MLHS3

Hello, New 2016 S3 owner. Traded in our 11 year old BMW M3. Wow what a difference. I guess cars have improved over the past 10 years of so. We bought the Prestige model and is has the 19 inch wheels with magnetic ride. The ride seems a bit harsh. I am interested if we traded our 19 inch wheel package for the 18 inch package would that significantly improve the ride. I know we will be giving up a bit in handling but I am willing to make a small sacrifice.

antirich

You may want to try a different setting on your Magenetic Ride. Apparently, it's suppose to ride much better than stock.

Regarding handling, 1" isn't going to make much of a difference; most of the low profile craze is for looks. Lots of the guys in Autocross will run smaller wheels, mainly cause they weigh less. Hell, even an F1 car has only 16" wheels.

And to be honest, i VERY rarely see people on the street use 1/100th of a cars handling capabilities. I have a Q5 with giant 18" wheels/tires, and I've never gotten those tires to sequel no matter how hard i take the on/off ramps. And i've even chased a few Corvettes into the turns ;-)

Not saying the Q will out handle a vette by any means; just that most just drive them like their man card was revoked ;-)

DennisMitchell

For everyday driving, use the "Auto" Drive Select setting.

Check whether your tires are overinflated. For normal load 39 psi front and 36 psi rear for the stock tires. Mine were delivered at 44 psi. This will effect ride / handling a lot.

Where do you live? Your car has summer tires. Below 40 degrees those tires don't work. If you need winter tires, go for a set of 17 or 18 inch wheels/winter tires.

arU4ic

^^^ +1 on checking the tire pressure, mine came to me with 50 psi all the way around.

markN1689

trading the 19inch magride wheels for 18s would be a fail.

magride wheel weight just under 22lbs and the stock 18s weigh just over 32lbs
not to mention the magrides look waaay better

MLHS3

Thanks for the input. I the tires were at 45 pounds all around. I lowered the pressure to the recommendations and will give that a try. We live in the upstate of SC and it does have temps below 40 so we will have to be careful. I am considering all season tires as an alternative.

DennisMitchell

I recommend you consider getting performance winter tires and another set of wheels to mount them on. All season tires are a compromise between summer and winter tires. You already have summer tires. The optimum complement to your summer tires for winter driving is winter tires. The tire compound provides better traction at lower temperatures then all-season tires.

CHIO

get all season will soften up the ride! You will be fine with them I live in missouri and it can be
10 one day and 60 the next! the last thing i want to do change from winter to summers!

DennisMitchell

Winter tires have a soft ride as well, maybe softer than all-season. But you do need to change over twice a year.

arU4ic

OP, sorry if you mentioned this, but did you try a ride in Comfort yet? If you like the ride, then you can make an individual setting.