Best rim size

[JavaGreen]

What is considered to be the best rim size for 1.4 petrol?

14/15/16 or 17

TIA

Paul

 

[Jeff Sutcliffe]

What is considered to be the best rim size for 1.4 petrol?

14/15/16 or 17

TIA

Paul

It all depends on what you want. The smaller the rim, the taller you can have the sidewall of your tyres, which will then soak up the potholes and other defects in badly surfaced roads. The bigger the rim, the lower the tyres' sidewall, which some claim gives a better feel to the steering at the expense of feeling more bumps in the road.

 

[carlston]

What is considered to be the best rim size for 1.4 petrol?

14/15/16 or 17

TIA

Paul

Here's two options to add to your shortlist. Option 1 is a standard winter tyre size. However, aftermarket 5Jx15 ET28 steel rims don't seem to be available anymore, leaving only the expensive Audi OEM ones. For that reason, I would go with option 2. 165/65R15 and 185/65R14 tyres have the same outside diameter.

Option 1
165/65R15 tyres fitted to 5Jx15 ET28 rims.

Dunlop Sport All Season. Only £ 79.90

All-season tyres Dunlop Sport All Season, 165/65 R15 81T, Load rating: 81, Speed index: T: up to 118 mph.

www.mytyres.co.uk

Option 2
185/65R14 tyres fitted to 6Jx14 ET38 rims.

Dunlop Sport All Season. Only £ 80.09

All-season tyres Dunlop Sport All Season, 185/65 R14 86H, Load rating: 86, Speed index: H: up to 130 mph.

www.mytyres.co.uk

 

[Kleynie]

There are other factors you need to consider, the load rating is very important on an A2 and 17” wheels with new suspension and the correct load rating aren’t actually too bad. Of course, knackered suspension with XL rated tyres is very bad (from experience)

Ian

 

[Robin_Cox]

I have 16" SE wheels on all three of ours, with 45, 50, and 55 profile tyres on these (for summer use). The 45 and 50 profile tyres have very "A2" steering - and are also lighter-weight range tyres with lovely handling and feel on windy local roads. The 55s are superb on long motorway journeys , and appear to be as tough as nails with their XL weight rating as well as thumping through bad road potholes etc. without being unduly affected. However, they are not as light feeling on roads with a lot of corners - a graphic example of the right car being used for the right purposes.

 

[JavaGreen]

Thank you so much for the replies, most appreciated. It gives room for thought as to the way ahead in relation to rims. I have seen some very nice rims that I would like..... since they are pricey I needed expert advice on rim size?

 

[A2Z]

I have 16" SE wheels on all three of ours, with 45, 50, and 55 profile tyres on these (for summer use). The 45 and 50 profile tyres have very "A2" steering - and are also lighter-weight range tyres with lovely handling and feel on windy local roads. The 55s are superb on long motorway journeys , and appear to be as tough as nails with their XL weight rating as well as thumping through bad road potholes etc. without being unduly affected. However, they are not as light feeling on roads with a lot of corners - a graphic example of the right car being used for the right purposes.

Just a word of caution to the op, if you put a smaller 45 profile sidewall tyre on in the same width ie 185/45/16 instead of the standard 185/50 or larger 55 your speedo will significantly over-read, probably by around 5mph I would have thought and although handling could be improved, the ride quality will certainly not as you will feel lumps and bumps in the road more.

I personally would never fit a smaller tyre size on an A2,either stick to standard sizes or possibly step up one size in either profile OR width and you should be fine BUT always do your homework first ?