Re: 17 inch tire size for A4 - advice summary

[Tom Haapanen <tomh@metrics.com>]

My brother, who runs our family's Audi dealership in Finland, has a set
of 17x8 BBS RX wheels on his A4 2.6.  I *think* he's using 215/45R17s,
but I could be wrong on that count.  Anyway, you can email him at
joukoh@vtoy.fi -- he dropped off the quattro list a while ago due to the
volume.

I've got the same wheels for my (soon to arrive) A4 1.8T quattro, but in
16x7.  I decided that the roads around here weren't smooth enough for
17s, and I'd rather spend the extra cash on a chip upgrade or something
else that doesn't punish my backside quite as much.

-----
Tom Haapanen -- Software Metrics Inc. -- Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
A Microsoft Solution Provider Partner -- http://www.metrics.com/


> -----Original Message-----
> Date: Fri, 27 Jun 1997 06:51:43 +0000 (GMT)
> From: Greg Spark <sparkg@wave.co.nz>
> Subject: Re: 17 inch tire size for A4 - advice summary
> 
> Wow! thanks for all the useful advice guys.
> 
> Summary of info:
> Stay with narrower section (215, 225) for best wet grip
> 
> 235/40-17 is smaller diameter - speedo error & wheel well-empty look
> 225/45-17 right diameter ( I suspect 245/40 ok too)
> 235/45-17 slightly big but speedo exactly right - interesting!
> 
> Mixed opinion on looks - some felt 17s unbalanced neat compact look of
> car.
> This obviously personal - my feeling is that 16s retain integrated
> proportions
> and smooth lines but 17s give serious drivers car look - can't quite
> decide
> on this one!
> 
> Dealer has warned of warranty problems with non-factory approved
> wheels.
> I know one Auckland dealer fits BBS wheels on new cars but rumour is
> there
> have been some bearing problems.
> 
> NZ importer supplies and recommends MTM 17x8.5 with 245/40 rubber but
> these will cost me about $200NZ extra each rim cf TSW (non-approved).
> The MTMs are a 7 slim-spoke design (mmmmm red porsche calipers in
> behind
> would look good ala RS2) and look stunning but I'm concerned re
> reduction
> in wet grip.
>