Mk 7 Golf R - Changing 19s for 18s

[P-Jay]

My 2019 R estate rides okay on 18s, better than my Superb did on 19s which is crazy really.

It handles rough, stting roads okay, but bigger pot hole or bigger speed bumps are a nightmare.

OP, if you do decide to change, the good news is that OE 19s in reasonable condition are really valuable on eBay.

[Lovey1]

Apologies for the bump on this but wondering if the change to 18" wheels was made by any body. I am on 19" Pretoria's with DCC and i wince whenever I hit even the smallest of potholes (and there are many where i live on the country roads of Hampshire). Makes no difference whether the suspension is in Comfort / Normal or Race, its the sudden impact that really jars.

[rottenegg]

Sometimes it's just the tyres. Continental Sport Contact 7s ride well, and are lighter and grippier than the PS4S.

It's an expensive gamble to take though because some peoples' local roads are so terrible, no 19" tyre will help you. The last time I drove around Hertfordshire on 19s, the incessant road works and craters in the road made smooth and assertive progress almost impossible. They were fine on my better local Suffolk roads though, so it's very much circumstantial.

Having said all that, dropping down from 19s to 18s was the best thing I ever did to my VWs and BMWs. Less choice of UHP tyres though, but the sacrifice was worth it.

[popeyewhite]

I've a Golf R on 19" Revo alloys, standard suspension and Eibach springs. Ride is sporty but very good. The worse potholes still make me wince though.