Finally decided on my wheel/tire combo

OmahaTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2012
Location
Nebraska
TDI
2005 NB TDI 5-speed
My wife gave me a call at work this afternoon and said, "They're Heeerrreee".

I know how most of us really fret over wheel decisions and I am no different. After I test drove the '06 NB TDI and seeing those 17" 5-spoke Sarasotas on it I really fell in love with them and more particularly the 5-spoke design. Since then I've looked at every kind of wheel for the NB but always would gravitate back to some sort of 5-spoke design.

Earlier this week I finally decided on the wheel/tire combo for me. Since my NB is going to be my DD I stayed away from the Z rated tires that looked so good but were too soft for this car and wouldn't last as long, being as cost conscious as I am. I'll save the Z rated tires for my Mustang, LOL.

I've got say that I'm very happy with my decision, LOL

Anyway, enough of my babbling.

I opened the garage door and saw this: :D



Unwrapped them to find this: :D:D



Goofy staged pic until I put them on this weekend:

Before I put these on I want to paint my calipers and am thinking about a Porsche Red or Platinum Gray (Gunmetal). I'm leaning towards a brighter color since the color of the car & wheels are in the same family and want them to "pop" a bit.

What do you guys think for a caliper color? I was thinking that I'd paint the calipers the color but paint the brackets black.

Lastly, I know we can use our pinch welds to jack & put our jack stands under, but am wondering what those have you that have had your wheels off and on a few times would recommend when jacking.
Thanks, looking forward to getting these on! ;) Any tips on supporting it while painting the calipers or suggestions for colors are welcomed.
 
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snakeye

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2009
Location
Montreal, Canada
TDI
2003 Jetta and Wagon, GLS 5sp
Oh those wheels will look sweet, can't wait to see them on!

I jack my car up at that thick frame piece, with a piece of wood in between to avoid any (further) damage. If I want to remove just the rear wheels I use the hitch as a jacking point.
 

RebelTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Location
Boston, MA
TDI
2016 Audi Q5 TDI, 2016 BMW 535d Xdrive
Very nice looking' wheels. Remind me of the silver goals. Much easier to wash than your current set up, too. I think the red calipers will look great and tie in nicely with the rear lights.
 

Tim Bramble

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 20, 2010
Location
Walton County, GA
TDI
2001 New Beetle & 2012 Passat SEL Premium
Looks great! I've always lifted with a floor jack and a notched piece of wood on the pinch weld, but over time the wood would split. I recently bought a "floor jack adapter" from the Eastwood Company (eastwood.com) and have been very happy with it.
 

BUGDOUT

Active member
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Location
Philadelphia
TDI
99 beetle
Love it . Awesome looking bug! Is your car stock height still? I want to get 17s and keep mine stock height .
 

OmahaTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2012
Location
Nebraska
TDI
2005 NB TDI 5-speed
Thanks, BUGDOUT. I am currently at stock ride height. However, changes are planned for next year...
 

stagman

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2007
Location
Toronto
TDI
2005 NB
Thanks. They are TSW Vortex wheels, 17X8 with 35 offset. Tires are Hankook Ventus V2 Concepts 225/45/17.
Where did you order them from?
I'm looking to buy a set of summer wheels for mine sometime soon.
 

OmahaTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2012
Location
Nebraska
TDI
2005 NB TDI 5-speed
Thanks, nb99tdi, I appreciate it.

I plan on lightly tinting the windows soon, maybe only 20%, which is legal here. I'd also like to find a good price on a cat-back exhaust and then, maybe, lower it a little this spring/summer.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
Nice to see some tasteful aftermarket wheels, they look great on that car! They look a lot like one of the New Beetle Take Five wheels.

The stock wheels on that car were not very becoming, I'd probably have wanted to swap them too!
 

OmahaTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2012
Location
Nebraska
TDI
2005 NB TDI 5-speed
Nice to see some tasteful aftermarket wheels, they look great on that car! They look a lot like one of the New Beetle Take Five wheels.

The stock wheels on that car were not very becoming, I'd probably have wanted to swap them too!
Thanks, I appreciate it. I agree, the stockers, in stock form, aren't all that exciting.

I changed up my stockers a bit for a winter setup:

 

nb99tdi

Active member
Joined
Dec 23, 2012
Location
niagara
TDI
new beetle TDI
nice. im not sure about where you live but here i found a magnafow cat-bak but it was $600cdn...
 

OmahaTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2012
Location
Nebraska
TDI
2005 NB TDI 5-speed
I may simply replace my stock muffler with a Magnaflow. I'm seriously considering it :D
 

GIDDY_UP_GO

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2007
Location
Indiana
TDI
10 Jetta 13 Beetle Convertible 15 GSW
Good looking car, i have the same paint scheme, however mine is an 02. I wouldnt lower the car any......my wife put a hole in my oil pan a couple years ago and mine is stock height, she bottomed out on a country road. Cost me over $600 to get that fixed.

Also, if Nebraska doesnt have emission inspections, I would reccomend you delete your cat altogether, I did mine and it runs much better.
 
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