Re: A4 Wheels

[John Karasaki <johkar@teleport.com>]

The stock A4 16x7 wheel has a 45mm offset.  This is the same offset as the
optional Fuch 15x7 wheels for the type 44 cars.

The 16x7, 35mm offset wheels WILL NOT FIT a pre-'91 type 44 (except the V8)
car without flaring the rear fenders (or running radical camber in the
rear).  I say again:  The 35mm offset is NOT the correct offset for the
type 44 cars.

I've said this so many times, it is almost a mantra! ;)

Tire Rack is WRONG.

Still, that's a decent price for brand new wheels.  Flaring the fenders is
a small price to pay for looks (ducking and running!).

Thanks again, Chris!



At 05:46 PM 12/15/98 +0000, Christopher A. Woodward wrote:
>These are the 35mm offset wheels.  Tire Rack assured me that this is
correct for
>the type-44's.  I don't own one, so I was not aware of this.  I do know of
several
>44 owners that have mounted stock A4 wheels with no problems.  Do you know
the
>offset of the stock A4 wheels?
>
>Thanks,
>Chris
>
>John Karasaki wrote:
>
>> Chistopher,
>>
>> Thanks for your more than generous offer.  I'd like to offer only one
warning:
>>
>> Please check the offset of the 16x7 wheels.  Discount Tire did our Audi
>> community a great dis-service by selling A4 replica 16" wheels that had a
>> 35mm offset.  This offset is too small for the pre-1991 type 44 cars (ideal
>> is 40-45 mm with a 7" wide wheel).
>>
>> IME, Tire Rack is a much more detail oriented company that Discount,
>> however, you really have to be an Audi fanatic to know that subtle but
>> important fact about the wheel offset.  The entire aftermarket tire
>> industry seems to think that 35mm offset wheels are "the" correct offset
>> for our cars.
>>
>> Thanks again.  Please let me (us?) know what you find out about offset.
>>
>> At 03:42 PM 12/15/98 +0000, Christopher A. Woodward wrote:
>> >Greetings fellow listers:
>> >
>> >First of all, let me say that I am not posting this as a vendor, as I
>> >don't plan to make any profits off of these sales other than handling
>> >fees to make up for my time. My company is not in the automotive
>> >business, but we have a deal with Tire Rack so that I can get wholesale
>> >prices through the compan-- I just wanted to see if I could help any
>> >other q-listers out.
>> >
>> >I know that many of you have been mentioning that you are looking for
>> >the factory 5 spoke A4 wheels (16 x 7) for your type 44's, etc.  I just
>> >noticed today in my Tire Rack wholesale update that ATP makes a replica
>> >of this wheel called the A5.  It is available in 15 x 7 and 16 x 7 at
>> >$95/ea and $115/ea respectively.  ATP makes a great wheel, not a cheap
>> >replica like you sometimes see in various local shops.  Just seeing how
>> >much USED A4 wheels go for (mine went for $750 with 75% Badyears) I
>> >figure there might be some interest since this is a pretty good price.
>> >If we can get together a group purchase of even a few sets, it would be
>> >worth it for me to organize it.  I can probably get Tire Rack to
>> >directly drop ship these to you so we could all save some of the S&H
>> >costs.
>> >
>> >Drop me an e-mail if you are interested, and I will get back with
>> >everyone soon!
>> >
>> >Chris Woodward
>> >Get Wireless, Inc. Atlanta, GA
>> >(770) 640-6141
>> >
>> >
>> Best Regards,
>>
>> John Karasaki
>> Portland, OR
>
>
Best Regards,

John Karasaki
Portland, OR