The definitive tyre / wheel size thread

Will 17" wheels & tyres from an Audi A1 fit?
5 x 100 PCD 36 ET
215/40R17
My car is a Sport spec, that left the factory fitted with 17" wheels, but has ended up on 15" wheels.
 
Will 17" wheels & tyres from an Audi A1 fit?
5 x 100 PCD 36 ET
215/40R17
My car is a Sport spec, that left the factory fitted with 17" wheels, but has ended up on 15" wheels.

Yes
that size and PCD is a match. (But a tight one)

I would imagine that that someone on here has already tried that, if so that would confirm it.

Steve B
 
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We are looking to buy a set of All Season tyres for my A2 1.4 TDI.



We have the choice of a set of 15" or 16" alloys on which to fit the tyres.



Looking at either:- 195/55/15, 185/60/15 or 185/50/16 .


We are considering those sizes mainly for comfort when driving over speed humps and potholes ( which we have plenty of around here )



Having looked at the definitive tyre thread for the A2 I understand that 195/55/15 or 185/50/16 should fit with a diameter of 596 mm according to the online tyre size calculator.


Will 185/60/15 tyres which have a diameter of 603 mm fit without rubbing please?.



Alternatively what do our fellow A2 owners consider to be the golden rule as far as the maximum diameter of the tyres please?






Thank you
 
Please can someone give me the benefit of their experience?

Having just bought a set of pepperpots and after much research I ordered some 165/65R15 T tyres from Formula1 for our FSI.

I wanted the tallest, narrowest tyre I could find after the hellish ride that we have been enduring from the 17" sport wheels. I now realize that the speed rating is lower than the car's top speed.

I'm seriously tempted to bottle it and change the order to 175/60R15 H. For another £4 a tyre it would make me more legally comfortable, but will it make me less physically comfortable? I also think that the 175s' sidewall Will protrude mode from the rim, so reducing the chance of kerbing.

Your thoughts are welcome...
 
Please can someone give me the benefit of their experience?

Having just bought a set of pepperpots and after much research I ordered some 165/65R15 T tyres from Formula1 for our FSI.

I wanted the tallest, narrowest tyre I could find after the hellish ride that we have been enduring from the 17" sport wheels. I now realize that the speed rating is lower than the car's top speed.

I'm seriously tempted to bottle it and change the order to 175/60R15 H. For another £4 a tyre it would make me more legally comfortable, but will it make me less physically comfortable? I also think that the 175s' sidewall Will protrude mode from the rim, so reducing the chance of kerbing.

Your thoughts are welcome...

Hi,

The speed rating is not related to the vehicles top speed. It is a safety inbdication that if you drive at that speed for any length of time the tyre will suffer.

I am guessing that the speed rating is not below 80mph and so you will not be exceeding the speed rating and so they will be fine if you stay below the rated speed.

Please don't expect too much from any tyre, slightly taller tyres MIGHT improve the comfort slightly, but it will not transform the ride.

As someone driving around on 19" wheels on his A2 with 35 profile tyres I can tell you that it is still perfectly comfortable (firm yes, uncomfortable no).

The best way to improve the ride is to make sure that your shock absorbers are in good condition , your tyres are not over inflated and that you use good quality tyres. The stiffness of the tyre wall can vary greatly on exactly the same size tyres.

I am just trying to give you my views based on my experience (46 years of driving and 46 years of modifying cars, fitting alternative wheels and tyres thriughout that period), I hope you take it as just an honest personal opinion and trying to help.

Steve B
 
Hi,

The speed rating is not related to the vehicles top speed. It is a safety inbdication that if you drive at that speed for any length of time the tyre will suffer.

I am guessing that the speed rating is not below 80mph and so you will not be exceeding the speed rating and so they will be fine if you stay below the rated speed.

Please don't expect too much from any tyre, slightly taller tyres MIGHT improve the comfort slightly, but it will not transform the ride.

As someone driving around on 19" wheels on his A2 with 35 profile tyres I can tell you that it is still perfectly comfortable (firm yes, uncomfortable no).

The best way to improve the ride is to make sure that your shock absorbers are in good condition , your tyres are not over inflated and that you use good quality tyres. The stiffness of the tyre wall can vary greatly on exactly the same size tyres.

I am just trying to give you my views based on my experience (46 years of driving and 46 years of modifying cars, fitting alternative wheels and tyres thriughout that period), I hope you take it as just an honest personal opinion and trying to help.

Steve B

you forgot to mention "find a decent surface":p
 
... Looking at either:- 195/55/15, 185/60/15 or 185/50/16 .

Will 185/60/15 tyres which have a diameter of 603 mm fit without rubbing please?.

Alternatively what do our fellow A2 owners consider to be the golden rule as far as the maximum diameter of the tyres please?

Thank you

I don't think there will be rubbing with any of these if the ET is 35 or less.
My new golden rule for A2: 205/45/17 ET 32

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
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The best way to improve the ride is to make sure that your shock absorbers are in good condition , your tyres are not over inflated and that you use good quality tyres. The stiffness of the tyre wall can vary greatly on exactly the same size tyres.

I would agree with you there Steve. Just prior to fitting my new suspension all round with 25 mm lower and stiffer springs I had my winter wheels fitted with 195/55/15 tyres on and the ride was crashy and horrendous. As I installed my suspension I changed over to 205/40/17 and the ride was dramatically improved. Very firm but not at all crashy and uncontrolled as it had been before. I have now changed to 215/35/18 and the ride has improved further.

What I'm trying to say is that the suspension setup plays a much bigger role in ride comfort than the tyre size.

The only difference I've experienced with tyre size is that the 15's are on lighter steel wheels and the car feels more nimble with lighter wheels in terms of acceleration and handling.
 
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Thank you very much for this gentlemen, it's appreciated. My 17" wheels are about as kerbed as they come and are just not suitable for driving in town on poor surfaces.

Given the comments on suspension, and the fact that it's not worth an argument with the insurance company about speed ratings, I think I'm going to change the order to 175/60/15H as a happy medium, since we often travel as a family of 5 long-distance

There is a lot of crashing coming from the suspension but I think that's the ant-roll bar, which I'll do when I change the clutch.

Thanks again for your thoughts.
 
Please can someone give me the benefit of their experience?

Having just bought a set of pepperpots and after much research I ordered some 165/65R15 T tyres from Formula1 for our FSI.

I wanted the tallest, narrowest tyre I could find after the hellish ride that we have been enduring from the 17" sport wheels. I now realize that the speed rating is lower than the car's top speed.

I'm seriously tempted to bottle it and change the order to 175/60R15 H. For another £4 a tyre it would make me more legally comfortable, but will it make me less physically comfortable? I also think that the 175s' sidewall Will protrude mode from the rim, so reducing the chance of kerbing.

Your thoughts are welcome...

Like you I found the ride on 17" wheels to be unacceptable on the poorly maintained roads we have in the UK. I have a 1.4TDI Sport and I tolerated the ride for about 6 months, with the whole interior rattling and shuddering every time I went over a pothole or manhole cover. I bought a set of Pepperpots (which came complete with tyres [off an A3 ?] - which I retained as they had plenty of tread left), and the ride was much improved. The only thing was that the tyre profile was incorrect ( at 65) which made the speedometer under-read ( indicated 58mph is actually 60-61mph), but I intend to address that shortly by fitting 175-185/60x15 tyres, which should get it accurate again.
 
I have just spoken to Audi UK customer service who said that the only tyre they specify for a 15" wheel for my 1.6 FSI is 175/60 R15 V. There go my hopes of nice tyres... Back to Formula 1 autocentres own brand!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Audi have to give advice which relate to original specifications Simon. Any deviations could, in the event of a an accident, result in litigation against them. I think there are quite a few of us who have a the larger specc tyres on the 15" inch wheels.

Ta
Dave:)
 
I wouldn't worry about what they say, but what's in the legal range.
175/60 R15 converted to 205/45 R17 gives 4.3% increase in circumference, +/- 5% is legal over here.
As for ET, +/- 7 mm is legal, which means I can use ET32 without a problem.
I guess you can use some wheel calculator and find the best match for you...
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Cheers
Darko

WAUZZZ8Z73N027334
 
Hi Folks

Ok, so I've searched the thread to see if this size of wheel/tyre is mentioned and I don't believe is has.

I've got a chance of some winter tyres already fitted to Audi A3 wheels at a reasonable price, but if they don't fit the car then there's no point.

They are:-

Tyres - 225/50R16 92V
Wheels - Audi A3 9 spoke - 6.5J ET50 - 16"

Sorry if the question has been asked before for this size.

I've got an SE with standard suspension.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers
Ruggie
 
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I just noticed on the initial post that for 15" wheels 175/65 is not listed. Standard is obviously 175/60, but the 65 profile is usually cheaper and corrects the under-reading speedo to pretty much spot on (on new tyres at least).
 
I just noticed on the initial post that for 15" wheels 175/65 is not listed. Standard is obviously 175/60, but the 65 profile is usually cheaper and corrects the under-reading speedo to pretty much spot on (on new tyres at least).

The increase in tyre diameter for a 175/65/15 over a 175/60/15 is 3% and for an A2 that is just within range and so can be used. As Andy P has said, it actually provides a more accurate Speedo reading.

I think that perhaps the reason it is not listed is that some say that 2.5% either way is acceptable and so the list errs on the "safe side".

But I have personally run tyres on the A2 3% larger than standard (and above, without issue)

And since the 175/65/15 is only 0.8% larger than the (also standard) 215 40 17s fitted to the sport A2, they will be fine.

So thanks for adding that suggestion Andy.

Steve B
 
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