J.T.L.

I'm temped by the ABT A25s again. If a spare won't fit in the car then that's a reason not to go further in debt.

But then there's the 17" A23s...sigh. I should just buy them and worry about how to pay later.

Thanks,
J.T.L.

djillusion

tires i have are also 225/35/18s. they fit fine, however are indeed kinda stretched.

i also have 5 (a spare), and it will fit in the wheel well, but it will stick out a tad bit more (cause its a 18 x 8.5 wheel).

J.T.L.

All the picts I've seen of the A25s are on cars with lowered suspensions. I'm wondering how they will look with stock suspension.

Did you get yours from that guy in NJ? I saw his ad last fall but was able to resist.

Thanks,
J.T.L.

djillusion

but i have the stock suspension for now. with 225/35/18s, they will look for sure like an "allroad" S4...a lowered suspension is necessary for a good look.

check your email.

Andrew C.

a matching spare is a bit overkill, imho, since you're rarely gonna use it.

and if you do, just deal with the embarrassment of having one oddball out wheel. that's my plan with my avus spare!

Andrew C.

any reason you went with 225/35 and not 225/40?

J.T.L.

Center diff is TORSEN and, I think, viscous. Driving for any distance with one wheel of a (even slightly) different diameter will cause it to overheat and may cause permanent damage. Even though the front and rear diffs are open, the EDL (Electronic Diff Lock) has no on/off switch and will kick in and try to compensate for the wheel that is spinning faster.

This might not be a problem if I could be guaranteed that any flat I get will be within 1 mile or so of an (open) repair shop. Much of my driving is done in the country and at off hours, so I need to have a spare I can rely on to get me where I need to go, however far that is, without damaging the car.

I also really really hate to be forced to pay whatever garage x wants to charge me because my car broke down away from home. I'm kind of spoiled since my cousin owns a garage and I can mount/balance/repair my own tires for free.

J.T.L.

Silver S4

I had my 19" 225/35/19 in the spare hole just fine

Andrew C.

a brand new tire in the spare well and put a bunch of miles on your tires before you've get a flat you're looking at similar, if not more % difference.

also, the tires may wear similar side to side, but front to back is not even wear. that's why you need to rotate.

i'll agree that a large diff is probably not good, like a 225/35/18 or 235/35 which already start 2%-3% smaller than the 225/45/17 and only get smaller, but the 225/40/18 is a touch bigger which makes the 225/45/17 spare perfect, imo.

of course, the added variable of manufacturer to manufacturer can throw that all out the window.

oh, and Torsen is mechanical not VC, btw.