Fed up with ride comfort, any suggestions?
- Thread starter noahsark6
- Start date
dj_efk
A2OC Donor
You will not be disappointed with the CrossClimate+s - I see @Edwrai has already replied - he really rates them, as do others on here. I have them on my Touran and am happy to lose an almost imperceptible amount of fuel efficiency in exchange for year-round grip and class-leading longevity.
Coming from the wheels you were on, you will still notice a huge difference with this setup - out of interest what size?
noahsark6
Member
Thanks for the reassurances guys, I had read good reviews but it's nice to know other forum members rate them.
I'm going for 185/60s. I had considered 175/60s but thought to to go a bit wider so the tyre is less stretched?
175/60s are usually fitted to either 5J or 5.5J rims, so they would have been a bit stretched on 6J rims.
Tyre pressure is important for comfort. 3psi difference is easily noticeable.
You can use about 2psi to 3psi less using 185/60R15 tyres than you would using 185/50R16 tyres. This is because 185/60R15 tyres have a load index of 84(500kg) at 44psi whereas 185/50R16 tyres have a load index of 81(462kg) at 44psi. So if the correct tyre pressure (you will have to check) for 185/50R16 tyres is 31psi, you can use 29psi with the 185/60R15 tyre size.
andrewparkeruk
A2OC Donor
If you park on level ground, do not apply the parking brake
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andrewparkeruk
A2OC Donor
In the YouTube video version of the test, he gives results for a "southern UK" type winter climate. The Bridgestone tyre came top; Hankook second; Goodyear third; "dry specialist" Michelin fourth.
Interestingly for me, the Bridgestone comes in 195/45 R16 84H: unfortunately I don't need new tyres
Andrew
I would think with the new callipers and handbrake cable fitted that points at the brake carrier being the problem. Was this replaced as well? From memory about the design if the brake carrier is rusting internally where it accepts the sliding pin it might well not slide freely causing the problem.
Andy
trevorswaine
Member
I'm running 195/55x15 Crossclimates on my pepperpots, and the ride is still a bit harsh, certainly no softer than on the standard size wheel running 185/50x16.
Did you lower your tyres pressures by 3psi or 4psi with the higher load index 195/55R15 size compared to the 185/50R16 size?
195/55R15 can support the same weight as 185/50R16 tyres using 3psi to 4psi less tyre pressure.
Michelin CrossClimates in size 195/55R15 are available in different versions from H-speed rating without XL to V-speed rating with XL. The H-speed rated version without XL is likely to be more comfortable than the V-speed rated version with XL.
Fitting the 195/55R15 to a narrower 5.5J rim would also help comfort, as this helps the tyre's sidewalls flex more easily. A couple of rims in the 5.5J width are the 5.5Jx15 ET34 from the Audi A2 (normally 175/60R15 is used on this rim) and 5.5Jx15 ET40 from the Audi A1 2018 onwards.
185/60R15, 185/65R15, 195/60R15, 205/55R15 are all likely to ride softer than 195/55R15 on 6Jx15 ET38 Pepperpots.
185/65R15 and 195/60R15 increase the outside diameter of the tyre by quite a bit, but 185/60R15 and 205/55R15 only increase the outside diameter of the tyre by a little. However, out of these four sizes 185/65R15 and 195/60R15 will be the most comfortable as they have the highest sidewalls...and 185/65R15 is the cheapest size out of these four followed by 195/60R15. 205/55R15 is the most expensive size and there's not much choice as it's a rare size.
The 195/60R15 tyre size will raise the gearing by 3.3% compared to the 195/55R15 size. However, this is less than the 185/65R15 size which will raise the gearing by 4.4%.
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trevorswaine
Member
Front pressures are (or were when I checked last) 29psi and rear 27psi. Only 2 of us in the car, very rarely more.
If I may, a word of warning about tyre speed ratings - running anything less than the manufacturer's specifications is a material fact which needs to be disclosed to insurers who may very well not like it. I know that H rating is good for 130mph which is more than an A2 can do but if you were involved in an accident and they didn't know, you'd at least be in an argument with insurers about it and at worst cover would be invalidated.
andrewparkeruk
A2OC Donor
185/50 R16 81 T/H was original spec on Ronal 5-star wheel fitted to my car (6J x 16 H2)
Andrew
noahsark6
Member
Bingo!
Wheels and 185/60 15s crossclimate+ fit and tracked and what an improvement. The phrase “driving on clouds” is quite apt. Cabin noise is so quiet and ride is much less crashy. Whilst tyres and ride is so subjective I’m perfectly happy with the ride comfort now and so glad I went for this, thanks for all the suggestions and pointers! Never more will I fit cheap no-name tyres to my cars!
I’ve attached a pic but the weather is awful so it doesn’t look impressive, but I think they look great too.
Cheers!
Wheels and 185/60 15s crossclimate+ fit and tracked and what an improvement. The phrase “driving on clouds” is quite apt. Cabin noise is so quiet and ride is much less crashy. Whilst tyres and ride is so subjective I’m perfectly happy with the ride comfort now and so glad I went for this, thanks for all the suggestions and pointers! Never more will I fit cheap no-name tyres to my cars!
I’ve attached a pic but the weather is awful so it doesn’t look impressive, but I think they look great too.
Cheers!
gills
A2OC Donor
Very interested to hear this, as it mirrors my experience of fitting 165/65 15 Goodyear Vector 4Seasons on the front of mine. I've gone from thinking that I needed to fit gas shocks, to feeling that the ride is fine the way it is. It makes me think that Audi may have developed the suspension for the A2 on ones running basic 15" wheels and it's when you go for larger wheels/harsher tyres that the suspension is no longer up to the job.
noahsark6
Member
Hmm an interesting point indeed. The setup definitely feels more natural and "at-home" on the car than the previous. Your 165/65s must feel like driving on a sponge pudding!
Which shocks are you running at the moment? as i thought pretty much all modern shocks were gas?
Cheers
gills
A2OC Donor
Sorry, I forgot to reply to this the other day. The 165/65s are much more comfortable than the old 175/60s, even though the sidewalls are the same height. The biggest difference, though, is in how light and precise it has made the steering.
I think the front struts are the original ones, although it had new (Audi) springs at 80k, after one broke. The rears are on basic Sachs shocks (again with Audi springs), which I don't think are gas. I had been thinking of going down the B4 route, but now don't feel the need to.
Chand
Member
So my Fsi Sport ride has been pretty poor, but in not owing the car for long, and doing minor updates/grades as i go a long, my 17" RS wheels were in poor health. Having purchased a 2nd set ( "17" RS with tyres cheap as chips from a donor ) recently that are better than my original set (will refub these also) I took them to a guy for full refurb. the cost price increased by £50 as the rims were buckled badly on stripping and inspecting.
Now my ride was real lumpy where I was looking at replacing all elements of the suspension and increasing the aspect ratio to 45 from 40 on my tyres ,however with the 2nd set of wheels the ride is much improved . smooth and quite. the tyres are Nexens SU1 which are not as giving as the UNI Royal Sport3's on the original rims but much much much better ride even on poor roads
yes i need to change the shocks top mounts and bushes etc but the car now feels so much better same tyre pressures on 205 x40 x 17. but a super ride. so it might be worth checking out your rims cause a buckled rim(s) can cause an uncomfortable ride.
deiaturtle
Member
I can certainly second the view about Koni Special Active shocks. They have transformed my ride, although you are never going to get rid of the harshness of transverse ridges and potholes in a tall, lightweight car. I gave mine a thick coat of Belt Hamber wax a couple of weeks before fitting, as a nod to previous comments about them rusting out, and again where they insert into the hub carrier after fitting. Time will tell if rust is still an issue. I used standard size Eibach springs (available from Germany) when replacing the shocks.