Thinking about running 245/45/18 instead of 245/40 also what 18'' wheels?

[omegax]

Hey, Gents.

As many of you probably know NYC has the worst roads in the States. Im sort of feel sorry for my S4 being beat up everyday on these roads so Im thinking about running 245/45/18 summers as my tire to help the S4 with these horrible roads.

Im also thinking about picking up a different set of 18'' wheels and I was wonder what would look good on my stock S4 suspension? Wheel size / Wheel offset. The reason I'm asking not many guys on there actually show off their setups on stock suspensions.

[OmaHahn]

Hey, Gents.

As many of you probably know NYC has the worst roads in the States. Im sort of feel sorry for my S4 being beat up everyday on these roads so Im thinking about running 245/45/18 summers as my tire to help the S4 with these horrible roads.

Im also thinking about picking up a different set of 18'' wheels and I was wonder what would look good on my stock S4 suspension? Wheel size / Wheel offset. The reason I'm asking not many guys on there actually show off their setups on stock suspensions.

I JUST went through this myself so I will share with you my experience. I just bought S5/B8 wheels that are 18x8, 245/40/18. I went to 1010tires.com and used the calculator and found out that a 245/40/18 tire is the exact same size as a 245/35/19 tire! OK, the 18" tire is 25.71 (overall diameter) and the 19" tire is 25.75! I live in the Midwest with some of those pot holes as well. So given the 18 and 19 are so close I went with the S5 18" with 35ET. My current setup on my 17x8 wheels are 32ET Front and 27ET rear. The front fits perfect and the rear still has room to come out. So, with my new wheels I'll leave the front alone at 35ET and install a 10mm spacer on the rear to achieve 25ET. Your car will look better than mine being an S4 (sits lower), I have an A4 but with the 3.2 V6 so I think mine sits lower than the A4 with the 4-banger.
There is a thread on here, search for it where Lou and Blake post some pics and videos of stock S4 with spacers and wheel fitments. On the S4 and A4, a "proper" fitment (IMO) is to stay around the 30-35 ET on the front and 25-30 ET on the rear (on an 8" wide wheel!) *It gets tricky though if you start flirting with different widths such as a 8.5 wide wheel - this changes the ET numbers. Use the calculator on 1010tires for both the Tire & Wheel size and for Offset. I'll post pics once I get mine installed.

[omegax]

Thanks im going to track that tgread down.

[tomh009]

If you're concerned about bending the wheels in the NYC potholes, you might want to consider some forged wheels, which are much stronger. BBS RGR is my favourite, but TSW Nurburgring is a great value in a forged wheel.

[LYKUNO]

I am on stock ADS suspension and am running BBS RGRs, 18x8, offset 35mm, with 235/45R-18 Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3s for winter. I've managed to hit a few potholes this winter - they seem to be everywhere despite the mild (so far) winter here in northeast Ohio. Anyway, no harm done to the tires or wheels. Not everyone is a fan of the high sidewalls of course, but to each his own. 18" tires are a lot let expensive as well ...

http://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=163659&pictureid=235252

http://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=163659&pictureid=235255

For summer, I have BBS RS-GTs, 18x8.5, offset 35mm, with 245/40R-18 Michelin Pilot 3s. The better half let me splurge on them, but then again, she gets to drive it too ...

http://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=163659&pictureid=231164

http://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=163659&pictureid=235253

http://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=163659&pictureid=235254

[tomh009]

Great wheel choices, Lykuno!

[coolwater]

I have been running 18x8 with 245 40 18 tires in NYC.
I drive the worst roads in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
I also drive the the fdr to the Harlem river drive where there is the worst section of highway in NYC.

You should have absolutely no problems with 18s.
I am getting ready to switch to a5 sline 19s.

-cW