Volkswagen (VW) MK5 GTI Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide

Models Covered in This Guide

2004-2009 GTI

These fitments are ready-to-bolt-on, typically without any modifications, and provide a meaningful increase in wheel width over stock. Available in both 17" and 18" diameters, the fitments listed in this section are an ideal choice for the enthusiast who regularly drives their VW on the street but still wants to participate in a few HPDE's as well. These fitments are a great match for a completely stock or lightly modified MK5 VW.

Wheels

Front & Rear: 17x8.5” ET43 Square

• Popular Fitment
• Available in SM-10 design only.

Tires

APEX Staff Pick: 235/45-17 Square

• Direct fit.
• The best option for additional ride comfort and compliance.
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Goodyear Supercar Eagle 3R (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wider Alternative: 245/40-17 Square

• Direct fit with most street tire compounds
• More aggressive tire compounds may require a "fender screw mod" to alleviate rubbing under suspension compression
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Goodyear Supercar Eagle 3R (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Slimmer Alternative (OE width): 225/45-17 Square

• Direct fit
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Goodyear Supercar Eagle 3R (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wheels

Front & Rear: 18x8.5” ET43 Square

• Popular Fitment
• Available in SM-10 design only.

Tires

APEX Staff Pick: 235/40-18 Square

• Direct fit.
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wider Alternative: 245/40-18 Square

• Direct fit with most street tire compounds
• More aggressive tire compounds may require a "fender screw mod" to alleviate rubbing under suspension compression
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wider Alternative 2: 245/35-18 Square

• Direct fit
• With a shorter overall rolling diameter compared to the 245/40-18, the 245/35-18 will allow you to run a wider contact patch while reducing the chance of rubbing under suspension compression.
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wider Alternative 3: 255/35-18 Square

• Direct fit with most street tire compounds
• More aggressive tire compounds may require a "fender screw mod" to alleviate rubbing under suspension compression
• Not recommended when running tire compounds that tend to run wide in the shoulders (200TW or R compounds), as those will be better supported with our 18x9" ET42 fitment.
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Slimmer Alternative (OE width): 225/40-18 Square

• Direct fit
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Toyo R888R (100 TW)

These fitments are the perfect match for weekend track warriors and hardcore racers seeking to maximize the wheel and tire size that they can fit on their MK5 VW. These aggressive wheel specs will typically require supportive modifications commonly found on track cars. Available in 17", 18", and 19" diameters to cater to a variety of performance-focused tire sizes and compounds. With a focus on brake clearance, our VW-specific fitments are able to clear the standard Golf R32 and GTI Performance Package brakes with ease, as well as a variety of aftermarket BBKs. However, brake clearance can vary depending on wheel design, as the VS-5RS and SM-10 will have better clearance for larger aftermarket brakes compared to the ML-10RT.

Wheels

Front & Rear: 17x9” ET42

• Popular Fitment
• Available in SM-10 and VS-5RS designs.

Tires

APEX Staff Pick: 255/40-17

• "Fender screw mod" is recommended to help alleviate any rubbing that may occur under suspension compression.
• Additional front and rear negative camber is recommended when using aggressive track-focused tire compounds.
• 5mm front spacers may be required with certain aftermarket suspensions known to reduce front/inner clearance.
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Goodyear Supercar Eagle 3R (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Slimmer Alternative: 245/40-17

• Direct fit with most street tire compounds
• More aggressive tire compounds may require a "fender screw mod" to alleviate rubbing under suspension compression
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Goodyear Supercar Eagle 3R (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wheels

Front & Rear: 18x9” ET42

• The best track setup option for those running aftermarket BBKs with rotor sizes that require 18" or larger wheels.
• Available in SM-10, VS-5RS, and ML-10RT designs.

Tires

APEX Staff Pick: 255/35-18

• "Fender screw mod" is recommended to help alleviate any rubbing that may occur under suspension compression.
• Additional front and rear negative camber is recommended when using aggressive track-focused tire compounds.
• 5mm front spacers may be required with certain aftermarket suspensions known to reduce front/inner clearance.
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Slimmer Alternative: 245/40-18

• Direct fit with most street tire compounds
• More aggressive tire compounds may require a "fender screw mod" to alleviate rubbing under suspension compression
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wheels:

• Front & Rear: 19x9” ET42
• • Available in ML-10RT design only.

Tires:

• APEX Staff Pick: 245/35-19
• • "Fender screw mod" is recommended to help alleviate any rubbing that may occur under suspension compression.
  • Additional front and rear negative camber is recommended when using aggressive track-focused tire compounds.
• Wider Alternative: 255/30-19
• • Additional front and rear negative camber is required when using aggressive track-focused tire compounds.
  • May require a "fender screw mod" to alleviate rubbing under suspension compression.

Wheels:

• Front & Rear: 17x8.5” ET43 Square
• • Popular Fitment
  • Available in SM-10 design only.

Tires:

• APEX Staff Pick: 235/45-17 Square
• • Direct fit.
  • The best option for additional ride comfort and compliance.
  • All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Wider Alternative: 245/40-17 Square
• • Direct fit with most street tire compounds
  • More aggressive tire compounds may require a "fender screw mod" to alleviate rubbing under suspension compression
  • All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Slimmer Alternative (OE width): 225/45-17 Square
• • Direct fit
  • All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)

Whether you are a casual weekend track warrior that still enjoys your car on the street, or a hard core racer competing for a spot on the podium, negative camber is a vital part of chassis setup that has many benefits. Not only will adding negative camber create more room for wider wheel and tire configurations, it more importantly improves handling, turn-in and tire longevity. Learn more in our blog article, The Positives of Negative Camber.

Still have questions?

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