Wheel size, any suggestions?

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bigshow

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Hi,

I've just bought a A2 1,4Tdi SE with the regular SE-version wheels, 185/50 R16. I was wondering if its possible to fit any larger wheels?

I was thinking of 205 17", is it possible to use these dimensions without using stiffer suspension, lowering the car or having to do any other alterations to the car?

A2 RULES!
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Bigshow
2001 1,4TDi SE
 
Hi again ;)

Sure, the A2 takes 17" wheels without a problem. Especially if you stick to the 205 width, which is the same as mounted on the sport version (you know, the one _with_ the Quattro GmbH suspension that you didn't get 8-P ). To be exact 205/40/17.

Anyway, the thing to watch for are:
- don't get tires that are too wide, or else they might rub the wheel arches or other parts of the suspension
- get rims that have the right 'offset' or 'ET' value. This value determines how far the wheel protudes into and out of the wheel arch, measured from the fixing point. However, I'm not to sure about the A2's official ET values for neither the 16" or 17" wheels. Maybe some else? Or a dealer.
- make sure that the total diameter of your rim/tire combination stays as close to the original diameter of your 185/50/16 wheels. Otherwise your speedo will start to differ from your actual speed (too large diameter = too low speed reading on your speedo). And it somewhat affects acceleration and top speed.

My own dealer had a book full of nice rims, also made for the A2. Prices were okay, but specialised wheel/tire dealers are usually a bit cheaper, here in Holland.

IMHO, 205/40/17 looks very good, sizewise.

Like lowering and stiffening, wheels with a lower tire wall (ie the 40 in 205/40 or 50 in 185/50) improve the handling of your car. But they also make the ride more harsh, making you feel the potholes and bumps more than you currently do. A matter of taste and a matter of looks.
(BTW, tire wall height is calculated in 205/40 as 40% of 205 millimeter, so 82mm. And The 185/50 has a wall of 92.5 mm. )

Fitting 17" without lowering is not a problem at all. In fact, in theory it leaves more room for larger tires (but the 'rules' above usually make that undesirable anyway).

Happy tire-choosing.

Oh, last thing. Here's a nice, German, site that allows you to see an approximate view of a large number of wheels on the A2:

http://www.wheelmachine2000.de/

Click on the 'play' button next to the car brand pulldown menu. Choose the a2 and, in your case, the black colour. Then play with the wheel brand, sizes etc on the left.

Happy choosing!

Edo


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(2003 Silver 1.4 Tdi Exclusive(SE), black interior, sport seats, heated mirrors, JVC KD-SH909RB cd-receiver, Infinity Kappa 63.1 + Vifa on-dash tweeters, 12" Subwoofer on 300w Amp) and still not chiptuned by Abt, #$%$&!
 
Steel wheels often have the ET number stamped on the front, whereas alloy wheels tend to hide the ET number on the back (so as not to spoil the appearance). This means taking the wheel off to check the ET number.

The 14" x 5.5" steel wheels fitted to the new Polo (which the A2 is based on) have ET35 stamped on them. This means that their offset is 35mm. It's easy to check on the Polo, as they have a spare wheel.

www.tyresave.co.uk/choose.html do a guide to offsets with some useful diagrams.

[24]
 
quote:Originally posted by smartboost

The 14" x 5.5" steel wheels fitted to the new Polo (which the A2 is based on)...
Click to expand...
I'm curious: in what way is the A2 based on the Polo - or am I misunderstanding your comment?


[img=left]http://www.santorini.dsl.pipex.com/a2_avatar.gif[/img=left]Mark.
2003 Azure Blue 1.6 FSI SE

OpenSky | Climate Control | DIS | Isofix + brat | Space-Floor-Box | Satellite Cloth
Electric Rear Windows | Symphony II | Winter Pack | Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror
 
The tyresave site is brilliant. All that info in one page! Thanks for that, smartboost.

As for nice rim ideas: the ATP Nove Razze (ATP 9 spoke) looks very much like the 'sport' wheels, except flatter. I've seen it fitted to A4's as well. Much cheaper that the originals.
Then there's MAK, but they tend to look like Vauxhall wheels.

And my previous car had AEZ wheels, Icon 5 model. Very nice. Also considered Stilauto 4+4, a very good looking 8 spoke wheel, even though I normally don't like anything over 6 spokes.

And how about the wheels that come with the Polo GTI and that new off-the-road model? 5x2 spokes. Very agressive looking.

Look them up with Google. You'll find some images

--
(2003 Silver 1.4 Tdi Exclusive(SE), black interior, sport seats, heated mirrors, JVC KD-SH909RB cd-receiver, Infinity Kappa 63.1 + Vifa on-dash tweeters, 12" Subwoofer on 300w Amp) and still not chiptuned by Abt, #$%$&!
 
The A2 shares lots in common with the new Polo. Things like wheelbase, drivetrain...etc. That's why you can swap wheels between the two cars.
 
Then i guess i'll be changing my SE-alloys into some 17"ers, but i still have 3 months of snowdriving left:-(
 
The Audi A2 is not based on the New Polo. Fact.

The Polo is an all steel car and the A2 an all Aluminium car. The A2 has a aluminium space frame with aluminium panels. The polo has a traditional steel floor pan with steel panels. They are 2 different cars. They may however share wheel bolts. The Polo shares its floor pan with the Skoda Fabia and the New Seat Ibiza.

http://www.polo-gt.co.uk/history/historyarticle.html
http://www.autosteel.org/articles/2001_audi_a2.htm



2002 A2 TDI SE - Silver - Open Sky System - Silver - 225 TT ,Bose,6 Play, Cruise
 
The Audi A2 uses Volkswagen Polo brakes.

www.ebcbrakes.com have a catalogue on their site which lists the parts numbers for their brake pads and brake shoes.

The EBC part numbers are:

DP1329 (front brake pads)
DP680 (rear brake pads for 1.6 model)
6447 (rear brake shoes)

Also check out the similarities in the wheelbase and track of the two cars. The front and rear suspension design may also be similar.
 
I was under the impression that the A2 was on it's own - it chassis is unique to the A2.
Sure other part designs may be common - brakes, suspension etc - but the A2 is not shared with any other car.

Don't drink drive! Not only is it socially unaceptable, it also harms A2's.
Was a 1.4SE petrol. http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk14.htm http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/safety.htm
New A2 - Ebony Black, Red Leather, CC, Symphony + all the previous options we had.
 
Smartboost.

Just because the A2 and Polo share the same brakes does not mean by any means that the A2 is "based on the polo"... Or please prove me wrong !


I think every car in the Audi/VW/Seat/Skoda group shares some common parts with each other, but this does not quite mean they are all based on each other....


2002 A2 TDI SE - Silver - Open Sky System - Silver - 225 TT ,Bose,6 Play, Cruise
 
The Smart Roadster is based on the Smart City-Coupe.

It uses the same engine, gearbox, driveshafts, hubs, brakes, steering rack and pinion, and suspension design.

Can't the same be said for the VW Polo and Audi A2? [23]
 
Yes if you want.

But this would then mean that nearly all the Audi/VW/Seat/Skoda group cars are based on each other.

Nomally a car is based on another when it uses the same chassis not just parts. Really the polo is a completely diferent car which shares some comon commonents.

2002 A2 TDI SE - Silver - Open Sky System - Silver - 225 TT ,Bose,6 Play, Cruise
 
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