Stuart

My A6 was supplied with 15" wheels.
The wheels are in poor condition so they need to be refurbished or replaced.
Can I replace them with 17" alloys ?
Are there any issues with this ?
Speedo calibration ?
Steering ?
Performance ?
Would they fit in the wheel arches, I am sure I have seen A6s with 17"
wheels, but are there other mods required ?
Etc...

I have no experience of this and would appreciate if anyone can advise.
TIA
Stuart

Pete

"Stuart" <greenbanshee66@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:jpICb.51861$kh4.17850@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> My A6 was supplied with 15" wheels.

Sucks, doesn't it?


> The wheels are in poor condition so they need to be refurbished or
replaced.
> Can I replace them with 17" alloys ?

Yes.


> Are there any issues with this ?

Harsher ride. Higher likelihood of bending a rim on a pothole. More
expensive tires. That's all I can think of.


> Speedo calibration ?

Not needed if you select the correct size tire (see link below).


> Steering ?

Better/quicker steering response with 17s, although that depends on the type
of tire as well.


> Performance ?

Generally more grip and better high speed stability assuming you'll choose a
wider tire to go with those new larger rims.


> Would they fit in the wheel arches, I am sure I have seen A6s with 17"
> wheels, but are there other mods required ?

Assuming you choose a 17-inch rim with the correct offset and wheel-bolt
pattern (5x112) and the correct tire size, there will be no other mods
required. However, if you have stock suspension (not lowered), putting on
larger rims will make the wheel gap look pretty bad. The gap physically
won't get bigger, but it's just an optical illusion caused by more rim and
less tire.

Some aftermarket rims will also require centering rings because of different
center bore, and new lugbolts. Most reputable rim shops will provide these
free of charge when you buy rims from them.


> Etc...
>
> I have no experience of this and would appreciate if anyone can advise.
> TIA

Use this tool to help you select the correct tire size (based on your
current size) in order to keep the speedometer error down to a minimum:

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Cheers,

Pete

Clanger

"Pete" <escape2music@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:brfmpv$9ja$1@news.onet.pl...
>
> "Stuart" <greenbanshee66@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:jpICb.51861$kh4.17850@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> > My A6 was supplied with 15" wheels.
>
> Sucks, doesn't it?
>
>
> > The wheels are in poor condition so they need to be refurbished or
> replaced.
> > Can I replace them with 17" alloys ?
>
> Yes.
>
>
> > Are there any issues with this ?
>
> Harsher ride. Higher likelihood of bending a rim on a pothole. More
> expensive tires. That's all I can think of.
>
>
> > Speedo calibration ?
>
> Not needed if you select the correct size tire (see link below).
>
>
> > Steering ?
>
> Better/quicker steering response with 17s, although that depends on the
type
> of tire as well.
>
>
> > Performance ?
>
> Generally more grip and better high speed stability assuming you'll choose
a
> wider tire to go with those new larger rims.
>
>
> > Would they fit in the wheel arches, I am sure I have seen A6s with 17"
> > wheels, but are there other mods required ?
>
> Assuming you choose a 17-inch rim with the correct offset and wheel-bolt
> pattern (5x112) and the correct tire size, there will be no other mods
> required. However, if you have stock suspension (not lowered), putting on
> larger rims will make the wheel gap look pretty bad. The gap physically
> won't get bigger, but it's just an optical illusion caused by more rim and
> less tire.
>
> Some aftermarket rims will also require centering rings because of
different
> center bore, and new lugbolts. Most reputable rim shops will provide
these
> free of charge when you buy rims from them.
>
>
> > Etc...
> >
> > I have no experience of this and would appreciate if anyone can advise.
> > TIA
>
> Use this tool to help you select the correct tire size (based on your
> current size) in order to keep the speedometer error down to a minimum:
>
> http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
>
> Cheers,
>
> Pete
>
>

and I thought the speed of a car was taken from a drive shaft within the
gear box.........by an electronic sensor. This way tyre size does not come
into the equation......or does it.

Ron

"Clanger" <D231@sidfseltd.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:brh62p$irv$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
> >
>
> and I thought the speed of a car was taken from a drive shaft within the
> gear box.........by an electronic sensor. This way tyre size does not come
> into the equation......or does it.
>
>

Bigger wheels with bigger tyres will always cause speedo problems with
current technology, the speed is determined by revoloutions of the wheel, be
it via the drive shaft or whatever, bigger wheels and incorrect tyre choice
will always effect the amount of revolutions the wheel does, and cause the
speedo to show a slower speed.

Unless you have a GPS speedo.

What pete said is spot on, you have to lower the sidewall to compansate for
the larger diameter wheel, right down the 35 profile tires for 19", the only
limiting factor on choosing rims is the "J", this is the diameter width
wise, 8J should go on with no problems.

Ron

resident cynic

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 16:44:46 GMT, "Ron" <ron@ron114.com> wrote:

>
> "Clanger" <D231@sidfseltd.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:brh62p$irv$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
> >
> > >
> >
> > and I thought the speed of a car was taken from a drive shaft within the
> > gear box.........by an electronic sensor. This way tyre size does not come
> > into the equation......or does it.
> >
> >
>
> Bigger wheels with bigger tyres will always cause speedo problems with
> current technology, the speed is determined by revoloutions of the wheel, be
> it via the drive shaft or whatever, bigger wheels and incorrect tyre choice
> will always effect the amount of revolutions the wheel does, and cause the
> speedo to show a slower speed.
>
> Unless you have a GPS speedo.
>
> What pete said is spot on, you have to lower the sidewall to compansate for
> the larger diameter wheel, right down the 35 profile tires for 19", the only
> limiting factor on choosing rims is the "J", this is the diameter width
> wise, 8J should go on with no problems.
>
> Ron
>

For example, a 1998 A6 Quattro speedometer expects close to 830 tire
revolutions per mile, if it is to be accuarate. Check tire sizes at
www.tirerack.com to see what this spec is for tires of different size.

You can calculate the speedo error based on the ratio of your chosen tire
size to 830. Close enough, anyway.

Doug Ramage

"Ron" <ron@ron114.com> wrote in message
news:2s0Db.5301$W14.54746282@news-text.cableinet.net...
>
> "Clanger" <D231@sidfseltd.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:brh62p$irv$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
> >
> > >
> >
> > and I thought the speed of a car was taken from a drive shaft within the
> > gear box.........by an electronic sensor. This way tyre size does not
come
> > into the equation......or does it.
> >
> >
>
> Bigger wheels with bigger tyres will always cause speedo problems with
> current technology, the speed is determined by revoloutions of the wheel,
be
> it via the drive shaft or whatever, bigger wheels and incorrect tyre
choice
> will always effect the amount of revolutions the wheel does, and cause the
> speedo to show a slower speed.
>
> Unless you have a GPS speedo.
>
> What pete said is spot on, you have to lower the sidewall to compansate
for
> the larger diameter wheel, right down the 35 profile tires for 19", the
only
> limiting factor on choosing rims is the "J", this is the diameter width
> wise, 8J should go on with no problems.
>
> Ron
>
>

You will probably need to advise your insurance company, if this is not an
Audi spec option - or risk voiding your policy.

A company refused to insure me for not standard alloy wheels (even of the
same Audi spec, and supplied by an Audi dealer). Note "refused" - not giving
me the option to pay a higher premium.
--
Doug Ramage

Stuart

"Doug Ramage" <xxdoug-ramage@taxman.uk.com> wrote in message
news:bri98s$3lr67$1@ID-34015.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
> "Ron" <ron@ron114.com> wrote in message
> news:2s0Db.5301$W14.54746282@news-text.cableinet.net...
> >
> > "Clanger" <D231@sidfseltd.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
> > news:brh62p$irv$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
> > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > and I thought the speed of a car was taken from a drive shaft within
the
> > > gear box.........by an electronic sensor. This way tyre size does not
> come
> > > into the equation......or does it.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Bigger wheels with bigger tyres will always cause speedo problems with
> > current technology, the speed is determined by revoloutions of the
wheel,
> be
> > it via the drive shaft or whatever, bigger wheels and incorrect tyre
> choice
> > will always effect the amount of revolutions the wheel does, and cause
the
> > speedo to show a slower speed.
> >
> > Unless you have a GPS speedo.
> >
> > What pete said is spot on, you have to lower the sidewall to compansate
> for
> > the larger diameter wheel, right down the 35 profile tires for 19", the
> only
> > limiting factor on choosing rims is the "J", this is the diameter width
> > wise, 8J should go on with no problems.
> >
> > Ron
> >
> >
>
> You will probably need to advise your insurance company, if this is not an
> Audi spec option - or risk voiding your policy.
>
> A company refused to insure me for not standard alloy wheels (even of the
> same Audi spec, and supplied by an Audi dealer). Note "refused" - not
giving
> me the option to pay a higher premium.
> --
> Doug Ramage
>
>
Thanks for all the valuable information.
I will ask the insurance before doing anything.
Stuart

Pete

"Doug Ramage" <xxdoug-ramage@taxman.uk.com> wrote in message
> You will probably need to advise your insurance company, if this is not an
> Audi spec option - or risk voiding your policy.

That's a valid point which I forgot to mention. In the US, ins. companies
aren't as strict as in Europe.

Also, the US-spec. '98 A6 did not come with 17" rims, not even as an option.
This option (17x8 rims with 255/40/17 tires) only became available in 2000
for the A6 4.2Q. Not sure how it was in the UK.

Cheers,

Pete

Ron

"Pete" <escape2music@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bricvs$d5m$1@news.onet.pl...
>
> "Doug Ramage" <xxdoug-ramage@taxman.uk.com> wrote in message
> > You will probably need to advise your insurance company, if this is not
an
> > Audi spec option - or risk voiding your policy.
>
> That's a valid point which I forgot to mention. In the US, ins. companies
> aren't as strict as in Europe.
>
> Also, the US-spec. '98 A6 did not come with 17" rims, not even as an
option.
> This option (17x8 rims with 255/40/17 tires) only became available in 2000
> for the A6 4.2Q. Not sure how it was in the UK.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Pete
>
>

Costs me 40 quid a year more for 18" wheels with Esure

Ron

Ron

"Stuart" <greenbanshee66@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:%y2Db.58060$kh4.40604@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
> "Doug Ramage" <xxdoug-ramage@taxman.uk.com> wrote in message
> news:bri98s$3lr67$1@ID-34015.news.uni-berlin.de...
> >
> > "Ron" <ron@ron114.com> wrote in message
> > news:2s0Db.5301$W14.54746282@news-text.cableinet.net...
> > >
> > > "Clanger" <D231@sidfseltd.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
> > > news:brh62p$irv$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > and I thought the speed of a car was taken from a drive shaft within
> the
> > > > gear box.........by an electronic sensor. This way tyre size does
not
> > come
> > > > into the equation......or does it.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > Bigger wheels with bigger tyres will always cause speedo problems with
> > > current technology, the speed is determined by revoloutions of the
> wheel,
> > be
> > > it via the drive shaft or whatever, bigger wheels and incorrect tyre
> > choice
> > > will always effect the amount of revolutions the wheel does, and cause
> the
> > > speedo to show a slower speed.
> > >
> > > Unless you have a GPS speedo.
> > >
> > > What pete said is spot on, you have to lower the sidewall to
compansate
> > for
> > > the larger diameter wheel, right down the 35 profile tires for 19",
the
> > only
> > > limiting factor on choosing rims is the "J", this is the diameter
width
> > > wise, 8J should go on with no problems.
> > >
> > > Ron
> > >
> > >
> >
> > You will probably need to advise your insurance company, if this is not
an
> > Audi spec option - or risk voiding your policy.
> >
> > A company refused to insure me for not standard alloy wheels (even of
the
> > same Audi spec, and supplied by an Audi dealer). Note "refused" - not
> giving
> > me the option to pay a higher premium.
> > --
> > Doug Ramage
> >
> >
> Thanks for all the valuable information.
> I will ask the insurance before doing anything.
> Stuart
>
>

BTW Stuart, 17's are a bit small, 18" will look much nicer, a nice set of
18" RS4 replicas look very nice on A6's

Tyres are a little more, around 100 quid each for cheap ones, 17" tyres are
abit cheaper, if its a quattro you should see 30k miles from a set of tyres,
if you dont drive like a nutter

Ron