17to15” wheels

robrace

robrace

Member
Finding our 1.4 petrol sport with 17” wheels a bit hard suspension wise.wheels refurbished and new tyres just fitted so I am a bit reluctant to change.Has anyone else changed to 15” wheels and regretted it?If I was going to change should I look for the lightweight pepper pot wheels?Would prefer original A2 wheels!
 
IMHO going to 15” there is no regret I have them on two of our a2s ride quality is transformed I have the lightweight forged 15 inch on one and pepper pots about now to go on the other thanks to ian (bargepower ) he’s just left me an Hour ago what a diamond he is ..and of course big thanks to a2dork (rob) for letting me buy them from him ?
 
wheels, brakes | Audi Audi A2 2005, aluminium rim hub cap 15"/16"
18Z0601025Aaluminium rim5,5JX15H2 ET34
5/100
Model data: PR-C3M
8Z0601025A Z33burnished aluminium
Period: 0400 - 0805

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Wheels, brakes Aluminium rim hub cap 15
www.oemepc.com www.oemepc.com

1625337280202.png


185/55R15 could be used instead of the standard 175/60R15 size tyres on the 5.5Jx15 ET34 5/100 57.1 rim.

185/55R15 has the same outside diameter as 175/65R14 and 195/45R16 tyres.

195/45R16 is sometimes used on the 6Jx16 ET35 rim, instead of the standard 185/50R16.

Vredestein Quatrac 185/55R15 82H All-Season Tyre

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

One benefit of using 185/55R15 instead of 175/60R15 is having slightly lower gears, which can be useful with the 1.4 petrol engine due to its lack of low end torque.

185/55R15 fitted to 5.5J rims is one of the options on the VW Up!
 
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carlston said:
wheels, brakes | Audi Audi A2 2005, aluminium rim hub cap 15"/16"
18Z0601025Aaluminium rim5,5JX15H2 ET34
5/100
Model data: PR-C3M
8Z0601025A Z33burnished aluminium
Period: 0400 - 0805

--><!--

Wheels, brakes Aluminium rim hub cap 15
www.oemepc.com www.oemepc.com

View attachment 82542

185/55R15 could be used instead of the standard 175/60R15 size tyres on the 5.5Jx15 ET34 5/100 57.1 rim.

185/55R15 has the same outside diameter as 175/65R14 and 195/45R16 tyres.

195/45R16 is sometimes used on the 6Jx16 ET35 rim, instead of the standard 185/50R16.

Vredestein Quatrac 185/55R15 82H All-Season Tyre

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

One benefit of using 185/55R15 instead of 175/60R15 is having slightly lower gears, which can be useful with the 1.4 petrol engine due to its lack of low end torque.

185/55R15 fitted to 5.5J rims is one of the options on the VW Up!
Click to expand...
I use 185 60 15 on both sets of 15” ...and nokian weatherproof..
 
greywolfhound said:
I use 185 60 15 on both sets of 15” ...and nokian weatherproof..
Click to expand...

Outside Diameter of Tyres
185/55R15 584.5mm
175/60R15 591mm
185/60R15 603mm

185/55R15 has a 1.1% smaller outside diameter than 175/60R15.

185/60R15 has a 2.0% bigger outside diameter than 175/60R15.

So 185/55R15 is closer to the original size than 185/60R15.

185/55R15 should provide better handling due to its lower sidewalls.

185/60R15 should provide a better ride due to its higher sidewalls.
 
carlston said:
Outside Diameter of Tyres
185/55R15 584.5mm
175/60R15 591mm
185/60R15 603mm

185/55R15 has a 1.1% smaller outside diameter than 175/60R15.

185/60R15 has a 2.0% bigger outside diameter than 175/60R15.

So 185/55R15 is closer to the original size than 185/60R15.

185/55R15 should provide better handling due to its lower sidewalls.

185/60R15 should provide a better ride due to its higher sidewalls.
Click to expand...
Downsizing to 185/55 15 partially reduces the benefits of going with 15's comfort wise and would also make your speedo read even more inaccurately.

Imho your better off with the 185/60 or even 175/65 for even more comfort, a more accurate speedo and cheaper tyre prices too ?
 
A2Z said:
Downsizing to 185/55 15 partially reduces the benefits of going with 15's comfort wise and would also make your speedo read even more inaccurately.

Imho your better off with the 185/60 or even 175/65 for even more comfort, a more accurate speedo and cheaper tyre prices too ?
Click to expand...

Outside Diameter of Tyres
175/60R15 591mm
175/65R15 608.5mm

175/65R15 has a 3.0% bigger outside diameter than 175/60R15.

One of the options on the original BMW Mini was 175/65R15 fitted to a 5.5J rim.

175/65R15 fitted to a 5.5Jx15 ET34 rim does seem like a really good option. The narrower tyre compared to the 185 options will have less drag so more mpg.

Vredestein Quatrac 175/65R15 84H

Vredestein Tyres / All Season Car / Vredestein Quatrac 6 - 175/65 R15 84H TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: B Noise: 70dB All Season - Four Season - All Weather - Car/MPV Tyres - 15" R15" - 175/65/15, 175/65R15

Buy online cheap Vredestein Tyres / All Season Car / Vredestein Quatrac 6 - 175/65 R15 84H TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: B Noise: 70dB
www.camskill.co.uk www.camskill.co.uk
 
Agreed, the 175/65 is probably the ultimate motorway cruiser and mile muncher and should make the speedo read almost perfectly too, if anything possibly still 1/2 to 1 mile over ie speedo reads 71mph when you are actually travelling 70mph.

They certainly won't satisfy the more enthusiastic performance minded driver but for comfort and mpg I would have thought you won't get better.

The only 5.5j 15" alloys are the standard lightweight forged one's and for clarification are also the only full size wheel that fits under the false floor correctly.

Pepperpots and the 6 spoke optional 15" A2 alloys are 6j but also work fine with the 175's and also look right without looking too narrow or stretched, which is something I really don't like.

Unfortunately they are a fraction too wide to fit perfectly under the false floor as the floor wobbles slightly but still just OK to use but not perfect, even with the 175 tyre fitted.

185/60 15 is a really good allrounder but in my opinion when going with the smaller 15" wheels, the bigger the tyre the better to avoid them looking too small and lost in the arches.

So to sum up if you want a full set of 5 with a proper matching full size spare your only option is 175/60 or 65 on the 5.5j forged rims but you can get away with the same on 6j Pepperpots or 15" 6 spokes if you're happy with the tiniest bit of false floor boot wobble and the 185/60 will physically fit in the boot but the floor won't secure properly and sits on top of the retaining brackets rather than within them.

Also worth mentioning, the 175/65 size tend to come in two load ratings 84 and 88 so go with the lower if possible as it gives slightly softer sidewalls, so more comfort.

Hope this helps someone a little?
 
Great thanks for all the info?didn’t think it would be so complicated and had forgotten about the spare!got a blow up space saver at moment.Our previous A2 didn’t have a spare and we twice had blow outs and were stranded on side of road☹️So the wheels in earlier post no 1 looks like the best ones to go for instead of pepperpot ones.At 76 looking for comfort as opposed to performance and looks.although I don’t want crap wheels on our low mileage A2.pan roof,leather etc.?
 
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P.S. I assume blow up flat tyre came in different sizes to suit cars fitted with 15 16 or 17 wheels!
 
robrace said:
P.S. I assume blow up flat tyre came in different sizes to suit cars fitted with 15 16 or 17 wheels!
Click to expand...
Wheels and tyres can be very complicated and can effect many variables on a car so unless you know what you are doing or take advice from someone who does, the safest and best bet is to stick to standard factory fit sizes to avoid any potential problems.

The collapsible space saver only came in one size and is compatible with any standard size wheel/tyre combinations.

Don't discount the Pepperpots as they are very popular and fabulously lightweight wheels and if fitted with a 175 tyre either 60 profile (standard size) or 65 profile (oversized) will fit in the boot ok, in fact I currently have a Pepperpot with a 175/65 as a spare under my false floor, it's just that the floor doesn't 'quite' sit 100% perfectly but isn't at all a problem and it does sit flat.

I'm just fussy and I like things perfect ?

BTW the 185 wide tyre will also go under the false floor and I'm sure many people use this size, it's just that the 6j rim is a fraction too deep for the false floor. It's a shame Audi didn't position it 10mm higher ?
 
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Surely you should be looking at the route cause of the problem - worn suspension?

I say this because Adams car had a crashy ride that was really unacceptable, we changed all the bushes/shocks/springs/top mounts and it actually rides really well now on 17" sport wheels.
Adding 15" wheels only masks the worn suspension in my opinion.

Ian
 
Kleynie said:
Surely you should be looking at the route cause of the problem - worn suspension?

I say this because Adams car had a crashy ride that was really unacceptable, we changed all the bushes/shocks/springs/top mounts and it actually rides really well now on 17" sport wheels.
Adding 15" wheels only masks the worn suspension in my opinion.

Ian
Click to expand...
I agree with this as worn suspension would play a major factor but more often than not it is largely down to the wheels themselves being out of round on the insides and in some cases totally out of round and closer to square!

Although these wheels are fairly soft the damage to them is mostly down to the terrible state of our roads, potholes and all and the fact that the standard size tyres only have a sidewall depth of 82mm which offers virtually no flex or absorbtion and would probably never offer a comfy or soft ride that i believe the op in his 70's is looking for any way, hence being on the 'Sport' model.

I'm personally a major fan of the 17's as I think they look the nicest wheel on an A2 but it's just trying to find and then keep them straight but comfort wise there is no comparison to the ride on 15's with the right tyres ?
 
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P.s.don’t think it’s worn suspension as it’s low mileage and according to recent mot tester the best he has ever seen and as new underneath.I am sure it’s due to two old codgers (76&77) wanting comfort!
 
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What do I know ?but have just looked at log book!A2 sport!first reg 04 07 2002 engine nos BBY 051119.version FM52T008R8Z70S4K what ever that means.We got it last year to replace the A2 diesel we had for 13 years.
 
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