17's vs 18's for snow tires
03-23-2019, 05:47 AM
#1
AudiWorld Junior Member
Thread Starter
17's vs 18's for snow tires
My newly acquired 2016 Prestige rides on its OEM 19' PS with summer tires. In winter I will get a separate mounted set with snows. I know the benefits of downsizing wheel size for winter, and Tire Rack offers matches in both 17s and 18s. 18 at -1 is a safe choice, has anyone gone -2 at 17? What had your experience been?
03-24-2019, 04:10 AM
#2
Dedicated dedicated snow tires depends on where you live. For me this past winter near Chicago, all season 19s coupled with the Quattro worked better than my wife’s awd Jeep Patriot.
Downsizing hells get cheaper tires for winter but they may not fit depending on your brake size. 18s will probably work but I bet 17s don’t.
Downsizing hells get cheaper tires for winter but they may not fit depending on your brake size. 18s will probably work but I bet 17s don’t.
03-24-2019, 04:13 AM
#3
AudiWorld Super User
I am running 19 inch season dedicated tires. I have been very happy with the performance of my winter tires. Plus we only get snow 3 or 4 times per year
03-25-2019, 07:22 PM
#4
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The A7 is my daily driver and my ski car!
The winter wheelset I use is 18-inch wheels with Michelin Ice Radials purchased from TireRack. While 17-inch packages are available and would ride nice I chose the 18-inch package as a good balance of ride and handling.
The winter wheelset I use is 18-inch wheels with Michelin Ice Radials purchased from TireRack. While 17-inch packages are available and would ride nice I chose the 18-inch package as a good balance of ride and handling.
04-05-2019, 10:47 AM
#5
AudiWorld Member
I have 18" Michelin X-ice and 20" summer tires. I went with 245/45's for higher sidewall height to take on the potholes. With 19" you could go 17" but 18" is fine.
04-11-2019, 07:57 AM
#6
AudiWorld Member
I would urge you not to go to -2. Our even -1. The point is a narrower tire for winter, not a smaller diameter. Just adjust the aspect ratio. I run 245/45-19 in the winter and love it. I use high performance Dunlops. Car is unstoppable in the high Rockies, year also runs great at speed on dry pavement. Friends in Vail also run narrow winter tires with 50 aspect ratio. I think they use 235/50-19. Another benefit of a larger aspect ratio is a trailer sidewall. Good for winter debris and potholes.
IMHO, an A7 would look odd with 17 wheels. By the way, I use 275/35-20s for spring summer fall.
IMHO, an A7 would look odd with 17 wheels. By the way, I use 275/35-20s for spring summer fall.
04-11-2019, 08:13 AM
#7
AudiWorld Junior Member
Thread Starter
I would urge you not to go to -2. Our even -1. The point is a narrower tire for winter, not a smaller diameter. Just adjust the aspect ratio. I run 245/45-19 in the winter and love it. I use high performance Dunlops. Car is unstoppable in the high Rockies, year also runs great at speed on dry pavement. Friends in Vail also run narrow winter tires with 50 aspect ratio. I think they use 235/50-19. Another benefit of a larger aspect ratio is a trailer sidewall. Good for winter debris and potholes. IMHO, an A7 would look odd with 17 wheels. By the way, I use 275/35-20s for spring summer fall.
I am coming to agree with those who say that 17's would technically work and might give a great soft ride with lots of sidewall but would look weird. I'm inclined toward 18s for snows (with narrowed profile as Beagle points out) but I might also keep my eyes open for a used set of 20s to run summers and use the 19s for a new set of winters. Since I have to buy a second set of wheels anyway I might as well be open-minded toward 20s for summer!
Thanks to all for your thoughts.
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