I need to put some new shoes on my car...
01-24-2006, 10:27 AM
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I need to put some new shoes on my car...
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/5164/oldschoolin-coupe.jpg"></center><p>Dont know if I should get 16" or 17"
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01-24-2006, 11:40 AM
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It depends what your priorities are. 16's ride better and are lighter. 17's look better
<center><img src="http://www.hostdub.com/albums/thetatau87_album05/100_0786.sized.jpg"></center><p>Here is a shot of my CQ with 16" wheels and lowered about 1.5"
16's are lighter because the wheel is a smaller diameter. The tire is filled with air so a 16" tire doesn't weigh much more than a 17". Smaller diameter wheels also reduce roational inertia allowing the wheels to accelerate/decelerate faster. This is due to the weight being closer to the center of rotation of the wheel. Ligher weight wheel/tire combo helps handling by giving the suspension less weight (unsprung mass) it needs to control as the suspension moves. This is added to the simple benifit of making the entire car lighter overall.
16's will also ride better because there is a larger sidewall to absorb bumps in the road. They will not have as sharp a handling response as a 17" with a shorter side wall.
17's will look the best, but they don't fill up the wheel well with out going to a larger diameter tire that will mess up your speedo and final drive gearing ratio and also raise the car higher off the ground. The correct way to fill up the wheel well is to lower the car with the suspension. This has obvious cosmetic benifits, but it also has a ton of dynamic handling benifits. Cornering and braking both benefit from the better control and less weight transfer of a lower stiffer suspension ride height.
Cost is an issue as well. Generally 16" wheels and tires are cheaper than 17".
16's are lighter because the wheel is a smaller diameter. The tire is filled with air so a 16" tire doesn't weigh much more than a 17". Smaller diameter wheels also reduce roational inertia allowing the wheels to accelerate/decelerate faster. This is due to the weight being closer to the center of rotation of the wheel. Ligher weight wheel/tire combo helps handling by giving the suspension less weight (unsprung mass) it needs to control as the suspension moves. This is added to the simple benifit of making the entire car lighter overall.
16's will also ride better because there is a larger sidewall to absorb bumps in the road. They will not have as sharp a handling response as a 17" with a shorter side wall.
17's will look the best, but they don't fill up the wheel well with out going to a larger diameter tire that will mess up your speedo and final drive gearing ratio and also raise the car higher off the ground. The correct way to fill up the wheel well is to lower the car with the suspension. This has obvious cosmetic benifits, but it also has a ton of dynamic handling benifits. Cornering and braking both benefit from the better control and less weight transfer of a lower stiffer suspension ride height.
Cost is an issue as well. Generally 16" wheels and tires are cheaper than 17".
01-24-2006, 11:44 AM
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Compare pic in post above to this one with stock 15" tires and ride height
<center><img src="http://www.hostdub.com/albums/thetatau87_album04/Audi_CQ_001.sized.jpg"></center><p>
The wheels and right height "make" the car.
Below in my sig you can see my S6 with 17's and lowered. The S6 had 16's stock. My Corrado at the bottom has 16's now, 15" was OEM.
IMO Up-sizing 1" gives the best compromise of better looks vs. higher cost and degraded dynamics and weight of a 2" or 3" larger diameter wheel.
The wheels and right height "make" the car.
Below in my sig you can see my S6 with 17's and lowered. The S6 had 16's stock. My Corrado at the bottom has 16's now, 15" was OEM.
IMO Up-sizing 1" gives the best compromise of better looks vs. higher cost and degraded dynamics and weight of a 2" or 3" larger diameter wheel.
