I'm the first to tell people to run 165/50s on their 7Js because I've seen it done and nobody ever has any problems with tyres popping off etc etc... But when it comes to myself?

I can be quite a hard driver (read: fucking mentalist) and I don't really want to die because I'm using a tyre not suited for the rim. But I need to! I think...

:(

So what would you lot say? My Golf weighs 100-150 kg less than any Mk4 Polo, which I've seen plenty of running, it weighs less than Kams Lupo and about the same as a Mk3 Polo - so it should be fine, shouldn't it?

GAAAAH!!

personally i wudnt go for 165's....175's are enough for me, 165's just seem a little overkill, tho people on here dont seem to have any problems with them popping off....

had them on my g40 and the rear end was well twitchy at the edge! Wouldnt push them too hard!

rear end was well twitchy at the edge!

Excellent!

Haha, the only reason I'm thinking about them is I really don't think I'll get away with 195/45 or 195/50 considering where the suspension is at right now lol!

They won't come off. Trust me :)

i dont have any probs running them on my g40, but then the rims I'm using are 6j. personally i wouldnt use 165 on a 7j rim on a car that gets driven hard because they are gonna break grip really easilly, hence the reason dift cars runs stretched tyres

1.3 Golf isn't going to be a handful if you ask me

I've never had a problem with my car struggling for grip on 165s. Its only got 100 ponies but even then the recommended tyre size is 185.

A 175 50 will offer slightly more tread whilst maintaining a slight stretch.

The RR of the wheel will be similar too, slightly larger on the wider tyre. Have you considered that option?

Edited 10 March, 200818 yr by Quinny

My lass has 175 50 on her cups and they dont rub at all and look just right to me.

Her Golf is about 100mm+ drop all round.

there is a 650 bhp twin turbo r32 mk2 golf in golf plus this month running 165's...

EDIT: thats on a 8j aswell...

Edited 10 March, 200818 yr by dry

^^^

OTT

Quite a few people run 165/50 on an 8. That lad with the G60 MK1 on Turbo Mags for one.

personally i wouldnt use 165 on a 7j rim on a car that gets driven hard because they are gonna break grip really easilly, hence the reason dift cars runs stretched tyres

Not true, drift cars use them because the stretch supposedly reduces side wall flex. Contrary to popular belief, drift cars require a lot of traction.

But back on topic, i cant see 165 being a problem on a 7j, I've got 175/50 on my 8s with no problems at all........yet! :-D

1.3 Golf isn't going to be a handful if you ask me

I've never had a problem with my car struggling for grip on 165s. Its only got 100 ponies but even then the recommended tyre size is 185.

As soon as my 4 branch turns up I can get that fitted along with my stainless system, a bit of fiddling with the carb and I should be 90-100 bhp, and at the moment 60 brake is enough to not be able to use much throttle when pulling away in 1st, and it will spin up second without any problem, on 155s - plus lateral grip is very very very important for me. I think I'll look into the 175s as suggested!

A 175 50 will offer slightly more tread whilst maintaining a slight stretch.

The RR of the wheel will be similar too, slightly larger on the wider tyre. Have you considered that option?

I have thought of that mate, but the tyres in that size for some reason are a bit more expensive. I'll look into it further.

My lass has 175 50 on her cups and they dont rub at all and look just right to me.

Her Golf is about 100mm+ drop all round.

Excellent, cheers. I'm about that low, and that tyre size really would be ideal I guess!

what about a nice set of nankang 185/45/15 ?

may look good but your grip will be pony!!! if you drive like you say you do then maby a bigger tyre would be a better option, you might just kill less people when you smash it up then.

may look good but your grip will be pony!!! if you drive like you say you do then maby a bigger tyre would be a better option, you might just kill less people when you smash it up then.

I don't need a wide tyre, the car weighs under 800kg, at most I'll be running 100 bhp. A 165/175 of reasonable quality will be enough, I just wanted to know people's real life experiences of a 165 on a 7.

Also, I don't want a 165/175 just to look good, hell, you won't be able to see the top of tyre, bearing in mind the following photo is before the coilovers settled and before I wound it down that last 20mm, those are 13s with 155/80s :

what about a nice set of nankang 185/45/15 ?

/\/\ dead right tbh haha, nankang ditch finders lol

toby you wont need a 165 on a 7" to fit under that arch. I was probably running my jetta as low as your golf and i was fine with a 195 45 13 on an 8", granted it stuck out a teeny bit, but a 175 50 on a 7" would be an easy clearance.

toby you wont need a 165 on a 7" to fit under that arch. I was probably running my jetta as low as your golf and i was fine with a 195 45 13 on an 8", granted it stuck out a teeny bit, but a 175 50 on a 7" would be an easy clearance.

Gonna be 15s though

personally i wouldnt use 165 on a 7j rim on a car that gets driven hard because they are gonna break grip really easilly, hence the reason dift cars runs stretched tyres

Not true, drift cars use them because the stretch supposedly reduces side wall flex. Contrary to popular belief, drift cars require a lot of traction.

But back on topic, i cant see 165 being a problem on a 7j, I've got 175/50 on my 8s with no problems at all........yet! :-D

yes and that reduction in side wall flex causes the tyre from being in a state where the tyre has good grip, so lots of traction to no grip (that sounds just like what a drift car needs!). a normal tyres grip would progresively reduce due to the flex in the tyre wall.

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg2.html