Tyre time...!

[P_G]

Looking at the configurator you can get the 255/225 front / rear combo on both 8J and 8.5J rims. Would it be that bad if you had 255 front and rear?

[nicholas]

Looking at the configurator you can get the 255/225 front / rear combo on both 8J and 8.5J rims. Would it be that bad if you had 255 front and rear?

255 at the front and rear won't reach the effect we're talking about.
Wider tire at the front eliminates understeer..
Leave the rear ones 225.

[Dave_Hedgehog]

the description gives that impression but if you mouse over the two rows of wheels 255s are all 8.5J

im glad i got it thou

[Dave_Hedgehog]

I would go for:
255/35/19 front
225/35/19 rear

Thats a big difference in rolling diameter front to rear

i hadnt thought of this

this is my 255 8.5J v 235 8J (as a potential winter tyre)

207.69 v 203.29

not to bad, i could live with that for a winter wheel

[Dave_Hedgehog]

comparing 255 front to 225 rear and stock 235 front to 225 rear

[P_G]

Looking at the configurator you can get the 255/225 front / rear combo on both 8J and 8.5J rims. Would it be that bad if you had 255 front and rear?

255 at the front and rear want reach the effect we're talking about.
Wider tire at the front eliminates understeer..
Leave the rear ones 225.

I don't qute follow that logic?

255 tyres were put on the front because as it was seen that the grip offered over 235 was signnificant enough to warrant it. Much like us RS4 owners will put on 275/30 rather than 255/35 and have seen better turn in grip, part of the understeeer elminaton solution. RS3's are Haldex driven so predominantly front wheel drve so what grip the rears have should not have an adverse effect on the fronts i.e. put a wider tyre on the rear = more grip and the back = does not induce understeer. As for rollng radius, the speedo measures off the front axle IIRC and if the difference is <5% it shouldn't damage the Haldex.

I just find it a bit of an odd set up?

[Dave_Hedgehog]

Looking at the configurator you can get the 255/225 front / rear combo on both 8J and 8.5J rims. Would it be that bad if you had 255 front and rear?

255 at the front and rear want reach the effect we're talking about.
Wider tire at the front eliminates understeer..
Leave the rear ones 225.

I don't qute follow that logic?

255 tyres were put on the front because as it was seen that the grip offered over 235 was signnificant enough to warrant it. Much like us RS4 owners will put on 275/30 rather than 255/35 and have seen better turn in grip, part of the understeeer elminaton solution. RS3's are Haldex driven so predominantly front wheel drve so what grip the rears have should not have an adverse effect on the fronts i.e. put a wder tyre on the rear = more grip and the back = does not induce understeer. As for rollng radius, the speedo measures off the front axle IIRC and if the difference is <5% it shhouldn't damage the Haldex.

I just find it a bit of an odd set up?

It's also about the balance between front and rear axel not just individual axel grip. increasing the rear grip will induce more oversteer on the limit

Thats why some mid engined cars come with different sizes front and rear, I think our mr2 roadster had 16s on the front and 17s on the rear, I seem to remember the early NSX had a very odd tyre configuration

[RSphantom]

I might be talking out of my but does it have something to do with the width on the rears as well. I think 255's on the rears might cause a far bit of rubbing???

[nicholas]

I might be talking out of my but does it have something to do with the width on the rears as well. I think 255's on the rears might cause a far bit of rubbing???

omg, you don't put 255 on the rear..... RS3 is a understeer car - you need to have wider tyre on the front...

[Gasman]

Here's a question now...on a haldex quattro, should all 4 tyres be changed at the same time, or can "odd pairs" run without issue?

Have managed to source a reasonable price for the Michelin SuperSports but have about 3-4mm tread on the rears. Question is do I run a Michelin/Conti combination or all michelin?

Thanks

[Dave_Hedgehog]

Here's a question now...on a haldex quattro, should all 4 tyres be changed at the same time, or can "odd pairs" run without issue?

Have managed to source a reasonable price for the Michelin SuperSports but have about 3-4mm tread on the rears. Question is do I run a Michelin/Conti combination or all michelin?

Thanks

you can happily run different tread depth front to rear on quattro, because of the odd tyres there is a difference out of the box

if your basing on reviews im surprised your all not going for pirrelli p zeros which hammered everything in last months EVO tyre test

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/20 ... e-Test.htm

[PetrolDave]

if your basing on reviews im surprised your all not going for pirrelli p zeros which hammered everything in last months EVO tyre test

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/20 ... e-Test.htm

The big problem with P Zeros is that they are a very soft compound and wear out really fast (at least 50% quicker than any other tyre on a B7 RS4 in my experience) so they review well in a short tyre test but in the real world they go "off" very quickly. I will NEVER fit P Zeros to my RS4 despite them being what the factory fitted.

[turbo roro]

do you all take 18" wheels for winter ? anyone been drivinf on snow with the 19" ?

[Dave_Hedgehog]

do you all take 18" wheels for winter ? anyone been drivinf on snow with the 19" ?

most people in the uk dont run winter wheels or tyres

[JonG]

I would go for:
255/35/19 front
225/35/19 rear

Thats a big difference in rolling diameter front to rear

Big, but for the RS3 it's for the better. There even is a wheel upgrade package with such configuration.

Thats too big a difference in rolling diameter IMHO

I note that the Audi upgrade package has 255/30/19 tyres on the front and not 35 profiles, presumably to keep the rolling circumferences similar front to rear.

http://www.audi.co.uk/content/dam/audi/ ... rtback.pdf (page 24)