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The use of 245 width tyres on standard s4 8J by 18 rims

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:19 am
by GilesProbert
I have done a search on here and the indication is that increasing to this width - might increase tram-lining, but would would only affect the speedometer by about 1%.

I could not find any advice on whether there would be any fitment problems inside the wheel arches, but believe they should fit on the rims fine.

I am tempted to go down this route as i believe the extra width wouldfill ou the arches nicely and would also offer a little more protection to the rims (I am not the only person that drives this car)

Any thoughts gratefully appreciated

Giles

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:45 pm
by Pete.S
Increasing the width won't affect the speedo as long as you keep the tyre height (& thus circumference) the same as standard.

I'm sure I remember a post on here a while back from someone who's fitted wider wheels & tyres without arch-rubbing problems, so at an increase of 10mm I'd say you'd probably be ok, but I'd double check with a knowledgeable tyre fitter first to make sure the wider tyre will fit on the standard rim (I presume that's what you're planning)

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:13 am
by GilesProbert
pete S
Thank you for the information,I am still surprised that nobody on here has tried it.
Giles

Re: The use of 245 width tyres on standard s4 8J by 18 rims

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:27 am
by HoppyUK
GilesProbert wrote:I am tempted to go down this route as i believe the extra width wouldfill ou the arches nicely and would also offer a little more protection to the rims (I am not the only person that drives this car)
Giles, I don't see the point of doing this. If you're hoping to get an extra 5mm of overhang to protect the rims, I don't think you will in practise. And extra width doesn't really fill the arches, only extra diameter will. Which is where you will get into speedo and gearing problems (you'll be going faster than your speedo reads).

Extra width and diameter is where you'll get rubbing problems and the only way to be certain here when tolerances are tight is to try it, which is an expensive game. Even if others have found it ok, then unless they are using exactly the same brand/model/spec tyre/wheel as you, you can never be 100%. (Tyre size are nominal, not actual, and the differences are surprising.) On the other hand, I can't believe that an extra 10mm would be critical, but my Impreza didn't have much more than that on the rear!

And then, if the difference is only 1%, then you're only going to fill your arches by 1%... There are lots of size onverters on the web, like this one:
http://www.powerdog.com/tiresize.cgi

If you want to protect the rims, then get a tyre with a rim protector moulded on, but I always go for the grippiest rubber, not the tyre with the biggest rim protector.

All in all, I'd stick with the OEM tyre size, fit some parking sensors and get them to drive carefully ;)

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:44 pm
by GilesProbert
HoppyUk
Thank you for the advise it is appreciated, I think I might just stick with a set of 10mm spacers.
All the best
Giles