Tyre size for Audi TT rims

[dubbed]

Hey dubbers,

I need some new tyres for my MKIV which is currently riding on some Audi TT alloys (the six spokers) and has been lowered a little above the guards. I believe the Audi TT rims are 17*7.5", correct me if I'm wrong. At the moment it has Maxxis MA-Z1 225/45/17 tyres fitted which look okay... However after getting hooked into Golfs I was considering getting a bit of stretch happening and some coil overs down the track. How would 215/45/17s look? 205 - too much?? Will the Maxxis stretch okay? What sort of price should I pay?

Cheers for the help.

[Mischa]

unfortunately 7.5" is nowhere near wide enough to get any decent stretch on a mk4. 215 will make bugger all difference and if you start going skinnier it will just look silly in my opinion i reckon stick to the 225/45's or go for wider wheels.

[jayjay]

or go both extremes.. what mischa said. you really need to get within less than 10mm of difference between the width of the rim and the tyre to get any noticable stretch..
eg. 195mm tyre on 6.5"(ca.165mm) = 30mm difference. these are square. but for instance, (mischa's car - 225mm tyre with 8.5"(ca.215mm) = a little bit of stretch

[dubbed]

Yeah cheers guys. The stretch can wait until I get some decent shoes.

I just went and got quotes on tyres and seeing how different the prices I got is ridiculous! The previous owner paid $160 a corner for Maxxis MA-Z1s two and a half years ago, yet I was just quoted $189 a corner! I told them how much 'I' paid two years ago, and immediately he said he would do them for $165. As I walked out he then yelled out '$160'!!

The rubber can wait another week...

On a side note, how wide should I be looking at for decent stretch? I was thinking about 18*8" up front and 18*9-9.5" on the rears. Possibly 17s depending on the wheel.

jayjay, how would 215s go on an 8.5" rim?

[rayray086]

Mischa's right - the tyres you'll need for "stretching" over 7.5" wheels wouldn't carry the correct load ratings for the Mk4. It depends on the tyre you use, but typically, a 205 will hardly stretch on a 7.5" (well, not the type of stretch you normally see anyway!).

I've had 205 on an 8" and it gave me this:



And 195 on 8" gave me this:



On a Mk4 running 17" or 18" wheels, I doubt you'll be able to fit 205 wide tyres let alone 195 due to the low load rating. I may be wrong though but it's just my assumption as the Mk4's a heavier car than the Mk3.

Also, 18" wheels will see you running pretty low profile. Combining stretching with really low profile will leave the edge of your wheels exposed more, and could cause it to come in contact with the road on hard cornering. It can happen but it's unlikely unless you're using 35 profile, fit overly-narrow tyres and have them underinflated!

Anyway, it's just some pointers to think about when you decide on stretching tyres.

[Mischa]

On a side note, how wide should I be looking at for decent stretch? I was thinking about 18*8" up front and 18*9-9.5" on the rears. Possibly 17s depending on the wheel.

jayjay, how would 215s go on an 8.5" rim?

you can easily go 8.5 up front and 10 rear on an mk4. neil can fill you in on the offsets you need. 215 on 8.5 and 235 on 10 would be what i'd choose.

[dubbed]

Thanks guys, a lot of food for thought. I've only taken notice of stretching in the past couple of months so still learning and yearning

[SoVeReIgN]

225/45/17 = Your speedo is perfect

215/45/17 or thiner and your speedo is going to be out.

fyi.

[dubbed]

225/45/17 = Your speedo is perfect

215/45/17 or thiner and your speedo is going to be out.

fyi.

Yeah I thought of this too. But the wheels on there are bigger than what it came with anyway... I'm going to stick with the Maxxis 225s for $160 a corner.