16in vs. 18in wheel ride quality?
01-20-2004, 09:59 AM
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16in vs. 18in wheel ride quality?
Noob here (be gentle). This is my first post, but I've been lurking for over a year... I finally made the leap from my 225 TT to a clean loaded silver/black 2002 Avant. I love the look of the RS4 9 spoke 18in wheels on Sarge and Carbonlord's cars for example, but am afraid the ride quality might be to harsh for a family daily driver. What do those of you that've made the leap to 18in think? I won't open the can of worms regarding OEM vs. replica, or if I need to drop the car after the upgrade ;-)
Thanks for the feedback in advance.
Thanks for the feedback in advance.
01-20-2004, 10:06 AM
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Why not consider 17's?
You won't sacrifice much ride quality and will indeed get better feel. Also, if you live in an area where the roads are less than "glass-like", 18's are more likely to get damaged.
01-20-2004, 10:12 AM
#5
It comes down to sidewall ride height. The shorter the sidewall, the more impact from potholes. To
optimize an 8% slip angle of the tires, the difference between 17"s and 18"s are debatable. It is approximately 0.2" in ride height via sidewall differences. The shorter rubber has more impact on jolt than grip. Maximizing that optimal 8% slip angle is not affected by the height difference. 18"s are for show mostly. Ever ride in a Navigator with 22"s? New kidneys please. 
01-20-2004, 10:23 AM
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The ride was smoother when my dad was riding the 19" then with the stock 17", go figure!
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/23527/pic_019.jpg"></center><p>The tire will make a huge differance.
