Audi wheel/tire information, LONG, inc. Snow info.
09-16-1999, 07:33 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Audi wheel/tire information, LONG, inc. Snow info.
First, all the newer Audi's A4,A6,A8 share the same bolt patterns, 5x112. The variant is the TT which uses the 5x100 bolt pattern, ie: Jetta, Golf, & Beetle.
Generally speaking, the wheels on the A4,A6,&A8 are interchangable and work. The TT is only interchangable w. the vehicles listed above(VW).
For OEM applications, wheels are generally made slightly narrower than for aftermarket, nominal fitment--ie: 16x7" vs. aftermarket wheels that are normally 16x7.5" and 17x7.5" vs 17x8" or 17x8.5".
When considering aftermarket wheels for the Audi's, all of them will accept, generally speaking, offset ranges of 31-49 mm depending on the size and width of the wheel. The width of the wheel will create a change in the offset. Again, offset is simply how far in our out the wheel sits from the mounting surface. For aftermarket modifications one generally wants to enhance the appearance and handling of one's vehicle--hence the plus sizing concept--going from 16" to 17" or even 18". This is accomplished by going wider in the tire size and lower in the profile height. An example would be to go from a stock 205/55/16 Audi OEM tire (24.83" rolling diameter) to a 225/45/17 plus one concept (24.98" R.D.)! It is important to remember to stay within a 3% window of the OEM tire size for the odometer and most important, the ABS brakes to function properly. A final point in upsizing is the lowering and changing of any suspension components. This will also affect clearance issues, and create other problems--besides even if one were to upsize, sometimes to a similar rolling diameter, with or without modifications, the wheel well or suspension components would interfere with the tires, ie: going from a 205/55/16 to a 245/40/17 (24.72 RD)--this would rub especially w. the Audi Quattro suspension components. Therefore, it's always recommended that one goes to someone competent when thinking about upsizing. One can also opt for Plus "0" sizing and go to a 225/50/16 tire, especially on an aftermarket 16x7.5" wheel, vs. the 16x7" OEM wheel.
Much has been said about the effects of upsizing, or changing the OEM tires. First when upsizing one will have a WIDER footprint on the road, a wider tire, almost one inch more. Secondly, most aftermarket wheels sit slightly more to the outside than the OEM wheels/tires. This along with the tires creates the "WIDER TRACK"--the benefits are that the car will handle better, be more stable in turns and evasive maneuvers, sit flatter, and "FEEL" more secure and heavier. Also, you will be able to brake better and the car will not lean as much in turns. There is hardly a difference in ride quality & comfort, by going from 16-17", yet the vehicle becomes a much more responsive, safe, and fun vehicle to drive.
Choosing a wheel style can be quite difficult in today's market. Hundreds of manufacturers are out there with thousands of wheel styles to choose from. The wheel industry continues to grow, dramatically every year---however it is my recommendation that you consider QUALITY in the wheel when making a decision on tires and wheels--and believe me there is a distinct difference in QUALITY of both wheels and tires in today's marketplace. A prime consideration should be that the wheel is hubcentric, meaning that the weight bearing of the vehicle is placed directly on the hub, and that the proper appropriate lug bolts,nuts(for the particular wheels) be used. Torque the wheels to manufacturers spec's--otherwise you will have problems with your brakes, and possible vibrations. Any variance in this probably will cause undue vibrations/shimmy issues. Another point is tires, some tires have heavy spots and require more weight to balance than others--again a quality issue in the manufacturing of tires. The balancing of the wheel/tire combo is also important and this should be done by a competent installer and stick-on weights are preferred--they don't cut into the clear coat of the wheel and can be hidden from view. Sometimes, when not installed properly, they will be knocked off at the first turn of the wheel, on the car, when driving--due to hitting the brake caliper.
Finally, air pressure is overlooked as well, very often. This will affect the ride quality, tire life, gas milage, and overall performance envelope while driving. For 17" upgrades we recommend an app. inflation pressure of 38 psi. This, of course, can be varied based on individual taste, however, remember you are riding on a cushion of air and a rubber sidewall. You need a certain amount of protection and comfort, and naturally when upsizing you need to increase the air pressure because your sidewall height has diminished, lower profile, and higher air pressure protects the rim & tire, and most importantly the occupants!
Finally, we always recommend that you also get an alignment when changing wheels and tires.
For snow wheel and tire packages one normally stays within the OEM recommended size or DOWNSIZES one size. Typically for Audi's you would stay with a 205/55/16 snow tire or opt to DOWNSIZE in heavy snow,ice conditions to a 15" wheel and tire package. The correct size here would be a 195/65/15--same size as on the OEM 15" setup. I recommend that a "H" rated tire be used, yes it's a bit more money, but the overall ride, comfort, and noise level would be worth it. Non "H" rated snow tires are definitely less money and there is a substantial jump in prices from 15" to 16" snow tires.
Finally, the Audi Quattro is ideally suited for inclimate weather conditions, ie: snow, ice, & rain. Just be careful, and remember should you ever be in a precarious situation, ie: getting stuck in snow, you might want to let some of the air out of your tires to get more bite on the snow,or ice. A good all-season tire should, in most cases suffice, however, snow tires are required in some sections of the country. Remember, the car is only as good as the driver and you can get into trouble, even with a Quattro!! A sidelight, here, is if you spray PAM on your wheels, it will prevent the accumulation of snow and ice on your wheels.
Ronal does offer a multitude of wheel styles/tire packages to you Audi drivers. All these can be seen at our website, www.ronalusa.com, Index of Cars section, Audi on the different cars--the A4 section shows all the availability & sizes for A4,A6, and A8 models. We offer a 17" upgrade package of any of our 17" one piece wheels, with either 225/45/ZR17 or 235/40/ZR17 Pirelli P7000SS tires for $1500.00 delivered, mounted, and balanced.
We are also offering a 16" and 15" alloy wheel and Pirelli "H" rated W210A tires. The 16" alloy package is $975 +s/h and the 15" is $775 +s/h. Two alloy wheel choices are shown for each size, for style preferences. These were listed with photographs attached on 9/1 in this Forum.
A final sore point is the accumulation of brake dust on wheels, and brake squeal. If you are annoyed at this, as most are, I recommend that--especially if your are changing wheels, to change the brake pads as well. Much has been stated about this, but IMO it's well worth the app. $200.
There are several different brake pad options available, Rofrens, Mintex, Raybestos,etc.! These will help eliminate 80%+ of the dust and the annoying brake squeal, that occurs sometime! However, they will feel different than the OEM pads and respond differently. You just have to get used to them and they each have their own characterists--as do diff. cars, women, men,etc.
Should any of you have any questions or comments regarding tire/wheel fitments or recommendations, you can email me directly at ronalusa@ronalusa.com. A prompt answer will be forthcoming. You might also want to click on the SmarTire Logo to read about the wireless air pressure and temperature sensors, with alarm limits(like a radar detector-lets you know if air pressure or temperature is outside programmed limits) and you can click on the Pirelli logo to read about the tires we recommend.
Generally speaking, the wheels on the A4,A6,&A8 are interchangable and work. The TT is only interchangable w. the vehicles listed above(VW).
For OEM applications, wheels are generally made slightly narrower than for aftermarket, nominal fitment--ie: 16x7" vs. aftermarket wheels that are normally 16x7.5" and 17x7.5" vs 17x8" or 17x8.5".
When considering aftermarket wheels for the Audi's, all of them will accept, generally speaking, offset ranges of 31-49 mm depending on the size and width of the wheel. The width of the wheel will create a change in the offset. Again, offset is simply how far in our out the wheel sits from the mounting surface. For aftermarket modifications one generally wants to enhance the appearance and handling of one's vehicle--hence the plus sizing concept--going from 16" to 17" or even 18". This is accomplished by going wider in the tire size and lower in the profile height. An example would be to go from a stock 205/55/16 Audi OEM tire (24.83" rolling diameter) to a 225/45/17 plus one concept (24.98" R.D.)! It is important to remember to stay within a 3% window of the OEM tire size for the odometer and most important, the ABS brakes to function properly. A final point in upsizing is the lowering and changing of any suspension components. This will also affect clearance issues, and create other problems--besides even if one were to upsize, sometimes to a similar rolling diameter, with or without modifications, the wheel well or suspension components would interfere with the tires, ie: going from a 205/55/16 to a 245/40/17 (24.72 RD)--this would rub especially w. the Audi Quattro suspension components. Therefore, it's always recommended that one goes to someone competent when thinking about upsizing. One can also opt for Plus "0" sizing and go to a 225/50/16 tire, especially on an aftermarket 16x7.5" wheel, vs. the 16x7" OEM wheel.
Much has been said about the effects of upsizing, or changing the OEM tires. First when upsizing one will have a WIDER footprint on the road, a wider tire, almost one inch more. Secondly, most aftermarket wheels sit slightly more to the outside than the OEM wheels/tires. This along with the tires creates the "WIDER TRACK"--the benefits are that the car will handle better, be more stable in turns and evasive maneuvers, sit flatter, and "FEEL" more secure and heavier. Also, you will be able to brake better and the car will not lean as much in turns. There is hardly a difference in ride quality & comfort, by going from 16-17", yet the vehicle becomes a much more responsive, safe, and fun vehicle to drive.
Choosing a wheel style can be quite difficult in today's market. Hundreds of manufacturers are out there with thousands of wheel styles to choose from. The wheel industry continues to grow, dramatically every year---however it is my recommendation that you consider QUALITY in the wheel when making a decision on tires and wheels--and believe me there is a distinct difference in QUALITY of both wheels and tires in today's marketplace. A prime consideration should be that the wheel is hubcentric, meaning that the weight bearing of the vehicle is placed directly on the hub, and that the proper appropriate lug bolts,nuts(for the particular wheels) be used. Torque the wheels to manufacturers spec's--otherwise you will have problems with your brakes, and possible vibrations. Any variance in this probably will cause undue vibrations/shimmy issues. Another point is tires, some tires have heavy spots and require more weight to balance than others--again a quality issue in the manufacturing of tires. The balancing of the wheel/tire combo is also important and this should be done by a competent installer and stick-on weights are preferred--they don't cut into the clear coat of the wheel and can be hidden from view. Sometimes, when not installed properly, they will be knocked off at the first turn of the wheel, on the car, when driving--due to hitting the brake caliper.
Finally, air pressure is overlooked as well, very often. This will affect the ride quality, tire life, gas milage, and overall performance envelope while driving. For 17" upgrades we recommend an app. inflation pressure of 38 psi. This, of course, can be varied based on individual taste, however, remember you are riding on a cushion of air and a rubber sidewall. You need a certain amount of protection and comfort, and naturally when upsizing you need to increase the air pressure because your sidewall height has diminished, lower profile, and higher air pressure protects the rim & tire, and most importantly the occupants!
Finally, we always recommend that you also get an alignment when changing wheels and tires.
For snow wheel and tire packages one normally stays within the OEM recommended size or DOWNSIZES one size. Typically for Audi's you would stay with a 205/55/16 snow tire or opt to DOWNSIZE in heavy snow,ice conditions to a 15" wheel and tire package. The correct size here would be a 195/65/15--same size as on the OEM 15" setup. I recommend that a "H" rated tire be used, yes it's a bit more money, but the overall ride, comfort, and noise level would be worth it. Non "H" rated snow tires are definitely less money and there is a substantial jump in prices from 15" to 16" snow tires.
Finally, the Audi Quattro is ideally suited for inclimate weather conditions, ie: snow, ice, & rain. Just be careful, and remember should you ever be in a precarious situation, ie: getting stuck in snow, you might want to let some of the air out of your tires to get more bite on the snow,or ice. A good all-season tire should, in most cases suffice, however, snow tires are required in some sections of the country. Remember, the car is only as good as the driver and you can get into trouble, even with a Quattro!! A sidelight, here, is if you spray PAM on your wheels, it will prevent the accumulation of snow and ice on your wheels.
Ronal does offer a multitude of wheel styles/tire packages to you Audi drivers. All these can be seen at our website, www.ronalusa.com, Index of Cars section, Audi on the different cars--the A4 section shows all the availability & sizes for A4,A6, and A8 models. We offer a 17" upgrade package of any of our 17" one piece wheels, with either 225/45/ZR17 or 235/40/ZR17 Pirelli P7000SS tires for $1500.00 delivered, mounted, and balanced.
We are also offering a 16" and 15" alloy wheel and Pirelli "H" rated W210A tires. The 16" alloy package is $975 +s/h and the 15" is $775 +s/h. Two alloy wheel choices are shown for each size, for style preferences. These were listed with photographs attached on 9/1 in this Forum.
A final sore point is the accumulation of brake dust on wheels, and brake squeal. If you are annoyed at this, as most are, I recommend that--especially if your are changing wheels, to change the brake pads as well. Much has been stated about this, but IMO it's well worth the app. $200.
There are several different brake pad options available, Rofrens, Mintex, Raybestos,etc.! These will help eliminate 80%+ of the dust and the annoying brake squeal, that occurs sometime! However, they will feel different than the OEM pads and respond differently. You just have to get used to them and they each have their own characterists--as do diff. cars, women, men,etc.
Should any of you have any questions or comments regarding tire/wheel fitments or recommendations, you can email me directly at ronalusa@ronalusa.com. A prompt answer will be forthcoming. You might also want to click on the SmarTire Logo to read about the wireless air pressure and temperature sensors, with alarm limits(like a radar detector-lets you know if air pressure or temperature is outside programmed limits) and you can click on the Pirelli logo to read about the tires we recommend.
09-16-1999, 08:57 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
great summary - Q on Winter wheels
Great summary...
Your previous post on 9/1 no longer has the ad for winter wheels. The graphic appears to have disappeared. Thus, one cannot find the information. I looked on the web site (to be honest, I was not impressed) - it has ZERO link to a winter tire section.
Besides alloys, does RONAL offer simple steel rims with winter wheels?
Your previous post on 9/1 no longer has the ad for winter wheels. The graphic appears to have disappeared. Thus, one cannot find the information. I looked on the web site (to be honest, I was not impressed) - it has ZERO link to a winter tire section.
Besides alloys, does RONAL offer simple steel rims with winter wheels?
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09-16-1999, 08:59 AM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Even during the summer doesn't a wider tire still compromise wet weather performance? (more)
I've thought about this on many occasion. The manufacturer obviously picks a certain width tire for a reason. For all-around driving, dry and wet, is it better just to stick with the stock width? Obviously taking a car to the track (or living in Arizona) is a different story, but for those of us in the Midwest, it might be better overall to stick with the standard width even when upsizing.
My $.02
My $.02