Recommend a nice stretch on 18"

18x8" fronts
18x9" rears

thinking 195-40-18 fronts, 205-40-18 rear, or is that too big a tyre still?

I want a nice stretch on the wheels.

Any suggestions much appreciated.

I would think that would be too small of a tire????? but need more info! :shrug: 
What car is this for?

WHOA!!!! That's some stretchage!!! :eek2:  Maybe 215/40R18 and 235/40R18. On my 240sx I had 18x7.5 w 225/40R18 (not stretched) and 18x9.5 w 245/40R18 (mild stretch).

They are going on a mk4 Golf.

Maybe that's too much of a stretch, I always use 195-45 or 195-40 on an 8" wide rim.

195 40 18?  Wow they have cool sizes in Europe!   You probably need all the stretch you can get if you are running poke on FWD.

215-40 and 225-40 , or maybe 205-40 and 215-40, depending on the manufacturer.

195-40-18 fronts, 205-40-18 rear is too small.

I run the 235/30-18 Toyo T1-R on 18x9s I built for my MR2... 
they are pretty stretched, but not overly so.

Toyo makes a matching 205/35-18 which would look cool on the front of the Golf.

I'm running 215/40/18's on both my front and rear - 18x8.5F 18x9R and they're noticeably stretched... I wouldn't go much less than that. Maybe 205 front for your 8 and 215 for that 9 rear...