Improve ride quality — softer sidewalls or smaller wheels?

[mrmatto]

Currently on 18’s with Michelin AS3+ tires. They’re very responsive, but not exactly smooth or quiet, and I don’t need all seasons. Fine for now though. I want to eventually improve the ride quality for daily driving but am not sure what’s the best approach:

1. Stick with the 18s but get a more comfortable tires like the Continental A/S DWS06.

2. Downsize to 17s and do a summer 235/45-R17 tire.

I like the simplicity and cost of #1, but I worry a softer sidewall will be more prone to pinch flats and rim damage.

I like the added traction of #2 (currently stage 1 tuned), but am not sure if it will look good and/or be too rubbery.

What would you do? Or, what have you done?

 

[jay745]

17s are the way.

 

[mrmatto]

17s are the way.

Tell me more. Have you done this?

 

[GTIfan99]

Tell me more. Have you done this?

17's on a mk7 here, for both my street and track setup. On the street for comfort and on track for the cheaper track tires. Either way, it's a win win.

 

[mrmatto]

17's on a mk7 here, for both my street and track setup. On the street for comfort and on track for the cheaper track tires. Either way, it's a win win.

View attachment 224645

Looks great. 235/45-17?

 

[Raguvian]

We put my 17" setup (235/45/17 tires) from my Sportwagen onto my brother's R and he immediately liked the much softer ride. Plus his car felt a little faster due to the lower unsprung mass. Tires are much cheaper as well. You really can't go wrong.

 

[GTIfan99]

Looks great. 235/45-17?

I have 2 sets. One with 225/45 17 one with 255/40 17.

 

[cb1111]

Here you go. Effects of Upsized Wheels and Tires Tested (caranddriver.com)

 

[swcrow]

17's on a mk7 here, for both my street and track setup. On the street for comfort and on track for the cheaper track tires. Either way, it's a win win.

View attachment 224645

We put my 17" setup (235/45/17 tires) from my Sportwagen onto my brother's R and he immediately liked the much softer ride. Plus his car felt a little faster due to the lower unsprung mass. Tires are much cheaper as well. You really can't go wrong.

View attachment 224646

Being a wheel whore….. this makes me want to sell my 18” APR wheels and go down to 17s…..hmmmm

 

[jmblur]

Are you stock suspension? Lowering springs? How many miles on your shocks?

17s will improve the ride but 18s are plenty tolerable even with much stiffer suspension.

 

[mrmatto]

Are you stock suspension? Lowering springs? How many miles on your shocks?

17s will improve the ride but 18s are plenty tolerable even with much stiffer suspension.

Stock suspension with 54k miles. Yeah it’s tolerable. But there are many rough roads around here. So I’m trying to consider if I should try a tire on the 18s with a softer sidewall (like continental) or go down to 17s.

 

[jimlloyd40]

Stock suspension with 54k miles. Yeah it’s tolerable. But there are many rough roads around here. So I’m trying to consider if I should try a tire on the 18s with a softer sidewall (like continental) or go down to 17s.

17's will give you the softer ride because to keep the overall height the same so your speedometer and tach remain accurate will require a tire with a taller side wall resulting in a softer ride.

 

[GTIfan99]

17's will give you the softer ride because to keep the overall height the same so your speedometer and tach remain accurate will require a tire with a taller side wall resulting in a softer ride.

Or... you can do 245 40 17 and get an overall diameter lower than stock and makes the gearing shorter.

 

[jimlloyd40]

Or... you can do 245 40 17 and get an overall diameter lower than stock and makes the gearing shorter.

Won't that make the speedo and tach read incorrectly? But the OP wants a softer ride.

 

[Raguvian]

Won't that make the speedo and tach read incorrectly? But the OP wants a softer ride.

You might be able to choose a different profile in VCDS/OBD11 that corrects the speedo.

Tach and wheel size wouldn't have anything to do with each other.