SchwarzS6

I usually go down once rim size and get a narrower, higher profile tire for winter for better snow traction. Looking at the A4's brake calipers and the clearance from the 18" rims I am wondering if 17" rims are a good idea. There is not much more than 1/2" clearance between the front calipers and the rim. I assume 17" in rims will clear but not by much and i wonder if snow and ice will get in that narrow gap. Have any of you purchased 17" rims for your snows? If so did the clear the calipers and work well in heavy snow?

VM

Yes. Lots of people running 17"s for winter, either on the OE Audi winter 17" rims or aftermarket alloys...

I can't say how it's done in heavy snow; there wasn't much snow here last year...

SchwarzS6

Thanks. The 17's also save some $$'s.

There is no way I will use OE Audi wheels. I just can't see paying about $2,500 for a wheel and tire package from Audi vs. $900 from Tire Rack. I realize the Audi rims are probably forged and therefore stronger but I have run Tire Rack rims on two other Audi's for winter tires and never had a problem.

VM

US$2500 sounds... high. Audi stealerships here tend to sell the OEM rims + some average set of winter tires for around CAD$2000, with some of the greedier stealerships getting closer to CAD$2500. Given everything is cheaper in the U.S., I'd expect this to cost less down south...

yvantheterrible

I have a set of 17” winter Michelin mounted on BBS rims and had absolutely no problems in an Alberta winter last year, what you have to watch is the rim's offset to make sure that you have enough room to clear the outside of the callipers.

beelzebub0x29a

With 17" what offset would be required?

yvantheterrible

There are several offset that can be used, the most used are between 35 an 45, this depends on the shape of the rim (for caliper clearance) and the look that you want once the wheel is on your car. Take a look at this video,
ttp://www.tsw.com/explore/what-is-a-wheel-offset.php
TireRack.com has 28mm offset on some winter package tires and rims all the way to 45mm.
I had a set of 17" BBS rims from my previous ride that have a 47mm offset, tried them on, they cleared the calipers with a 1/8" clearance which is a little less than what the OEM rims have but had no problems whatsoever with snow or ice build-up.

beelzebub0x29a

Thanks