Audi TT Competition wheels refurbishment and fitment with photos

[3wheeler]

Firstly, an apology. When I first joined A2OC, I was enquiring about OEM spec tyres. I wanted my A2 to be original. You aaaaall warned me I'd get the modifying bug, which I pooh-poohed. Well, I would like to eat lots of humble pie. I am infact a modifier. Added to the list are my new wheels. Some may recall I have my original SE set which I powder-coated so they are perfect, and have the last of the new OEM Crewe Audi centrecaps fitted (at £48 each!) and after one winter and 18000miles (the A2 is a daily and does about 1000miles a month at 45mpg average) I began to lust after some TT Competition wheels (or the incorrect term of 'Fat Fives' after someone on Instagram fitted them to theirs. More digging here shows plenty of people do it, and they all look (to my eyes at least) amazing.
So I got a set which I took to my trusted powdercoaters. They came with centrecaps too. The powdercoaters (Kurbed Coatings of Hereford) said my set were great for powdercoating, but not for polishing, which was my plan. So he kept my set, and swapped them for a set that had less kurb rash.
He powder coated them in total, and then I polished the front faces to a mirror finish and ceramic coated them, as lacquer will not stick to a mirror finish.
As per my refurbed SE wheels, I fitted a complete set of Kumho tyres, which have proved a fanastic purchase. They are comfortable, grip well, quiet, and efficient in the wet. Above all, they are a great price- especially when Blackcircles have an offer on!

The size I have fitted is 205/45 R17.

Comparatively I can truly say the following:

• There is no rubbing in the arches
• There is no need for any spacers of change of wheelnuts
• There is no degredation in ride or handling- its not better either
• Fuel economy is the same
• Weight is not much increased (2-3kg per wheel).

I now have two sets of wheels that are pretty much as new and look great on the car, but thats a personal thing! Please see attached photos. The working OSS is courtesy of Adam Kleyne @Kleynie which works perfectly one year on.

 

[bretti_kivi]

for those following along: the spec of the rims should be ET32 and 7,5J. Which is the upper limit for 205s, and the ET pushes them further out. Loaded cars and / or lowered may not be as successful with this rim / tyre combo. And yes, they are actually seriously light for the size.
Elsewhere in Europe you may need the weight info on the rims, which is available directly from Audi. Long thread on this over on the German forum if you're interested. "parabol" will be your keyword.

 

[3wheeler]

for those following along: the spec of the rims should be ET32 and 7,5J. Which is the upper limit for 205s, and the ET pushes them further out. Loaded cars and / or lowered may not be as successful with this rim / tyre combo. And yes, they are actually seriously light for the size.
Elsewhere in Europe you may need the weight info on the rims, which is available directly from Audi. Long thread on this over on the German forum if you're interested. "parabol" will be your keyword.

Here is how the wheel and tyre combination compares to standard fit. In Germany, they fit 205/40 R17 which is closest for TUV. This apparently affects ride quality (from an A2 owner in Germany I've spoken to) so 45 profile is best. 215 will rub.

 

[CrispyEdd]

Is that a lowered set up too?

 

[3wheeler]

Is that a lowered set up too?

No, they are the original springs and shocks from 2001!

 

[CrispyEdd]

No, they are the original springs and shocks from 2001!

One way to do it

 

[A2Z]

215/45/17 may well rub as they are too oversized but 215/40/17 work well though and are generally the preferred tyre width for the wider 7.5j rims.

I was actually going to comment earlier though that you had either done your homework or got lucky with the 205 width Kumho tyres you fitted as in the photographs they seem to offer a reasonable (or enough anyway) amount of rim protection that many 205 width tyres don't offer even on 7j standard Sport wheels, so that's a result as they look good and the taller 45 profile sidewall depth does give a little more comfort and a more accurate speedometer reading too.

I can't agree that the 17" TT comps are seriously lightweight though, as having owned some previously they are far from light in my experience. The smaller 16" 7j Speedline TT comps are much lighter and also look and ride really well too allowing for deeper 50 profile tyres.

It's good that you now have two nice sets of wheels to choose from though and can revert from the standard factory look to the modded look as and when you choose

 

[Clackers]

Those wheels have come out absolutely beautiful...nice work matey.

 

[3wheeler]

215/45/17 may well rub as they are too oversized but 215/40/17 work well though and are generally the preferred tyre width for the wider 7.5j rims.

I was actually going to comment earlier though that you had either done your homework or got lucky with the 205 width Kumho tyres you fitted as in the photographs they seem to offer a reasonable (or enough anyway) amount of rim protection that many 205 width tyres don't offer even on 7j standard Sport wheels, so that's a result as they look good and the taller 45 profile sidewall depth does give a little more comfort and a more accurate speedometer reading too.

I can't agree that the 17" TT comps are seriously lightweight though, as having owned some previously they are far from light in my experience. The smaller 16" 7j Speedline TT comps are much lighter and also look and ride really well too allowing for deeper 50 profile tyres.

It's good that you now have two nice sets of wheels to choose from though and can revert from the standard factory look to the modded look as and when you choose

Take a look at the Fuchs website. Here is the post here I put about their forged alloys that fit the A2, and their weights. https://a2oc.net/community/index.ph...don-the-wheels-pun-wheel-weights-in-kg.55043/

The TT wheel here weighs 10.8kg plus tyre. Not much more than the standard SE alloy, which comes in at abotu 8.5kg. So about 2kg per corner, and the extra tyre weight. I have both sets of wheels so could give you an accurate answer, save to say there is absolutely no difference at all driving, both on performance, economy, ride, grip etc etc etc. Only the speedo is more accurate.

 

[3wheeler]

Take a look at the Fuchs website. Here is the post here I put about their forged alloys that fit the A2, and their weights. https://a2oc.net/community/index.ph...don-the-wheels-pun-wheel-weights-in-kg.55043/

The TT wheel here weighs 10.8kg plus tyre. Not much more than the standard SE alloy, which comes in at abotu 8.5kg. So about 2kg per corner, and the extra tyre weight. I have both sets of wheels so could give you an accurate answer, save to say there is absolutely no difference at all driving, both on performance, economy, ride, grip etc etc etc. Only the speedo is more accurate.

I have now been running my Fuchs/Fat5s/Parabols for a few months, and can reliably report no detarioration in ride. There's no improvement in handling either, the speedo is dead accurate (checked on my speedo app), but the mpg is worse (because of the mileage variations due to the increased tyre circumference, so it is measured more accurately) again according to my fuelio app. However, personally, I think they look absolutely fabulous (personal taste) and were worth the effort, time and money. In fact the A2 itself is proving to be amazing too. I am rolling over to 20000miles covered in just over 18months. No problems (touch cloth) and between 38 and 47mpg (depending on driving style and wheel circumference!). Averages between 42 and 45 mpg on new wheels driven sensibly.