feisty

I have a 2000 A6 2.8 Quattro Advant with the standard 205/55/16 Michelin Energy Plus tires with about 20,000 miles and am looking into purchasing new tires, probably Yokohama DBS soon. I have been told that if I plus 0 size the tires (to 225/50/16) I will get much more flexing on the sidewalls since the width of the tread is approx. 0.5 inch greater and will not like the handling (squisher)of the car.

Has anyone done this plus sizing on the A6 Advant? Are there any problems with handling or clearances? Any problems with tire fitting on standard wine glass wheel?

Thanks

quattro007

I think that changing the profile series of your tire 55 to 50, without changing the rim, will change the radius. Therefore messing up your speedo and odometer.

To answer your question though, typically whenever you go with a lower profile tire, the lower the profile, the more stiff the side wall is. IMHO if you indeed can go with a 225/50R16 without messing the gauges up, you will get a sportier ride. A lot probably depends on the tire though. My guess is a S03 Potenza will ride better then the other tire, no matter what size.

ryoung

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the 225/50-16 can be mounted on anything from 6-8" wide wheels. Actually, 7" is the design width for this tire.

Handling will be noticeable improved.

You will not get more flexing of the sidewalls.

Outside diameter's of the 205/55-16 and the 225-50-16 are identical; i.e. no speedo error.

Since 235/45-17 is the OE tire on the A6 3.0, no clearance problems.

The Bottom Line: the 225/50-16 is a very good choice.<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/110254.phtml">Guide to A6 tire options</a></li></ul>

Stoney

You've written a great review of the S-03s (<A HREF="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/5405.phtml">https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/5405.phtml</A>). I wonder if you have any information or opinion on the Toyo Proxes T1S. I'd be interested in them if the grip wet and dry were comparable, turn-in and stability (lack of corrections) in a turn were comparable, but the ride was slightly more forgiving and slightly quieter.

April says they are awesome, and described them as comparable to S-03s in normal driving and even better when pushed. But, the virtues you described for the S-03s were so subtle but clear in your mind, and you tested them on an Audi, which may make a difference (she drives Alfas).

Any thoughts on either of these tires?

<A HREF="http://www.treadepot.com/td.c/orders/index.html">Toyo Proxes T1 $162 at TREADEPOT.COM</A>
<A HREF="https://forums.audiworld.com/racing/msgs/18882.phtml">April on Kumhos at track</A>
<A HREF="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/132515.phtml">April: If you like S-03s, you'll love Toyos</A>
<A HREF="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/11960.phtml">April: older message about Toyo, Dunlops</A>
<A HREF="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/141763.phtml">April compares Toyo, S-03s</A>
<A HREF="https://forums.audiworld.com/other/msgs/96224.phtml">Toyo Proxes T1-S are awesome &amp; 3lb lighter</A>
<A HREF="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/121358.phtml">April: Just spent the weekend on track, Toyo vs S-03</A>
<A HREF="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/100401.phtml">April: Ignore the SP9000 for track, have Toyos on now</A>
<A HREF="http://www.toyo.com/tires/tire_lines/high_perf/t1s.html">Toyo Proxes T1S: mfr info</A>

smallTTs

but more important is the construction of the tire. S-03's or even 730's are going to be much sticker and laterally stiffer than the stock tire. If you get the feeling now that the car is "falling off it's tires" in a hard turn, going to S0-3, 730 etc. will get rid of most of that. It's more tire construction than size/section ratio.

One caution: with a stickier tire you'll work the suspension harder and get more body roll and more ride motions as you drive harder (which the tires will allow you to do). In other words the tires will not then be the weakest link. You might then want to change dampers and springs. IMO, just going to a 225/50 high performance tire won't spoil things, it will just improve them. As far as ride stiffness goes, you can simulate it by inflating your stock tires 5-7 psi higher than you normally run them.

My $.02

ryoung

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I put high value on April's opinions.

At the time I purchased my S-03's, the only other tire I considered was the Pirelli PZero Asymetric. Also, I'll soon be updating my S0-3 "review" with comments from the track; I'll have the S8 at Grattan in two weeks.

All else being equal, though, the S-03 and T1-S are not equal. In 255/35-20, the S-03 weighs 31 lb, while the T1-S weighs only 25 lb ... quite a large difference, that tips the scale (pun intended) in favor of the T1-S.

Aldous

The stock 205/55/16 has a width of approx. 8-1/16" and a sidewall of 4-7/8"
The 255/50/16 has a width of approx. 8-7/8", but still the exact same sidewall of 4-7/8"
Remember the 2nd number is simply an aspect ratio of the first (i.e. a percentage), not an actual number of millimeters (like the 1st number)
So, to "feisty",
You're changing the width of your tire just over 3/4" (perfectly OK on those rims), but really only extending a small amount further over the rim width. Any increased flexability would be unnoticable compared with the increases in contact patch and more aggressive appearance. It's questionable how much change Plus 1ing does, so I can't imaging you'll feel much difference because of the resizing; more likely handeling improvements you feel can be attributed an upgrade in tire composition and quality of construction.

Stoney

Thanks, that helps a lot!

quattro007

too sure At least now I know

ryoung

<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/9376.phtml">S-03's in the rain at Grattan</a></li></ul>