The definitive tyre / wheel size thread

Right ho folks - just been offered a set of rather special wheels, but before I negotiate on price I need to check whether they're going to fit or not ...

Size is 17x8, ET45 with a PCD of 112. So, I know I'm going to have adaptors/spacers in the mix straight away (say 15mm min) - I don't know what tyres are on there (if any), so that might need consideration. I know these might be a struggle, but what hope do I have realistically?

Here's hoping you guys will know :)

Cheers,
 
Even without the adapters these would be a very tight fir.
So I think that you would be VERY lucky if you managed to get them to fit.

But that hat is just my view. See what others think before making a decision one way or another.

Steve B
 
Even without the adapters these would be a very tight fir.
So I think that you would be VERY lucky if you managed to get them to fit.

But that hat is just my view. See what others think before making a decision one way or another.

Steve B

Dammit!

17190700_10155018178282629_5716786643082380168_n.jpg

Mind you ... they might fit the A6 hmmmm
 
Dammit indeed, They look really "whacky" (I like whacky)

Steve B

Whacky is one word for them - they're Nothelle Classics, classic "rare" 90s wheel. I tried to get a set for my Corrado G60 in the 90s, but then changed to the VR6 so went from 4-stud to 5-stud. I've been half looking out for a set since ... I think they'd suit an A2 down to the ground -shame they wouldn't fit ...
 
Whacky is one word for them - they're Nothelle Classics, classic "rare" 90s wheel. I tried to get a set for my Corrado G60 in the 90s, but then changed to the VR6 so went from 4-stud to 5-stud. I've been half looking out for a set since ... I think they'd suit an A2 down to the ground -shame they wouldn't fit ...

I guess it is a case of "never say never".

Do some investigations on how wide the 112 to 100 adapters are, factor in the ET and see if there is any way that "mathematically" they will fit.

EDIT - These adapters only add 15mm to the width - do your sums and keep your fingers crossed!

You might get away with it by cutting away most of the plastic on the inside of the arch.

But it all depends on how wide the adapters are.

But you would be very lucky indeed (but you make your own luck!)

Steve B
 
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I've just fitted 18x8.5 et35 to mine by cutting away a little section of the inner rear arch liner.

0.5 inches is 12.7mm. Your ET brings the wheels 10mm closer to the inner arch so that leaves you with 2.7mm spare over mine.

Whatever width the adapters are will be pushing your wheels back out towards the outer wheel arch by that amount. Unless you are lowered by more than 25mm I think you would be ok, especially if you fitted 205 profile tyres so that they have a bit of a stretch and therefore clear the outer arch even more.

These are just my guestimates so I woukd definately advise a trial fit first but I hope it helps.
 
Would anyone be able to help me out with working out if the following would fit please?

18x8 ET45 that will require 15mm spacers.

Any chance they'll fit with something like 215/35/18 rubber?
 
215/35R18 has been tried before and could work.It's tight and may require some plastic work.

And for reference, the reference size is 175/60R15, with 185/50R16 and 205/40R17 being the alternative sizes. Anything over 3% increase is strictly speaking illegal.

- Bret
 
215/35R18 has been tried before and could work.It's tight and may require some plastic work.

And for reference, the reference size is 175/60R15, with 185/50R16 and 205/40R17 being the alternative sizes. Anything over 3% increase is strictly speaking illegal.

- Bret


If you get the wheels central via the spacers then 215 35 18s will fit (I am running them at the moment). But I am not sure about 15mm spacers. My offset is 38 and just right.
As for trimming some plastic you might have to do this. In my case I get no rubbing whatsoever until I get 4 people in the car and hit a speed bump.

So definitely worth trimming a little once you have determined if and where they scrape.

The diameter is ok too and the speedo is slightly more accurate even.

They should look great and fill the arches nicely, the ride will be perfectly acceptable (the ride is a tad harsh even on 16s so you should be fine.

Steve B
 
Thanks for the replies, it's the ET I'm most concerned about. The wheels are 5x112 so adapters are required and if I have it the right way around they'll end up at ET30.
 
Hi
Has anybody fitted 16" replica rs4 wheels with a et42 fitment ..??? Any success with this or would they need space out to my original wheel et of 35 ????

Thanks
 
Hi, I have 18" et35 rims with 225/40/18 tyres off a mk4 golf would these fit or I definitely have to downsize to 215/35/18 or 225/35/18?
 
Hi, I have 18" et35 rims with 225/40/18 tyres off a mk4 golf would these fit or I definitely have to downsize to 215/35/18 or 225/35/18?
Hi
they simply will not fit.

The only 18” Tyres that even come close to fitting an unmodified A2 are 215 35 18s

even they rub on the rear arches slightly when 4 up going over speed bumps.
And that is with the ideal ET wheels 35 to 38 so that is ok on yours.

You can shave back some of the inside wheel arch plastic and get a little bit more but even then 215 is about as wide as you can get without serious cutting.

Sorry
Steve B
 
I do plan to change the suspension to bilstein b6 shocks and undecided Springs, what is a definite safe fit?would 205/35/18 be best?
 
I do plan to change the suspension to bilstein b6 shocks and undecided Springs, what is a definite safe fit?would 205/35/18 be best?
205 would probably be too narrow for the wheel and would look stretched (I had trouble finding 205 35 18 Tyres anyway.)

But that is up to you, if you can get them and if you don’t mind “stretched Tyres”. But I wouldn't fit them.

Steve B
 
My rims are 8 j, what if I got some 18 inch audi A1 rims which are 7.5j with 225 40 18?/ 215 40 18 Or again the same issues?
 
My rims are 8 j, what if I got some 18 inch audi A1 rims which are 7.5j with 225 40 18?/ 215 40 18 Or again the same issues?

I would suggest that you check against a tyre size comparison site such as
https://tiresize.com/comparison/

conpare the size tyres that you are thinking about against the best standard size to use which is 205 40 17

any alternative tyre you compare to that should not be taller than around 2.5%. You can go to around 5% maximum really but over that you will have issues.

Also conpare the Tyres you are thinking of using against 215 35 18 Tyres because they really are about as tall and as wide as you can use without major body / arch trimming.

As for width I would not go wider that 215 Tyres.
On a 7.5 “ wheel they will fit well. Anything wider than 8” and even the 215s start to look stretched.

I managed to fit 19” wheels on my A2 with 215 35 19 Tyres and had to do a lot of wheel arch trimming.

I hope this helps.

Steve B
 
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