Winter tyres fitted!

Hi CHB,

I don't like contradicting, so please don't take this the wrong way.

The 195X45X16 - is well within the recommended tyre size.

Also they are 0.4 of an inch wider than the 185s (LESS than half an inch wider) so I am not sure why yours seem so much wider, perhaps you have a tyre that has a thicker tyre wall than standard?

Please check the size guide in the wheels and tyres thread on here and you will see that they are of the recommended size.

Also check out web sites such as http://tire-size-conversion.com/tire-size-comparison/
Here you can put in both sizes and compare the actual differences.

So I am sorry to disagree, but I am basing this on actual measurements and recommendations.

But we all have our preferences and so I am certainly not saying you are wrong.

Steve B
 
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Sorry...sloppy language! I by wider, I meant diameter. They are a good inch taller. I did have some 195 50 16s on some rims to at some point and these were an inch or so bigger than the 185 50, and c10% bigger circumference. I had the 195 50's on the front and the difference in drive was VERY noticeable. So although I have never had 195 45 on the front I can imagine that if they are like the "opposite" effect of 195 50 then you will have a car that revs like hell and has too much torque. I had a picture somewhere of all three sizes together...will try and post.
 
HI,

Sorry, but the diameter is half an inch smaller than the 185s and that means that the radius (the important measurement) is one quarter of an inch smaller and well within the tolerance.

Please check the link I posted and this will show you the two tyre dimensions side by side.

The 185 50s have a diameter of 23.3" the 195 45s have a diameter of 22.9" and so less than half an inch smaller, not larger.

If you are talking about 195 50 16s then that is a different matter (they are half an inch taller than the 185 50s) but the Meriafel was talking about 195 45s and it is the 45 bit that indicates the diameter.

Steve B
 
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...hence the comment "opposite".
Poster was after advice. I gave my views. You gave your views.

Tomato/Tomato....lets call the whole thing off.

:)
 
Thanks for the replies which I have just read.

I rang technical at Continental Tyres this morning who advised that as the 195 x 45 x 16 was outside the permitted percentage variation from the recommended16"wheel / tyre combination that I would need to report the change to my insurer. Should I be involved in an accident with fatal consequences I most likely not be covered. He pointed out that there was another 16" wheel that fell within a permitted size would be acceptable, 205 x 45 x 16. It would not noticeably alter the speedo etc and was closer to other parameters that the 185 x 60 has, but would need to be checked for fouling the suspension and bodywork. Think he said that was covered by MOT. The ride would probably be hard too, something I wanted to avoid. There was also a question mark over deviating from the Audi recommended tyre pressures.

In other words a right can of worms!
I Rang the tyre seller who had put them on Ebay who was quite sure that they were ok until I explained the above call........ pity as his four tyres were New Conti WinterContact TS 850 dated 39/13 with original stickers on.....which have topped most reviews for the last three years. I have 'V' rated ones on my Passat Estate since 2012 and they remained on all years since to France, Spain and Portugal as well as the mountains of Wales. A brilliant 'all weather tyre', comfortable and quiet, a derserved Winter Tyre Winner in Which? for last 3 years too.+
 
meriafel said:
Thanks for the replies which I have just read.

I rang technical at Continental Tyres this morning who advised that as the 195 x 45 x 16 was outside the permitted percentage variation from the recommended16"wheel / tyre combination that I would need to report the change to my insurer.
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Not wishing to argue with an "expert" but I bet that if you asked another "expert", they would make a different recommendation.

If the above expert is correct then we need one of the moderators to change the recommended sizes for the 16" on the tyre thread. The 195X45X16 is even underlined (meaning that it is an OEM size !!!!)


So someone is wrong and with tyres we must not give incorrect advice.

As I say, if the expert above is right we MUST surely change the wheel and tyre thread.

But I still say that the many tyre size comparison sites indicate that the difference is within the normally stated acceptable variance of +- 2.5%.
I just checked using yet another tyre size comparison and the difference between 185X50X16 and 195X45X16 is as follows
Diameter of the new tyre is smaller by -0.37mm (which is tiny) and even at 60mph the new tyre would be doing 59.04mph, which is less than one MPH difference?? How can that be unacceptable?

Do we as a club have any contacts that we can use to "put this one to bed" for the safety of our members?

Mathematically the evidence is that they are ok Please check any of the tyre size comparison formulas on the various web sites) but when it relates to safety we need another tyre expert to give a second opinion?

Steve B
 
GuruX said:
I've had mine on since Nov 3. But hey, it's a little colder here in Sweden. We actually have a law that requires you to have winter tyres when the road is considered to be a winter road.
While we are talking about winter tyres. Let's talk about wheel sides. To make us with steel rims a little nicer, and to protect the hubs. What is the proper english word for it? Is it wheel sides? In Swedish, a lot of people confuse hub caps with wheel sides. But that doesn't seem to be the case in english.
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Hey, how about quoting myself? I got a pair of wheel trims and put them on the winter steel rims. Don't know from what Audi they are from originally.
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Unable to get ContiwinterContact TS850 for my 185 x 50 X 16" alloys but sourced four new Michelin Alpin F4 which I had fitted last week, and initial feelings were good until I realised that I had left my locking wheel nut still attached to the last alloy I had torqued up before going for a run. Apparently these locking nuts have not been available to buy new since 2009, either from Audi or VW having been replaced by a different pattern requiring a complete new set of wheel bolts plus key' costing £70! That is after you have managed to remove the existing locking nuts with NO 'key'. So beware.
I was lucky to find my locking nut at the top of my drive so take care not to lose! Maybe this week we'll be able to test the tyres in snow here in mid-Wales. Will post feedback.

PS. I rang Michelin Technical before buying to ask if I could run my Alpins as an all weather tyre over the summer, as I have done with ContiWinterContacts on my Passat since 2012? The answer was no problem apart from possibly slightly increased wear. So will keep you posted..... as Spain/Madrid is on the cards in early summer.
 
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meriafel said:
PS. I rang Michelin Technical before buying to ask if I could run my Alpins as an all weather tyre over the summer, as I have done with ContiWinterContacts on my Passat since 2012? The answer was no problem apart from possibly slightly increased wear. So will keep you posted..... as Spain/Madrid is on the cards in early summer.
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Increased wear and sketchy handling! I don't speak from experience but you won't want to "push on" when the temps get to >24 apparently.
Having come from 205/40 17s, I find cornering on 16s squirmy enough as it is!
 
I have no concerns about accelerated wear using the Alpin A4's in the heat. We are going in early summer. Which? magazine stated the Alpin A4 was the longest-lasting tyre in their winter tyre test in January 2014. My Passat sport ContiWinterContact Tyres have been on the car since 2012, toured France Spain and Portugal and have been the longest lasting tyres I have ever fitted covering now over 20k miles, including a memorable drive through the Picos mountains to catch the ferry home to Poole last year. Downhill for miles through many tunnels built with Euro money, Spain and Portugal's roads must be some of the best in Europe.
 
Yes, the FSI does look good but I think i'd struggle not to drive the Storm every day if it was parked outside my house, its still my favourite A2 i've seen so far and i'm not just saying that to be polite.

The Pepperpots look a lot nicer as winter wheels than my steels. Think i'll keep an eye out for some before next winter.
 
A2Steve said:
Yes, the FSI does look good but I think i'd struggle not to drive the Storm every day if it was parked outside my house, its still my favourite A2 i've seen so far and i'm not just saying that to be polite.
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I second that !!!

Steve B
 
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