Tyre Sizes

[MrBones]

Hi All
I am running the standard S-Line multi spoke alloys on my car which has a standard size tyre of 225/40/18's
I need to change my tyres and I would like to go for a thicker tyre wall 45's and maybe even 50’s as I live in the sticks and an area with a lot of pot wholes
What do you guys think? Most of my driving is just cruising around to and from work, but sometimes I need to push it and I like to cruise along the motorways at high speed, for long distances
Do you think that going for a thicker tyre wall will give me a smoother ride?
The price of the 45’s are a little more (about 20-30 quid more per tyre) but is this worth it?
Don’t get me wrong I don’t think the S-Line suspension is not too hard, but I would also like to fill my wheel arches a little more
After reading peoples comments on here, I was thinking of buying Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2’s which are about £100 a corner at the moment, But someone has said on here that the Vredestein Ultrac Vorti is a good tyre and a little bit cheaper
What do you think?
The car is a remapped 170 S-Line Quattro sportback

Thanks in advance for any advise

 

[MrLapou]

It's a good plan to go for 45 sidewall. But if side wall increases, then the tyre diameter changes which then changes speedometer readings. a 17" wheel with 45 tyres is equivalent diameter to 18"on 40 tyres.

 

[Muzza80]

Hi All
I am running the standard S-Line multi spoke alloys on my car which has a standard size tyre of 225/40/18's
I need to change my tyres and I would like to go for a thicker tyre wall 45's and maybe even 50’s as I live in the sticks and an area with a lot of pot wholes
What do you guys think? Most of my driving is just cruising around to and from work, but sometimes I need to push it and I like to cruise along the motorways at high speed, for long distances
Do you think that going for a thicker tyre wall will give me a smoother ride?
The price of the 45’s are a little more (about 20-30 quid more per tyre) but is this worth it?
Don’t get me wrong I don’t think the S-Line suspension is not too hard, but I would also like to fill my wheel arches a little more
After reading peoples comments on here, I was thinking of buying Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2’s which are about £100 a corner at the moment, But someone has said on here that the Vredestein Ultrac Vorti is a good tyre and a little bit cheaper
What do you think?
The car is a remapped 170 S-Line Quattro sportback

Thanks in advance for any advise

I wouldn't to changing the profile of the tyre from the standard recommendation. Your speedo would be out for one, rubbing possibly. You could go for a non XL tyre which may give a bit more compliance while sacrificing a bit of turn in sharpness.

You don't change the tyre profile to fill the arches either, you lower the vehicle.

 

[JohnE]

Going for a higher profile but not changing s=wheels size will alter the overall diameter and therefore gearing and speedo/milo accuracy.

You might be interested in my experience of changing my 17s (225 45) for 16s (205 55) - bought from a member and all-round good egg on here.

I only changed at the weekend, but so far I have noticed - slightly smoother ride - also a bit bouncier. I think the standard suspension (mine is Sport, not S-line) is very hard and lacks compliance and body control for UK roads - it's fine for the track and motorways - there are other threads on this. The previous owner of these wheels bought 'em for his A3 S-line to improve the ride.

The other benefits the of narrower wheels/tyres are - better indicated economy and (subjectively) the car feels very slightly quicker (may be true as the wheels/tyres are significantly lighter) with no real-world loss of grip.

My car is very very slow compared with yours and most on here though

 

[MrBones]

Hi Both
Thanks to you both for taking the time to comment
I very much appreciate your comments
I am now thinking of just keeping with the standard size tyres as advised, it was just a niggling thought I have had for a bit