Aggressive Wheel Fitment Thread

[ndk83]

Id like to use this thread to start documenting different setups and finding out which setup works best.
Some people like slammed and tucked, while others care more about drivability and maintaing almost close to stock setups. My predicament is that I lean more towards the stance , i want a lil poke,, but i, more of a coilover/handling guy and still need the ability to tear up the mountain roads aggressively. On my previous car i ran an aggressive setup with wide wheels, and although it looked good, it killed the drive. This time around id like to find that happy medium between stance and driveability

This thread isnt about personal preference, and i hope it doesn't get derailed because of that and/or Mono.Pur . The outcome of this thread is to document different setups and find out

• the most aggressive setup you can run without any fender mods,
• which setups required fender rolling,
• and what setups work for slammed/stanced look.
• it also seems like the sedan s3 can run a more aggressive setup than the hatch
• Issues with rear wheels hitting struts on wider wheels. (has anyone succesfuly run a 10.5?)
• Oil pan issues on lowered cars similar to the 8P guys.

If your interested in posting your setups, please provide wheels specs tire sizes, suspensions mods, fender mods etc.

So far, Rabbit222's car is running the most aggressive setup (that ive come a cross) on this site.

His specs:
20x8.5+40 plus a 10mm spacer
235/3520 tire size.
No fender mods, no rubbing.

I think his car is one of the nicest S3's out there. There are more aggressive setups out there, but the Ch-R titanium wheels on sepang blue S3 go unbelievably well together that. Plus i understood that this setup has no rubbing issues and maintains driveability. Win.

Now out in the land of the rising sun, probably one of the first modified S3's and the only true "aggressive" setup out there.

19x8.5+32 plus a 5mm spacer
19x10+36
tires:225/35/19 and 245/35/19
NEX Coilovers SS-type
Modified rear fender

This set up is super aggressive and not for the faint of heart. Those rear fenders were pulled out 15mm to accommodate the larger wheels. I think this looks bad ***. definitely an aggressive setup.



Another Setup in Japan that has me going nuts is this one. unfortunately i couldnt find the exact specs but the setup seems similar to Rabit222's setup.

20x8.5
KW V3 cols

 

[ndk83]

S3 Sedan vs S3 Hatch.
The sedan seems like it can take a lower offset wheel, which is strange, since they are the same car/chassis. Its possible that the since most panels are different, that the S3 sedan has wider fenders.
My assumption is based on the MTM and BBS AUdi S3 that they showcased the BBS XA wheels on. In 19" those wheels only come in + 45 and +32. clearly from the pics below its the +32 offset wheel, but its very possible that they fitted also spacers. but for now i have to assume they didn't, until proven others wise.

19x8.5 +32
235/35/19

versus on Rabit222's sedan.
20x8.5+30
235/35/20

We can ignore the difference in wheel diameter , but by looking at the offsets and widths alone youd expect the sedan to poke an extra 2mm more than the hatch, but the hatchback seems to poke more with a higher offset wheel. again its possible that they are using spacers on the hatch.

 

[ndk83]

And just to throw this in there, the look i want to end up with poke is something along the lines of this:
The car is on air, but this is the drive height. I think on coils with a setup like this on an 8v will be boss.

The 8V chassis can run alot more aggressive wheels than the 8P chassis and it seems the MK7 Golf R.
The photo above is on a 19x9+41 with 215/35/19 tires. I dont mind a bit of stretch, but for aggressive driving and peace of mind i think the lowest id like to run on a 19 is 225/35

 

[ndk83]

Also can anyone comment on staggered setup? i know from my research, many will say you should not do it on a front wheel drive biased Haldex system, but if u do do it you have to maintain the same aspect ratio as the original square setup.

Im interested to know how badly staggered setup affects the cars handling and if ur much better with a square setup. I am assuming its marginal since alot of people are doing it on the MQB cars.

My original intension was to go with some deep concave wheels, but that dream is out the window now as it seems that the S3 cant run the necessary aggressive setups (ie 10.5+35 and lower).

 

[veeeight]

One of the nicer things about the MQB as standard is the lift-off playfulness and adjustability of the car mid-corner. If you run a staggered setup you will lose this, and it will be a shame in my view.

It's the first time I've ever come across any stock Audi where you can do this mid-corner with lift-off. At worst you're just going to exaggerate the inherent understeer in the car.

But if you're not intending to track it or do any fast roadcraft, it doesn't matter.

 

[ndk83]

One of the nicer things about the MQB as standard is the lift-off playfulness and adjustability of the car mid-corner. If you run a staggered setup you will lose this, and it will be a shame in my view.

It's the first time I've ever come across any stock Audi where you can do this mid-corner with lift-off. But if you're not intending to track it or do any fast roadcraft, it doesn't matter.

Interesting, your the first person to mention this. i thought lift off oversteer wasnt very prominent on the S3.
I understand, that im better off with a fatter front tire and a skinnier rear, but that will look ridiculous. But i think i may have to agree with you on this one if thats the case. Im definitely gonna do canyoning regularly and track the car randomly.

 

[veeeight]

Lift off oversteer is very possible in the S3, anytime it's slightly damp I go round my favourite roundabout sideways The wear pattern on my near side front tyre bears testament to this

I'm not saying it will readily do it (power through an early apex and the car will understeer), but with the right approach and setup and steering input, the back end will come round nicely. Oh, and ESP in Sport mode, of course.

 

[ndk83]

Another one.

A3 Sline
19 x 8.5 +40
19 x 9.5+40
235/35/19
stock height.

 

[ndk83]

A3 S Line
1552 Touren SC 3 piece
19x9 ET42 all around
Michelin pilot Super Sport in 235/35/19
Wheels will clear TTRS brakes

 

[Marc18]

Another one.

A3 Sline
19 x 8.5 +40
19 x 9.5+40
235/35/19
stock height.

Thats my car, the offsets are wrong though, the fronts are +42 and the rear +35 if I remember correctly. Definitely not both the same

I'll be finding out this week or next if they can be tucked into the arches when lowered as I'm now on air but got the standard wheels on for now

 

[Marc18]

Also srs-tec now make wider front wings for the hatch and the sb. Not sure about the saloon though. 15mm wider if I remember correctly

 

[ndk83]

Thats my car, the offsets are wrong though, the fronts are +42 and the rear +35 if I remember correctly. Definitely not both the same

I'll be finding out this week or next if they can be tucked into the arches when lowered as I'm now on air but got the standard wheels on for now

Awesome. Im glad u found this, i was gonna reach out to you actually. if possible pls confirm the offsets.
+35 on a 9.5 is pretty impressive i gotta say. Do you rub at stock height?

Can i make a request? When u do put the wheels back on and are on air, can you please take pics at drive height as well? ie not slammed, maybe one finger gap(fender to tire)

Also srs-tec now make wider front wings for the hatch and the sb. Not sure about the saloon though. 15mm wider if I remember correctly

Got a link?

 

[Marc18]

Awesome. Im glad u found this, i was gonna reach out to you actually. if possible pls confirm the offsets.
+35 on a 9.5 is pretty impressive i gotta say. Do you rub at stock height?

Can i make a request? When u do put the wheels back on and are on air, can you please take pics at drive height as well? ie not slammed, maybe one finger gap(fender to tire)


Got a link?

Yeah I can get the offsets this week but might not be fitting them until next week. Ill get a load of pictures anyway from the guys who fitted the air for their portfolio sort of thing.


http://www.oemplus.eu/en/a3/824-rozsirene-blatniky-a3-8p-facelift.html

That's a link to the product, the only UK supplier iv spoken too is a guy named jason_gti_gepfeffert_uk on instagram. I believe his website will be up and running in the new year but you can order straight through him at the moment.

He has the wings in stock for £475

 

[naughts4187]

A3 S Line
1552 Touren SC 3 piece
19x9 ET42 all around
Michelin pilot Super Sport in 235/35/19
Wheels will clear TTRS brakes

Can you explain the clearing of the brakes? Will they not clear S3 brakes on a hatch? I have 19 x 9 ET 52 to go on you see.

 

[ndk83]

Can you explain the clearing of the brakes? Will they not clear S3 brakes on a hatch? I have 19 x 9 ET 52 to go on you see.

Thats not my car... but his stating that his specific wheels will clear a big brake (BBK) upgrade (alot of people are considering upgrading their front brakes to the TTRS front brakes). In order to clear BBKs rims need to be med-high disk* (see last paragraph for more detail).

Regarding your rims, what rims are you getting? I don't think you'll have problems clearing the front brakes, but you should be more concerned about hitting the strut w the 19x9+52, your sitting 20mm closer to your strut than stock (assumed stock wheels at 18x7.5+51). Either way, a spacer can solve either/both of those problems.


*Just for future reference, regarding rims that clear brakes/BBK's you cant tell just by looking at wheel specs, it has to do more with the shape/curvature of the spokes. Rim manufacturers usually have names such as high-disk med-disk, low-disk etc to refer to whether a wheel can clear a BBK/normal brake etc High-Disk wheels usually have spokes that curve around the brake for greater cle. Each Manufacturer has their own nomenclature to refer to the different disk types.

 

[S3Alex]

I'm not sure how well this will carry across to you guys,but it may be of some use,and hopefully so,if only as a comparison.





This is obviously an 8P.....

Lowered by approximately 20mm,so not very much.

No issues with ground clearance,even over bumps at a fair speed(if you know what I mean...)

245 x 40 x 18 rims and tyres.

2.3 deg negative camber back and front,with kW Clubsport suspension and adjustable topmounts.

This lot does fit on the 8P,and enables the tyres to clear the bodywork without rubbing,but at the expense of running quite a bit of camber,which isn't possible on the 8P without a lot of suspension work,and I don't know if that would also translate to the 8V.

I think the big problem for lowering is not only oil pan clearance,but also exhaust etc,and it comes down to the compromise between ride height,suspension travel,and compliance,and having seen so many lowered cars having to dodge bumps and drive slowly,I know for me the setup is the one I've got now.

Stretching tyres to fit oversized rims and slamming the car is one look that a lot of people like,but not my thing to be fair....

I would say that if an aggressive setup is what someone wants,then fully adjustable coilovers(bump,rebound,ride height) plus adjustable topmounts will give you all of that,but at a price.

 

[naughts4187]

I'm not sure how well this will carry across to you guys,but it may be of some use,and hopefully so,if only as a comparison.





This is obviously an 8P.....

Lowered by approximately 20mm,so not very much.

No issues with ground clearance,even over bumps at a fair speed(if you know what I mean...)

245 x 40 x 18 rims and tyres.

2.3 deg negative camber back and front,with kW Clubsport suspension and adjustable topmounts.

This lot does fit on the 8P,and enables the tyres to clear the bodywork without rubbing,but at the expense of running quite a bit of camber,which isn't possible on the 8P without a lot of suspension work,and I don't know if that would also translate to the 8V.

I think the big problem for lowering is not only oil pan clearance,but also exhaust etc,and it comes down to the compromise between ride height,suspension travel,and compliance,and having seen so many lowered cars having to dodge bumps and drive slowly,I know for me the setup is the one I've got now.

Stretching tyres to fit oversized rims and slamming the car is one look that a lot of people like,but not my thing to be fair....

I would say that if an aggressive setup is what someone wants,then fully adjustable coilovers(bump,rebound,ride height) plus adjustable topmounts will give you all of that,but at a price.

Any idea of the width of these rims?
Also can this post be made into a stick for future purposes?

 

[S3Alex]

Those are 18 x 9 TD 1.2 alloys.

 

[Marc18]

Checked the wheels from mine yesterday, fronts are et45 rears are et40

 

[naughts4187]

Would still like to get this thread made into a sticky. Anyone know of anyone who can do this? It's very useful for us who are looking to go down this route. Thanks

 

[nervus]

The MTM car runs spacers - check out the specs on the MTM site

 

[Nick Aki]

Hello. Anyone have an opinion on whether a 20 x 9 et35 wheel will fit on a 2015 S3? I wanted to also run 235/35/20 Michelin PSS. I'm looking at some Audi replica wheels. I will be lowering the car with H&R sport springs as well. Thanks in advance.

 

[AudiBoy1976]

I heard that ABT have fitted 20"x9.0J Alloys onto a New S3, but think they were ET40's, so it maybe a real push using ET35's, if your planning to Lower it as well.

The other thing you have to consider is that, if you go for a 235/30/20 Tyre on a 9.0J Wheel, you'll get a fairly big lip of the Rim sticking out, so your Alloy will be very easy to Kerb & it may look alittle Odd!!
Even with an 8.5J Wheel, it just slightly Protrudes out from the Tyre!

 

[ndk83]

Hello. Anyone have an opinion on whether a 20 x 9 et35 wheel will fit on a 2015 S3? I wanted to also run 235/35/20 Michelin PSS. I'm looking at some Audi replica wheels. I will be lowering the car with H&R sport springs as well. Thanks in advance.

It should technically work actually. A member (Marc18) is running a 19x9.5+40. So ur 20x9+35 should b no problem. Ur actually gonna poke less than him (1.3mm). Unfortunately he didn't post any info on whether he rubs or not, but he should b updating us soon.
Rabbit222 is running 235/35 on a 20x8.5+30. He isn't rubbing. Ur wheels will poke 1.4mm more than his, but ur tire will be slightly more stretched giving u more or less the same clearance (tire to fender).


Honestly speaking I think 20x9+35 on 235/35 may seem to be the sweet spot.
Anything bigger might require fender rolling and stretched tires.

 

[naughts4187]

I heard that ABT have fitted 20"x9.0J Alloys onto a New S3, but think they were ET40's, so it maybe a real push using ET35's, if your planning to Lower it as well.

The other thing you have to consider is that, if you go for a 235/30/20 Tyre on a 9.0J Wheel, you'll get a fairly big lip of the Rim sticking out, so your Alloy will be very easy to Kerb & it may look alittle Odd!!
Even with an 8.5J Wheel, it just slightly Protrudes out from the Tyre!

some people like this stretch, I personally think 8.5j with 235 is the perfect amount.

 

[ndk83]

The MTM car runs spacers - check out the specs on the MTM site

Link?
I haven seen any info anywhere regarding s3 mtm w BBS wheels

 

[ndk83]

235/35 on a 8.5 isn't much of a stretch.

 

[AudiBoy1976]

With a 20" Wheel, you need to run a 235/30/20 Tyre, as a 35 Profile Tyre would change the size from standard & make the Speedo read wrong!

I'm running a 20"x8.5J ET43 with 235/30/20 on my S3 & there's barely any Stretch, but in an ideal world, I'd have prefered a 245/30/20 Tyre!
...........a 245 would have effected the Speedo though!

 

[ndk83]

Agreed a 235/30 would b better for the speedo.

 

[Marc18]

It should technically work actually. A member (Marc18) is running a 19x9.5+40. So ur 20x9+35 should b no problem. Ur actually gonna poke less than him (1.3mm). Unfortunately he didn't post any info on whether he rubs or not, but he should b updating us soon.
Rabbit222 is running 235/35 on a 20x8.5+30. He isn't rubbing. Ur wheels will poke 1.4mm more than his, but ur tire will be slightly more stretched giving u more or less the same clearance (tire to fender).


Honestly speaking I think 20x9+35 on 235/35 may seem to be the sweet spot.
Anything bigger might require fender rolling and stretched tires.

There was no rubbing at all with the setup I had on before. Looked a little odd at standard height bit that's about it

 

[ndk83]

There was no rubbing at all with the setup I had on before. Looked a little odd at standard height bit that's about it

Nice, good to know. I assumed no rubbing since u didnt mention it, but due to the angle of ur pics, i didnt think you were at stock height.

Did u end up re-installing the wheels after u installing the air susp kit?

 

[Marc18]

Nice, good to know. I assumed no rubbing since u didnt mention it, but due to the angle of ur pics, i didnt think you were at stock height.

Did u end up re-installing the wheels after u installing the air susp kit?

We tried them on while it was on axel stands and then jacked each wheel up into the arch, they seemed to fit bit may have been different once on the ground.
I've not had them back on since trying to sell them

 

[ndk83]

We tried them on while it was on axel stands and then jacked each wheel up into the arch, they seemed to fit bit may have been different once on the ground.
I've not had them back on since trying to sell them

How come? Im not familiar with the Stuttgart brand of wheels, but they did seem to be the most concave you can get on a 9.5 wheel that offset. U going 20s?
Its unfortunate that you want to sell before seeing how they look with the car slammed.

 

[Marc18]

How come? Im not familiar with the Stuttgart brand of wheels, but they did seem to be the most concave you can get on a 9.5 wheel that offset. U going 20s?
Its unfortunate that you want to sell before seeing how they look with the car slammed.

The issue with the stuttgarts is the tyres I've got on them, when I was standard height it didn't matter but Id need more stretch to get it sitting right I think.

I may try them on just to see as the sale fell through so I've still got them

 

[cemerson]

I used a grizzly bear when I put my wheels on, that was the most aggressive way I could find to fit them.

 

[ndk83]

I used a grizzly bear when I put my wheels on, that was the most aggressive way I could find to fit them.

Baller. grizzly fitment:

The issue with the stuttgarts is the tyres I've got on them, when I was standard height it didn't matter but Id need more stretch to get it sitting right I think.

I may try them on just to see as the sale fell through so I've still got them

if ur gonna want em to tuck, your better off running some camber and 215/35 tires. I guess ur gonna have to do that no matter what rims u go with.

 

[Marc18]

Baller. grizzly fitment:

if ur gonna want em to tuck, your better off running some camber and 215/35 tires. I guess ur gonna have to do that no matter what rims u go with.

I won't be running these wheels any more.
I'll be going 19x8.5 et42 for my dailys and probably something similar for show wheels. Then run 205/35/19 or 215/35/19.

 

[Nick Aki]

Thanks for all the feedback. Seems like it will work on the rear for sure. Any concern about running 20" x 9" et 35 specifically on the front? Same tire size 235/35/20 Michelin PSS and I'm lowering on H&R sport springs, not the super sport spring. Thanks again!

 

[Marc18]

Thanks for all the feedback. Seems like it will work on the rear for sure. Any concern about running 20" x 9" et 35 specifically on the front? Same tire size 235/35/20 Michelin PSS and I'm lowering on H&R sport springs, not the super sport spring. Thanks again!

May end up with quite a bit of poke on the front. My fronts were 19x8.5 et40 with 235 tyres and they sit just outside the arch. I'm putting my stuttgarts back on after a refurb but I'll be going 215 on the 8.5 so they tuck into the arch properly

 

[ndk83]

Thanks for all the feedback. Seems like it will work on the rear for sure. Any concern about running 20" x 9" et 35 specifically on the front? Same tire size 235/35/20 Michelin PSS and I'm lowering on H&R sport springs, not the super sport spring. Thanks again!

Ur only gonna poke 1.4mm more than Rabbits car, but less than the japanese guy with teh Vossens ( keep in mind i dont know if he is rubbing at all), so id assume ud be ok. Im actually considering that exact fitment as a starting point as well. Considering your drop you should be ok. You can either running a thinner profile tire or can roll ur fenders lightly if u rub, but i honestly think you wont.

Do you have a sedan or a hatch? Im still convinced there is a slight difference, the guards are different.