bobster1121

Car came with original 19s but looked a little tired and kind of aged the car more then it should hence when the 18s were offered at a can't refuse price I jumped at them with a long term plan of restoring the original alloys and add a colour to to the wheels to make them more In date.
Had 18s on my phaeton and the ride was great so did a little research and the Audi A8 is reported also to have good ride quality with 18s so I didn't really think about arch gap at all till they were fitted.

It's more of a personal thing .....when I look at the car from the side it's beautiful and I love it but from the front without the wheels pushing up to the wings it looks plain and non purposefull.
Hence spacers or if that fails it will be bite the bullet and buy new alloys.

I know to the purists or the don't mess with years of refinement people I am mad and I would in some respect agree but I want my car to sit on the driveway growling at cars that pass and not sit their looking meek.
I may need therapy

But thanks again for all the help this is really a great forum and all your opinions have helped me with my project.

97urS6

I'm on the same page with you... I was using 10mm spacers on the fronts and 15mm spacers on the backs (with the OEM 12 spoke 19" rims), it did improve the "look" to a slightly more aggressive stance, especially with the suspension in dynamic mode! But I always thought just a little bit wider would be perfect? But I really didn't want to drop the money on bigger spacers, just in case I didn't like the look!

So just by shear chance... I was using a set of 18" flat five rims for my winters and I didn't know that they were offset 10mm more to the outside of the car. So with those same spacers on the car it has this "growl" of a look and yet is completely restraint and clean with the tires well inside the edge of the fenders!

richard-tx

In the end, I want my car to look like any other A8. Nothing special until I blow past them at 155. Then just let them wonder what that dark silver streak was.

Shark_V8

It's all about the stance, this is automotive artwork we are talking here. One of the reasons 911 Turbos back in the day were so sexy. And the stylists have (finally) figured it out. You see it in many examples, besides Porsche, Cadillac, even the little Fiat 500. But there are limits to what they can do stock for cost, regulations, safety, useability, practicality etc.

Our shop manager Jay is all over phat rims and stretched tires. I have to agree that stretched rubber looks pretty rad because on the right car it flows off the body work and has a striking & unique look to it.

My buddy's 911 had 265/35's on 11" turbo wheels and the friggin' hick tire shop here is so @&#^$ they wouldn't mount another set like it. So I got 285/30's and it was like OK, but man the stretched tires were way cooler. STILL had to take the wheels into the city because of issues in the country town here, seating the 11's. If you scroll down my twitter you'll see the tuned Carrera. OK here's 35mm, rear spacers on stock 19's

bobster1121

I just looked at your photos and rang the shop and said I need bigger spacers lol

Shark_V8

What i did was bring the 10mm added to the rear 25mm for a total of 35mm. Front I have nothing now. And I like it. Again the dynamics of the car appeals to me much more with the wagger of the stagger.

Yo bro if u runnin' them 18 mini-dunkin's 'round the hood, then you gotta stretch rubba and push out.

dvs_dave

So you got 25mm spacers, and then put 10mm spacers on top of them?

p.s. you're pretty fly (for a white guy)

Shark_V8

lil' wayne is the anthem (wannabe be a baller). It's all about the AMG kit but, hey did I see an A8 in the video? Back then 20" horrid looking chrome was the deal in the Houston rap scene. Great song tho.

Yes I have a 10mm extended bolt spacer over a 25mm fixed-in-place spacer. Put 200K miles on that this weekend.