I have some ugly-ass wheels on my Jetta. The center of each wheel once had some kind of emblem which has long ago come off, and the rubber glue stuff has degraded and spread around on the outside of the wheel. It doesn’t wash off and looks terrible. I’d like to upgrade, but only if it isn’t ridiculously expensive. Here’s a picture of my car before the wheels got so nasty:
Those logos can be replaced. There’s a VW service center on Fuxing South, below Heping East. That’s where I have my Bora serviced. They’ll be able to get them for you. I’ve heard from Andrew at Bongo’s (he’s got a Jetta like yours) that they’ll even look into 2nd hand parts, so if you’re thinking about replacing the rims, that might be a good way to go. I’ve got their business card at home, pm me if you want the number.
For tires, the Costco coupon booklet this month has a coupon for $1200 of any set of 4 Michelin tires purchased (some models excluded). Costco has my vote for tires; Michelin are top notch and the service at Costco (alignment and installation) is good.
You could always ask at the place In Neihoo where we got the car serviced after you purchased it. They must have plenty of spares for your ento over there, if not perhaps some decent used wheels or something. It might at least save you a few bob by giving them a call.
Try giving my old neighbor a call, the one whose number I gave you way back when.
Autobacs has a lot of nice wheels and tire combos for sale. Great pricing
Hi y’all! I’m a newbie to forumosa.
Can anybody here help me out on something?
I just bought a used IS300 in mint condition (with 17" rims on 215/45 rubber). I wanna upgrade them to 18", and was wondering abt its specs. I know the PCD is 114.3mm but am unsure abt the offset(or ET). What if I were to lower the suspension by 30mm, what should I watch out for in terms of offset? (with 18" rims.)
Ur help will be much appreciated. Thx.
OpelCali 
[quote=“OpelCali”]Hi y’all! I’m a newbie to forumosa.
Can anybody here help me out on something?
I just bought a used IS300 in mint condition (with 17" rims on 215/45 rubber). I wanna upgrade them to 18", and was wondering abt its specs. I know the PCD is 114.3mm but am unsure abt the offset(or ET). What if I were to lower the suspension by 30mm, what should I watch out for in terms of offset? (with 18" rims.)
your help will be much appreciated. Thx.
OpelCali [/quote]
I would recommend leaving on the original 17" for a nicer smoother ride. The road surfaces here are choppy at the best of times and the lower profile tyres are going to cause a rough ride here in Taiwan. An Is300 may look better with different wheels, but it isn’t a sports car, so it is probably going to handle a bit odd without also changing the suspension also, and then its going to be really rough indeed if the stiffer suspension is going to highlight the advantage in the tyres. I wouldn’t want to be in it, thats for sure.
It’s hard to say what the offsets are going to have to be on that car. If the wheels are for performance reasons, then a stiffer lower suspension will have to be employed, and then the question of the wheel arches wrapping around the tyres. It’s going to be a bit of trial and error I feel. I’ve seen it done on a few different models of cars now, all with differing levels of success, but on more luxury based cars such as the one you own, the modification usually comes up with negative results as my opinion goes.
[quote=“sulavaca”][quote=“OpelCali”]Hi y’all! I’m a newbie to forumosa.
Can anybody here help me out on something?
I just bought a used IS300 in mint condition (with 17" rims on 215/45 rubber). I wanna upgrade them to 18", and was wondering abt its specs. I know the PCD is 114.3mm but am unsure abt the offset(or ET). What if I were to lower the suspension by 30mm, what should I watch out for in terms of offset? (with 18" rims.)
your help will be much appreciated. Thx.
OpelCali [/quote]
I would recommend leaving on the original 17" for a nicer smoother ride. The road surfaces here are choppy at the best of times and the lower profile tyres are going to cause a rough ride here in Taiwan. An Is300 may look better with different wheels, but it isn’t a sports car, so it is probably going to handle a bit odd without also changing the suspension also, and then its going to be really rough indeed if the stiffer suspension is going to highlight the advantage in the tyres. I wouldn’t want to be in it, thats for sure.
It’s hard to say what the offsets are going to have to be on that car. If the wheels are for performance reasons, then a stiffer lower suspension will have to be employed, and then the question of the wheel arches wrapping around the tyres. It’s going to be a bit of trial and error I feel. I’ve seen it done on a few different models of cars now, all with differing levels of success, but on more luxury based cars such as the one you own, the modification usually comes up with negative results as my opinion goes.[/quote]
Thanx Sulavaca for ur kind advice.
Ur right, it’d be painful to drive on Taiwan’s choppy roads. I guess I’d have to resist the temptation each time I run down to Autobacs or Yellow Hat.
Btw, I saw some authentic 17" OZ Superleggerra wheels up for sale at Autobacs in Neihu last weekend. U might be interested in them Maoman. They are NT6,500 apiece (tires not included)
Make sure you get them screwed on tightly: liveleak.com/view?i=cfc_1205277848
26 grand for a set of wheels? That’s more than the cost of maoman’s whole damn car! 
Speaking on the subject of wheels. OMG!
Reminds me of those jokes,
How do you double the value of your Lada?
Throw a mars bar in the back seat
Guy walks into a garage and says to the mechanic. “Would you be able to give me a petrol gap for my Lada?”
The mechanic replies “Fair deal”