in the noise

My car - 99 A6 2.8Q, came with a set of 4 Toyo Snowpro s5952 205/55r16, with plenty of tread.

This winter I have decided to get some rims for these tires, and actually use them! I am on a budget so, off to Craigslist.

My question is, what is an acceptable offset that will fit on my car?

I have seen some advertised with an offset of 35mm.

According to:

http://www.discountedwheelwarehouse...._Reference.cfm

I need a "High Positive Offset" is 35mm high enough? What offset do the stock wheels have?

As you can see, I am confused.

Any help appreciated.

ITN

SloopJohnB@mac.com

Go to tirerack.com and see what they recommend.

Just Me

35 mm is ideal, assuming the wheel is a 16 x 7 or wider, and not some oddball spoke design.

40 is generally ok on a 2.8 as well, since they dont have the bog brakes

G

in the noise

looking at tirerack. They recomend 16" wheels with offsets from 35-42mm

so i guess it doesn't matter too much.

SloopJohnB@mac.com

Yes, narrower and taller is better for snow...but I kept the 17" wheel size and went to 235/45HR-17 tires on both the 4.2 A6s we drive. TireRack ponied up alloy wheel and tire sets for both cars, about $1100 the last time around for the S6 with Michelin X-Ice tires. The Michelins on the S6 ride somewhat quieter than the Pirelli Winter 210s on the A6.

Just Me

i run a slightly over-size 225/55-16 for the winter and really like it. A bit more clearance; and they are very robust w/r/t hitting potholes, ice chunks and other winter realities.

(s6)

G

in the noise

thanks for the input guys,

I went with the 215/55-r16 ET35. So far so good. Can't wait for the snow!

SloopJohnB@mac.com

What tire/What load rating did you get? Should be 97*or XL...these are heavy cars. I've seen people get away with 93* or 94* but I think that's not enough.

Michelin X-Ice?

Just Me

i tend to agree that they are heavy and benefit from a high load rating. However, none of the sizes people run around here are even close to 97. My tires are 97 - that's 245/50-16s HUGE tires.

Typical 215/55-16 (base OEM) is 93.
235/45-17 ( another OEM size) is mostly 94. Ditto 255/40-17 (OEM S6, optional 4.2).

Yes XL takes these to 97 or 98, but mostly via stiffer sidewalls, not via the more effective means of more air and space.

That's one reason i run both my summers and winters over-size. Its easy to damage a wheel on a good northeastern chuck-hole or iceberg.

G

in the noise

So the rims i bought came with some very decent looking, dunlop wintersport 3D Xl. which are 97H. So they should be good.

However the Toyo's are 91H. Hmm. Which is 1356lbs per wheel. my car is an avant so total weight excluding load is 3858lbs. Say the weight is distributed 70:30 to the front then the wheels at the front will have 1350 lbs. Thats a bit close. Is that a fair weight distribution estimate?