[V8] Tire Size on 17-inch Wheels

[Jeremy Ward]

I just put some 245/40/17 meaty tires on my 17x8 rims.  With the spacers it
looks BIG pimpin' ;-)

As Bryan explained, the first number is the width of the tire in mm; the
next is the ratio of tire width to sidewall height (or something like that).

There is a steering dampener on the rack and pinion that costs ~$100 from
the stealership.  This may seem like a fortune (especially compared to the
$350 rebuilt rack from Jorgen), but this OEM part has the right
characteristics to give you the feel you are looking for.  I am guessing
that someone put the less expensive Fox steering dampener on your V8Q, or
yours is just plain worn out.  Very easy to install even if you aren't
tackling a rack replacement (which is about the biggest PITA on this beast).

Cheers,

- Jeremy

-----Original Message-----
From: v8-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:v8-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of
daves745t at optonline.net
Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 5:12 PM
To: Jelly Roll; Audifans V8
Subject: Re: [V8] Tire Size on 17-inch Wheels

Thanks you guys for setting me straight.  I always thought it was 
in millimeters, I didn't realize it was a ratio.  I guess that's why
offsets always confuse me and I always have to look at the diagrams
to make sure I get it.

For the record and for better or for worse (OK - worse, much worse), 
I'm currently running 215/45/17s.  The rims are 7inches wide 
and I'm not happy with the steering characteristics at all so 
I'll be looking for 17s by 7.5 or 8 (preferably 8 - can you say Boleros :)?)

and will look to run 235/45 as I think it is the narrowness of 
the tire combined with the weight of the car that is screwing up the 
steering geometry.  

I've found that while I love my V8Q, the steering in particular is much 
more luxury than performance - more play in the wheel and I can drive it 
with my pinky.

-Dave
90 Pearl

----- Original Message -----
From: Jelly Roll 
Date: Friday, December 29, 2006 7:40 pm
Subject: Re: [V8] Tire Size on 17-inch Wheels
To: "daves745t at optonline.net" 

> Hello Dave,
> 
> The correct fitment for 17" wheels ont he V8 is 235/45, and you 
> don't want
> to go taller than that w/o modifying it. I used this size tire 
> for a summer
> tire a year or two. I lived in Vermont, and on those roads and 
> with sport
> gas shocks and springs fitted, it was too rough and I went back 
> to 16"
> (225/50) for summer and winter. Somewhere with smoother roads, 
> I'd have
> preferred 17" for summer use.
> 
> Also, the second number (45, 50, 60) is not an absolute 
> measurement of
> sidewall height in mm - it is a ratio fo the sidewall height 
> against the
> tread width. Thus the sidewall height on a theoretical (245/60) 
> is not 60mm
> but (0.6 x 245) 147mm.
> 
> Bryan
> 
> 
> 
> On 12/29/06, daves745t at optonline.net wrote:
> >
> > Quick question - on a 17-inch rim,
> > is a 60mm sidewall too high? Does anyone
> > know if it will rub? I've got 45mm sidewalls
> > on now and 1) the gap between the top of
> > the fender and the tire is large, but more
> > importantly 2) I've nailed a couple of potholes
> > that rattled my fillings and a higher sidewall
> > would definitely improve the ride.
> >
> > I measured the space and it would seem to
> > clear with room to spare, but I checked out
> > the Wheel Database on Jeremy's site and I
> > didn't see any example of 60mm sidewalls on
> > a 17-inch rim. Plus the pic of the Boleros (and
> > some other 17s) were running tires 40mm sidewalls
> > and there didn't seem to be a heck of a lot of space
> > to spare, although the pics can certainly be
> > deceiving.
> >
> > Thanks as always, and Happy New Year everyone!
> > May your V8Q shift smoothly, idle quietly and
> > never leak fluids.
> > -Dave
> > 90 Pearl
> > _______________________________________________
> > Audifans V8 mailing list
> > Send posts to: mailto:V8 at audifans.com
> > Manage your list connection: 
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/v8> Have an Audi V8 
> question? Check the Audifans Knowledgebase!
> > http://www.audifans.com/twiki/bin/view/Audi/V8
> > Have a V8 answer? ... Please help others by adding to the KB 
> ... all
> > contributions welcome!
> >
> 
_______________________________________________
Audifans V8 mailing list
Send posts to: mailto:V8 at audifans.com
Manage your list connection: http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/v8
Have an Audi V8 question?  Check the Audifans Knowledgebase!
http://www.audifans.com/twiki/bin/view/Audi/V8
Have a V8 answer? ... Please help others by adding to the KB ... all
contributions welcome!