Wheels for Volkswagen Polo sedan - sizes of wheels and tires, which secrets to choose

What information do you need to know before choosing wheels for a Volkswagen Polo?

The German car brand from the VAG concern, produced in Russia, has found a lot of fans. Along with some disadvantages, the Volkswagen Polo has many more advantages. These include such as the relatively low cost of the car and its chassis, adapted to Russian roads. The wheels are one of the main components of the chassis, providing reliable contact with the road surface and good ride softness. The components of a modern wheel are a rim, a tire and a decorative cap (optional). These parts must fit together and meet the vehicle manufacturer's specifications.

Original VW wheel caps are distinguished by the concern's logo located in the wheel hub cap

All about wheels

In order for a car to perform well on the road surface, the wheels must fully comply with the parameters of the suspension installed in a particular brand of car. Modern cars ride on two main types of wheels: steel and alloy. In turn, the group of light alloys is divided into cast and forged.

Features of steel wheels

Most budget models leave the factories with steel wheels. They are made by stamping from sheet steel, followed by welding of two parts - a plate and a rim. The main disadvantages of such designs:

Heavy weight compared to alloy wheels. This degrades the performance of the car.
Weak resistance to corrosion, to which discs with coatings made by electrophoresis using enamel are most susceptible.
Unattractive appearance, poor balancing due to inaccuracies in manufacturing.

Steel wheels also have positive qualities, including:

Low cost due to the simplicity of manufacturing technology.
High strength and ductility. When subjected to external impact, the disks do not break, but are deformed. This increases the safety of vehicle operation.
Possibility of eliminating deformations during impacts. The rolling method can remove dents and also weld small cracks.

VW Polo cars of the Trendline and Comfortline trim levels are equipped with steel wheels

Advantages and disadvantages of alloy wheels

Made from light aluminum and magnesium alloys. Light weight has a positive effect on the performance of the suspension in the area of its unsprung mass. The smaller this mass, the better the car’s handling and the responsiveness of the suspension to bumps and holes in the road surface. So, the main advantages of cast and forged light alloy rollers:

light weight;
better cooling ability of brake discs due to good ventilation;
high manufacturing precision, facilitating good balancing;
good corrosion resistance created by the aluminum dioxide film on the surface of the discs;
good appearance, allowing you to do without caps.

The main disadvantages of cast alloy wheels:

fragility caused by the grain structure of the material;
higher price compared to steel rollers.

The main drawback is that forged wheels lack fragility. They are the lightest and most durable, do not splinter or crack upon impact. But you have to pay for this with a higher price for these rollers. Light alloy aluminum wheels are optimal in terms of price-quality-performance ratio. They are most popular among Russian car enthusiasts.

Magnesium rollers are stronger than aluminum, but are much more expensive

Marking

In order to choose the right wheel, you need to know how it is marked. There is a single marking for all types of rollers. For example, let's take one of the markings of the original alloy wheel for the VW Polo - 5Jx14 ET35 PCD 5x100 DIA 57.1. So:

Combination 5J - the first digit 5 indicates the width of the rim, expressed in inches. The letter J informs about the profile shape of the disc edges. Original wheels for VW Polo can also be 6 inches wide. Sometimes the marking may have the letter W before the number.
The number 14 is the diameter of the disc, expressed in inches. It may vary for the same car, since this value depends on the size of the tire being mounted. Some markings allow the letter R before the number.
ET 35 - disk offset. It is the distance from the disk mounting plane to the rim symmetry plane, expressed in millimeters. Depending on the design, the offset can be either positive or negative. In rims for Volkswagen Polo, the offset is 35, 38 or 40 mm.
PCD 5×100 - the number and diameter, expressed in millimeters, along which the holes for the mounting bolts are located. VAG discs have 5 holes drilled around a circle with a diameter of 100 mm. This parameter is also called bolt pattern.
DIA 57.1 is the diameter of the wheel hub centering lug, expressed in millimeters. Sometimes it is shown in the marking with the letter D. For Volkswagen Polo, the size of the central hole in the disk cannot be less than 51.7 mm. A minimal upward deviation is allowed.
H (HAMP) – translated means protrusion or mound. Indicates the presence of ring protrusions necessary for fixing the beads of tubeless tires. When there is one protrusion, this parameter is displayed as H. If there are two protrusions, which is necessary to install run-flat tires with reinforced sidewalls, then the marking should be H2.

Tubeless tires can only be mounted on wheels that have HAMP

It should be remembered that when the disc offset changes, the operating conditions of all suspension units change. Therefore, you should not go beyond the values recommended by the car manufacturer. Knowing what the wheel markings mean, you can avoid making the wrong choice when buying wheels for your Volkswagen Polo.

Everything you need to know about tires

A wheel tire is a complex and multifunctional product. Rubber must provide:

good contact with the road surface;
reliable vehicle control;
efficient acceleration and braking of the vehicle.

It is the slopes that determine the vehicle's maneuverability in poor road terrain, as well as fuel consumption and the nature of the noise produced when driving. Modern tires differ in several ways:

diagonal and radial, with different design features;
chamber and tubeless, with different options for sealing the internal space;
summer, winter, all-season, all-terrain, depending on the pattern and shape of the treadmill.

Design features

Today, radial tires prevail on the market; diagonal tires are almost never produced due to their outdated design and short service life. The design differences are due to the location of the cord material, which gives the rubber strength and flexibility. Cord is thin threads made of viscose, cardboard or cotton. Thin metal wire is also used to make them. This material is becoming increasingly popular among manufacturers and motorists.

The most modern technologies are used for the production of tires

Below are the characteristics of the main components of radial tires:

The frame is the main component that takes loads from the outside and compensates for the air pressure in the cavity from the inside. The quality of the frame determines the strength characteristics of the slope. It is a rubberized cord thread, which is laid in one or several layers.
Breaker is a protective layer located between the frame and the tread layer. Protects the entire structure from damage, adding strength to it, and also prevents delamination of the frame. It consists of layers of metal cord wire, the space between which is filled with artificial rubber.
The protector is a thick layer located on the outside. It is in contact with the road surface, transferring forces to it during acceleration and braking. Its surface has the shape of a relief, covered with patterned grooves and protrusions. The shape and depth of this pattern determine the conditions in which the tire is best used (summer, winter or all-season tires). The tread ends on both sides with mini-sidewalls or shoulder areas.
Sidewall is that part of the tire that is located between the shoulder areas and the bead. They are usually marked. They consist of a frame and a relatively thin rubber layer that protects from external influences and moisture.
The side zone is responsible for attaching to the wheel rim and sealing the internal space if the slope is tubeless. In this rigid part, the frame cord is wrapped around a ring made of rubber-coated steel wire. The top of this ring is covered by a rubber filling cord, which provides an elastic transition from the hard ring to the soft rubber of the sidewall.

As you can see, the design of modern tires is quite complex. It is this complexity, which is the result of many years of research, trial and error, that provides a long service life of rubber - more than 100 thousand kilometers.

Tire markings

European-made rubber is marked in accordance with a single standard. To get acquainted, we will use the marking of one of the types of tires installed on the Volkswagen Polo sedan conveyor - 195/55 R15 85H:

195 - tire profile width, expressed in millimeters;
55 - ratio of height to profile width in percent; when calculated, the height is 107.25 mm;
R is an index giving information about the radial location of the cord threads;
15 — disk rim diameter in inches;
85 — index value characterizing the tire’s load capacity of 515 kg;
H is an index that determines the maximum speed of 210 km/h at which the wheel can operate.

In addition to the dimensions, other equally important parameters are displayed on the sidewall

Along with the above characteristics, there may be additional parameters:

Week and year of issue, as a sequence of 4 digits. The first two indicate the week, the rest indicate the year of release.
Reinforced - means a reinforced type of rubber.
Outside - this inscription is placed on the outside of tires with an asymmetric tread pattern so as not to be confused during installation.
M&S - tires should be used in dirty or snowy weather.
R+W - designed for driving on roads in winter (road + winter).
AW - designed for any weather.

Instead of letter designations for weather operating conditions, tires can be marked with symbols (rain, snowflakes). In addition, the brand name and model of the tire, as well as the country of manufacture, are stamped on the sidewalls.

Wheels for Polo sedan

The original wheels for the Polo sedan (R15 or other diameter), installed on conveyors in Wolfsburg, Kaluga or any other city where the production facilities of the VAG concern are located, are also called standard ones.
The concept of “original product” means that this cast or stamped R15 wheel for the Volkswagen Polo sedan is produced by VAG or in companies that are official partners of the concern. The value of a standard disc shows that the product with exactly these characteristics is placed on the car.

This VAG model is equipped with standard wheels of the following sizes:

6J x 15 ET 38 Dia 57, 1 PCD 5 x 100;
6J x 15 ET 40 Dia 57, 1PCD 5 x 100;
5J x 14 ET 35 Dia 57, 1 PCD 5 x 100.

Manufacturers also allow the placement of non-standard parts on cars with the following wheel parameters for the Polo sedan:

7Jx16 ET46 Dia 57, 1 PCD 5 x 100;
7Jx17 ET46 Dia 57, 1 PCD 5 x 100;
6J15 ET40 Dia 57, 1 PCD 5 x 100.

Volkswagen Polo with R17 wheels

Decoding sizes

Let's decipher the wheel sizes for Volkswagen Polo sedan:

6x15. The first parameter: 6, tells about the width of the disk in inches, the number 15 means its diameter.
Letter J – information about the design features of the sides of the product.
ET38. This indicator indicates the disc offset in millimeters, the distance by which it protrudes from the point of attachment to the hub.
Dia 57, 1 – diameter of the central hole for the hub, measured in millimeters.
PCD 5x100. This parameter indicates that the Volkswagen Polo R16 or R15 wheel has five through holes for fastening wheel bolts. The number 100 indicates the diameter at which they are placed.

Also in the marking there is a designation of the diameter and thread pitch. For Polo this figure is M14x1.5.

P15 wheels for Polo sedan

Types of products

Let's consider what wheels for the Polo sedan (R15, as well as other diameters) can be offered by store sellers.

Steel rollers, or as they are called, stamped wheels on the Volkswagen Polo sedan R15 , attract the attention of buyers with their budget cost and material strength, but do not please them with their appearance and heavy weight. Another disadvantage of the parts is the tendency for corrosion spots to appear on their surface. If damaged, a steel roller can be straightened and small cracks repaired by welding.
Alloy wheels for the Volkswagen Polo sedan R15 stand out from stamping with their spectacular design and light weight. The presence of free space between the fragments of the part contributes to better cooling of the brake system components. However, such products are not without drawbacks. Light alloy wheels can crack if subjected to a strong impact, and their integrity cannot be restored.
They also produce forged wheels for the Polo sedan (R16, R15). They are durable, look great, but for such advantages of the product the car enthusiast will have to pay a decent amount of money.

Alloy wheels R15 for a Volkswagen Polo sedan will cost from 2.5 thousand rubles. Stamped products are cheaper: from 900 rubles. a piece. For a forged skating rink, sellers can charge several tens of thousands of rubles.

Different types of wheels for Polo sedan

What wheels are suitable for the Volkswagen Polo sedan, how to choose wheels and tires

The automaker installs three types of wheels on Volkswagen Polo sedan cars: 14" and 15" stamped wheels with a cap, as well as 15" alloy wheels.

Steel wheels come complete with decorative caps

Alloy wheels are included in the top-of-the-line Highline package. They come with tires in sizes 195/55 R15 and 185/60 R15. Steel wheels 6Jx15 ET38 are included in the Comfortline car kit and are mounted together with 185/60 R15 tires. Wheels from Highline are also suitable for this modification. The budget Polo Trendline series can only boast steel wheels with a diameter of 14 inches and 175/70 R14 wheels.

For cars manufactured before 2015, the following alloy wheels manufactured by VAG are suitable:

6RU6010258Z8–6Jx15H2 ET 40 Riverside, price - from 13,700 rub. and higher;
6R0601025BD8Z8 – 6Jx15H2 ET 40 Estrada, cost - from 13,650 rubles;
6R0601025AK8Z8 – 6Jx15H2 ET 40 Spokane, price - from 13,800 rubles;
6C0601025F88Z–6Jx15H2 ET 40 Novara, cost - from 11 thousand rubles.

The first code in the list is the catalog number. If the Polo sedan was released after 2015, you can add the following to the above disks:

6C06010258Z8–6Jx15H2 ET 40 Tosa, from 12,600 rubles and more;
6C0601025LFZZ–6Jx15H2 ET 40 5/100 Linas, minimum price - 12,500 rub.

For winter use, the automaker recommends 5Jx14 ET 35 wheels with 175/70 R14 tires.

Selection of non-original wheels

There are many discs from third-party manufacturers offered on the Russian market. For example, Russian-made 5Jx14 ET35 alloy wheels can be purchased at a price of 2,800 rubles per piece. Standard size 6Jx15 H2 ET 40, manufactured in Russia, will cost a little more, from 3300 rubles.

Those car owners who want to change the appearance of their car purchase alloy wheels with wider rims, up to 7 inches wide. The rim diameter can also be increased to 17 inches, but then you will have to select low-profile tires for it. The bolt pattern should remain the same - 5/100 or 5×100. The diameter of the center hole DIA should match the original (57.1 mm) or be slightly larger, but complete with installation rings that will help eliminate the difference in the diameter of the hub and the disc mounting hole.

It is better not to use an offset size of more than 40, although discs with a larger value are also suitable. The automaker recommends not doing this, since the load on the chassis will change and the car will also behave differently. With a larger offset, the tires will be positioned deeper and the wheel track will become smaller. There is a danger that when turning, the rubber will come into contact with the front fender liners. With a smaller offset, the tires will move outward. With such changes, you need to carefully select tire sizes.

Non-original wheels made in China are cheaper, but lose their appearance faster and are less durable

The choice of car tires on the market is huge. There are Russian and foreign-made skates that differ significantly in quality, mileage and cost. For safe driving, every Russian car owner must have two sets - summer and winter tires.

If you want to buy summer tires for 14- or 15-inch wheels that will fit the Volkswagen Polo sedan, you can choose from many offers. The price starts, on average, from 3 thousand rubles per piece. The more famous the manufacturer, the higher the cost. For example, prices for Bridgestone tires of various brands start at 4,500 rubles. Winter tires are sold in the same price range.

The price range of Michelin tires starts from 5,300 rubles

Video: how to choose wheels for a car

https://youtube.com/watch?v=dTVPAYWyfvg

Video: criteria for choosing summer tires for a car

https://youtube.com/watch?v=6lQufRWMN9g

Video: choosing winter tires for your car

https://youtube.com/watch?v=JDGAyfEh2go

Reviews from car owners about some brands of tires and wheels

Hankook car tires are great tires. My wife and I drove on tires from this manufacturer for 6 seasons (spring, summer, autumn). We probably drove about 55 thousand, using it in different conditions - around the city and outside the city. In general, we are delighted with these tires, they are absolutely like new. By the way, we only had enough tires for 2 seasons. The tires make little noise, are soft, and hold the road superbly.
Jasstin84, Cherepovets
https://otzovik.com/review_6076157.html

Summer tires Bridgestone Turanza, 15 inches in diameter, were recommended to me 5 years ago by a familiar tire shop owner who said that they were very reliable. At that time I had little understanding of these things, so I trusted the opinion of a professional. It turned out that everything was true. Some time after this, I had an accident. A car making a left turn did not let me through the intersection, hit me in the side and threw me onto the sidewalk. I slightly missed the hood and hit the traffic light. The car service later told me that softer tires would not have survived such an adventure. The only drawback that I found is the noise of this rubber.
rem_kai
https://irecommend.ru/content/mne-ponravilis-188

Michelin Energy Saver summer car tires - after using Michelin tires, I’m unlikely to switch to others. Advantages: holds the road in bad conditions, does not make noise, wear-resistant. Disadvantages: high price, but it matches the quality. They hold the road well, even in wet weather. After changing them several times, before the start of the season and after finishing at the tire shop, each time they say that I made the best choice among the tires.
Neulovimaya, Minsk
https://otzovik.com/review_5139785.html

Wheels for Volkswagen Polo sedan R15. Advantages: safe, will last for more than one year. Disadvantages: poor quality of coating. Original wheels 6Jx15 H2 ET 38. Maximum balancing weights (including Pirelli tires) 20-25 grams - normal, but not ideal. The main thing is that after one winter season, spot rust appeared along the edge of the rim of the disc. The paintwork is not a fountain.
Shoper 68, St. Petersburg
Read also: VAZ-2110 engine (8 valves) injector: device. VAZ-2110: injector diagram
https://otzovik.com/review_3245502.html

Disc selection

There is a huge range of wheels on the market that can be easily installed on a Volkswagen Polo car. They can be made of steel or casting. The dimensions are also different, which will fully depend on the car model, year of manufacture and other parameters.

Much will depend on the manufacturers, who have a slightly different approach to the process of creating wheels for cars, which affects the quality and duration of the operating period. Among them, the most popular manufacturers are:

K&K. Most often, original discs of high quality are offered. Presented in a classic silver color, size p15*J6 ET 40. Russian production is also pleasant in price. The cost of one disc is approximately 3,500 - 4,000 rubles.
Alutec.
Le Mans.
Milan.
Sakura.

This all applies to the creators of alloy wheels, which bring great attractiveness to vehicles. But as mentioned earlier, you should not experiment, especially if you own a car from a dealership that is covered by warranty. The manufacturer Wolf has the best quality. But here it offers consumers even a diameter of R17 with J7.5. The price will vary between 5,000 – 6,000 rubles, depending on the place of purchase.

Cheaper options on the market are brands for the Volkswagen Polo sedan such as Akula, M33, CR-06, Kyoto, the cost of which starts from 2,500 - 3,000 rubles.

There is a purchase option for installing conventional “stampings”, the cost of which ranges from 1,000 – 1,500 rubles. Article numbers AR075, 7280T, X40028 and other options are usually used. Much depends on the diameter of the stamped disc and its other parameters, which are shown in the photo.

How to protect Volkswagen Polo wheels from theft

Not every car owner can keep his car in a garage or in a paid parking lot. Most residents of large cities are forced to leave their cars in unguarded places - in parking lots near their houses. Unfortunately, such vehicles are most at risk of theft or robbery. One effective way to protect your wheels from theft is to purchase security bolts.

Some secrets are sold together with plugs, which are difficult to remove without a special tool.

It is best to buy secrets of a complex shape that can be completely or partially drowned in a cast disk. It will be difficult to get to such a secret bolt with a key or chisel. Original security bolts, produced by VAG, with catalog number 5Q0698137, cost from 2,300 rubles. They fit all original wheels - both stamped and cast. Locks made in Germany by McGard, Heyner and ADL have proven themselves well.

Volkswagen Polo car owners, having read the above information, can choose the wheels and tires for their cars themselves. Among the huge number of offers, you should not pay attention to cheap products, since their quality and service life leave much to be desired. Properly selected, high-quality wheels determine not only the ride comfort, but also the controllability and safety of the vehicle in difficult weather conditions.