Audi 80 Quiz
Wheels and Tires

Buying New Tires

In this manual: Wheels and Tires
Technical Description — 39Engines — 41Exhaust System — 13Cooling System — 28Fuel tank and fuel pump — 12Air Filter and Intake Ducts — 13Mono-Motronic Injection System — 18Digifant Injection System — 19KE-III-Jetronic Injection System — 35MPI and MPFI Injection Systems — 32Clutch — 11Transmission and Driveline — 21Suspension and Steering — 33Brake System — 41Anti-lock brake system — 8Wheels and Tires — 13Body Electrical System — 35Ignition System — 24Lighting — 14Signaling Devices — 7Instruments and Auxiliary Equipment — 54Heating and Ventilation — 7Body Components — 18Troubleshooting — 6Specifications — 13
~2min read

The Audi 80 has a limited selection of standard tire sizes. Only the sizes 195/65 R 15 and 205/65 R 15 are available to the driver.

The following is a brief description of the characteristics of both tire sizes that may be fitted to the Audi 80. Refer to your vehicle documents for the tire/rim combinations that may be used on your vehicle.


Even the standard 195/65 R 15 size looks very good on the Audi 80. Whereas on early model series the narrowest tires looked rather poor, this tire now gives a completely appropriate visual impression. The same can be said of its dynamic properties: 195 tires are more than adequate, including with powerful engines.

The 205/65 R 15 tires are chiefly attractive for their appearance. Compared with 195 tires, the service life of these more expensive tires is only slightly longer, and their dynamic properties are practically the same. Upgrading is therefore worthwhile only for those who like to drive their Audi 80 quickly and prefer the look of wide tires.

205 tires can be fitted to the same rims as 195 tires. Therefore, it is not necessary to buy new rims when upgrading.

Winter Tires
If your vehicle is fitted with standard 195/65 R 15 tires, it may be possible, depending on the area of operation, to drive in winter on summer tires, provided the tread depth is sufficient.


With the wide 205/65 R 15 tires the situation is worse, especially on models with more powerful engines. These tires tend to lose traction early on snow and ice, not least because of their stiffer HR rating. In this case, it is hardly possible to manage without purchasing special winter tires.

When buying winter tires, you can choose between standard M+S tires, which may only be driven at 160 km/h, and high-performance winter tires, which are expensive.

In vehicles that can travel faster than the maximum speed permitted by the winter tire rating (see beginning of chapter), a tire speed rating plate must be located on the instrument panel. The maximum speed of your vehicle is listed in the vehicle registration document.

An M+S tire with a tread depth of less than 4 mm is not suitable for winter use at all. If winter tires are required, for example in mountainous areas, M+S tires are recognized as winter tires only if their tread depth is at least 4 mm.

Test yourself

A quick Audi 80 quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.