My new rims have finally arrived.

elro · Jan 14, 2011

After weeks, no months, my new rims have finally arrived. They're OEM reproduction Interlagos, my favorite rims and I can't wait for the warm weather to arrive. My next trip is a visit to my favorite tire guy, John at Consumers Tires in Markham.

Here are a couple of pics from my cell phone:

I hope they work out, it's my first attempt at posting pics.

dpg · Jan 14, 2011

great looking wheels

Personne · Jan 14, 2011

Sweeeeeet things. Excellent taste, very elegant.

vw_leadfoot · Jan 15, 2011

They look good! 17s or 18s?

elro · Jan 15, 2011

They're 18"x8" +45 offset with 57.1 centre bore. I ordered them from Power Wheels Pro back in November, but just received them on Jan. 14/11. I thought the price and the shipping cost was fair and well worth the wait. The best part was they used FedEx, instead of Purolator or even worse, UPS.

Ryephile · Jan 15, 2011

Very nice.

ihatespeed · Jan 22, 2011

got any plans for the stockers?

elro · Jan 22, 2011

My stock rims are mounted with 205/60R16 Continental ContiWinterViking 2 snow tires. I bought the Interlagos for the spring, summer and fall.

A special thank you to those who posted the compliments. I'm really hoping that when the new rims are fitted with 235/40ZR18 Continental Extreme Contact DWS tires and mounted with the stock suspension, I'll be happy with the set up.

nikhsub1 · Jan 22, 2011

I would go with 225's and not 235's...

ksing44 · Jan 23, 2011

I want to try 235 too, although I will be doing it on 17" wheels, with 235/45/17. I think the slightly taller and fatter tires will fit fine and the taller sidewall should help fill the gap a bit and also protect the rims and provide a bit more comfortable ride. I love big fat tires and think it will give the car a stockier look. I'm not into the narrower stretch thing at all.

The Interlagos rep wheels are nice looking and I think they have an even better offset than the OEM version. With the OEM 18" x 8" ET41, there is a slight poke in the front. With the ET45 on your reps, I think they should be almost perfectly flush in front. I have 17" x 7.5" ET47 and my wheels are just a couple of mm short of being flush in front.

elro · Jan 23, 2011

I agree with you, regarding the benefits of the 235 series over the 225 series with stock suspension.

*less gap
*more comfortable ride
*better rim protection from pot holes and curb rash

I was really inspired by this thread for MKVI GTI with the same combo.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthre...United-Gray-Metallic-GTI-on-18-x-8-Samarkands

Ryephile · Jan 23, 2011

To counterpoint, however, going with that tire size can and/or will:

*cause rubbing on fenders/wheel arch liners
*greater aero drag
*greater rolling resistance
*larger-than-stock tire diameter causes speedo to read lower than actual speed [hello speeding tickets!]

*monster truck/balloon tire disorder, IMO an aesthetic I don't prefer on most cars [muscle cars excepted].

ksing44 · Jan 23, 2011

Ryephile said:
*larger-than-stock tire diameter causes speedo to read lower than actual speed

ah yes, but better mpg with lower rpm at same speed!

elro · Jan 23, 2011

SIZE: 225/40R18 vs 235/40R18

The 235's are only .16" larger in radius (.32" in diameter or 1.0" in total circumference), .4" wider or they protrude an extra 1/5" per side (a little more rim protection).
From what I've read on other threads, the speedo actually read faster than the actual speed and even with this slight increase in circumference, the speedo will still be over, but just a little closer to reality (+1.2%)
I hoping that with stock suspension, there will be no tire rub issues.

I would hardly call them monster truck/balloon tire disorder...Would you?

phillypino215 · Jan 24, 2011

cant wait to see pics of them on the car...

KIX · Jan 24, 2011

I will go the Interlagos route, GTIs look fantastic with Interlagos JSWs should look as good.

elro · Jan 24, 2011

Que bonita foto....Photoshop?

Luckyme · Jan 25, 2011

Hello Elro,

I am what you call a newbie, but of the rims that I have been looking at, I really like the look of the Interlagos rims on the wagon. I'm considering using the same rims myself, but I prefer the 225/40R18 tires. Do you mind me asking where you bought them?

Thank you.

ksing44 · Jan 25, 2011

Luckyme said:
Do you mind me asking where you bought them?

http://www.powerwheelspro.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=470

elro · Jan 25, 2011

As Ksing44 stated, Power Wheels Pro is where I ordered them from. The only things I may add, seeing that you`re in the GTA, are the shipping charges to Toronto were $99, centres are included and if you`re thinking of ordering them, I wouldn`t wait until the spring. Mine took a better part of 10 weeks to arrive, but I think they were worth the wait.....Cheers.

ksing44 · Jan 25, 2011

elro said:
As Ksing44 stated, Power Wheels Pro is where I ordered them from.

Sorry to jump in on your thread, but I saw you posted the source in an earlier post. I also was familiar with the website, because I had looked at them myself. Good luck with the new wheels and the 235 tires!!!

robbinsresort · Feb 7, 2011

Congrats on your purchase! I've got a few questions for you:

1. Do the wheels have a JWL or VIA stamp on them anywhere? Should be on the inside barrel. These are approval stamps from the Japanese government (one of the few countries that test aftermarket wheels).

2. How is the paint quality? Any blotches, imperfections?

3. Was there anything on the packaging to hint at who actually manufactured the wheel?

I don't want to sound cynical, but the price has me suspicious.

elro · Feb 8, 2011

There are several stamped numbers and cast symbols located inside the rim on the arms. They are a little difficult to read, but they appear to be as follows:

(ET45) (MAX load 690KG) (PCD 112) (18x8 J) (C 16005) (VIA JIL) (10+symbol)
(H 1012) along with a several symbols.

As far as where they were made, the boxes were tossed out when I had my tires mounted. I suspect that they were manufactured in China, but what's new these days. Most of the after market rims, along with many of the OEM rims are now manufactured there. When I first questioned the quality of the wheels at Power Wheels Pro, they emailed me that the plant that manufactures the wheels was ISO certified and they are an OEM supplier.

The paint and finish is not 100% perfect, but I consider them to be very acceptable. On one or two of the rims, when I placed the rims under a bright light, I found a slight trace where the clearcoat ran a bit and a spec of dust that had been painted over.

I don't know how they would compare side by side to a set of $1200 rims, but overall, I'm extremely happy with my purchase.

elro · Feb 8, 2011

There are several stamped numbers and cast symbols located inside the rim on the arms. They are a little difficult to read, but they appear to be as follows:

(ET45) (MAX load 690KG) (PCD 112) (18x8 J) (C 16005) (VIA JIL) (10+symbol)
(H 1012) along with a several symbols.

As far as where they were made, the boxes were tossed out when I had my tires mounted. I suspect that they were manufactured in China, but what's new these days. Most of the after market rims, along with many of the OEM rims are now manufactured there. When I first questioned the quality of the wheels at Power Wheels Pro, they emailed me that the plant that manufactures the wheels was ISO certified and they are an OEM supplier.

The paint and finish is not 100% perfect, but I consider them to be very acceptable. On one or two of the rims, when I placed the rims under a bright light, I found a slight trace where the clearcoat ran a bit and a spec of dust that had been painted over.

I don't know how they would compare side by side to a set of $1200 rims, but overall, I'm extremely happy with my purchase.

robbinsresort · Feb 8, 2011

Thanks much for the info!

tedkidd · Mar 21, 2012

elro said:
The paint and finish is not 100% perfect, but I consider them to be very acceptable. On one or two of the rims, when I placed the rims under a bright light, I found a slight trace where the clearcoat ran a bit and a spec of dust that had been painted over.

I don't know how they would compare side by side to a set of $1200 rims, but overall, I'm extremely happy with my purchase.

Still happy about the wheels? Straight n true?

ToeBall · Mar 22, 2012

Ryephile said:
To counterpoint, however, going with that tire size can and/or will:

*cause rubbing on fenders/wheel arch liners
*greater aero drag
*greater rolling resistance
*larger-than-stock tire diameter causes speedo to read lower than actual speed [hello speeding tickets!]

*monster truck/balloon tire disorder, IMO an aesthetic I don't prefer on most cars [muscle cars excepted].

I'm not so sure about these points. Yes on aero drag and rolling resistance, but since it lowers your cruising RPM you shouldn't loose any mileage. You can adjust the speedo with VCDS. As for rubbing, I've got a lowered car on 255/40R18's and get very little rubbing so the extra height of 235's shouldn't be much of an issue.

_MG_0038 by Toe_Ball, on Flickr

IMG_0411 by Toe_Ball, on Flickr

veedubfreak · Mar 22, 2012

I run 235/35/19 and have no issues with rubbing. 235/40/18 will be fine.

My new rims have finally arrived.

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