18" Wheels without lowering?! A3

Hi all, as the title suggests I'm interested in seeing (pictures ideally) if and how A3 looks with 18" alloys with no suspension mods.

I really want the A3 S-line 18" standard alloys (pictured) on my A3 but prefer not to mod the suspension if I can help it.

 

I just googled your question. This image is an answer:; http://www.audiforum.ca/attachments/2nd-gen-a3-typ-8p-8pa-2003–present-84/7015-new-18-summer-wheels-2m26yyd.jpg?dateline=1332441253
I bit too SUV-like look when on 18" alloys and stock suspension. I lowered mine when I got 17" inch wheels because I couldn't stand this look.

 

This is mine with standard 18" wheels, it is an a3 s line too.

 

Thanks lads, I had previously Google this question too but showed all A3s with 18s and lowered hence the post here.

I don't actually think 18s and standard suspension looks that bad tbh, the overall size of low profile 18s compared to the standard 16s isn't that much difference in diameter.

Think I'll risk it, and hope it doesn't affect the general ride too much

 

The car I bought today has 18's on standard sports suspension:

Definitely looks a bit high at the back!

 

You're right Baka, the rear does looked quite pumped. Though that's strange as stuartm's picture above doesn't seem high at the back. Plus still can't understand why it's makes such a difference, when diameter of the 16,17 & 18s are all the same.... Just the profile vs wheel size differential.
Any more pics by chance?

 

What a3 do you have? S line, sport or standard?

 

It's A3 2008 2.0TDI 170bhp as pictured in my profile. Standard I guess...

 

Probably would sit quite high then, I've got 18's on mine and i like the look of it but mine is s line so as standard it sits 25mm lower than yours.

 

That makes sense why the above pics look different, didn't realise S-line sat 25mm lower. In that case will have to look at 17" Wheels as don't want to drop the suspension. Thank for the info, appreciated.

 

Yeah if it's standard model then a sport model is 15mm lower than standard and s line is 25mm lower than standard.

 

Excuse my ignorance, but it's an SE. Is that Standard Edition or Sport Edition??

 

Standard then

 

This is my A3 with 17" and standard suspension before lowering.

 

You wouldn't think it would make such a difference, but it's really noticeable! I'll probably be fitting some Eibach Pro springs or sticking 17's on.

Some more pics, it's a sport so on SE/stock springs it's going to be higher still.

 

They do all look pretty high! Here's my 2005 A3 Sport Quarto S-line. It's still on its original standard suspension and 18" wheels. Only addition is some small wheel spacers.










Joe

 

Hi im new to this forum. Was flicking through threads and seen this thread. I've recently changed my 17" alloys to 18"... iv not fiddled about with the suspension so its all stock... took me an age but i managed to add pictures lol... hope this helps

 

So is there any difference in height now ???

 

I'm also new here and seen this post. Added new wheels to mine yesterday now looks like a monster truck!



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I had the same feeling when I replaced stock 16" wheels with 17s. It's an optical illusion. Low profile tyres have less sidewall hight and when this hight is equal or less than the gap between the tyre and the fender, our eyes (or brain) add some additional hight, despite nothing changes actually. Lowering helps.

 

Evasivo
I think she sits quite well on 18's
AndyF Team Lava

 

I'll be honest i didn't measure the hight before and after. But tbh if you do the maths it wouldn't make a difference as the tyre is lower in profile... i went from 225 45 17 to 225 40 18. The diameter of the overall wheel is practically the same. So it shouldn't effect ride hight.

 

If you want a bit more detail here is a comparison... the diameter is like 3mm larger and the ride hight is 1.45mm higher... highly noticable. Its all just the way we see it with bigger alloys... mind games lol

And if anyone is wondering if they need to worry about width and arch gap here...

 

Put those god dam calculators away , ok for offsets but that's about it .

That ain't no optical illusion it's physical .

The upsizing is taller than the math because low profile tyres have built-in extra height from tyre manufacturers for comfort .

For example the difference between 205 55 16 and 235 45 17 is 11.4 mm but in reality 235 45 17 is much taller...

The piece of wood is 22mm tall .



Plus sizing = plus rising .

It also happens with width .

Two 235 45 17 tyres .



Forget the calculators they cannot be applied to tyres !

 

205 55 16 should be compared to 225 45 17, not to 235 45 17.

 

Well my friend heres another thing .

2 different GPS apps , 205 55 16 under read the speedo , 235 45 17 was spot on !

Here's a vag fuel filler flap with allowable sizes .

 

What car is it? I'll take a picture of mine tomorrow.

 

Another make of car on coilovers with 205 55 16 and upsized to 225 45 17 , suddenly I gain welcome clearance at the front splitter coming off the drive originally about 3mm and a particular car park large speed hump gains clearence of the chassis rails , originally about 5mm , rough estimate of chassis raise as I didn't measure , about 10mm .

Whatever the math , it's always more in reality .

 

That fuel flap is on a VW Passat B6 .

 

This one is a Skoda .



This says a 225 17" should have an aspect ratio of 50 .

I'm not saying 225 45 17 is wrong because it isn't .

 

Haha 4 years too late but only just bought an A3 and put these 18s on non lowered