Is anyone running 18's?

[forbiddenbeat]

I'm trying to make the car as comfortable as possible, since we have a new little girl that just joined our family. The TTX Ohlins helped a lot, but the 19's still cause some minor discomfort on rougher roads. I started tossing around the idea of switching to an 18-inch wider wheel, so I can drop the 10mm MTM spacers, get a more compliant ride, and probably get better handling in general.

Has anyone done this? Are there fitment issues with the large brakes? I'd probably look at HRE's or other high-quality single piece forged wheels that look close to the OEM 19 (which I love aesthetically).

[SkyDude]

I'm trying to make the car as comfortable as possible, since we have a new little girl that just joined our family. The TTX Ohlins helped a lot, but the 19's still cause some minor discomfort on rougher roads. I started tossing around the idea of switching to an 18-inch wider wheel, so I can drop the 10mm MTM spacers, get a more compliant ride, and probably get better handling in general.

Has anyone done this? Are there fitment issues with the large brakes? I'd probably look at HRE's or other high-quality single piece forged wheels that look close to the OEM 19 (which I love aesthetically).

I am running 18x9 Breyton wheels with 275/35 18s
They look like these
The setup is definitely more compliant and a lot grippier. The circumference is a little smaller though so the speedo is off a bit.

Sent from my Oneplus 2 using Tapatalk

[forbiddenbeat]

Great, thanks for the input. So you'd recommend going 18 then, yes?

This car is running 18's too - frankly it's hard to notice they aren't 19's with the meatier tires. I'd probably go 9.5 as well:

http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/pr...7a63d.jpg.html

I really like the HRE 301M. Expensive, but seems like it would look pretty good in a satin finish with our car: http://www.hrewheels.com/wheels/classic-series/301m

[JimmyBones]

I'm trying to make the car as comfortable as possible, since we have a new little girl that just joined our family. The TTX Ohlins helped a lot, but the 19's still cause some minor discomfort on rougher roads. I started tossing around the idea of switching to an 18-inch wider wheel, so I can drop the 10mm MTM spacers, get a more compliant ride, and probably get better handling in general.

Has anyone done this? Are there fitment issues with the large brakes? I'd probably look at HRE's or other high-quality single piece forged wheels that look close to the OEM 19 (which I love aesthetically).

This has been done in the past. When I was researching wheels for my B6 S4 with RS4 front brakes and 330 mm rear brakes, I found this thread to be really helpful.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ht=inch+wheels

I ended up getting Advan TC3 wheels (had to get them redrilled to 5x112). They will clear any Brembo or StopTech RS4 front or rear BBK too. Once I wear out the 265/35/18 tires then I am going to get 275/35/18's just like SkyDude.

[Chuuey]

Yeah, there is a good conversation on this as Jimmy has linked.

There are a few options for the RS. I went with fifteen52 turbomacs 18x9 et30. They clear all around without spacers.

[torquesteer]

Currently on Hartmann GS 18s with spacers (for the winter):

http://shop.achtuning.com/Hartmann-E...eels-Audi.aspx

[forbiddenbeat]

Thanks guys. Since HRE's are custom, I'm assuming I'll be able to get any offset I want. Do you guys know the ideal offset for a flush look on 9.5 inch wheels (equivalent to OEM + 10mm spacers, which is what I run now)?

[JimmyBones]

Thanks guys. Since HRE's are custom, I'm assuming I'll be able to get any offset I want. Do you guys know the ideal offset for a flush look on 9.5 inch wheels (equivalent to OEM + 10mm spacers, which is what I run now)?

http://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php...et2=25#content

It looks like 18x9.5 ET 25 will keep the outer edge of the rim as close to what you have currently (OEM + 10mm spacers) as possible.

Just to keep things simple since I didn't know what tire size that you were using, I used the stock 255/35/19 and then 255/40/18 to keep things easy on that website.

[forbiddenbeat]

http://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php...et2=25#content

It looks like 18x9.5 ET 25 will keep the outer edge of the rim as close to what you have currently (OEM + 10mm spacers) as possible.

Just to keep things simple since I didn't know what tire size that you were using, I used the stock 255/35/19 and then 255/40/18 to keep things easy on that website.

Awesome, thanks. I was thinking of running 275's, but maybe I'll just go 255 or 265.

I actually just realized koolade's car above (the white one) is running 10.5in wheels, et30, with a 265/35-18 tire. I'll PM him since I don't see how he fit that in there. :)

[komseh]

I think koolade has rolled front fenders.

Volk TE37SL in 18x10 +30 is an option, but you will need to redrill to 5x112 or run wobble bolts.

If you don't mind a custom manufacturing lead time of 6+ weeks, Forgestar and CCW have several options that will clear our brakes. Forgestar's are also very fairly priced.

[chris@fifteen52]

Yeah, there is a good conversation on this as Jimmy has linked.

There are a few options for the RS. I went with fifteen52 turbomacs 18x9 et30. They clear all around without spacers.

We have these and our Tarmacs in 18x9.5 or in 19x9.5 and we can do custom offsets.

[GrandMarkie]

We have these and our Tarmacs in 18x9.5 or in 19x9.5 and we can do custom offsets.

How much do the 18's and 19's weigh? Do you have these forged?

[chris@fifteen52]

Our wheels are made for strength and as such are not super lightweight, but made to last. The 18s weigh about 25-28lbs depending on widths and offsets and the 19s are 28-30. We can also do them in 1, 2 or 3 piece forged and many other styles as well. Our forged wheels are all custom to your specs.

[HRE Wheels]

Great, thanks for the input. So you'd recommend going 18 then, yes?

This car is running 18's too - frankly it's hard to notice they aren't 19's with the meatier tires. I'd probably go 9.5 as well:

http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/pr...7a63d.jpg.html

I really like the HRE 301M. Expensive, but seems like it would look pretty good in a satin finish with our car: http://www.hrewheels.com/wheels/classic-series/301m

Can't seem to find any RS4 photos that I have with those exact wheels. In fact the closest thing that I have would be this S5 with HRE 301M Wheels in Satin Black.



I have a couple more photos up close so you can see more detail in the wheel and in the finish too in the satin finish that you're feeling out. Here's a brushed titanium finish:



Here's a satin gold finish:



Feel free to post back any questions you have or send me a PM and I can help out some more :)

[Eric F]

Currently on Hartmann GS 18s with spacers (for the winter):

http://shop.achtuning.com/Hartmann-E...eels-Audi.aspx

Do you have a picture of how those look on your RS4? I came really close to buying the same wheels for my RS4.

[torquesteer]

Do you have a picture of how those look on your RS4? I came really close to buying the same wheels for my RS4.

Yep, here you go. My car is at stock height.

[forbiddenbeat]

OK, deciding to go with the HRE 301M in an 18x9.5, to save as much weight as possible. Now I need to decide on the finish and the tire to use.

For the finish, I'm debating between brushed dark and brushed tinted.

Brushed dark:



Brushed tinted:



The car is Avus, no titanium package. I'm leaning towards brushed dark, since that seems like a pretty awesome finish, and still contrasts Avus.

For tire size, 255/40 is exactly the same diameter as stock, and 265/40 is slightly larger. The more sidewall the better, and a 265 on a 9.5 wheel seems perfect. I'm going to run a 26" ride height all around - any opinions on whether a 265/40 will cause issues?