bumboola

I believe this has been answered before, but can I use the stock Avus 245/45-18 spare with 255/35-20s, or would you recommend a similar spare? I don't think there is enough of a difference in overall radius (according to your chart) to warrant it, but want to be sure.

Thanks

Paul

ryoung

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The overall radius of the 255/35-20 is only 1% larger, and the Torsen can handle up to 3%. [I added the link to the audipages table of wheel/tire options for those who aren't familar with it.]

Actually the difference is no more than you'd experience if you replaced one of four worn tires with a new spare of the same size. In your case though, a new 245/45-18 could be essentially identical in diameter to a worn 255/35-20.

Nitpicking: A 255/35-20, especially with a tire like the S-03, will provide more grip than the original 245/45-18 Dunlop SP8000. If you're going to be stuck using the spare for any length of time, I'd run it on the front. If you have to make an emergency handling maneuver, I'd prefer the resulting additional understeer with the spare in the front to unexpected oversteer with the spare in the rear.

Last but not least, what wheels are you getting? And you know that we're expecting to see pictures once you have them on the car :-)<ul><li><a href="http://www.audipages.com/upgrades/tiresizeoptions.html">A8/S8 wheel and tire options</a></li></ul>

ryoung

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The Audi lug bolt uses a ball seat. Many (most?) aftermarket wheels may use either a taper or flat seat, and the bolt itself may be a different length. The lug bolts for my HRE's use a taper seat and are a different length than those for the Avus wheel.

So ... if you use an original wheel as a spare, be sure to keep a set of the original lug bolts in the trunk with it.<ul><li><a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR4&amp;url=%2Fwheels%2Ftech%2Fnutsandbolt s.htm">TireRack on lug bolts</a></li></ul>

bumboola

Randy, thanks for the detailed reply.

I have decided on the 20" Avus wheels. I have a couple of sources available, but they are not cheap. Do you happen to have any suggestions on a lower priced source?

I have a Defender for winter use, but did some serious steering and suspension damage, as well as splitting a rim, pretending I was a WRC driver! I have been using my S8, but the stock Dunlops are scary to say the least. I am mounting winter tires to the stock 18" wheels, so I finally decided to go with the 20"s for the summer. The Detroit area is pothole city, so I will try to be careful. I would hate to damage those wheels, but 20"s look so dramatic on an S8 that I can't resist.

Will post pics as soon as I get the wheels and a scanner!

ryoung

Range Rover for Defender, and HRE 20" for Avus 20"; and we have almost identical stories, except I can't imagine how you did that damage to a Defender. Wow, on the street? For me, the most dangerous time is early Spring; the summer wheels are back on, but not all potholes have been repaired.

Sorry, I no suggestions on lower price source for the 20" Avus.<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/231392.phtml">Pittsburgh destroys BBS wheel in A6/S6 forum</a></li></ul>

bumboola

It's the old "left front wheel meets boulder on side of ride when controlled slide turns into uncontrolled slide as a result of snap oversteer and lack of any Finnish blood in my veins, and spins uncontrollably until said spin ends with a sick THUD when said wheel makes contact with said boulder on side of road and causes the rim to split and wreak severe damage to steering and suspension and I feel like an idiot for a week" story. I am sure it has happened to all of us.

You don't even want to hear about my escapades on two wheels!