Alloys on Mk3 Astra

[LeoTheHamster]

what size alloy wheels could i put on a mk3 astra without having to mess around with the bodywork at all? i was thinking about getting a set of 15" and lowering her

[Alex@MK3OC]

17's will fit with a drop of 40mm and no body mods

[LeoTheHamster]

17"? cool got any pics of anyone whos done it?

[Alex@MK3OC]

most peeps on here with mk3 astra's have 17's look in the members cars at Olly Hewits

[OllyHewitt]

18s will go on with no mods at all aswell

keep to 7J's wide, and et45-49 and your ok

[EasyRob]

What happens if you get 17"s, but no lowering springs?

[OllyHewitt]

its looks cr@p, and it'll handle like a sack of sh-te

[Alex@MK3OC]

No true olly, the handling doesn't change!!!

[LeoTheHamster]

i was gonna go for a set of Fox IIIs, and ive been recommended to get a set with a 42mm offset.

gonna need a bit of help here though lads - 7J? et45-49? youve gone into techie talk for me

[Alex@MK3OC]

et is the offset on a Mk3 astra you can get away with et38-49, 7J is the width

[LeoTheHamster]

ah, i get it now so et42 would be a bit small then for 18"s?

[Alex@MK3OC]

for 18's you'd have to keep in between 45 and 49

[LeoTheHamster]

ok what would happen if it was less than that, just out of interest?

[Alex@MK3OC]

would catch on the arch lip

[LeoTheHamster]

ah, thats not nice then

cheers for the help guys

[damtheman]

all this rubbish about handeling will suffer if your mk3 is not lowered on 17"s is a load of cac. as well as the et that was recomended which was as close to 49 as possible i put 17"s on my mk3 with an et 35 and if anything the car handles better than before and they look PHAT!! as far as they look crap when not lowered is wrong to say aswel mine isnt lowered and looks just fine although it could do with commind down 20 mil on the front just to give it the edge but it still looks cool and plenty of peeps have commented on how cool the car looks since ive done it.....

[Reece]

et35! lmao that must tramline like a bitch

i had 7.5j 17" momo sports et40 on mine n it used to drive like a sack of **** really bad tramlining at times

got et45 7.5" x18" ht3's now n its fine,

[Seggy]

My car's lowered 40mm, on 17's with an et38, and the handling is much better, no tramlining or anything, and i've had 5 people in my car.

[SteveM]

just out of interest, why does it make the car tramline more with lower offset wheels ?

[Alex@MK3OC]

it's to do with changing the steering geometry

[OllyHewitt]

as above, the centre wheel steering is no longer in the middle of the wheel

with having a lower offset, the wheels stick out further causing inner tyre wear, and tramlining


PS: damtheman - would absolutely love to see your car on 17s, et35 - not lowered at all lmao - and to say it handles better aswell

[Alex@MK3OC]

i agree olly, et35 = not good!!!

[LeoTheHamster]

i put 17"s on my mk3 with an et 35 and if anything the car handles better than before and they look PHAT!!

tempting, but id rather not make my car look like its about to have a heart attack due to too much McDonalds.....

[Alex@MK3OC]

get a nice set of 17's an lower it on em, will look sweet, shocks and springs best way to go

[Alex@MK3OC]

Leo - Did you get my PM?