Reducing wheel size while fitting winter tyres

[Flat 6]

Hey all,

I've been enjoying my 2009 3.0 Le Mans for 3 years now. The only thing I don't love about it is the crashy ride on rough country roads where I live. It's great on good tarmac.

So, I have been toying for a while with going down from 19inch to either 18 or 17 wheels. My C5 Sport was fantastic on 17 inch rims but I'm wondering if I can go down to 17. I have read that the advice is to only down an inch.

At the same time, I am thinking of putting on winter tyres and keeping the smaller rim and winter tyre combo for the December to April period. I tend to drive a little easier in these temperatures.

Any thoughts folks?

Al

 

[abmat]

Go down a rim size but increase the profile to keep the overall size

 

[Flat 6]

Yep, that's the plan. But would 19 down to 17 be too big a step?

My old C5 A6 on 17 inch rims seemed to handle just as well as this C6 but was much less crashy. It was a quattro sport and my 3.0 Le Mans presumably is the same general quattro sport idea. So I'm wondering if putting 17 inch wheels on it would recreate the feel of my old car.

However, I expect that the tyres needed on a 17inch rim to bring it up to the rolling circumference of a 19inch 35 tyre would be pretty high profile and handling might be crap.

Also don't even know if a 17inch rim will clear those big front brakes...

 

[c16rkc]

As long as the wheels clear the brake calipers I can't see how it matters. Were 17 inch an option on the 3.0 A6?

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

 

[Flat 6]

Thanks all,

I've found a calculator online that tells me a 17 inch rim with 45 profile tyre will give the same rolling circumference as my current R19 35 profile. There are very few winter tyres with a 255 width in that rim and profile so I would have to go down to 245.

So, I need to work out if a 17 inch rim will even clear my front calipers. There seems to be mixed opinion on that on here. I need to find a 17 rim to try it.

Will any Audi fitment rim be correct from a bolt spacing point of view? What about offsets etc. I would only be running these wheels with winter tyres for 4 months so not really bothered what I put on. There are loads of audi 17inch rims on ebay and I could probably pick up a set in a local scrap yard but I wouldn't trust them to give me quality advice.

So, any thoughts on whether 17inch will clear 3.0 tdi Le Mans Quattro calipers and, if so, which rims to fit?

Cheers,

Al.

 

[abmat]

I’m going to say no.

the 3.0/2.7 have bigger callipers and discs compared to the 2.0.

 

[Orange225]

I know my car is an a3, but I’ve got 17” winter wheels on with 345mm disks and they clear by about 10mm

 

[45bvtc]

Yep, that's the plan. But would 19 down to 17 be too big a step?

My old C5 A6 on 17 inch rims seemed to handle just as well as this C6 but was much less crashy. It was a quattro sport and my 3.0 Le Mans presumably is the same general quattro sport idea. So I'm wondering if putting 17 inch wheels on it would recreate the feel of my old car.

However, I expect that the tyres needed on a 17inch rim to bring it up to the rolling circumference of a 19inch 35 tyre would be pretty high profile and handling might be ****.

Also don't even know if a 17inch rim will clear those big front brakes...

I have in ASN's Trading Post that might suit:

FOUR GENUINE AUDI TT Mk 2 8J S-Line 5-spoke (SSM) alloy wheels with Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme 245/40 R18 97W XL winter tyres. These tyres have a rim protection ridge
ALL 4-wheels and tyres have less than 1250miles from new"

I can provide a profile drawing/section of the wheel if needed to show 'caliper clearance.'

 

[abmat]

I know my car is an a3, but I’ve got 17” winter wheels on with 345mm disks and they clear by about 10mm

Come to think of it my A3 came with 17” as std and I have 345mm discs

not sure if he’s need a different et though.

 

[zipp]

I have a facelifted 3.0TDI with 350mm (approx) front brakes and it came with 17" winter Audi rims, so I'd say there won't be any problem with the rim size. What will matter more is rim design and ET.
But going to 17" on A6 C6? Really? The car will look horrible on such small wheels. And you definitely won't get the same feeling, it is a totally different car, different suspension, everything.

17" rims:

I personally upgraded from 18" to 20" and the handling is much better. I have much more feel in the steering wheel, the car is snappier.

 

[dbakish]

Hey all,

I've been enjoying my 2009 3.0 Le Mans for 3 years now. The only thing I don't love about it is the crashy ride on rough country roads where I live. It's great on good tarmac.

So, I have been toying for a while with going down from 19inch to either 18 or 17 wheels. My C5 Sport was fantastic on 17 inch rims but I'm wondering if I can go down to 17. I have read that the advice is to only down an inch.

At the same time, I am thinking of putting on winter tyres and keeping the smaller rim and winter tyre combo for the December to April period. I tend to drive a little easier in these temperatures.

Any thoughts folks?

Al

 

[dbakish]

I have 17 inch wheels with Michelin winter tires. Works great in Canada. Lots of snow and ice here.
Dave