B7 wheels

**sidewinder306** · 23-12-2009,12:07 AM

Guys,
I am looking to fit snow tyres to my 2008 sline special editon.
It comes as standard with 18" wheels and 235/40/18 tyres.
Could anyone tell me what is the smallest wheel size that can be fitted? I was considering getting a set of 15" or 16" wheels to fit with snow tyres.

Thanks

Stephen

**sooty** · 11-01-2010,06:40 AM

The smallest size that is standard to the car is 16" however you might be able to fit steel wheels of 15" but I aint too sure.

**sidewinder306** · 11-01-2010,07:35 AM

As an update, I eventually looked up the michelin site which was great.
The smallest wheels that can be fitted to the B7 is a 16".
The smallest which can be fitted to a B6 according to the web site is 15" although I have a B6 130 sport as well as my B7 and both have the same front brakes so I would suggedt that 15" may be the smallest fitment for the bigger braked B6.
I fitted a set of 16" Mercedes wheels which fitted fine but required to be fitted with spiggot rings to reduce the centre hub hole size. I also had to file out the bolt holes a little, but the bolt taper is the same so this would not affect the operation in any way. Hope this helps others.

Stephen

**brakedust** · 11-01-2010,01:43 PM

Hey Stephen
I was looking into this myself

What tyres did you eventually go for??

regards

**sidewinder306** · 11-01-2010,07:55 PM

Hi,
I went for a set of 215/55R X16. I actually got 4 but fitted two to the front of each of my cars. They work a treat, kind of like the difference between going out in the snow in your best leather soled dancing shoes -v- your hiking boots!

S

**darich** · 12-01-2010,12:00 AM

IS that the most sensible idea fitting good gripping snow tyres to the front and less gripping tyres to the rear?

New tyres should always go on the front to avoid oversteer due to the rear wheels aquaplaning in the wet.

I think I'd rather have the same type of tyre all round, even if they're not winter tyres.

**sidewinder306** · 12-01-2010,08:25 AM

Darich,
You are correct that it is best to have the same tyre type all round to maintain balance and I would also reccomend this for quatro versions. My cars are FWD and I have gone for a compromise as all of the drive, all of the steering and most of the braking is done at the front I have obtained say 80% benefit and 20% draw back by only fitting the tyres to the front. The other thing to consider is that when the snow tyres are really needed it is unlikely that you will be going that fast and will be driving giving consideration to the conditions (and the set up of the car). It tends to be the case in the UK that you only need the snow tyres to get you to the good roads where the standard back tyres work as they should,in fact here you may get a wee bit of understeer although I have not experienced it to date.
As with all things I suppose it's a compromise and driving with consideration to the your car is set up.

S