New Wheels Required - What Should I do?

Fiona

Fiona

Member
United-Kingdom
So at long last, having owned my little buddy since new for 21 years tomorrow and 170k miles I need new wheels.....

I have the TDi Sport with the 17" alloys, been refurbished once, welded twice, but 2 are again buckled and I think have reached the end of the road. Pun intended. So - my question is - do I stick with 17" or now that my bones are also 21 years older, do I go 16"?

What would you recommendations be based on experience and where best to get them from?
 
Fiona said:
So at long last, having owned my little buddy since new for 21 years tomorrow and 170k miles I need new wheels.....

I have the TDi Sport with the 17" alloys, been refurbished once, welded twice, but 2 are again buckled and I think have reached the end of the road. Pun intended. So - my question is - do I stick with 17" or now that my bones are also 21 years older, do I go 16"?

What would you recommendations be based on experience and where best to get them from?
Click to expand...
I suspect my bones are a good, (good?), bit older than yours, but it's 17" for me. Look for similar, but more recent wheels, from elsewhere in the VAG stable.
Buying 20 year old 9 spokes wheels doesn't gain much over what you have.
Good luck, and I'm sure more views will emerge, and not many will go with 17 inchers.
Mac
 
If you want to keep some of the looks of Sport wheels but gain a little sidewall to cushion the ride, you could do a lot worse than move to the 16" Sport wheels from the early Audi A1 - pictured here. The 16" 7-spokes from the early Audi TT are also a good comprimise - pictures here but beware the standard TT-size tyres they might come with are too large for the A2.

The thread those posts are in shows plenty of other styles from the VAG stable that fit the A2. Best for comfort would be the 15" Pepperpots from the A3, or the original 15" forged 7-hole rims from the A2 itself (the original chrome finish on these will have deteriorated but a well-refurbished painted set should be obtainable).

As to where to get wheels from, you could check the Market on this forum and post a thread in the Wanted section there if there's nothing suitable. You could also try eBay. At least with the smaller rims, the chances of being sold buckled ones is greatly reduced, particularly on those two 15" styles as they are so strong. Whatever you buy, make sure they come with all their centre-caps as these are often expensive to get hold of separately.
 
Proghound said:
If you want to keep some of the looks of Sport wheels but gain a little sidewall to cushion the ride, you could do a lot worse than move to the 16" Sport wheels from the early Audi A1 - pictured here. The 16" 7-spokes from the early Audi TT are also a good comprimise - pictures here but beware the standard TT-size tyres they might come with are too large for the A2.
Click to expand...
Put a set of the Audi A1 wheels (as shown in the first picture on your link) just last month, and I'm delighted with them! I managed to find a mint set with brand new Avon tyres on a well-known market site...
 
I personally like these A1 16" wheels, easy to clean
 

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The below 15" alloy rim comes from the Audi A3, the same car that the Pepperpots come from.

It looks similar to the standard 5.5Jx15 ET34 alloy rim, so would keep the car looking standard.

It even uses exactly the same hub cap as the 5.5Jx15 ET34 alloy rim uses, ie. 8N0601170 Z33

This could be used with a 195/55R15 which would keep the gearing standard.

6Jx15 ET38 5/100 57.1 alloy rim (from Audi A3)
38L0601025MAluminium rim6Jx15 ET38 5/100 57.1
8L06091025M Z33burnished aluminium

Hub cap
118N0601170Hub cap
8N0601170 Z33burnished aluminium

The original 15" wheel trims (for steel rims) are still available from various places, including Audi Tradition.

8Z0601147A was used on many Audis including the A6 not just the A2, which may explain why they are still available.

As well as the standard 5Jx15 ET28 and 5.5Jx15 ET34 rims, I expect they will fit other rims such as the 6Jx15 ET29 5/100 57.1 steel rim from the Audi A1.

15" wheel trims 8Z0601147A Z17
1693492389182.png

1693492403427.png


Alcar 7415 6Jx15 ET29 5/100 57.1 steel rim (notice that this steel rim has 20 air holes, just like the standard A2 steel rims)
1693492796879.png

www.mytyres.co.uk

ALCAR 7415. Only £ 53.50

ALCAR 7415 6.0x15 Offset: 29. Rim type : STEEL. Bolt pattern : 5/100.
www.mytyres.co.uk www.mytyres.co.uk

185/55R15 would work well on the 6Jx15 ET29 rims and give a sporty, yet compliant ride. 15" tyres tend to be cheaper than 16" and 17" tyres.

Compared to 175/60R15 fitted to 5.5Jx15 ET34 rims, 185/55R15 fitted to 6Jx15 ET29 rims would provide a big increase in grip as its both wider and lower profile...yet still give a much better ride than 205/40R17 tyres.

Vredestein Quatrac 6 185/55R15 82H (Euro label C B 70dB)

Vredestein Tyres / All Season Car / Vredestein Quatrac 6 185/55 R15 82H TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: B Noise: 70dB All Season - Four Season - All Weather - Car/MPV Tyres - 15" R15" - 185/55/15, 185/55R15

Buy online cheap Vredestein Tyres / All Season Car / Vredestein Quatrac 6 185/55 R15 82H TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: B Noise: 70dB
www.camskill.co.uk www.camskill.co.uk
 
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Fiona said:
So at long last, having owned my little buddy since new for 21 years tomorrow and 170k miles I need new wheels.....

I have the TDi Sport with the 17" alloys, been refurbished once, welded twice, but 2 are again buckled and I think have reached the end of the road. Pun intended. So - my question is - do I stick with 17" or now that my bones are also 21 years older, do I go 16"?

What would you recommendations be based on experience and where best to get them from?
Click to expand...
I’ve got a set
 

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This 15" alloy rim from the 2019- Audi A1 MK2 has the same specification as one of the 15" OEM Audi A2 alloy rims, ie. 6J and ET37.

A relatively wide 205/55R15 would help protect the rim from kerbing damage.

6Jx15 ET37 5/100 57.1 alloy rim 82A601025 (from 2019- Audi A1)
1693510460546.png

282A601025 8Z8Aluminium rim6Jx15 ET37 5/100 57.1

Uniroyal RainSport 5 205/55R15 88V (Euro label C A 71dB)

Uniroyal Tyres / Car / Uniroyal RainSport 5 205/55 R15 88V TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: A NoiseClass: B Noise: 71dB Car Tyres - MPV Tyres - People Carrier Tyres - 15" R15" - 205/55/15, 205/55R15

Buy online cheap Uniroyal Tyres / Car / Uniroyal RainSport 5 205/55 R15 88V TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: A NoiseClass: B Noise: 71dB
www.camskill.co.uk www.camskill.co.uk
 
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