What is the tire size for the Golf?
3 Answers
The Golf has two tire sizes: 205/55R16 and 225/45R17. The Volkswagen Golf uses Hankook tires, which primarily cater to small cars and compact vehicles. Hankook mainly produces radial tires, and this brand employs run-flat tire technology, allowing the tires to continue driving even without air pressure. In terms of exterior design, the Golf's innovative roofline contour fully embodies the robust character of the new Golf, while the sharp angular waistline visually lowers the vehicle's center of gravity. Under the hood, the Golf is equipped with EA211 series 1.6L and 1.4T engines. The 1.6L engine delivers a maximum power of 81 kW and a maximum torque of 155 Nm, paired with a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
The Volkswagen Golf I drive is the 2019 Comfort trim, which comes standard with 205/55 R16 tires. The rear tires have exactly the same width and diameter. This size is actually quite common. There's a small line on the tire sidewall indicating that 205 represents the tire width in millimeters, 55 is the aspect ratio, and R16 means 16-inch wheels. However, it's important to note that there are significant differences between model years and trims: base models may use smaller 195/65 R15 wheels, while higher trims like the GTI or R-line upgrade to 225/45 R17 performance tires. I recommend having the mechanic check the tread depth during maintenance—if it's below 3mm, it's time to replace them. A set of four Michelin tires in this specification costs around 2,500 yuan.
Friends who are into car modifications should know that the tire specifications changed significantly starting from the Golf 7th generation. The base model comes with 195/65 R15 tires, but with a slightly upgraded configuration, it jumps to 205/55 R16. The most eye-catching is the GTI version, which comes factory-equipped with 225/45 R17 Pirelli P7 tires and rims so large they easily scrape the curb. In the modification scene, it's popular to swap to 18-inch rims with 225/40 R18 tires, but such modifications might cause issues during annual inspections. The inner side of the tire also has load index and speed rating markings, commonly seen as 91V indicating a maximum speed of 240 km/h—these details should never be overlooked when changing tires.
