Winter wheels and tire ideas?

[Meadowdale]

I will need a winter wheel set for a black 2015 S5 (black optic).

Wheel size:
Sounds like most common choice is 18x8?

Tire choice:
I am assuming that the size is 245/40R18 to match the summer 19"?
I always used Blizzaks which still appear to have good reviews. But Car&Driver putting the Michelin now ahead of the Blizzak.
I wonder if anyone has some experience with either on the S5.

Wheel color/design:
At first I thought to go with black wheels. But now I am thinking more a gunmetal/dark grey look.
Some ideas:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...r=Premium+Plus
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...r=Premium+Plus
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...ire=44HR8XI3XL
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...r=Premium+Plus

Comments/suggestions are welcome

[LordMagnet]

I went Blizzak LM32 on a second set of 19s. I love the look of 19s too much to compromise, since I'm on winter wheels 4-6 months of the year. Didn't have a single issue with them last winter in the snow, and dry performance was fantastic (there won't always be snow on the ground).

In regards to tires, there was a good discussion on the S4 forum about them about a week ago:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ast-snow-tires

[PedroRS5]

Ran Michelin X-ice last winter and they work great!

[Michigan_Rings]

I will need a winter wheel set for a black 2015 S5 (black optic).

Wheel size:
Sounds like most common choice is 18x8?

Tire choice:
I am assuming that the size is 245/40R18 to match the summer 19"?
I always used Blizzaks which still appear to have good reviews. But Car&Driver putting the Michelin now ahead of the Blizzak.
I wonder if anyone has some experience with either on the S5.

Wheel color/design:
At first I thought to go with black wheels. But now I am thinking more a gunmetal/dark grey look.
Some ideas:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...r=Premium+Plus
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...r=Premium+Plus
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...ire=44HR8XI3XL
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...r=Premium+Plus

Comments/suggestions are welcome

The 245/40R18 is to match the 18 inch wheels. The 255/35/19R is for your Summer 19''. If you have a ton of snow, grab a smaller width for the 18's 225/40/18 should work.

Just my .02

[yaqub0r]

I went Blizzak LM32 on a second set of 19s. I love the look of 19s too much to compromise, since I'm on winter wheels 4-6 months of the year. Didn't have a single issue with them last winter in the snow, and dry performance was fantastic (there won't always be snow on the ground).

In regards to tires, there was a good discussion on the S4 forum about them about a week ago:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ast-snow-tires

Have you ever run 18s? As we all know, it's all about that width. I often times wonder how much that extra inch really hurts when the snow comes down.

[Sweep]

Where are you located? Do you tend to get deep snow or just cold icy roads or both?

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[Meadowdale]

Where are you located? Do you tend to get deep snow or just cold icy roads or both?

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Located in Chicago NW burbs.
I like the idea of 18" also for pothole clearance and car wash.

[yaqub0r]

Located in Chicago NW burbs.
I like the idea of 18" also for pothole clearance and car wash.

Dunno about you guys, but my car is so dirty in the winter that the 19" look would be hard to appreciate.

[Sweep]

Not sure what roads/weather is like there but in NE I've downsized to 17x7.5 due to horrible roads and the ability to cut through deep snow better. Ride is smoother, wheels and tires are cheaper but it does look pretty weak fitment wise

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[LordMagnet]

Have you ever run 18s? As we all know, it's all about that width. I often times wonder how much that extra inch really hurts when the snow comes down.

Never ran anything but my 2 sets of 19s.

I remember last year needing to pick up medicine for my < 1 year old at like midnight during a snow storm. It wasn't a historic storm, but it was really bad out. I was nervous the whole time, but my car took it like it was nothing. My winter setup won me over that night.

Got the wheel/tire combo (reasonably) cheap on here from VMR during one of their winter sales.

[yaqub0r]

Never ran anything but my 2 sets of 19s.

I remember last year needing to pick up medicine for my < 1 year old at like midnight during a snow storm. It wasn't a historic storm, but it was really bad out. I was nervous the whole time, but my car took it like it was nothing. My winter setup won me over that night.

Got the wheel/tire combo (reasonably) cheap on here from VMR during one of their winter sales.

Omg that sideblade though! You got me thinking I should wrap mine black. Sorry to get off topic but that looks too dope to not comment.

[LordMagnet]

Omg that sideblade though! You got me thinking I should wrap mine black. Sorry to get off topic but that looks too dope to not comment.

Thanks! I think that might look pretty damn good on yours.

[Meadowdale]

The 245/40R18 is to match the 18 inch wheels. The 255/35/19R is for your Summer 19''. If you have a ton of snow, grab a smaller width for the 18's 225/40/18 should work.

Just my .02

I meant to end up with the same diameter in an 18".

[Munster_Paul]

Not intending to mix it up or hijack the thread but does anybody on here run 20" rims for winter??? I have just purchased rubber to match as my standby rims which are the 20" OEM rotors!

[yaqub0r]

Not intending to mix it up or hijack the thread but does anybody on here run 20" rims for winter??? I have just purchased rubber to match as my standby rims which are the 20" OEM rotors!

I think the 20's are limited to performance winter. Last I looked, nobody made a studless winter tire.

In other words, if you want to drive fast in the winter, you're good. If you want to drive safe with snow on the ground, you're screwed.

[Munster_Paul]

So the Dunlop SP winter sport are performance winters.


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[yaqub0r]

So the Dunlop SP winter sport are performance winters.


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Yes they are.

[Chanman94]

So the Dunlop SP winter sport are performance winters.


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They probably won't cut through the snow as well as some of the smaller width tires, but I'm sure you'll be fine. I run Dunlop Wintersports on 17s and it's perfectly fine. Great tire.

[Corners4kids]

I ran Blizzak WS 60s on my RS4. Went and stopped anywhere I needed it to. Love those tires.

This car, S5, I am running the Michelin X-Ice 245/40 r18s on. Bought them for the 2016 STI I owned for all of 6 months (hated that purchase). They were the best winter tires I'd ever owned. Running them this year on the Audi. Assuming I'll love them as much. A lot of the winter out here in CO is dry and 50 degrees or so between storms. They run like a champ in the white stuff, ice and warmer winter dry.

Just ordered some sorta cheap Empire Verde rims off Tire Rack. Went with gunmetal. I'll post a mounted pic in a month or so when I finally need to put them on.

My biggest recommendation is to have the separate set of rims and the know how/tools to swap quickly in your garage. Helps preserve soft winter rubber when you have really warm weeks and saves those beautiful large rims for summer fun.


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[Meadowdale]

I ran Blizzak WS 60s on my RS4. Went and stopped anywhere I needed it to. Love those tires.
Just ordered some sorta cheap Empire Verde rims off Tire Rack. Went with gunmetal. I'll post a mounted pic in a month or so when I finally need to put them on.

Looks like a nice wheel.
Anyone here with a black car who thought about black or gunmetal wheels?

[Ace22]

Not intending to mix it up or hijack the thread but does anybody on here run 20" rims for winter??? I have just purchased rubber to match as my standby rims which are the 20" OEM rotors!

Nah, 20's perform perfectly fine in winter. I have the Hartmann rotors on conti's for winter and work just fine.

[Munster_Paul]

Nah, 20's perform perfectly fine in winter. I have the Hartmann rotors on conti's for winter and work just fine.

Thanks for your comment Ace_ I have them now so going to go with that- last winter was my first with the 5 and I ran AS and they were fine, although we have very little snow. The year before I was in an Ford Explorer and then didn't venture out much- the year previous to that I wasn't living here- hell the first time I actually felt real snow was in my 31st year!!

[yaqub0r]

Thanks for your comment Ace_ I have them now so going to go with that- last winter was my first with the 5 and I ran AS and they were fine, although we have very little snow. The year before I was in an Ford Explorer and then didn't venture out much- the year previous to that I wasn't living here- hell the first time I actually felt real snow was in my 31st year!!

AS are fine for flurries, maybe plowed roads too. In my experience on the pilot super sports, it only takes a couple inches of unplowed powder and you're driving on hockey pucks.

[ak_siberian]

I run Hakka studded 8s 285/30/20s on the RS5 and they are incredible. And no, you don't scrimp on tires here.

The Touaregs run Blizzaks' on the V6 and Hakka 5s on the V8. None come close to the Hakka 8 studded.

siberian

[ssv22]

I run Hakka studded 8s 285/30/20s on the RS5 and they are incredible. And no, you don't scrimp on tires here.

The Touaregs run Blizzaks' on the V6 and Hakka 5s on the V8. None come close to the Hakka 8 studded.

siberian

TFTI

[Meadowdale]

Based on the choices on Tirerack I believe I will go with
Michelin, X-ICE XI3, 245/40R18 97H XL

[Meadowdale]

I ran Blizzak WS 60s on my RS4. Went and stopped anywhere I needed it to. Love those tires.

This car, S5, I am running the Michelin X-Ice 245/40 r18s on. Bought them for the 2016 STI I owned for all of 6 months (hated that purchase). They were the best winter tires I'd ever owned. Running them this year on the Audi. Assuming I'll love them as much. A lot of the winter out here in CO is dry and 50 degrees or so between storms. They run like a champ in the white stuff, ice and warmer winter dry.

Just ordered some sorta cheap Empire Verde rims off Tire Rack. Went with gunmetal. I'll post a mounted pic in a month or so when I finally need to put them on.

My biggest recommendation is to have the separate set of rims and the know how/tools to swap quickly in your garage. Helps preserve soft winter rubber when you have really warm weeks and saves those beautiful large rims for summer fun.


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I am looking at the Empire Verde as well. I am thinking that a dark grey/gunmetal matte look would work with an all black car.
The offset is slightly less than the common 35mm. Have you tried them already? Do you have pictures?

[justcallmeblade]

Just traded in my 2007 Acura TL-S today for a 2015 S5...I don't suppose there is any chance of my 17" snows fitting the S5??? Those Verde look like some nice wheels.

[Meadowdale]

Just traded in my 2007 Acura TL-S today for a 2015 S5...I don't suppose there is any chance of my 17" snows fitting the S5??? Those Verde look like some nice wheels.

I don't believe it will. The Acura has 5x114.3 bolt pattern, the audi has 5x112
http://www.wheel-size.com/

[justcallmeblade]

I don't believe it will. The Acura has 5x114.3 bolt pattern, the audi has 5x112
http://www.wheel-size.com/

Nope, not enough room for the caliper.

[Corners4kids]

Meadow Dale is correct about the bolt pattern. Won't fit. Also, 18" is the smallest wheel size our brakes will allow.

Haven't mounted the tires to the Verse wheels yet. Still boxed up in the garage.


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[Meadowdale]

BTW. The Verde's are 8.5" with, not the standard 8. How does this affect the fitment of a 245 tire?

[Chanman94]

BTW. The Verde's are 8.5" with, not the standard 8. How does this affect the fitment of a 245 tire?

245 will fit fine on a 8.5, it will just look a bit more stretched than if they were on an 8.

[Corners4kids]

The 245/40 R18 Michelin X-Ice tires I have were mounted on 18x8.5 wheels on my STI and looked perfect. In fact, that's the stock summer tire size for that car too. I think it's a pretty normal fit.
Man, I feel bad I haven't mounted hem to help you yet. Just don't have a rush or need for snows on the car in Denver yet.


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[mjfloyd1]

I have BBS CH with wintersport 3D for sale and located in Indiana.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...45-40R19-tires

[Meadowdale]

The 245/40 R18 Michelin X-Ice tires I have were mounted on 18x8.5 wheels on my STI and looked perfect. In fact, that's the stock summer tire size for that car too. I think it's a pretty normal fit.
Man, I feel bad I haven't mounted hem to help you yet. Just don't have a rush or need for snows on the car in Denver yet.


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No worries. Plenty of time here in Chicago. I will probably install the wheels at the very end of November.

According to this the tire goes on 8" - 9.5"; measuring rim with 8.5". So, 8.5" appears to be the correct size?
http://www.michelinman.com/US/en/tir...tail-sku-table

Aside looks, I am really concerned about the car wash that I can't avoid in the winter. I figure more rubber sticking out is better to protect the rim.

[Corners4kids]

I agree with your thoughts on rim width for car spray and paint protection. The tire is for 8-9.5" wide times as you stated. I considered a 9" rim, but being that these wheels are for snow tires only, I opted for a little more forgiveness from the rubber.

I run spacers on my stock 19" wheels (15fr/20rear) but will not be doing so with the winter set up. I love the look of the wide, mean stance, but am happy sacrificing a little winter looks to keep more road crap in the wheel wells for the sake of the paint.


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[Meadowdale]

Does anyone know whether center caps are somewhat standardized? e.g. can I get replacement or different kind of center caps for a Verde Empire?

[Meadowdale]

I was in the ordering process for the Verde Empire when I noticed that their are apparently two "Matte Graphite "
TR carries the "Matte Graphite silver":

Verde's web site and some online pics show the "Matte graphite":

The later seems to be darker. When I googled pics of the Verde Empire on black cars I believe I saw more the later.

There is also the Axis XM "matte graphite which looks similar but is darker than the first Verde. Probably a bot more anthracite and less cone?:


This is for a black S5. I was going for a gunmetal/anthracite look

[justcallmeblade]

Verde are gravity cast while Axis are low pressure. Worth worrying about?