Audi Winter Wheel/Tyre package for S3

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Been on the phone to a couple of dealerships to see if they do a winter wheel/tyre package.

Edinburgh Audi - there was a special Audi promotion but it finished on 24th Sept. What before winter started. Yep !! :banghead:

Perth Audi. Yes we can do that. 5 spoke 17" wheel with Dunlop winter tyres ( didn't ask which ones ) 205/50/17. £1080.

Anyone bought this package, or think it's good/bad value ?

Sure I could do it cheaper if I bought a 2nd set of wheels from eBay and just got winter tyres fitted, but as always, seems an easy option that if Audi provide it as a package then I know the wheels will fit over the brakes, will be an OK offset, etc
 
I must admit I looked a little into it, and it ain't worth it, just go buy 4 tyres, and pay to have them swapped on the rims twice a year.
Though if you do want to play in the snow, and do not want to damage your rims, then maybe worth buying a spare set of rims , just as cheap as you can find but look ok.
 
Intersting thread. This has been discussed a few times recently, particulalry given we are in for the third bad winter winter in a row, and not the last if you ask some who believe this is the start of cold cycle that goes about every 20-30 years.

I've been looking to get some winter tyres this year, firstly becuase of the above, and secondly because i'm driving down to Meribel this year for a spot of boarding. I was going down the route of buying a secondhand set of non-descript alloys and fitting some wonter tyres that I could then swap over as I wished. The Nokian GR will be my choice.

I'm intrigued that Audi offer the 17" wheel package for the S3 as I was under the impression that anything smaller than an 18" wheel would foul on the front break discs...
 
Brett Butler said:
I must admit I looked a little into it, and it ain't worth it, just go buy 4 tyres, and pay to have them swapped on the rims twice a year.
Though if you do want to play in the snow, and do not want to damage your rims, then maybe worth buying a spare set of rims , just as cheap as you can find but look ok.
Click to expand...
The main benefit of going for this package, over just switching tyres on current wheels, is getting a narrower tyre which would help even more with traction in the snow. However, against that, most of the winter there won't be snow on the ground, just cold. Hmmm, decisions..................
 
You never know, was last year a one off, or are we going through a period like in the 70's where we had proper cold weather in the winter and snow every year, worse than last year pretty well every year, even in the south.
 
merc have similar deals on just now just look for an et of 40-50 and minimum 17" with a pcd of 5 x 112 and a 7.5 -8j width similar prices to that too
 
P5SND said:
merc have similar deals on just now just look for an et of 40-50 and minimum 17" with a pcd of 5 x 112 and a 7.5 -8j width similar prices to that too
Click to expand...
Thanks, will have a look.

You must have had it pretty bad in Forfar last winter - did you manage OK with standard wheel/tyre or did you have winter ones on ?
 
i was running a half winter setup on the a3 the fwd wheels were running ice tyres so wasnt too bad tbh, worth investing in i know i am investing in 4 for the s3
 
beanoir said:
I'm intrigued that Audi offer the 17" wheel package for the S3 as I was under the impression that anything smaller than an 18" wheel would foul on the front break discs...
Click to expand...

Remember the S3 shares brakes with the 3.2q that was available with 17s from the factory
 
sub39h said:
Remember the S3 shares brakes with the 3.2q that was available with 17s from the factory
Click to expand...

Well thats what I had heard, but I also know that my nephew tried fitting 17" inch wheels on his R32 and the clearance was barely there, 1mm at best, and with the wheel weights fitted just wouldn't work at all. Recommended clearance from the caliper tends to be at least 2mm of not 3mm, and more if it's a floating caliper.

Now i'm not debating that Audi didn't fit 17" wheels to the 3.2Q and whether it did or didn't have the same brakes as an S3, but if they did, and they do, then what wheels will exactly fit, as in my experience not all 17" wheels will fit over a 345mm brake set up. I think given the tolerances in question it comes down to things like wheel off-set, manufacturers dimensions etc.
 
Last edited:
it was the 5 arm sport alloys that i had on my old A3:

Audi17Alloy.jpg


tho i've also seen 3.2s with these:

245%20copia99CA1.jpg
 
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Really don't like those first ones, spokes are far too big/wide - the only good thing I could think to say about them are they would be easy to clean.

So that's probably put me off buying the official package if that's what on offer ( seen a pdf from Audi USA showing all the winter wheels across the entire model range and it matches what they had unfortunately )
 
Done some more checking on the official Audi package.

Our standard S3 wheels are 7.5" wide I'm pretty sure, yet the 17" package they are offereing is only a 6" wide wheel. Does that not sound too narrow ?

In terms of tyre width to wheel width what is the acceptable ratio ?

7.5" is 190.5mm, and the normal tyre is 225mm, ie tyre is 118% of the width of the wheel.
6" is 152.4mm, and they were putting a 205mm tyre on, ie tyre would be 134% of the wheel.
Doesn't sound right to me.

There's a better looking wheel which is officially for the TT and TT-S, which is 7".

However the package comes with a 225/50/17 tyre. Now having done the maths the rolling circumference of that tyre is 3.1% bigger than the standard 225/40/18 tyre.
This would affect speedo ( would read 72mph rather than 70mph ), mileometer, etc to some extent.
Thoughts ? Is that too big a difference ?
 
i have a set of the five arm ones going cheap if anyone wants to pm me
 
Finally got myself sorted with a set of Continetal TS810 S winter tyres ( from www.tyremen.co.uk - great service )

Also got a set of top condition 2nd hand wheels from eBay - just went for standard size 225/40/18.

Should get them all fitted this weekend
 
Nelson_R32 said:
S3 winter wheels would be under a grand with 10% off!
Click to expand...

Not quite... £1,224 fitted less 10% = £1,102. Ordered mine last week, figured that buying just the tyres in 18s would cost £700 so £400 for the alloys isn't bad and it saves getting the tyres switched twice a year.
Also, when I queried with my insurers they were very clear that unless it was Audi approved fitment they wouldn't cover. I asked if I could put winter tyres on the existing genuine rims and they said that unless that is what Audi recommend then no!!
 
Hi,

It really depends which size tyre you want for you vehicle :


  • 225 40 R18 92 Y
  • 225 45 R17 94 V (Winter dimensions)
  • 205 50 R17 93 H (Winter dimensions)
 
I'm just going to swap the tyres over.

The winter tyres I have are dunlop winter sport 4ds 225 40 18s. I had the 3ds on my mercedes and they were incredible in the cold.

Am not bothered if it doesn't snow, the improvement in damp and cold breaking alone saved me from a nasty smash in the merc so they paid for themselves immediately.

when temps drop below 12 its touch and go if the winter is better, below 7.5 and there's no question. On and ice and snow, the difference is laughable. up to a quarter of the stopping distance on snow!
 
Also, when I queried with my insurers they were very clear that unless it was Audi approved fitment they wouldn't cover. I asked if I could put winter tyres on the existing genuine rims and they said that unless that is what Audi recommend then no!![/QUOTE

I was warned about this when considering going extreme and trying to find 16" alloys and tyres ( for maximum softer ride ) to replace existing 18". Another posts suggests 16" would foul discs.
 
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