Brozee

+1 my 4.2 with 18" wheels is much more cushioned than the w12 with 20"

kgd_007

Go test drive a used one with the 20's.

Still don't believe you will see a huge difference between the 19's and 20's. The tire you choose can make just as much of a difference as the wheel size.

dvs_dave

Bigger wheels and their corresponding lower profile tyres wears out the suspension more quickly too. Lower profile tyres transfer much more shock and vibration into the suspension components which in turn is given much more of a work out.

A car on 20's is much more likely to have suspension problems vs a car on 18's given the same environment.

MP4.2+6.0

I really can't remember a single post tying a suspension issue to wheel size. Most don't even mention it. In the real world of D3's, the weak link is the upper front control arms. The parts and general design was generally for a several generation old A4, and pretty obviously weren't sized up for it. Have the same design on my 2000 A6 4.2. That runs variously 40's and 45's on 17's (aspect varies w/ snow tires and rim width). Same wear issues as I see on W12.

MP4.2+6.0

We've debated this before and I have posted the specific weights in the past. Factory 20's are forged, as are the 19" "pie plates" common on older D3's. Those 19's are the lightest, followed by the later 20's (twin 7's) found on Sport 4.2's or later W12's. The baseline 18's are relatively heavy even though they are a narrower width, and are a basic cast design with a lot of metal volume generally.

MP4.2+6.0

...on the D3 and then my 2000 C5 4.2 which is similar general weight to a D3 4.2 and has a similar but non air suspension.

From 18's to 20's I would expect to feel a (comfort) difference but then I favor more road feel anyway, as a matter of taste. On the 19's subjective feel difference is less clear to me. The tires are more expensive in 19's and with fewer choices generally relative to the 20's. Also remember as a subtle difference in the 20's the tire diameter goes to 27.7" from 27.0" on the 19's (or 18's), so what you would think would be a nominal sidewall reduction of 0.5" in 19's (half the diameter delta) actually becomes only 0.15." Thus hard to imagine a 0.15" sidewall difference is easily discernible.

On factory to factory wheel swaps (too many variants on non stock, and most tend to be value subtracts on any vehicle resale), the 20's with the width increase will also increase stopping power and cornering feel/balance from my experience.

dvs_dave

Less shock absorption from lower profile tyres means the suspension works harder. So by default it wears out quicker (regardless of known weak spots).

Contrary to popular belief the A8 can't actually defy the laws of physics

mishar

Very nicely elaborated love for 20's. You could simply said I have them and I love them.

mishar

Superior handling of low profile tires is false. It is truth that steering is more responsive, but superiority ends right there, followed by cornering inferiority, especially on an imperfect, real world road. So one feel that he can do something that he can't. Recipe for disaster. Just like most of the fashion.

MP4.2+6.0

Your position, as mine, are predictable but I like to try to provide some actual factually correct information along the way too.