New Wheels: Mk 7.5 GTI

[UsuallyHdng]

Hi all. I'm looking to replace the wheels on my Mk7.5 GTI now that the original ones are starting to suffer from the usual diamond cut corrosion problems.

At the moment these are 18'' Milton Keynes (specifically 7.5j 18 ET51) with 225/40 R18 Michelin PS4's

The replacements I'm considering are 18'' Pret reps (specifically 8j 18 ET45). Ideally I'd keep the same tyres as they've only been on for 4 months.

Online wheel checkers seem to indicate this would be an acceptable swap (albeit with less protection from kerbing & would be ever so slightly closer to the suspension), but as I've not done this before I thought it best to seek some advice first.

Thanks.

Edited by UsuallyHdng on Monday 11th October 11:34

[SteBrown91]

You can get genuine vw 18” Pretoria’s - I don’t think they were offered in the UK except as an unpopular option towards of the end of mk7.5 gti production, however they are available as an accessory. Might be a bit more expensive but at least they are genuine and not made to a poor standard.

[SteBrown91]

This is the 18" version:

https://www.volkswagenpartsuk.co.uk/parts/18-preto...

Also available in silver. Basically identical width and offset as your existing wheels so will bolt straight on with no issues.

[UsuallyHdng]

Thanks for the feedback and advice SteBrown91. All good info, but I have my reservations about genuine prets from VW:

- from the research I've done over the last couple of months, they don't seem to be as strong as good quality reps.
That could end up being rubbish, but I've seen it mentioned a fair few times now on different forums.
I know that if you hit a sufficiently nasty pothole in any set of wheels they could be damaged, but at ~£500 for a set it's significantly easier to swallow.

- I'd only take them in gunmetal grey...

[SteBrown91]

Not all prets are equal though - the 19s from a Golf R are hideously expensive to replace and easy to buckle, but the Prets for the TRoc R although look the same are cheaper, heavier and made by a different company. I have no idea who makes the 18s though