So! It's been awhile but I wanted to post some photos of the new boots I got for the GTI. These are Spec-1 Racing SP-67GBZs in 18x8, shod in Sailun Iceblazer tires.
I actually needed a new set of winter wheels for the car as the 18" Lizea soft-alloy wheels I'd had since the S3 had completely given up. Winnipeg's potholes finally damaged one wheel to the extent that it was losing about 10-15lb or more of air overnight, and I was getting pretty tired of airing it up on a daily basis. So off I went to find some new wheels. I'd have gone 17" but two of the 18" tires on the car were still OK (the others were bulged like crazy) so I kept my search to 18" wheels.
I found these nice Spec-1 alloys in 18x8 with correct backspacing and bolt pattern for my VW. The best price was from Wheel Haven in Ontario but DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM. I ordered the wheels off their website but after the sale was made they didn't answer emails and their voicemail box was full. After three weeks I cancelled the order and noticed that the pending Visa charge had been reversed. Good riddance.
Next up was
Grizzly Trucks in Edmonton, another Spec-1 dealer. What a difference in the customer experience. They answered my email inquiry very quicklyand when I emailed that I was ready to order, Manny called me on the phone and we got it done. The shipping was free and the wheels arrived by UPS literally three days later. Talk about great service.
The wheels do look sharp don't they? I decided to try gloss bronze as I'd never had gold wheels before and I reckoned they'd look good with the dark grey paintwork. I think I was right, certainly much more eye-catching than black wheels.
The boxes arrived on Friday and my local tire shop was able to get me in the next day for the install. The fit is great without the spacers I was using on the stock wheels. All set now for the last couple months of winter. Oh and here's what Winnipeg does to alloy wheels :-(
