VONBOTTLE

i'm about to order my winter tire setup from tirerack and they offer the rotor reps with either a 45 or 35 offset, i'm guessing if i go with the 35, they'll sit maybe a couple mm out further than the 8.5" peelers (actually, haven't taken wheel off to look, not sure if they're 8.5 or not, they're the stock 19" wheel, are they 8 or 8.5?) w/ 43 offset -so is anyone running this size? is there any reason not to go with that offset? going to go with the conti wintercontact in 225/45-18

Glisse

Stock is 8.5J x 19. Your numbers look right. ET35 will be "safer" in terms of brake clearance for a non-OEM wheel, although you will then have a bit of positive scrub radius which, in theory, could result in some steering tug when braking. ET45 holds to the OEM scrub radius. With 225/45, you certainly won't have any clearance issues with the outer guard. Even though your wheels may be out 2mm (which is tiny) further, the tyre's edge will be further in than your summer set up (stretched vs the squarer summer setup). But not ridiculously so.

VONBOTTLE

Thanks for the input, ended up going with the 35's.....picked them up yesterday, look like decent wheels, but probably won't mount for a few more weeks

Glisse

You're lucky, already below 7C/45F here, and about to snow. Winter sets on both cars now.

I'd check that the new wheels are also using ball/conical lug bolt seats as per your OEM wheels and existing lug bolts. Although IIRC, Tire Rack provides tapered/cone bolts if that what the new wheel needs and they are being sold for an Audi fitment.

VONBOTTLE

I usually hold out til its barely warm enough to change two sets of wheels, hopefully a few more weeks! And yes tirerack does provide bolts and centering rings which is a bonus

GUEST123

Don't forget that most aftermarket wheels use bolts with a conical head, versus the OEM ball-seat heads. So when you take off your summer wheels and put them and their ball-seat bolts away for the winter season, remember to keep a set of 5 of the ball-seat bolts in your trunk, just in case you get a flat and need to use the spare wheel/tire. The spare uses ball-seat bolts, so don't chance using the conical head bolts on them. Since I tend to forget details like this, I ordered a set of 5 of the OEM bolts from ECS Tuning and keep them in a box in the spare tire well with the tools.