[s-cars] More questions about wheels and tires

[Igor Kessel]

Matthew Farr wrote:
>
> Based on earlier replies, I've decided to:
>
> 1. Buy some new 17 inch wheels and new "summer" tires now.
> 2. When I get these, I will then shuck my old tires from my origial Audi
> 16 x 8 rims, get them refinished, and then eventually buy snow tires.

A perfect decision, Matt.

> 1. I'm planning on 17 x 8 rims. What offsets are acceptable? (1993 S4)

The ET=35mm in my 17x8 Avantgardes clear the wells w/o a problem.

> 2. What makes a "good" wheel? Frank had mentioned OZ, BBS, and SSR as
> upper end. What about Mille Miglia, AT Italia, Ronal, Borbet, Speedline,
> and Moda? I went to a local place here in Denver that had literally
> hundreds of brands of wheels. Most of them were chrome, so they didn't
> have many options that I was interested in.

1. Strenght. Forging is inherently superior to casting. My Avantgardes
are soft, meaning that if I ran them inflated to spec here in Philly I'd
be having Wheel Collision Centre in Bath, PA on speed dial. Ask me how I
know this :(

2. Weight. My Avantgardes, with 255/40/17 mounted on them tip the scale
at 59lb ea.! Ouch. Coupled with the cast 323x25mm S8 rotors in my BBB
brake convesion thaey make for one hell of an unsprung rotating mass.

> 3. What do I need to know about "hubcentric wheels" to make sure that I
> buy wheels that will be correct for my 1993 S4?

You need to have them perfectly hubcentric, to Audi spec (what's that,
47-point-something mm? - don't remember this offhand) or  you'll turn
your Audi into a rapidly self-destructing industrial gravel compactor.

> 4. What size tires are best? All of these seem to be within +/- 2
> percent of the original size:
> 205/55-16  0.0%  (What I've got now)
> 225/50-16  -0.1%  (Original equipment?)
> 225/45-17  0.4%
> 235/45-17  1.8%
> 235/40-17  -1.9%
> 245/40-17  -0.6%

I'd go (and in fact I did in my car) with the one size that you don't
have in your list: 255/40/17. You'll need all the outer tyre lip
protector you can get with those 8" wide rims. Or you'll have Wheel
Collision Centre in Bath, PA on speed dial. Ask me how I know this :(
(When I bought my Avantgardes, they had the 235/40/17 tyres on them -
never again!)

> 5. Any specific tire recommendations?

I took the recommendation of our esteemed Scott Justasson and bought the
Sumitomo HTRZII and have been extremely happy with them.

In the past I had Dunlop SP8000 on my cars and thery were great too.
Although I like the Sumis much better.

Yoikos are great too. AVS Intermediates to be exact. Only they are
harsher, and don't last as ling as either of the above.

> Are there any that I should avoid?

Yeah. Any Bad Year for one, at all cost. Also I know I might get flamed
for heresy here, but I really really hate the hype around Michelin. Yes,
even the Pilots - I presently have them on my wife's A4TQ and they suck
so much it's not even funny. To me Michelin has been sleeping on its
laurels since they have invented the radial tyre.

--
Igor Kessel
two turbo quattros