RE: wheels/tyres

["Dave Eaton" <Dave.Eaton@clear.net.nz>]

you also should differentiate what car manufacturers will sell you, and what
car/chassis designers intended.  just because audi for example, will sell
you some wheels and tyres isn't enough for this punter.  at least buying the
factory-fitted wheel *and* suspension kit will give you something that the
factory boys have thought about a little (although you certainly pay for the
priviledge).

what i struggle with is the continual question "how wide a tyre can i fit in
my audi?"  seeming to assume that this will inevitably result in better
handling, better steering, better braking and better wet/dry performance.
no-one ever seems to think that it might decrease handling, deteriorate
steering, and munt the ride.  no-one ever asks "what is the best wheel/tyre
combination for my audi?"

fwiw, you mention the rs2.  the rs2 (on 245/40 17's) turns in more slowly
and is significantly less nimble than the ur-quattro 20v which makes do with
215/50 15's.  the rr will walk all over the rs2 in the wet, and in the dry
if the road is twisty enough.  in fact, afaik, we have one rs2 lister
presently thinking about a *decrease* in the size of the tyres on his
wagon...

i accept that bigger brakes are a possible benefit, but there are a range of
perfectly good options within the wheel size if you look around.  anyway,
that thread is dead already...

i also agree about the requirement of weight minimisation.

i'd be interested in knowing some other of those in-favour variables you're
thinking about....

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q
'61 mb fintail

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian and Mea Jowett [mailto:syncroboy@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, 21 May 1999 12:11
To: Dave.Eaton@clear.net.nz; quattro@audifans.com
Subject: Re: wheels/tyres


>clearly many on this list have btdt with "positive" results.  what >am i
>missing?

The big brakes that can be squeezed in. Also, the quality of road feel and
thus communication of what the car is doing can be transferred to up to you
at a much more rapid pace.

There are more variables than I care to get into... just watch what the
manufacturers do with higher end/performance models and you can get a good
idea of which direction to go. Look at your RS2 - a glorified 80? Slap some
185/60/14 tires and wheel with 10" brakes from a base model... see how fast
it can turn and stop.