Question about Winter Setup.

[Retsujou]

Hello Experts.

I will admit that I did not do an extensive search because I thought you might have opinions right away. My partner and I are in the process of acquiring a 2008 RS4 in the Greater Toronto Area. Because I am an expat (I am originally Austrian) and because of the prevalent winter conditions in that geographic region we both want a "proper" winter setup.

Taking my experience in the past I know that narrower and smaller is better. I was wondering whether:
225/45R18 XL Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 Blackwall as the tires and
18X8.5 TRMotorsport MT1 Matte Grey as rims are a good idea?
I am not a petrol head so I care little how well it looks. It has to be functional and safe. I would also assume that I can have the TPMS system from the summer tires mounted in the Winter setup?

The car is sold with Summer Tires only so I need to make the investment anyway or would you suggest we barter the dealer into giving them to us?

Thank you!

[Stone825]

I would say the rims might be a little too wide. For a winter setup, you want a medium sized tire. Personally I would say about 7.5 or maybe 8 width but 8.5 might be a little too wide. Ask around though as I'm not an expert by any means.

[Captain Insano]

Those tires will work fine for winter. Either wheel will work just fine, the tire width matters more than the wheel width and you sound like you plan to use those tires either way with the 8 or 8.5 width...

Just FYI, the TRMotorsports (aka Tire Rack Motorsports - rebranded Enkei wheels) wheels you asked about are also offered in 18x8 with our bolt pattern. In fact, the 18x8.5 are not available estimated until end of March on Tire Rack... And the 18x8 are available right now.

EDIT: I thought you had S4. For an RS4 I don't even see those wheels offered on Tire Rack... That doesn't mean you can't use them. Tire Rack is ultra conservative with fitment so they don't risk rubbing on a customer wheel/tire combo.... That 18x8 TRMotorsport wheel might work, but it has an offset a little higher (35 vs 29) than your OEM offset IIRC. And that means it will ride further inside the wheel well and leave more wheel well gap between outside well and the tire. If it was me I would go same or lower offset. Just my personal opinion. Plus, your brakes are different than an S4 so you don't know for sure if those wheels will clear your brakes. Unless somebody with an RS4 will chime in and say they have fit those wheels and they clear the brakes I wouldn't buy them.

Hello Experts.

I will admit that I did not do an extensive search because I thought you might have opinions right away. My partner and I are in the process of acquiring a 2008 RS4 in the Greater Toronto Area. Because I am an expat (I am originally Austrian) and because of the prevalent winter conditions in that geographic region we both want a "proper" winter setup.

Taking my experience in the past I know that narrower and smaller is better. I was wondering whether:
225/45R18 XL Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 Blackwall as the tires and
18X8.5 TRMotorsport MT1 Matte Grey as rims are a good idea?
I am not a petrol head so I care little how well it looks. It has to be functional and safe. I would also assume that I can have the TPMS system from the summer tires mounted in the Winter setup?

The car is sold with Summer Tires only so I need to make the investment anyway or would you suggest we barter the dealer into giving them to us?

Thank you!

[sagexl]

I too am in the a similar situation.

I am looking to get 225/45R18's or 235/40R18's for my Stock S4 rims as winters.

What size would be better for the snow....?

[Retsujou]

I too am in the a similar situation.

I am looking to get 225/45R18's or 235/40R18's for my Stock S4 rims as winters.

What size would be better for the snow....?

I was under the impression that the RS4 has a much bigger brake system than the S4. So just to underline this again, it is a RS4 not an S4 :)

[Captain Insano]

For heavy snow narrow is better. But honestly, you probably won't notice a difference between a 225 and 235 width in all but the heaviest of snow situations. We are talking less than a half inch difference.

Either size of those TRMotorsports wheels will work for your S4 (not for the OP's RS4 though most likely). And either of those tires will be fine.

I too am in the a similar situation.

I am looking to get 225/45R18's or 235/40R18's for my Stock S4 rims as winters.

What size would be better for the snow....?

The RS4 brake calipers are bigger, but that doesn't necessarily mean wider. Wider is what matters for wheel fitment. I don't know how wide the RS4 caliper is. I do agree though, when brake calipers are different all bets are off. So for the OP I wouldn't buy those wheels unless somebody else with an RS4 is using them with no fitment issues. Especially considering the higher offset of the TRMotorsport wheel.

I was under the impression that the RS4 has a much bigger brake system than the S4. So just to underline this again, it is a RS4 not an S4 :)