Newbie Wheel Question- Trade In? Tire Numbers?

[Rodney Hasty]

Hey guys, I'm still new so sorry for the newbie questions, but:

When you get new wheels for the car, are there any places that you can trade the stock S4 rims and get credit on the price for the new ones? Or are you stuck with the stocks to try to sell on your own?

Also, if anyone has the time, could someone explain the numbers on the tires? What does 255/55/40 mean (just making those numbers up)? Does one of those numbers correspond to the tire you would need if you're running 19 or 20 inch rims?

Again, please be kind to the newbie, I've searched the forum the best I could and couldn't find the answer, thus the new thread.

Thanks in advance!

[B8 S FOR]

Hey guys, I'm still new so sorry for the newbie questions, but:

When you get new wheels for the car, are there any places that you can trade the stock S4 rims and get credit on the price for the new ones? Or are you stuck with the stocks to try to sell on your own?

Also, if anyone has the time, could someone explain the numbers on the tires? What does 255/55/40 mean (just making those numbers up)? Does one of those numbers correspond to the tire you would need if you're running 19 or 20 inch rims?

Again, please be kind to the newbie, I've searched the forum the best I could and couldn't find the answer, thus the new thread.

Thanks in advance!

1. Don't know of any places that take stock wheels on trade. You are on your own to sell.

2. "255" = Tire Width "50" Sidewall Height Your "40" would mean 40 inch rims so the last number is Rim Size. 255-35-19 is proper for the S4 in 19" wheels.

[Stubek]

This will give you a lot of info on the tire size question
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire_code

As for trading in wheels, not really. Try them Craigslist or here on the forum in the classifieds section

[QuattroRocket]

I had luck many years ago with a tire and wheel shop giving me credit for my stockers and tires but I rolled the car straight from the dealer to the tire shop so they were brand new. If they are in anything less than perfect condition then you are pretty much outta luck.

Check out the sticky thread in the forum for wheel and tire info.

[esz61]

Hey guys, I'm still new so sorry for the newbie questions, but:

When you get new wheels for the car, are there any places that you can trade the stock S4 rims and get credit on the price for the new ones? Or are you stuck with the stocks to try to sell on your own?

Also, if anyone has the time, could someone explain the numbers on the tires? What does 255/55/40 mean (just making those numbers up)? Does one of those numbers correspond to the tire you would need if you're running 19 or 20 inch rims?

Again, please be kind to the newbie, I've searched the forum the best I could and couldn't find the answer, thus the new thread.

Thanks in advance!

Wheel trade: Don't know of anyone who does this. You should not have a problem selling them. There is always a market.

Tire size: An example tire size is 255/35ZR19 (which happens to be one of the OEM tire sizes for an S4).
1) The "255" is the tire section width in millimeters (section width is the width of the tire from sidewall to sidewall).
2) The "35" is the aspect ratio which is the ratio of the tire's section height (distance from the outside edge of your wheel to the outside edge of the tire) to the section width. The section height of a 255 tire with an aspect ratio of 35 will be 255mm x 0.35 = 89.25mm. The smaller the aspect ratio, the lower profile the tire.
3) The "Z" is the speed rating of a tire (Not all tires have a speed rating). The Z speed rating means that the tire can be used at speeds over 149 mph.
4) The "R" stands for radial.
5) The "19" is the wheel diameter in inches.

The Tire Rack has a really good explanation (with illustrations) at the following link.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=7&

[Rodney Hasty]

These are outstanding answers guys, thanks so much.

So is the 255 the required width for the S4? Is there any advantage to having wider tires?

[esz61]

These are outstanding answers guys, thanks so much.

So is the 255 the required width for the S4? Is there any advantage to having wider tires?

S4s come with one of two standard tire sizes, 245/40R18 and 255/35ZR19. 255 is not a required width, but with 19" wheels Audi recommends running 255/35s. I don't believe there is any performance advantage to running a wider tire on the S4. What is the reason(s) you are considering a wider tire?

[skeelo]

Discount tire is taking a set of wheels and snow tires on trade toward wheels and snows for my S, if it ever gets here...

[Leor604]

Despite so many people hating the stock "peelers", I know for a fact that one of the wheel vendors here sells a TON of them. I think there may be a lot of A4 guys who want the S4 look, or S4 owners who want a second set for winter.

Post them in the classifieds on this an other Audi forums and I'm sure they will sell.

[Blake P]

Only sell your stock wheels if you plan to sell/trade-in your car with whatever wheels you will be putting on it. Any of the wheels I have put on my car are worth more than the stockers, so I've kept them and sold the better wheels when I'm done with them.

[SO_EURO]

Despite so many people hating the stock "peelers", I know for a fact that one of the wheel vendors here sells a TON of them. I think there may be a lot of A4 guys who want the S4 look, or S4 owners who want a second set for winter.

Post them in the classifieds on this an other Audi forums and I'm sure they will sell.

Lots of people hate peelers? I love them.

[DannyDeez]

Lots of people hate peelers? I love them.

I hate them

Sent from my HTC One X+

[Rodney Hasty]

Lots of people hate peelers? I love them.

Sorry- can't pick it up from context-- what are "peelers?"

[auditd0rk]

Sorry- can't pick it up from context-- what are "peelers?"

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/13/4y7ujynu.jpg

I think folks call them "peelers" because they look like a potato peeler.

[willa1975]

Sorry- can't pick it up from context-- what are "peelers?"

Peelers are the stock 19" S4 rims...the spokes resemble potato peelers.

As far as wider tires are concerned, they theoretically offer better dry-surface grip, whereas narrower tires are better for wet/snow traction. Some prefer the look of the wider tire as well. That being said, you need a certain wheel width to run a certain tire width. Also, if you run a tire that is too wide, you run the risk of having the tire rub against the wheel well, so the easiest thing to do is stick with the factory-recommended tire sizes or, with aftermarket wheels, check the wheel and tire fitment thread to see what has worked for others for the specific wheel that interests you.

[esz61]

Sorry- can't pick it up from context-- what are "peelers?"

Many people (myself included) think that the 5 spoke sets on the stock 19" S4 wheel bear a resemblance to a potato peeler.

[13S4]

Hey guys, I'm still new so sorry for the newbie questions, but:

When you get new wheels for the car, are there any places that you can trade the stock S4 rims and get credit on the price for the new ones? Or are you stuck with the stocks to try to sell on your own?

Also, if anyone has the time, could someone explain the numbers on the tires? What does 255/55/40 mean (just making those numbers up)? Does one of those numbers correspond to the tire you would need if you're running 19 or 20 inch rims?

Again, please be kind to the newbie, I've searched the forum the best I could and couldn't find the answer, thus the new thread.

Thanks in advance!

One thing that no one really mentioned yet is the rim width. As said above the stock peelers are 19" in diameter and 8.5" wide. If you get a 255 width tire on an 8.5" rim it will be perfectly square on the rim. If you put a 255 width tire on a 9.5" rim you will have more of a stretched look on the rim (think trapezoid). Having a stretched tire will allow you to run a more aggressive offset (wider stance) without rubbing issues but on the other hand will expose your rim edge which can be damaged easier. You should also research the tire before buying strictly on the numbers as well, many run significantly wider even though they have the same numbers. Read through the sticky thread http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/350903-The-ultimate-B8-S4-A4-wheel-fitment-discussion and you will learn everything you need to know.

[esz61]

One thing that no one really mentioned yet is the rim width. As said above the stock peelers are 19" in diameter and 8.5" wide. If you get a 255 width tire on an 8.5" rim it will be perfectly square on the rim. If you put a 255 width tire on a 9.5" rim you will have more of a stretched look on the rim (think trapezoid). Having a stretched tire will allow you to run a more aggressive offset (wider stance) without rubbing issues but on the other hand will expose your rim edge which can be damaged easier. You should also research the tire before buying strictly on the numbers as well, many run significantly wider even though they have the same numbers. Read through the sticky thread http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/350903-The-ultimate-B8-S4-A4-wheel-fitment-discussion and you will learn everything you need to know.

Rodney - Since you are a self proclaimed newbie, avoid stretching tires. It compromises performance, is dangerous, voids your tire warranty, and (in my opinion) looks awful. Lets hope that, like Crocs and mullets, stretching dies a quick and painless death.

[AdamNoone]

Lets hope that, like Crocs and mullets, stretching dies a quick and painless death.

Nothing wrong with a "sweet" mullet [facepalm]

[esz61]

Nothing wrong with a "sweet" mullet [facepalm]

OK, you got me there!