don't confuse this with the wheels spoke placement, Brake clearance depends on where the spokes are located within the wheel

worst case you your outside of the caliper sits flush with the hub face (wont be because the disk is offset inwards)
8" = 203mm (measured from the inside of the beading's)
Spoke thickness is 20mm in depth, But lets assume the back of the spokes on the OZ reps are straight and flush with the inside of the beading's
hub face is 35mm towards the outside of the wheel

so

101.5mm -35mm = 66.5mm that you will have between the spokes and the caliper, assuming the back of the spokes are inline with the beading of the wheel (as the supertourismo's are)

If you had a wheel with a lip you would subtract the depth of the lip and the spoke thickness as well
so 20mm lip and 20mm spoke
101.5mm -35mm -20mm - 20mm = 26.5mm clearance

hope that answers your question
Grant Hendry
Membership no.:1215

Current:
2016 Audi S3 Sedan
1978 VW Golf 1100 GL
Ex:
2012 VW Golf GTI Edition 35
2007 VW Golf GTI
2006 Polo 1.9 TDI Sportline
2012 VW Polo GTI
User avatar
PiRACY
Enlisted
Posts: 24
Registered for: 6 years 11 months
Car Make: VW
Car Model: Polo 9N3 GTI

Re: Polo 9N3 GTI Alloy Wheel Selection

Post by PiRACY »

G-spot wrote: Fri May 04, 2018 11:16 am
PiRACY wrote: Fri May 04, 2018 1:44 am
G-spot wrote: Thu May 03, 2018 7:52 pm you will be fine in both cases
hope that answers your question
Thanks heaps, I think its starting to make sense now.

That wheel size calc is useful, but as it states - "No warranties or guarantees are expressed or implied as to the accuracy of the information provided on this site."

Figured someone here must have first-hand knowledge of what works with a 9N3 GTI.

Also, when you say OZ reps, do you mean reproductions? I've found a set on ebay which are advertised as Produced by OZ (Zero mention of replica/reproduction) so I'd assume they are quality, genuine wheels?

I'm now wondering whether these will need 'hubcentric rings' too in order to fit a Polo's hub correctly? Cannot find any mention of what type of bolt I'm supposed to use either (tapered? radius?) ...

Anyone able to recommend good quality Superturismo GT-compatible black wheel bolts?

BTW if you search ebay for "Set of 4 Alloy Wheels OZ Racing SUPERTURISMO GT - 8x17 / 5x100 / ET35"... that is the set I'm looking at.

Thanks again for the very detailed information.
Roms
Cadet
Posts: 437
Registered for: 15 years 10 months
Car Make: VW
Car Model: Polo 9n3 GTI
Membership No: 1270
Location: Westrand, Joburg

Re: Polo 9N3 GTI Alloy Wheel Selection

Post by Roms »

I'm currently running 17"/ 5x100 / ET35 / 8J Audi wheels and have no issues with rubbing on the fenders and the stock brake setup. I running a Koni sport shocks with HnR sport springs and the car sits pretty low with 205/40 profile tyres.
User avatar
PiRACY
Enlisted
Posts: 24
Registered for: 6 years 11 months
Car Make: VW
Car Model: Polo 9N3 GTI

Re: Polo 9N3 GTI Alloy Wheel Selection

Post by PiRACY »

Roms wrote: Wed May 09, 2018 10:39 am I'm currently running 17"/ 5x100 / ET35 / 8J Audi wheels and have no issues with rubbing on the fenders and the stock brake setup. I running a Koni sport shocks with HnR sport springs and the car sits pretty low with 205/40 profile tyres.
Sweet. Settled on OZ Ultraleggera, Matt Black, 17", 5x100, ET35, 8" Wide wheels from demontweeks. Currently in transit. Now for tires... Are 215/40/r17 too chunky for a 9N3 GTI running Bilstein B12 Sport kit (~1.5cm lower) ?
User avatar
Dhir-DKR
Cadet
Posts: 418
Registered for: 10 years 5 months
Car Make: Audi
Car Model: s3 - 8L 20v BT
Location: Ballito

Re: Polo 9N3 GTI Alloy Wheel Selection

Post by Dhir-DKR »

PiRACY wrote: Sat May 19, 2018 8:57 am
Roms wrote: Wed May 09, 2018 10:39 am I'm currently running 17"/ 5x100 / ET35 / 8J Audi wheels and have no issues with rubbing on the fenders and the stock brake setup. I running a Koni sport shocks with HnR sport springs and the car sits pretty low with 205/40 profile tyres.
Sweet. Settled on OZ Ultraleggera, Matt Black, 17", 5x100, ET35, 8" Wide wheels from demontweeks. Currently in transit. Now for tires... Are 215/40/r17 too chunky for a 9N3 GTI running Bilstein B12 Sport kit (~1.5cm lower) ?
Howzit bud,

Do you have a link for this?

I'd like to check their range out, please.
2007 VW Polo GTi - current
Image

2008 Audi 8P S3 - ex
2002 Audi 8L s3 BT - ex
2000 VW Polo Playa 1.4i - ex
1998 Mazda Astina- ex
User avatar
PiRACY
Enlisted
Posts: 24
Registered for: 6 years 11 months
Car Make: VW
Car Model: Polo 9N3 GTI

Re: Polo 9N3 GTI Alloy Wheel Selection

Post by PiRACY »

Dhir-DKR wrote: Sat May 19, 2018 10:56 am
PiRACY wrote: Sat May 19, 2018 8:57 am
Roms wrote: Wed May 09, 2018 10:39 am I'm currently running 17"/ 5x100 / ET35 / 8J Audi wheels and have no issues with rubbing on the fenders and the stock brake setup. I running a Koni sport shocks with HnR sport springs and the car sits pretty low with 205/40 profile tyres.
Sweet. Settled on OZ Ultraleggera, Matt Black, 17", 5x100, ET35, 8" Wide wheels from demontweeks. Currently in transit. Now for tires... Are 215/40/r17 too chunky for a 9N3 GTI running Bilstein B12 Sport kit (~1.5cm lower) ?
Howzit bud,

Do you have a link for this?

I'd like to check their range out, please.

Hi, I'm good thanks...

A link for the Ultraleggera wheels? Just search on demontweeks for ultraleggera ... you'll need to select the stud pattern, size, offset etc from drop-down menus on the wheel's page. Best price I could find, and they included a fitting kit which should have the correct sized bolts and 'hubcentric rings' (TO BE CONFIRMED).

They've stated 28mm bolts on the invoice, whereas I've been reading elsewhere that 35/36mm "usable length" bolts are required ... Guess I'll find out when they arrive.

Nice Polo w/ sunroof... mine is Black too but 2-door.

Stay tuned
User avatar
Dhir-DKR
Cadet
Posts: 418
Registered for: 10 years 5 months
Car Make: Audi
Car Model: s3 - 8L 20v BT
Location: Ballito

Re: Polo 9N3 GTI Alloy Wheel Selection

Post by Dhir-DKR »

PiRACY wrote: Sat May 19, 2018 10:07 pm
Dhir-DKR wrote: Sat May 19, 2018 10:56 am
PiRACY wrote: Sat May 19, 2018 8:57 am
Roms wrote: Wed May 09, 2018 10:39 am I'm currently running 17"/ 5x100 / ET35 / 8J Audi wheels and have no issues with rubbing on the fenders and the stock brake setup. I running a Koni sport shocks with HnR sport springs and the car sits pretty low with 205/40 profile tyres.
Sweet. Settled on OZ Ultraleggera, Matt Black, 17", 5x100, ET35, 8" Wide wheels from demontweeks. Currently in transit. Now for tires... Are 215/40/r17 too chunky for a 9N3 GTI running Bilstein B12 Sport kit (~1.5cm lower) ?
Howzit bud,

Do you have a link for this?

I'd like to check their range out, please.

Hi, I'm good thanks...

A link for the Ultraleggera wheels? Just search on demontweeks for ultraleggera ... you'll need to select the stud pattern, size, offset etc from drop-down menus on the wheel's page. Best price I could find, and they included a fitting kit which should have the correct sized bolts and 'hubcentric rings' (TO BE CONFIRMED).

They've stated 28mm bolts on the invoice, whereas I've been reading elsewhere that 35/36mm "usable length" bolts are required ... Guess I'll find out when they arrive.

Nice Polo w/ sunroof... mine is Black too but 2-door.

Stay tuned

Cool thanks bud.

I actually went and checked them out, some decently priced rims there hey.

When your set arrives, kindly share customs costs etc.

Thanks again bud.
2007 VW Polo GTi - current
Image

2008 Audi 8P S3 - ex
2002 Audi 8L s3 BT - ex
2000 VW Polo Playa 1.4i - ex
1998 Mazda Astina- ex
Post Reply