SouthboroAudiGuy

...but doesn't the stiffer sidewall of a lower profile tire offset this when going up in width AND diameter? When people upgrade their wheels, they tend to increase both.

I certainly notice improved turn-in with my summer wheels (17x8 BBS RKs with 235/45 tires) as compared to my winter wheels (16x7 OEM 2001 sport wheels and 215/55 tires). It looks like the lower weight of the wheels and stiffer sidewall of the low profile tires really do make up for any loss of turn-in performance that the wider patch may cause.

R2.7TA6

nows where my cane so I can whip this boy.

April

even if the car ultimately has more grip once turned. The difference between being fast overall and being quick on the draw:-)

Try paying attention to how quickly the steering wheel responds and with how much resistance, when you run lighter wheels. Sometimes people think the quicker turning of the steering wheel means less feedback, but if all other things are equal, the shorter sidewall and lighter wheel will always respond the quickest. If you have a light touch on the wheel instead of man-handling or expecting lots of kickback, you can learn all kinds of subtle things that might escape those who use the method of brute force. After all, the fastest driver on the track is usually the one who turns the steering wheel the least and the most smoothly in corners.

Just Me

how much of that "feel for the road" was the +1 change and how much was the undoubted upgrade to more performance oriented tires.

Both contribute - no disagreement on that point.

But for my curiosity - what was the size, make, model and speed rating of:

- the original set of tyres
- the repalcement set

Grant

iProDrive

It is just your own perception. "butt dyno"

Went from: [Pre-Spring '06]

16" Audi Wine Glass Rims
205/55/16 "Big O" Touring All Season Tires

-to-

[Summer '06 to Dec '06]
17" Audi Gunmetal Five Spoke Rims [See Sig]
225/45/17 Kumho ECSTA ASX High Performance All Season Tire

I am actually going to see how this winter goes with DECENT winter tires:

16" Audi Wine Glass Rims
205/55ZR-16 Avon Tech M550 A/S

SouthboroAudiGuy

I have the somewhat unusual situation of my larger wheels being lighter than my smaller ones. My 17x8 BBS RKs weigh less than my 16x7 OEM sport wheels because they are a particularly light design. So, when I switch to "summer mode" it's a really nice improvement -- better performance, better steering responsiveness, better road feel, and minimal loss of ride comfort.

I'm confused though...

In your earlier post, you say "the larger contact will help once it's turned, but initial turn-in is slower." In your later post, you say "the wider patch helps turn-in." There are logical arguments for either viewpoint... The former might be true given the reduced contact area that needs to be turned -- the extreme example being the responsiveness of a bicycle tire. The latter might be true given the additional traction cutting into the turn given the wider patch. Which are you saying is true?

April

based and and rotational based inertia (more mass is usually on the outer rim), to get both front wheels to turn in the desired direction. That's one action - made by the driver. Once the wheels are turned, the grip at contact patches determine how faithfully the tires can deliver on the driver's request. Driver's input, car's reaction. Both could be called initial turn-in. One a request, the other the actual delivery.

I wasn't clear. Sorry.

April

in the country. Bent rims and bubbled sidewalls are just a fact of life if you go too large here. 17 is my limit for every day comfort. For cars that are designed from the factory to roll with 18s, it's another matter.

SouthboroAudiGuy

Thx.

Just Me

you see the diff right there

..Although you did not specify the speed rating of each - which correlates very well with sidewall stiffness, and thus steering response.

Dont think of this as picky - it probably is MORE signficant than the size change! That's my point.

Grant