Offset & Tyre Advice

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HHS3

Phantom Black S3 - R-Tech Stage 2+
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Hello,

I own a 2007 Audi S3 which currently has the standard alloys on it. It's my birthday in a couple of months and my old man has very kindly offered to buy me some alloys.

Ideally I wanted rotars before but genuine ones are around the 2K mark and there's no way I'd ask for them, I don't trust the build quality of replica's despite their attractive price, I've therefore decided to go with the popular choice of Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2's (Anthracite Gloss).

To my knowledge the standard S3 alloys are as follows:
  • PCD: 5x112
  • Diameter :18 inch
  • Width: 7.5 inch
  • Offset (ET): 56
The Team Dynamics are:
  • PCD: 5x112
  • Diameter :18 inch
  • Width: 8 inch
  • Offset (ET): 42 or 45
I've done an online offset calculate and believe I should be ok with ET42, as they're £60 cheaper than ET45, but just wanted some confirmation from people on here regarding ET42?

I have no spacers, it's not lowered and my tyres are currently 225/40/18. What would be better at ET42/45 225 or 235?

Thanks.
 
Et 45 will be just right with your 225/40/18 tyres but the ET 42 will be right on the limit to stay within the arches, it's only 3mm more pokey outy but maybe the MOT tester won't like them. All depends how friendly your MOT tester is.
Good choice with the TD 1.2's, Here's one of my Westfield track wheels-
 
Soot1 said:
Et 45 will be just right with your 225/40/18 tyres but the ET 42 will be right on the limit to stay within the arches, it's only 3mm more pokey outy but maybe the MOT tester won't like them. All depends how friendly your MOT tester is.
Good choice with the TD 1.2's, Here's one of my Westfield track wheels-
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response and apologies for the lack of knowledge on my behalf, so if you could persevere with my dumb question(s) then that would be most appreciated haha.

My brother works at a garage who can get the mechanic to pass anything in the MOT so that's no issue, but if you could elaborate on the ET42 not staying in the arches please? As in, say if I'm looking directly at the car front on, then the wheels/tyres will be 3mm wider then the car i.e not sit flush?

Westfield wheel looks great, bet you have a lot of fun in it! The same brother has a Westfield and it's sweet, we picked up my S3 in it, was an awesome day out!
 
I have 18" 8J ET42 running a 225 tire, they sit nicely in the arch but I'm getting some slight rubbing on the rears. Think I need to remove the screw in the arch lining.

They are FOX 005's for reference.
 
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scotty dugg said:
I have 18" 8J ET42 running a 225 tire, they sit nicely in the arch but I'm getting some slight rubbing on the rears. Think I need to remove the screw in the arch lining.

They are FOX 005's for reference.
Click to expand...

Handy to know, cheers for the info bud. I've heard about this screw in the arch and it's a right pain from what I remember reading a while back, so unless I'm wrong, then I might just go for ET45 instead for less hassle..
 
I have same wheels on my A3. I went for et45 with 225 tyres and are fine no rubbing and it's lowered too.
 
There should be plenty of space with ET45 or 42 heightwise with standard suspension and wheels, I don't understand why some rub in the arch.
Go with the cheaper ET42's HHS3.
 
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Soot1 said:
There should be plenty of space with ET45 or 42 heightwise with standard suspension and wheels, I don't understand why some rub in the arch.
Go with the cheaper ET42's HHS3.
Click to expand...

Thanks mate will do, I've just got to be patient now! Just under two months to wait..

What engine do you have in your Westfield? My brothers got the 2L Lancia, it sounds awesome and is a lot of fun, especially when the weather is like it is today.
 
Lancia engine, never heard of one before in a Westy. I have a Vauxhall Redtop @ 225bhp. and yes, fun in the summer.
 
Yeah they're pretty rare apparently, not many of them about according to the previous owner

Nice, I bet that is an absolute joy to drive! We just need the sun now and for it to stay longer then a couple of hours.
 
Started driving mine in February and already done 6 trackdays. No carpets of squidgy seats in mine, I just treat it as 4 wheeled motorbike and never had the roof on since I bought it.
 
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After speaking to demon tweeks, the pricing was an error on there behalf as the ET42 actually cost the same as ET45. They spoke to TD who said that the ET42 are out of stock for a few weeks and the ET45 would be a perfect fit for my car and are also in stock, so I'll probably go with the latter now as I'm inpatient and can't bare the sight of the stock alloys any longer!

I'm now toying with the idea of going for 8.5 inch alloys as they cost the same and presumably these will sit nicely with ET45 with no rub etc?
 
The trouble with getting wider alloys is that you can still only fit 225 section tyres so these will be stretched even more than on the 8" rims (std S3 alloys are 7.5")
 
nluk100 said:
The trouble with getting wider alloys is that you can still only fit 225 section tyres so these will be stretched even more than on the 8" rims (std S3 alloys are 7.5")
Click to expand...

Going by recommendations from several wesbites, 225 is the bare minimum that will fit 8.5J alloys, I got some 225 Michelin PS4's earlier this year so when the times comes to replacing them, I'd go for 235 instead if I get 8.5J.

Judging by what others run then I would've thought running 18x8.5 on ET45 with 235 tyres would be ok on the standard suspension with no spacers?

Rim|Min | Ideal Tyre W| Max
7,5 | 205 | 215 or 225 | 235
8,0 | 215 | 225 or 235 | 245
8,5 | 225 | 235 or 245 | 255
 
Yes, 225 is pushing it on an 8.5" rim (for normal road use) but 235 will almost certainly rub slightly at the back.
 
nluk100 said:
Yes, 225 is pushing it on an 8.5" rim (for normal road use) but 235 will almost certainly rub slightly at the back.
Click to expand...

The 8.5J are out of stock until the end of September and so I'm going to play it safe and buy the 8J ET45 alloys. When the times comes to replacing the 225 PS4's, I'll change to 235 tyres then which will be fine with 8J ET45.

Cheers.
 
My 8J on ET 42 rub on a 225 tire.

I wouldn't say there was any stretch, but there is not much protection provided from the tire for the rim.

If that helps at all.
 
scotty dugg said:
My 8J on ET 42 rub on a 225 tire.

I wouldn't say there was any stretch, but there is not much protection provided from the tire for the rim.

If that helps at all.
Click to expand...

Cheers mate. I emailed Demon Tweeks who spoke to Team Dynamics of whom advised that on 18s in my S3, using 8J ET45 would be the safest setup. I've just ordered them and they will be coming Saturday!
 
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scotty dugg said:
My 8J on ET 42 rub on a 225 tire.

I wouldn't say there was any stretch, but there is not much protection provided from the tire for the rim.

If that helps at all.
Click to expand...
do they rub much as i have just bought a set of 8x18xet42 lol ?
 
scotty dugg said:
Tbh only on the arch screw on drivers rear. But I'm not lowered so might be different for you. Solution is to remove the screw or wait till it rubs off completely!
Click to expand...
i am not lowered , i would get the arches rolled if it gets to be a problem , not had them fitted yet .
 
I run team dynamics 1.2:

18x8 ET45 with a 225/40 tyre. I'm around 30mm lower than standard height.

The car is fine for general & fast road use, it doesn't rub. But it DOES rub on track. It rubs on the inner front arches just above the arch liner screw (I removed the screw when I fit the coilovers) and it rubs on the rear at the bumper bracket.

Also as a little side note. I would say that Team Dynamics are the single worst company I have ever dealt with in my life. They lied about my delivery time considerably. It took over 8 weeks for me to receive my wheels (they stated 3 at time of ordering), and when they did finally come they were wrong. They are really really really unhelpful & it took 3 months for me to get a refund. Honestly, avoid them at all costs in my opinion. if you really want there wheels buy them off a supplier not direct.
 
Tom5190 said:
I run team dynamics 1.2:

18x8 ET45 with a 225/40 tyre. I'm around 30mm lower than standard height.

The car is fine for general & fast road use, it doesn't rub. But it DOES rub on track. It rubs on the inner front arches just above the arch liner screw (I removed the screw when I fit the coilovers) and it rubs on the rear at the bumper bracket.

Also as a little side note. I would say that Team Dynamics are the single worst company I have ever dealt with in my life. They lied about my delivery time considerably. It took over 8 weeks for me to receive my wheels (they stated 3 at time of ordering), and when they did finally come they were wrong. They are really really really unhelpful & it took 3 months for me to get a refund. Honestly, avoid them at all costs in my opinion. if you really want there wheels buy them off a supplier not direct.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info mate. I'm currently not lowered and I won't be doing any track days (for now) but do enjoy spirited driving, so it's good to know that I won't be getting any rubbing ;)

Wow what an absolute ballache that sounded, there's nothing worse than having to deal with inefficient companies especially when they already have a shed load of your money! I've ordered mine through Demon Tweeks who were very helpful indeed, Carl especially who I had been emailing for a while was happy to answer all my questions and so I'd recommend them to anyone. They already have my alloys in stock and I've paid for Saturday delivery!
 
Alex at AKS has just told me that 8x18et42 will be perfect for my S3 .
 
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Conscious that the OP has already ordered his wheels, but I think it'll most likely be fine.

It may or may not be of use to others, but I'm currently running 18 x 8J ET42 (Bola CSRs) with a 225/40 tyres (Bridgestone Potenzas) and Bilstein B14s running around 30mm lower than standard. I don't have any rubbing issues at all, front or back, during fast road use. I don't track my car, so can't say if it would be different on track. When I bought the car it had standard A3 s-line suspension and 18 x 8J ET42 wheels (OEM Audi Avus) with 235/40 winter tyres (Conti WinterContacts) which I later swapped for 235/40 summer tyres (Pirelli P Zeros). Both of those sets of tyres would rub at the back over speed bumps (even when going slowly). Removing the rear arch screw made no difference. I could have dremelled off the small tab in the arch to stop the rubbing, but I couldn't bring myself to do that to my pride and joy!

Also, bear in mind that tyre dimensions vary (ever so slightly) between different manufacturers due to the profile of the tyre shoulder, so a 225 from Bridgestone may fit under an arch where a 225 from Goodyear (just for example) may not... Hence why I've listed my tyre combinations above.

Hope that helps someone!
 
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