2.4SE/99 wheels and tyres

[Bunzer]

Hi. I'm new here. I just spent 2 hours surfing the net, and reading FAQs for more information on wheels and tyres, and I'm no wiser.

I have an A4 2.4SE (1999) I bought second-hand, three years ago. When I bought it, the wheels had already been replaced with some seemingly cheapo alternatives which have always given me trouble with air leaks. The wheels are 16", with 205/55/R16 tyres.

One thing that's always bothered me about my car is the way I can feel all the bumps in the road. Yesterday, I test drove a 2002 A4 1.9 TDI 130 Avant with the same spec wheels & tyres, and thought the ride was similarly bumpy.

So now I'm wondering if I need different wheels & tyres, after all I have to top them up every 10 days, and I'm sick of getting the local garage to wire brush them every few months.

But I can't find out what the correct spec original tyres are for my car, and what alternatives I can choose from. I can't find the spec in the manual nor online.

Am I using the wrong tyres? Am I wasting my time? Have I just got the wrong car? How can I find out what I should have and what options I can choose from? Can anyone advise, please?

[hoggy]

Hi. I'm new here. I just spent 2 hours surfing the net, and reading FAQs for more information on wheels and tyres, and I'm no wiser.

I have an A4 2.4SE (1999) I bought second-hand, three years ago. When I bought it, the wheels had already been replaced with some seemingly cheapo alternatives which have always given me trouble with air leaks. The wheels are 16", with 205/55/R16 tyres.

One thing that's always bothered me about my car is the way I can feel all the bumps in the road. Yesterday, I test drove a 2002 A4 1.9 TDI 130 Avant with the same spec wheels & tyres, and thought the ride was similarly bumpy.

So now I'm wondering if I need different wheels & tyres, after all I have to top them up every 10 days, and I'm sick of getting the local garage to wire brush them every few months.

But I can't find out what the correct spec original tyres are for my car, and what alternatives I can choose from. I can't find the spec in the manual nor online.

Am I using the wrong tyres? Am I wasting my time? Have I just got the wrong car? How can I find out what I should have and what options I can choose from? Can anyone advise, please?

With wheels and tyres it is always best to stick to audi original wheels they do not have to be the exact ones just the right fit
for your a4 the tyre is 205/55/16 the wheels 16" pcd 5x112 offset et 45 center bore 57.1 as for ride i find them all a bit hard personally i think 17" wheels are best as are no harder than the 16" and do not over load the suspension camber ect if changing the wheels anyway go for a wider tyre as well so tyre 235/45/17 and wheels 17" pcd 5x112 offset et 45 center bore 57.1 these will fit as i have some on mine

[hoggy]

thinking about it i have the audi original 16" wheels x5 all with 7mm tyres in my garage would sell them to you cheap if interested midlands area if this helps

[Bunzer]

Thanks, Hoggy. Armed with that information, I've leared a bit more about wheel/tyre jargon and my options.

I could theoretically go to a 205/60R15, which is the opposite direction to what you recommended, but I am aiming for a smoother ride. Alternatively, I calculate the opposite end to be 225/45R17 for grip and pose-factor.

I'm a bit disappointed that my wheels are the right size! I was almost convinced that the wrong wheels explained the bumpy ride, the weird gear ratios (having to use low gears at high revs) and the low-slung chassis (which resulted in a damaged catalytic converter a couple of years back). Oh well. Wrong again!

Thanks for your offer. Unfortunately, I live about 3 hours away.

Would I notice any ride difference using proper Audi alloys, being the same spec as my cheapo Sport Rader ones, other than the routine wire-brushing?

Another topic I haven't covered is the tyre itself. Am I likely to notice a big difference between makes? Is there a make/model to go for for a smoother/quieter ride?

[Boy]

Hi Hoggy, Can you send me some pics of your wheels and tyres and let me know how much you want for them please.

[hoggy]

Hi Hoggy, Can you send me some pics of your wheels and tyres and let me know how much you want for them please.
I do still have these wheels/tyres located in birmingham (north) would have to pull them out of my garage to take some pics or your welcome to come and take a look they are in good condition with great tyres would take £60 for them thats about the price of 1 tyre as they are really just taking up space:D

[Boy]

Thanks Hoggy, please pm me with your contact details so that I can try to arrange to come and see them Price sounds fine for what you have described.

[Bunzer]

Okay. I went and bought some new alloys/tyres from Motion Styling in Bradford (who were very good, by the way). I got the 225/45R17 RS4 clones, fitted, with locking bolts for £495.

Straight away, I noticed an improved ride. So I reckon there was something fundamentally wrong with the Sport Rader wheels that came with the car.

I asked the guy in the shop what tyre pressures to use, and he said 34psi. It's not that I don't believe him, I just thought I'd come here for more opinions, as I can't find anything online, other than Audi's pressures for the standard 205/55R16 tyres.

So, should I use Audi's recommended pressures, even though they're not the standard wheels? Or should they be higher/lower?

Thanks in advance.