Woody_in_Minn

I have a 1997 A4 Q 1.8T. I have the 15" wheels. I don't like the big gap between the top of the tire and the wheel well.

I want to either do HR Lowering springs (Koni shocks) or go to 16" or even 17" tires. I don't have the money to do both.

Whats the advantages/disadvantage to both options?

- Woody

djnelsen

If you don't like the wheel gap, larger wheels will make it look worse. The larger your wheels, the bigger the gap *looks*. It's an optical illusion. Bigger wheels make the gap look larger, even though the gap hasn't actually changed. It has to do with the visual proportion between the size of the wheels, the height of the sidewall, and the size of the gap. Non-sport suspension with 17's looks ridiculous. Monster truck.

Also, in terms of a performance upgrade, in my experience nothing beats upgrading the suspension. It completely transforms the car. You won't believe how it improves the handling. Increasing the wheel size will also improve handling, but nothing close to what upgrading suspension does.

aforeign

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/10863/full.jpg"></center><p>the rolling circumfrance of a 225/45/17 tire (the most common 17 size around here) is withing 1% of the circumfrance of the stock 15 on your car. The lower sidewall of the 45 series tire will only exagerate the look. Dropping the car with springs will definitly get rid of the gap. But you will have to change the shocks when you do this. If you still have the orginal boge shocks the will be toast in no time at all. Plan on a MINIMUM of $700 for parts plus the instal and alignment if you are not doing it yourself. Having said all that a good set of tires/wheels can really change the way your car feels. It is proably the best performance/apearance mode you can do. The first pic is just the wheels, the second is with H&amp;R sports with Neuspeed/Bilstein shocks set on the middle setting. Good Luck!

aforeign

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/10863/dcp_1427.jpg"></center><p>

digitalskate

i have 17" and a HUGE will gap, i have to get some new springs and shocks on ASAP. Its terrible and i wish i had 18's

lucas

Woody_in_Minn

Guys! Thanks!

I will probably not do the suspension work myself. I called a couple different shops in the Twin Cities. They both run between $1,200 and $1,300 complete for HR Springs, and Koni shoocks, and labor.

I had planned to do the suspension in the spring if I still really liked the car - but I was interested in what bigger wheels would do also.

- Woody

djnelsen

That makes no sense. 18's will yield exactly the same gap as 17's. The gap doesn't change.

Boba Fett

Suspension.