Re: Another Tire Fitment/App Request

[John Karasaki <johkar@teleport.com>]

At 04:56 PM 1/30/98 -0800, you wrote:
>I just got my set of 16" A8 wheels for the '88 5kCSQW.  I heard Dave 
>Head's horror story about the 225-50/16s, so I thought I'd post a 

Dave didn't have a "horror story."  He knew (because I told him) that the
225/50/16's would not fit, but since he had access to some, decided to try
them.  He did this to see just how much they stuck out.  He had no
intention of ever using that size tire on those wheels I sold him.


>request to the list to those out there that have a similar situation 
>(16x7 ET37 wheels in a '85-'88 5kCSq or '89-'90 200Q).  If you have 
>this situation, what brand and size tires are you using and do you 
>have any problem squeezing them under a stock ride height suspension?  

You need to run 205/55/16 tires on your car with the wheels I sold you if
you want them to fit and keep the best rolling diameter.  You will have no
problems with this tire.  If you try and use a 60 series or a 215mm wide
tire, it WILL NOT FIT without radical camber or some baseball bat work.

Anyone's 205/55/16 will work.  I ran those wheels on our '87 5ktqw with
those size tires except that they had a thread height of 13/32 instead of
10/32 as most new tires -- AND they were studded!  So they were taller and
had metal protrusions to tear the hell out of the fender liner IF they
rubbed.  With 300+ lbs. of sand and some cornering, I could not get them to
rub.  AND I have 140k miles on the springs and shocks back there!

This is akin to the 215/225 on Fuchs discussion that occurred several years
ago.  I recall that ended with the decision that 205 tires were the right
choice for a 7" wide wheel.  The same result still applies.

>If you feel compelled to reply to the list, go ahead, but I will also 
>compile any private e-mails I receive and make a general post if I 
>get anything substantial.  

e-mail me direct if you need any specific measurements.  I have access to
almost any 5 bolt Audi you may have wheel fitment questions about (no
cabrio, sorry, though 4 bolt? anyway).

>
>Thanks much!
>
>Steve Buchholz
>San Jose, CA (USA)
>
>BTW, It seems to me that those A8 wheels are pretty light ... in 
>unscientific testing they don't seem to be that much heavier than 
>the forged Fuchs 5-spoked 15x7s ...

I weighed them.  About the same weight, but this is using a bathroom scale!