B8aruba

Considering, due to large amounts of snow/ice and poor road conditions in northern WI in the winter, of dropping down to 17x7.5 wheels with 245/45/17 tires for a winter setup. That being the case, I've got two options for the wheel manufacturers I'm considering: +45mm or +35mm offset. I know both with fit without clearance and rubbing issues, but wondering which will ride most closely to the stock setup on my S-Line?

From what I've read, the stock S-Line uses 19x8.5 ET43 wheels with 255/35/19 tires (please correct me if I'm wrong). I'm assuming the ET43 = +43mm offset? If I drop down to a 7.5" wide wheel, then I would think I'd want to get the wheel as far outboard as possible (i.e. go with +35mm offset), to mimic the CG of the stock 8.5" wide wheel? Or, do I have this back wards?

need_TQM

Try this :

http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp

B8aruba

Nice site. That answers all my questions. Rock on... and thanks!

cazeluf

My first choice for winter tires was also 245/45R17's. But, then I realized that the selection of performance winter tires in that size is very limited. My choice for winter rubber is the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 (which is more oriented toward performance than the WS60), and it is not even available in 245/45R17. They have a far greater selection for 18" rims.

I won't have to make a final choice until the fall, as my car is not scheduled to arrive until the spring (S-Line), but due to the lack of performance winter tires for 17" rims, I'm thinking 235/45R18's. I don't know how the speedometer is calibrated, but taking the smallest stock tire as a worst-case scenario, then it would still only be a 2.5% error, which would be 1.9MPH at 75.

I'd considered the 245/40R18's, but given the craters we get in the roads around here in the winter, I'd like as much sidewall height as I can get on the 18's to protect the rims. Anybody have experience hitting bad winter potholes in 245/40's?

equ

I went with 225/50-17 michelin pilot alpin pa3's. Perfect fit, odometer is spot on and great ride on dry/wet (with no sense of requiring more grip). Decent in the snow/ice. Even if I were getting another winter tire, I'd go for the 225 width to cut through ice/snow/slush. Or you could 225/45-18's.

Barrels41

I am running Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip DW3 245/40/18 winter tires. Mt. Snow VT got 55" of snow this week. I tackled the toughest driveways with no problem. A felow I know has a B7 A4 and was stretching the the OEM 17" all seasons to lease end. He was a no go. Said he is thinking of a Q5 next.

All seasons are OK in the flats for a winter or two.

I never went through a three year lease on the OEM tires on any car. I do near 45,000 miles in 36 months.

My wife has a 2007 A4 with 17' Conti Extreme DWS tires since November. She just blew her second tire in 3-weeks today in an upper Manhattan pothole. At least I boughT road hazard coverage from the tire dealer.