Every picture that I've seen of the 180HP TT has depicted the car with the optional 17" wheels. Other than this extremely tiny picture:<p>http://www.audiusa.com/art/family/tt/stand_5exterior.gif<p>has anyone else seen how the car looks with it's standard wheels and/or have pictures?<p>I love 17" wheels, but I don't know how practical they are in the colder, pot-hole infested areas of our great USA. I'll probably be getting my TT with the standard 16 inchers if they don't look too hideous.<p>Any help is much appreciated...<p>Mike

Don't go for the 16". Not only because of the size, but most important because of the design.<br>The center cover on the 17" matches the <br>design of the TT perfect. The 16" looks like they're not made for the TT.<br>The 6 smaller straight spokes on the 17" makes the retro look perfect.<br>The temperature must not be an argument for not choosing the 17".<br>After all it's a question about tires or getting winter wheels if it get's that cold.<p>Well it's not an order just an opinion.<p>Mik<br>

I live in sweden where we have real winter for at least 6 months a year and I`ve ordered my TT with 16" wheels because:<br>1. The price difference to 17" is approx 1100$ which is far too much, considering that I pay more or less the same for my 18" wheels and still have the 16" for vinter season. The 16" summer rubber has been traded for good winter ditos. Consider that the 17" cost both 1100$ AND the 16"!! The 18" rubber must be paid for but my alternative with 18" summer-wheels and 16" alloy winter-wheels is both cheaper and more appealing than the 17" summer and 15" steal winter one.<br>Lou<br>2. My new 6 spoke 18" is much more eye-catching than the 17"

The 17" will have no real world value, and will certainly have the liability you described in terms of pot holes. You can always buy a set of 17" later...if and when you honestly think you need them...instead, put the option money on the headlights...wheel mean nothing if you can't see where your are going. There is a very good article in the Feb '99 issue of R&T on bigger and bigger wheel/tire packages. Ultra low profile tires with big rims is the same as pimps in gold chains. It's just like the sport suspension on Porsches...makes 30 mph feel real neat...makes 90 mph on the average road very scary. The real road and a race track are two very different places. And if you look at the tire packages offered in Europe, you'll often see they use the stock set up...not the "add on BS" that Americans love to pose in.

Well, unfortunately the xenon headlights only come with the performance package which includes the 17" wheels, right? So there is no way to get the headlights without the<br>bigger wheels.<p>

You're right. Just checked the brochure...what a shame. Well...then I'd rethink the option...and look for other ways to improve lighting. I had a 993 that came with 16" stock. I put on 17" because I thought it would handle better, but the truth is, the car was much more tossable and fun in the cayons and twisties w/ 16" than 17". VW GTi came with smaller wheel and tire packages in Europe than in the US...they just put it on here to cater to the fad. Also...more tire equals more drag...and the 180hp might be quicker with less tire than with more...the same goes for quattro. Two hundred plus pounds eats up a lot of horsepower. My guess is that a good driver in a front drive TT w/ 180 hp will beat the same driver in the quattro version.

It looks more muscular with the 16" wheels but I'm still trying to decide whether or not I think they go with the rest of the "bauhaus" design.<p>

Are there any ways to install Xenon lights after the purchase of a TT? Like install the lights after you buy it....? and does anyone have info on how to get their signal lights cleared?<p>

If I remember that article correctly, they had vast improvements when upgrading their BMW from 16" to 17" wheels and tires. Acceleration, Braking, and Handling were all better with the 17" wheels/tires even though they ended up weighing more that their 16" counterparts. They did have a decline in performance when using the 18" setup.

I'm sure you can order the lights from the dealer, but I would guess at about $1200 ea. At least that's what they sell the S4 Xenon's for. Some aftermarket companies will most likely have them. LLTek in Canada is now shipping S4 & A6 Xenons to the US and other places for A4 & A6 owners. I have Xenons on order from them for my A4 at $1299.... that's for both sides and includes all lights and clear corners.

Here is the picture you're looking for!<br>I'll receive the TT on the end on this month with 16" wheels and I was interested to see how the car looking with the standard wheels.<br>Ciao<br>Marco

picture for you !<ul><li><a href="http://www.quattroruote.it/prove/Prova_su_strada/1999/02febbraio/coupe/immagini_01.htm">http://www.quattroruote.it/prove/Prova_su_strada/1999/02febbraio/coupe/immagini_01.htm</a></li></ul>