Real world experience: 275 R19

[jordanaf]

Hey,

First post and will do a full introduction with pics, mods, and future mods to come. Just got into a 2015 S4 with only 8k miles. Immaculate, it was owned by an elderly gentleman who obviously hardly drove it. I am a brand new convert from MB.

As said, will show it off and give full rundown of mods/specs in just a few. Had a quick question for anyone who is actually running these tires or has tried. Does anybody have experience with running a 275 width on 19s? Ive got some wheels coming and want to wrap them with 275, but would like to hear from some of you who are on them or at least tried them.

Whats the scoop? Thanks in advance,

jordan

[NY_Quattro]

I'm also looking at doing this on a 19x9.5 wheel in the future. In for answers...


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[AKPS4]

Check the wheels fitment thread. You will rub, especially if lowered. These cars have no room for wider tires.

Someone posted 275's on 18x9.5 but I don't recall if he responded to questions about rubbing. It was for track duty I believe.

[agorich]

Check the wheels fitment thread. You will rub, especially if lowered. These cars have no room for wider tires.

Someone posted 275's on 18x9.5 but I don't recall if he responded to questions about rubbing. It was for track duty I believe.

+1 on the sticky. JRan is the guru on there in regards to tires/wheel fitment from what I have seen reading through it and getting replies.

[torinalth]

depends on the lowering and tire. the PSS will require you to pull the fenders to fit the 275. Ventus V12 is more narrow, so it's "possible" you can get away without pulling the fenders but highly doubtful. on ET45 i think you will rub the outside fender, on ET47 you will risk contacting the suspension if i recall correctly.

seems the "safest" bet is 265s, and even then it depends on how far you are lowered, camber setting, and tire width (actual, not the rated 275)

[A.C.]

+1 on the sticky. JRan is the guru on there in regards to tires/wheel fitment from what I have seen reading through it and getting replies.

+2 jran knows

[Loe]

Are you looking for more lateral grip or acceleration grip?

[jran76]

What's the width and offset or the wheel? 275's are doable, but it's a tight fit and a lot will depend on the tire, ride height, and alignment. And how adverse you are towards some minor rubbing....

[eurotic]

Just to back things up a bit, I'd like to know why you want 275's? Depending on what you are looking for you might not need a 275 to get what you want. If you want more grip, the better choice is to go with a stickier compound, however you may also want a certain amount of life out of the tire which really sticky tires might not give you. If you want a wide tire, then look for a wide tire not just the 275 stamp on the side as you will find some 255 or 265 tires that are wider than some 275 tires. Also what sort of look are you going for? Do you want the tire to looks pinched, square or stretched as depending on the rim you want to put it on and the tire profile you are going to get different results.

At the end of the day there are probably many different things you would like, you just need to put them in order of priority.

[jran76]

Just to back things up a bit, I'd like to know why you want 275's? Depending on what you are looking for you might not need a 275 to get what you want. If you want more grip, the better choice is to go with a stickier compound, however you may also want a certain amount of life out of the tire which really sticky tires might not give you. If you want a wide tire, then look for a wide tire not just the 275 stamp on the side as you will find some 255 or 265 tires that are wider than some 275 tires. Also what sort of look are you going for? Do you want the tire to looks pinched, square or stretched as depending on the rim you want to put it on and the tire profile you are going to get different results.

At the end of the day there are probably many different things you would like, you just need to put them in order of priority.

I can't speak for the OP (so this isn't directed at him)....

I think it's the bigger is always better mentality that has developed, and wheels and tires don't seem to be an exception. For 99.9% of the S4 owners out there, a 255 or maybe a 265 is more than enough. Same goes for wheels.... I see a lot of people wanting to run 10.5" wheels recently, and again for most people, it's completely impractical. Kind of like 275's, it can be done, but it's a tight squeeze and takes some compromises in other areas. Outside of saying you did it, there's not much of a benefit for most people. Yes, there may be an exception for the hardcore track junkie or someone that shows their car, but....

[cspcrx]

I plan on a 19x9.5 et 45 wheel with a 265 tire so I do not have any stretch and the rim has some tire sticking out past it to protect it from curbs. Perhaps OP is looking for the same.

[raudiace4]

19x10 ET40 on 265/35/19 never rubbed lowered, and I was pretty low.

19x9 et35 on 265/35/19 rubbed a lot when I had people in the back/over bumps. But it was ok with just me in the car.


You can do 275 tires on this car, if you stay at et40 with the wheels on 9.5-10" width, and lower moderately (OE springs height). Otherwise you will rub like crazy.

[joediesel]

19x10 ET40 on 265/35/19 never rubbed lowered, and I was pretty low.

19x9 et35 on 265/35/19 rubbed a lot when I had people in the back/over bumps. But it was ok with just me in the car.


You can do 275 tires on this car, if you stay at et40 with the wheels on 9.5-10" width, and lower moderately (OE springs height). Otherwise you will rub like crazy.

This is good to know. Im still undecided between 20" or 19", but if i go 19" it will be 19"x 9.5" with 275/30/19

[Danny2323]

I can't help you with info yet, but I just got these HRE FF01 19x9.5 ET45 with PSS 275/35/19. They arrived yesterday (thanks TAG!), so I haven't had a chance to fit them. I'll let you know.



Edited to add the offset

[cchoi83]

I can't help you with info yet, but I just got these HRE FF01 19x9.5 with PSS 275/35/19. They arrived yesterday (thanks TAG!), so I haven't had a chance to fit them. I'll let you know.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Those look meaty. Yum.

If I'm not mistaken, I think Eurocode has mentioned that they have done 275's on their cars as well as their clients and they've been fine. It somewhere deep in the wheels thread I think. I don't remember what the wheel / tire combos were.

[jordanaf]

Guys,

Thanks for all the responses. The turnout and insightful comments are much welcomed, especially compared to AudiWorld. The truth is, I might not need 275s. I am coming from a C63 AMG and needed every bit of width I could get. The bigger the contact patch was, the better the car could handle the torque. I have only had the S4 for 36 hours and have never had an all wheel drive car. I was generally asking because (1) I am not familiar with the car or its characteristics yet, and (2) I always want to get as much rubber on the road under me as I can for the perceived safety factor. Ive only logged 2hrs in the drivers seat so far. And I really enjoy the way the car feels and drives. Getting back to the rubber: there are 2 things going on with this car that are foreign to me, as of the past 6 years. As Ive said, I have never had an AWD car and I havent run a square setup in as many years. My tire of choice is the PSS and I am purchasing aftermarket wheels(HRE, ADV, Vossen, etc) in 19x9.5 or 19x10 and was assuming Id stick with 275/35 or 275/30. Im okay with a little rubbing, but to make my life easier I am not dropping this car at all. Im keeping the stock suspension and retaining OEM ride height, if that info helps any of you to help me.

Loe: Im looking for a more planted feel, stability really. And assuming all works, Id like a little more acceleration grip.

JRan: Thanks for the insight. I do not want a stretched look or feel. I am a firm believer in decent sidewall height. I like to protect my wheels as much as possible.

cspcrx: Exactly. I am looking for the same function, protect the wheel.

Danny2323: Love that meat!!!

So, thats kind of where I stand and provided you guys with a little info and my intentions. I am not lowering. I am getting a tune and some new wheels. I have some cosmetic bits coming, but that obviously doesn't factor into the amount of rubber I need/want. You guys have been very helpful and welcoming already. It is greatly appreciated. I cant believe that I can actually rotate my tires now. Wow! Does any of this info help you guys, Im looking at you JRan, to give me a little more informed response. I have so much to learn and acclimate. For the past 6 years I have been dealing with a staggered, RWD 600hp beast that shredded rubber. This car is more refined in its quest.

[jran76]

Guys,

Thanks for all the responses. The turnout and insightful comments are much welcomed, especially compared to AudiWorld. The truth is, I might not need 275s. I am coming from a C63 AMG and needed every bit of width I could get. The bigger the contact patch was, the better the car could handle the torque. I have only had the S4 for 36 hours and have never had an all wheel drive car. I was generally asking because (1) I am not familiar with the car or its characteristics yet, and (2) I always want to get as much rubber on the road under me as I can for the perceived safety factor. Ive only logged 2hrs in the drivers seat so far. And I really enjoy the way the car feels and drives. Getting back to the rubber: there are 2 things going on with this car that are foreign to me, as of the past 6 years. As Ive said, I have never had an AWD car and I havent run a square setup in as many years. My tire of choice is the PSS and I am purchasing aftermarket wheels(HRE, ADV, Vossen, etc) in 19x9.5 or 19x10 and was assuming Id stick with 275/35 or 275/30. Im okay with a little rubbing, but to make my life easier I am not dropping this car at all. Im keeping the stock suspension and retaining OEM ride height, if that info helps any of you to help me.

Loe: Im looking for a more planted feel, stability really. And assuming all works, Id like a little more acceleration grip.

JRan: Thanks for the insight. I do not want a stretched look or feel. I am a firm believer in decent sidewall height. I like to protect my wheels as much as possible.

cspcrx: Exactly. I am looking for the same function, protect the wheel.

Danny2323: Love that meat!!!

So, thats kind of where I stand and provided you guys with a little info and my intentions. I am not lowering. I am getting a tune and some new wheels. I have some cosmetic bits coming, but that obviously doesn't factor into the amount of rubber I need/want. You guys have been very helpful and welcoming already. It is greatly appreciated. I cant believe that I can actually rotate my tires now. Wow! Does any of this info help you guys, Im looking at you JRan, to give me a little more informed response. I have so much to learn and acclimate. For the past 6 years I have been dealing with a staggered, RWD 600hp beast that shredded rubber. This car is more refined in its quest.

Just based on what you are saying you want, I think the 19x9.5" with a 265/35 will give you what you want. At stock height, you don't really need/want a low offset or even 10" wheels in most cases. Something around ET45 would be a good bet like cspcrx mentioned above. A little lower offset would be OK in most cases, but at stock height, you don't want to push the wheels out too far. The 265 on a 9.5" is a good look. Not really any stretch or bulge; maybe just enough to give the wheel a little protection. A good 265/35/19 will be more than enough tire in almost any circumstance. The only place I can overwhelm my 255's is on the track (they are 100% fine on the street and dragstrip).

[jran76]

I can't help you with info yet, but I just got these HRE FF01 19x9.5 ET45 with PSS 275/35/19. They arrived yesterday (thanks TAG!), so I haven't had a chance to fit them. I'll let you know.

Edited to add the offset

PCHS4 runs that exact setup (same wheels and tire size). He had to run something over -2 degrees of negative camber, and deal with a little rubbing in the rear. Nothing major, but something to be aware of.

I say this every 100 posts or so, but I'll say it here since we're not in the fitment thread.... Again, this isn't directed at anyone, just more of a general comment to keep things in perspective. Everyone's car is a little different. When you are pushing the limits in terms of tire size (like a 275), low offsets, or wide wheels, it is going to come down to all possible factors; that's the wheel size/offset, the actual tire you go with, ride height, and alignment specs (including how your subframe is positioned).

Don't be so quick to assume that because something worked for someone else that it will work for you unless EVERYTHING is the same, and that's rarely the case. I try to stick to a more general approach or a range that works as opposed to specifics. It's pretty dangerous to solely rely on what has worked for one person unless you have all of the information I mentioned above. Things like tires and alignment specs make a huge difference when you're pushing the limits.

Just to add to the above.... You can make just about anything work if you really want to. There are people running lower offset 10" wheels (ET33) with 275 tires, but they had to pull and roll their fenders, do some trimming, etc. There's a whole group of people that are fine doing those things, and another that wants a rub free fitment. It's best to decide which camp you fall in before you do anything too aggressive.

[Danny2323]

PCHS4 runs that exact setup (same wheels and tire size). He had to run something over -2 degrees of negative camber, and deal with a little rubbing in the rear. Nothing major, but something to be aware of.

I say this every 100 posts or so, but I'll say it here since we're not in the fitment thread.... Again, this isn't directed at anyone, just more of a general comment to keep things in perspective. Everyone's car is a little different. When you are pushing the limits in terms of tire size (like a 275), low offsets, or wide wheels, it is going to come down to all possible factors; that's the wheel size/offset, the actual tire you go with, ride height, and alignment specs (including how your subframe is positioned).

Don't be so quick to assume that because something worked for someone else that it will work for you unless EVERYTHING is the same, and that's rarely the case. I try to stick to a more general approach or a range that works as opposed to specifics. It's pretty dangerous to solely rely on what has worked for one person unless you have all of the information I mentioned above. Things like tires and alignment specs make a huge difference when you're pushing the limits.

Just to add to the above.... You can make just about anything work if you really want to. There are people running lower offset 10" wheels (ET33) with 275 tires, but they had to pull and roll their fenders, do some trimming, etc. There's a whole group of people that are fine doing those things, and another that wants a rub free fitment. It's best to decide which camp you fall in before you do anything too aggressive.

Jran - thanks for all the info. You might recall you answered my questions regarding 275s in the other thread. I've read every possible post on running these, and have a set of adj UCA on the way. PCHS4's experience with this combo is a contributing factor to why I got them (plus I love the IPA color). I plan to replicate his alignment, and will roll the front/shave the rear liner and/or fender, if needed. Although it looks like he didn't have issues up front (b/c of pretty aggressive neg camber). I have a Dremel and touch up paint ready to go, expecting that the rear fender nub might be a problem.

I promise you - I'm not going into this expecting them to just bolt up with no issues. Other than an initial fitment trial, they won't be going on for good until I can get aggressive with camber. I'll share how extreme I need to get to make them work. At least it will be a learning experiment - and if it's a big headache, at least I can share for others to learn too.

To the OP - I would suggest going to both of the stickied wheel threads and search all posts for "275". Read every thread that comes up. Searching the whole B8 S4 forum for "275" will help you find more. I've read them a million times, and it appears like every 275 install requires some form of compromise and/or rub acceptance.

[jran76]

Jran - thanks for all the info. You might recall you answered my questions regarding 275s in the other thread. I've read every possible post on running these, and have a set of adj UCA on the way. PCHS4's experience with this combo is a contributing factor to why I got them (plus I love the IPA color). I plan to replicate his alignment, and will roll the front/shave the rear liner and/or fender, if needed. Although it looks like he didn't have issues up front (b/c of pretty aggressive neg camber). I have a Dremel and touch up paint ready to go, expecting that the rear fender nub might be a problem.

I promise you - I'm not going into this expecting them to just bolt up with no issues. Other than an initial fitment trial, they won't be going on for good until I can get aggressive with camber. I'll share how extreme I need to get to make them work. At least it will be a learning experiment - and if it's a big headache, at least I can share for others to learn too.

To the OP - I would suggest going to both of the stickied wheel threads and search all posts for "275". Read every thread that comes up. Searching the whole B8 S4 forum for "275" will help you find more. I've read them a million times, and it appears like every 275 install requires some form of compromise and/or rub acceptance.

I don't think it will be too big of a deal since you're prepared. It'll probably be easier than you think. Let us know how it goes.

[DannyDeez]

Jran - thanks for all the info. You might recall you answered my questions regarding 275s in the other thread. I've read every possible post on running these, and have a set of adj UCA on the way. PCHS4's experience with this combo is a contributing factor to why I got them (plus I love the IPA color). I plan to replicate his alignment, and will roll the front/shave the rear liner and/or fender, if needed. Although it looks like he didn't have issues up front (b/c of pretty aggressive neg camber). I have a Dremel and touch up paint ready to go, expecting that the rear fender nub might be a problem.

I promise you - I'm not going into this expecting them to just bolt up with no issues. Other than an initial fitment trial, they won't be going on for good until I can get aggressive with camber. I'll share how extreme I need to get to make them work. At least it will be a learning experiment - and if it's a big headache, at least I can share for others to learn too.

To the OP - I would suggest going to both of the stickied wheel threads and search all posts for "275". Read every thread that comes up. Searching the whole B8 S4 forum for "275" will help you find more. I've read them a million times, and it appears like every 275 install requires some form of compromise and/or rub acceptance.

I don't think it will be too big of a deal since you're prepared. It'll probably be easier than you think. Let us know how it goes.

Love how those HRE's look! What about running your setup with the 275/35 tire at stock ride height? Will there still possibly be a rubbing issue?

[jran76]

Love how those HRE's look! What about running your setup with the 275/35 tire at stock ride height? Will there still possibly be a rubbing issue?

Assuming you run stock alignment specs, yes you'd have a chance of some rubbing. Whatever you gain by being at stock height, you'd probably give back with less negative camber.

[DannyDeez]

Assuming you run stock alignment specs, yes you'd have a chance of some rubbing. Whatever you gain by being at stock height, you'd probably give back with less negative camber.

Ok thanks for the info. I don't really want to lower the car, but I would think a 35 profile on a 275 tire would clean the wheel gap up a bit?

[Okan509]

IMG_3420 by , on Flickr

IMG_3425 by , on Flickr

18x9 et40/36 275/35 stock suspension

[raudiace4]

^ Looks sooo bad.

[jran76]

Ok thanks for the info. I don't really want to lower the car, but I would think a 35 profile on a 275 tire would clean the wheel gap up a bit?

I honestly have not seen that setup at stock height, so it's hard to say. It's a pretty meaty looking tire so it should help with the wheel gap to a certain extent, but it will also increase your already high ride height by a 1/2".

MonSoonHell and PCHS4 are the two people that I know of running that tire size. They are both lowered, but it should give you an idea as to how it looks if you search their posts (obviously Danny2323 will add to that too).

^ Looks sooo bad.

Agreed. Definitely does a good job of pulling off the stock ride height.

[DannyDeez]

I honestly have not seen that setup at stock height, so it's hard to say. It's a pretty meaty looking tire so it should help with the wheel gap to a certain extent, but it will also increase your already high ride height by a 1/2".

Thanks for the input. After cracking the oil pan open on my B5 due to it being too low, I willingly accept higher ground clearance :)

[jimrobbington]

IMG_3420 by , on Flickr

IMG_3425 by , on Flickr

18x9 et40/36 275/35 stock suspension

I'm digging the subtle Batman effect.