Winter tires for '07 S4 Avant

**tmw57** · 03-02-2014 02:23 PM

With any luck I will be picking up this baby in a few weeks. It has 18" stock rims and the tires are shot. Can I put a set of 18" Blizzaks on this car without rubbing anywhere? Any increase in wheel height will be very helpful in the winter as I live on a farm and my driveway is one half mile of dirt and gravel with "burms" (look like speed bumps) along the way to divert water. My 993 C2S has pss10's and is about one half inch lower than stock. It just barely clears the burms (summer) with one passenger. I've noticed the Avant rides pretty low and I'm a bit concerned about clearance..

Any replies are greatly appreciated.

**dparm** · 03-02-2014 02:29 PM

If you stick with a winter tire size that's the same as the stock tires, you'll obviously be fine. 235/40R18 or 245/40R18 should both work just fine. Some have gone with 225/40R18 but the selection is more limited.

**tmw57** · 03-02-2014 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by dparm

If you stick with a winter tire size that's the same as the stock tires, you'll obviously be fine. 235/40R18 or 245/40R18 should both work just fine. Some have gone with 225/40R18 but the selection is more limited.

Thanks dp, so you don't think the bigger sidewall (I'm assuming it's bigger-maybe I'm wrong) will create problems?

**dparm** · 03-02-2014 10:22 PM

Well you aren't giving us any point of reference, so I don't know what you mean. The sidewall height difference between 245/40 and 235/40 is only a few mm. Even if the car is lowered, the stock tire size should still fit on the stock wheel without rubbing.

**tmw57** · 03-03-2014 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by dparm

Well you aren't giving us any point of reference, so I don't know what you mean. The sidewall height difference between 245/40 and 235/40 is only a few mm. Even if the car is lowered, the stock tire size should still fit on the stock wheel without rubbing.

I'm sorry, I meant to ask if the snows would be taller than stock.

**Slow4** · 03-04-2014 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by tmw57

I'm sorry, I meant to ask if the snows would be taller than stock.

Winter tires are not taller than stock, just beefier.

If you're worried about camber rubbing, it has more do with your control arms and alignment; if THAT is the case, I suggest having someone look at your front end suspension.

Last year, my Avant was around 69K when I put on Dunlop WinterSport M3s onto my 18x8/8.5(?) Avus wheels. At the end of the season, I had inner tire wear due to aging control arms and multiple re-alignments. It also didn't help that I drove on the winters straight on through the warmer temperatures and swapped them out the last week of April (warm temps plus beefy tires equal holy harsh tread wear). This year, I went with an all-season winter set up via 18x8 A4 S-Line wheels on Continental ExtremeContact DWS.

So far, I have not noticed inner tire-camber wear and the DWS's have handled awesomely in the multiple snowstorms we had in the Mid-Atlantic.

EDiT:

I do plan on swapping my Hankook Ventus V12s by end of March for summer tires; lesson learned.

**dparm** · 03-04-2014 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by tmw57

I'm sorry, I meant to ask if the snows would be taller than stock.

Why would they be taller than stock? The tire size is a measurement of how big they are, regardless of the brand or model.

**Axel-** · 03-04-2014 06:14 AM

Originally Posted by dparm

Why would they be taller than stock? The tire size is a measurement of how big they are, regardless of the brand or model.

I have 245/40/18 on mine. Works just fine. I think he means that 235/40/18 and 245/40/18 are slightly different in size. The sidewall number (40) is a ratio of the width (245) so the sidewall of a 245/40 tire will be a hair thicker than the sidewall of a 235/40 tire, with the same 18" diameter. That said, it's such a minute difference, it's really no big deal.

Code:

Specification  Sidewall  Radius  Diameter  Circumference  Revs/Mile  Difference
235/40-18         3.7in  12.7in    25.4in         79.8in        794        0.0%
245/40-18         3.9in  12.9in    25.7in         80.8in        784        1.2%

**JayDog747** · 03-04-2014 06:56 AM

I'm running 235/45 PA3's on stock suspension with no rubbing. I just have to remember that the speedo is now accurate.

**tmw57** · 03-04-2014 07:20 AM

Great information. Thanks everyone!

**tmw57** · 03-04-2014 11:54 AM

Does this look like it would be compatible with my Avant? I always prefer a dedicated wheel for my snows.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191061708694...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Has anyone used a set of these wheels? I think they are TTR in-house.

**Axel-** · 03-04-2014 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by tmw57

Does this look like it would be compatible with my Avant? I always prefer a dedicated wheel for my snows.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191061708694...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Has anyone used a set of these wheels? I think they are TTR in-house.

Our bolt pattern is 5x112 and center bore is 57.1

http://www.boltpatternguide.net/Audi..._Patterns.html

Not sure what the wheels referenced in the ad are.

**QIKRNU** · 03-04-2014 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by tmw57

Does this look like it would be compatible with my Avant? I always prefer a dedicated wheel for my snows.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191061708694...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Has anyone used a set of these wheels? I think they are TTR in-house.

You need a tire with at least a 95 load rating, especially an Avant. Mine weighs almost 4000 lbs. You also need a 112 MM bolt circle, and I don't think the center bore size will fit.

**dparm** · 03-04-2014 01:44 PM

BMWs have a different centerbore are are generally 5x120. Those won't work.

**tmw57** · 03-04-2014 04:37 PM

Thanks so much for the help, it is really appreciated.

Is anyone doing 17" snows with a dedicated rim?

The bolt pattern guide says that OEM on these cars is a 17" wheel. This is incorrect, right? I thought these cars all came with 18" wheels.

**Axel-** · 03-04-2014 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by tmw57

Thanks so much for the help, it is really appreciated.

Is anyone doing 17" snows with a dedicated rim?

The bolt pattern guide says that OEM on these cars is a 17" wheel. This is incorrect, right? I thought these cars all came with 18" wheels.

18" was stock for B7s. The bolt pattern guide says 2000 and up (B5s probably had 17" stock) and it should really only be used for bolt pattern and center bore. Don't worry about the stock size it says. However, some people do go to 17" for winters. To each their own.

**tmw57** · 03-04-2014 09:47 PM

Can one go to a bigger sidewall with 17" winter tires? Has anyone out there found a certain tire size that they like on 17" rims? This combination may be easier to find and a bit cheaper..

**Axel-** · 03-05-2014 06:21 AM

Originally Posted by tmw57

Can one go to a bigger sidewall with 17" winter tires? Has anyone out there found a certain tire size that they like on 17" rims? This combination may be easier to find and a bit cheaper..

Just go here and enter your stock size (235/40-18) and try different sizes and see what the % difference is. Try and stay within 2% of stock if possible.

For example, 235/45-17 would be within 0.3% of stock:

Code:

Specification  Sidewall  Radius  Diameter  Circumference  Revs/Mile  Difference
235/40-18         3.7in  12.7in    25.4in         79.8in        794        0.0%
235/45-17         4.2in  12.7in    25.3in         79.6in        796       -0.3%

**tmw57** · 03-05-2014 09:08 AM

Axel, thank you. So I guess no problem clearing the calipers with a 17" wheel?

I'm fooling around with the numbers a bit and it looks like the -0.3% is the difference in circumference? .2/79.8=.002506=.003 ?

**Axel-** · 03-05-2014 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by tmw57

Axel, thank you. So I guess no problem clearing the calipers with a 17" wheel?

That depends on the wheel itself, its offset, its spoke clearance, etc. but from a diameter aspect, I don't believe it's a problem. Only from a spoke clearance aspect depending on the wheel.

**B5man17** · 03-05-2014 09:45 AM

I have 17" for winters they are RS4 reps 45 offset from OE Wheels.

**dparm** · 03-05-2014 09:46 AM

235/45R17 is your best bet for a winter tire size. Tons of choices, should have the right load rating, and doesn't look weird.

**B5man17** · 03-05-2014 09:55 AM

I'm running 225/45/17 but you could run 205/50/17. It really just depends on how much snow you get and what kind of traction you want. You could get 235/4517 that would be better for drier roads but you don't get a lot of snow traction, where 205/50/17 will have great snow traction but will feel a little squirrley on dry pavement.

**tmw57** · 03-05-2014 10:36 AM

Many thanks to you all. Your patience and willingness to teach have been wonderful.

I look forward to picking the car up in a few days, and hope to one day help a new guy the way you folks have helped me.

**s4ski** · 03-06-2014 09:47 PM

I am running 215/50/17 Blizzaks on RS4 replicas and quite happy with the results. I spend a lot of time on snow and ice, so as mentioned, it all depends on your driving conditions. One advantage of the taller sidewall from 17" wheels is it softens the ride somewhat on rough winter roads.