Help... Utterly confused about Alloys...

[MattUK]

Hi,

So recently I bought a A4 Sline Avant.. as pictured below.. it comes on 18" alloys which are rather abused.
Pic below

So I realise that the wheels are 5x112 but I am a bit lost about the bore/offset etc.

What can I put on this car as a direct replacement.. which audi OEM wheels are inter-changeable without adjusting anything else ?
I quite fancy the newer RS wheel ? (The ones on the new rs6 I think) - and I have been eyeing up stuff on Ebay.. but I do not want to end up buying something which I cannot use.

The A4 is totally standard as far as I know with respect to shocks etc.

Lastly what are peoples views on Replica alloys are they frowned upon as cheap knockoffs ? Or are they as good a quality as the OEMs ?

Cheers

Matt

 

[ajax1976]

You're looking for 5x112mm, centre bore of 57.1 and offsets of between et35 and et48 will fit fine. Most VAG group cars of similar ages will directly bolt on, just keep an eye on the offsets as that's were issues can arise. Newer ones such as B8 A4s etc have centre bores of 66.6 but spigot rings can safely lower to the 57.1 we need.
I'm not 100% sure but think your current wheels will have an offset of around et48, a lower of offset will start pushing the wheel outwards, higher offset will pull it in from the arch.
As for replicas some are ok and some aren't quite so good, they'll almost certainly will be heavier but for the majority that's not an issue. Read about some cracking but tbh I think there's a lot of scaremongering with them. Personally I'd run a solid painted replica wheel but I'd be avoiding anything with polished lips etc such as BBS LM reps, look great new but deteriorate fast and the style of the wheel makes them easily damaged.

 

[Joe_Murphy21187]

As above, reps can be fine but will be heavier and not quite as good quality as OEM or branded (e.g. BBS). Having said that they are usually between 1/3 and 1/4 the price of OEM/branded rims, so providing you do some research into who you're buying them from and they're not bargain basement reps, you should be fine.

I got some BBS CH Reps from BM Autosport, great customer service, quick shipping and have had no buckling, cracking or any issues with balancing. They generally get good write ups and have a decent range of reps for your fitment (5x112)

You can go wider with the offset, personally I have ET33 and am lowered 30mm and have no issues, could probably go to ET30 before it started to look odd but can't comment on arch clearances at that... Don't be put off by the standard offset on wheels if it's too high, you can always reduce the offset (make the wheels stick out more) by using spacers, but the cost of decent 'hubcentric' spacers is something you have to allocate additional £££ for

 

[MattUK]

Cheers for that guys.. lots to think about.

So really its just ensuring the wheel clears the arches if the offset is wider than my current wheels. I quite fancy the Audi Y Spoke.. but hell they are not "cheap"
Off to have a look at BM Motorsport.

Thanks

Matt

 

[MattUK]

Hmm alot of the alloys on BM are for the 66.6 CB so I would have to look at spigot rings if I wanted to have a greater choice I think..

 

[MattUK]

Sorry one other question.. what does the (x)J number refer to when is see 18x8J or 18x7.5J etc ?

Ta

Matt

 

[jdp1962]

Sorry one other question.. what does the (x)J number refer to when is see 18x8J or 18x7.5J etc ?

Ta

Matt

The "J" number is the width of the wheel rim, measured from lip to lip.

 

[ajax1976]

Hmm alot of the alloys on BM are for the 66.6 CB so I would have to look at spigot rings if I wanted to have a greater choice I think..

spigot rings are dirt cheap and very common with aftermarket wheels, makes sense for a manufacturer to mass produce a wheel with larger bore and then use a cheaper part to fine tune the fitment. BBS and many other top brand aftermarket wheels use them, also makes things easier for you too if you ever decide to sell the wheels on, broadens the market for them.

 

[MattUK]

Hi,
Well am still searching for a set of 17" alloys to use with winter tyres.. I am spending too much time on ebay browsing

So some more queries - my current 18's are 8J and ET43 - can I fit 7/7.5J with ET28 ? - Or is that pushing it ?

Also anyone had experience with Wolfrace alloys ? As these are for winter use I do not want to spend too much as they will be used n the rubbish weather

Cheers

Matt

 

[Joe_Murphy21187]

Why would you fit thinner wheels/tyres for use in winter? This will give less grip...

If they're just for winter use you could look for a cheap set of A4 SE alloys on eBay or the classifieds on here...

NB: 7.5J = 7.5inches. So you'd be reducing your wheel width by 25mm (assuming 8J to 7.5J), pushing them out by 15mm (ET43 - ET28). I don't see how that would cause any rubbing/fitment issues?

 

[MattUK]

Well tbh - the availability of winter tyres for 18" alloys seems limited and very expensive - and I understood it was better to have narrower tyres for the snow as it improved the handling.

 

[Molnboman]

Why would you fit thinner wheels/tyres for use in winter? This will give less grip...

If they're just for winter use you could look for a cheap set of A4 SE alloys on eBay or the classifieds on here...

NB: 7.5J = 7.5inches. So you'd be reducing your wheel width by 25mm (assuming 8J to 7.5J), pushing them out by 15mm (ET43 - ET28). I don't see how that would cause any rubbing/fitment issues?

Fitting thinner and smaller wheels than standard with winter compound tyres is standard practice up here in Swedenshire during Winter months.

Cheers
Allan

 

[Joe_Murphy21187]

I stand corrected!

I envisaged snow shoes, large surface area etc. But I guess narrow tyres would cut through the snow more and gain contact with the road perhaps?

 

[jdp1962]

during Winter months.

That would be....what... August through to June?

 

[Molnboman]

That would be....what... August through to June?

Close Jdp.....The Mrs called me last Friday when I was Italy to say the snow arrived during the night....***!! Still mild up here...and I still have the Summer boots on....am gambling mid November for the first serious stuff! Happy Days!!!

Cheers
A

 

[Tolak]

NB: 7.5J = 7.5inches. So you'd be reducing your wheel width by 25mm (assuming 8J to 7.5J), pushing them out by 15mm (ET43 - ET28). I don't see how that would cause any rubbing/fitment issues?

Note the offset is talking about the centre line of the wheel (moving by 15mm outwards) but the width of the wheel is symmetric about that centre line (so 25mm side to side, and so 12.5mm reduction of centre to one side).

But I agree with the result; moving the tyre out by 1/10" is really unlikely to cause rubbing on the arches.
Moving the centres out might make the steering weight heavier, but the thinner tyres would reduce this force, so again, no significant difference.

And I totally agree with the idea of getting a common/cheap tyre size for the winter tyres; the softer rubber will give much lower life, so not paying top dollar would be beneficial. And you could chose a steel rim, which is common in Europe for the winter wheels, to make them lower maintenance, if the cost is more important than the look. (I'm looking for the OEM steel for the model on my daily hack, so the fit is easy. And from a scrappy will keep the price down, too!)

 

[Tolak]

I stand corrected!

I envisaged snow shoes, large surface area etc. But I guess narrow tyres would cut through the snow more and gain contact with the road perhaps?

Another benefit is that you can use "high-profile" tyres, so hidden lumps and bumps are less likely to damage the rims, and also provide a more comfortable ride. (Some of those lumps and bumps may be unavoidable, if the ice is really bad) The larger sidewalls also allow the tread to conform to the road surface, and hence get more grip.

 

[Tolak]

I put my chains on last night.
I had to; it was Halloween!

 

[MattUK]

Thanks for the help.. I have picked up some 17" gen Audi alloys off of ebay.. now I just need to find some decent (but reasonable) winter tyres..

Cheers

MAtt

 

[Tolak]

Thanks for the help.. I have picked up some 17" gen Audi alloys off of ebay.. now I just need to find some decent (but reasonable) winter tyres..

Cheers

MAtt

Interesting to know how you come to chose winter tyres.
The normal consideration of outright performance, or longevity, or whatever you use for "summer" tyres may change, so provide the ultimate grip in extreme conditions.

I chose mine by suitable price, and the construction and temperature range being appropriate; I will therefore be better equipped than the others on the road, but do not want to be the rock they use to stop them hitting someone else. The rim/tyre size also allows me to fit my snow chains, if things get really severe.

 

[MattUK]

Down to price tbh - I usually do not go for the cheapest brands.. but head for the middling brands.. there will be no change to the current "Summer Tyres" until they wear out, but tbh I liek the Avon ZZ5's which are on the 18"s

 

[Tolak]

So now I've been running my winter tyres for about a month on my daily hack; 205/55R16 on front, compared with 225/45R17 standard on rear, and have had no worries about speed, handling, etc, and it is OK in cold weather and wet (significant quantities of wet and standing water .

One day, when tyres were still cold, I did get a wheel spin unexpectedly (and day was not icy) so the tyres are not a source of infinite grip when cold; not sure if the rolling will always cause them to heat up (even in frozen conditions) so even when better, it may not be the ultimate. (Might teach me for buying economy winter tyres?)

The 205/55R16 is a standard size for the car (and is the size of the spare), as is the 225/45R17, (all the same rolling diameter) so no fitting issues and only the relative width sizes as a difference. So now I just have to wait for the wet stuff to get colder!

 

[Tolak]

Temperatures are now climbing; chance of snow is virtually nil (quote me!) so I'm going back to the summer tyres soon.

 

[Molnboman]

Temperatures are now climbing; chance of snow is virtually nil (quote me!) so I'm going back to the summer tyres soon.

Yep, me too Mate....we had the mildest Winter since came here in 2006!......in fact, you could almost argue we didn't have a ****** Winter here.....You can bet your *** you'll need them in 9 months time.

BR
A