A8 Parts Forum  

Go Back   A8 Parts Forum > A8 D2 > D2 - Wheels and Tyres

D2 - Wheels and Tyres Refurbing, center caps, tyre brands, tyrefitters - discuss it here

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Old 19th May 2020, 07:17 PM
The_Laird's Avatar
The_Laird The_Laird is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Redmile: Leics, Notts, Lincs border - near Belvoir Castle
Posts: 5,069
Default

Thanks guys. I get it now, but I do wonder if this is all a bit of smoke and mirrors. Is there really a need to make that many variations of every single tyre size? And can anyone tell the difference?
__________________
2002 Final Edition S8. Ebony black with Silver Grey leather and myrtle wood trim.
Current mods: solar sun roof, 20mm rear spacers, 15 mm on front, red brembo callipers, 6k headlights, rear view camera, engine remap, alloy dash dial rings, alloy navi rings, tt/phaeton pedal upgrade, (and custom matching foot rest) dension ipod interface & parrot hands free kit (both fully hidden), av input, tv in motion switched thro' PF switch in blanking plug right of steering column, Audi 'quattro' sill covers, repositioned centre console switches, radio clock, .
Planned mods: auto-dimming rear view mirror, dash cam (as steamship's), fit the ski hatch, refit philips drl's (or maybe not - nope, definitely not - horrible botch!).
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 19th May 2020, 07:37 PM
MikkiJayne MikkiJayne is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,017
Default

The tyre manufacturers want the vehicle manufacturers to use their products. The vehicle manufacturers have specific requirements for ride, handling, noise etc and therefore in order get the contract, the tyre manufacturers have to tweak their design accordingly.

Sometimes the differences are very subtle, but other times less so. Mum's Beetle Cabrio takes 225 45 17 - a really common size. When I did some work on it recently I discovered it had Conti SportContact 5 MO on the front and AO on the back (tyre fitters who don't know or care again). One of the front tyres was damaged, but when I looked at them closely I could see not only differences in the sidewall, but also in the tread pattern itself so I specifically sought out an MO tyre to replace the damaged one. When I had the tyres dismounted to refurb the wheels I could definitely feel a difference in the strength of the sidewalls between them - the Audi version was harder. This would be slightly noisier, but would turn-in better. Given that the Beetle is front engined I ended up putting the AO tyres on the front where the weight was, and the MO on the rear, which seemed to suit it because Mum reported back that it drove much nicer afterwards Of course that might have been to do with me spending a couple of hundred hours giving it 'the treatment'! It'll get Goodyears next instead of Contis though as the sidewalls are softer again so are quieter and ride much nicer overall.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 19th May 2020, 07:51 PM
The_Laird's Avatar
The_Laird The_Laird is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Redmile: Leics, Notts, Lincs border - near Belvoir Castle
Posts: 5,069
Default

You’re better than Google, Michaela! Thanks again
__________________
2002 Final Edition S8. Ebony black with Silver Grey leather and myrtle wood trim.
Current mods: solar sun roof, 20mm rear spacers, 15 mm on front, red brembo callipers, 6k headlights, rear view camera, engine remap, alloy dash dial rings, alloy navi rings, tt/phaeton pedal upgrade, (and custom matching foot rest) dension ipod interface & parrot hands free kit (both fully hidden), av input, tv in motion switched thro' PF switch in blanking plug right of steering column, Audi 'quattro' sill covers, repositioned centre console switches, radio clock, .
Planned mods: auto-dimming rear view mirror, dash cam (as steamship's), fit the ski hatch, refit philips drl's (or maybe not - nope, definitely not - horrible botch!).
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 03:34 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.