rf5000

Guys,

Can someone tell me what the right quality is like on an Audi A8L with 20" wheels? I have a 2006 Audi A8L without sport package. I have factory 19" wheels now and want to move to 20" with Continental All Season 275/35/20 tires. I dont want ride quality to change. Will I even notice a difference? And if so, can any difference be fixed with the air suspension settings?

mishar

You know the answer. You just want somebody to tell you the opposite.

JohnnyJ A6Q

+1

rf5000

The reason I asked is because I have read some posts saying that the ride quality doesnt change much at all because of the air suspension. I would be going from a 40 series tire to a 35 series tire. I wanted to know if this was true. Also, I know that the 275/35/20 is an option from the factory so I wouldn't think it would be that bad. I wanted to hear some opinions from people that have 20" wheels on their cars?

kgd_007

I went from the 265/35/20 summer tire to a 275/35/20 Michelin AS tire and the ride definitely seems better. So the tire may have as much impact as just the wheel size. I have heard good things about your tire choice and would be surprised if the ride was that much different. Now a 20" summer performance tire would probably be more noticeable.

There's your answer saying you won't see a difference.

TSHong

This is not the same variables but I came from a D2 with P245/40R19 to a D3 with P275/35R20. Quite honestly my D3 rides better than my D2 because of the air suspension. That being said, I'm sure the 19s would ride better than the 20s. If you drive on smooth roads most of the time, I would go with the 20's. Driving on a smooth highway, there would no difference in ride. If your area has bumpy roads and a bunch of pot holes, that is where your ride would feel much different. Just my perspective. I've been in the tire business for the last 25 years.

mishar

You can find all kind of answers on this question. People who payed quite a bit for them have to be in love. I wouldn't trust them.

Fact is that 20" wheels are heavier and their mass is on a greater diameter. That makes their moment of inertia bigger requiring more energy to accelerate and brake. Smaller sidewall has to be stiffer, so it hurts ride quality. Tires are less flexible what makes contact surface smaller even more hurting braking and handling. On a bumpy surface things are just getting worse. Tiny sidewall is a security issue too. It is way easier to cut a tire and damage the wheel. If it happens on high speed can be extremely dangerous. To prevent this, at least a bit, guys are increasing air pressure even further hurting ride quality. So it is an investment in making your car worst than it was.

It is also fact that if you go to 18" wheels you will gain wherever you would loose with 20's.

jakematic

So very very true.

Going from 18" on my D3 to 20" on my D4 was a GIMUNGOUS difference in ride.

JohnnyJ A6Q

gimungous

bigger than humungus

pmdeaver

Interesting. I was actually thinking of doing the opposite, simply because I want the S8 rims. I too was hoping the 275 35 20 would help cushion the ride, but maybe I need to be scared away from this idea...