There are pros and cons with a wheel/tire upgrade, but I'll be as objective as I can.

Doing the Homework.

One downfall with larger wheels/tires is the increased weight which is associated with the upgrade. When I used to have a 1995 Eagle Talon AWD, I upgraded to some heavy, cast 17" rims with larger tires and the car actually got slower! Afterwards, I realized that my "upgrade" was a performance DOWNGRADE as the 17" combo was significantly heavier than the stock 16" size. This time, I was ready.

The stock 16" sport rim with Dunlop 8000 (205/55R16) weighs approximately 42 pounds each. The new IFG and Michelin combo weighs only 43 pounds...a 1 pound increase in overall weight. This is a liveable figure considering that most cast 17" rims alone can weigh nearly 30 pounds alone (such as the Fittipaldi Polaris). Added with a tire that weighs over 25 pounds alone, you can quickly make a poor decision that will affect your acceleration times.

The Results.

The ride? A bit firmer than normal, but expected. The suspension is the stock A4 sport suspension as equipped from the factory.

The car also grips a heck of a lot better, but that's partly due to the increase contact patch with better rubber. The Michelin Pilot MXX3 has been a favorite tire of mine on my 96 M3 and it's no wonder that it's a hard tire that equals it. Granted it's not the best rain tire, but with quattro, it doesn't matter as much.

I took my newly sneakered A4 to Lime Rock during a BMW CCA driver's school (overcast with some sprinkles that day) only to keep up with many M3s at the track as well as surprising myself with the A4's handling capabilities. Never in my life have I experienced a controlled 65mph 4-wheel drive, 4-wheel drift before. The A4 hung right in there.

The Specs.

The IFG hot forged rims are 17" x 8" with an offset of ET35. They retail for $430 each and is available in a powdercoated finish for easy brake dust cleaning.

The Michelin Pilot MXX3s are 225/45ZR17 with built in rim guard.

My car (with the wheels) can be viewed here

Good luck!

Ben Liaw