The Simps

I've lowered my car slightly more up front to give a slight rake because as you say, having the rear tucked just doesn't look right on these cars.

Fastman14609

What's the best offset to o with?

Fastman14609

Sorry, meant to go with?

MP4.2+6.0

I suspect from your prior posts about 22's, maybe the objective is basically to stuff as much wheel and tire in there as possible, but the question should be asked. For example, if you were just doing factory 20 x9's with 275's I would tell you a net of approx. ET 30 in front and ET 25 in back (whether in the wheels or via quality spacers) would give to a good muscular, hunkered down look that would be believable quasi stock (as in, not an exaggerated over the top) look. As you go up in the width (tire and wheel), you will have the manage the ET's pretty carefully. At 9" and 275's you have close to an inch or so pretty easy play in and out of the wheel well in the back, and about 2/3 to 3/4 of an inch up front. As you go up to 285's and then 295's (if you are trying to max width??), its going to get increasingly very tight on the ET spec, especially in front.

Also know going in you have an ultimate tire outer diameter limit, particularly in front. As quattro, you should keep the front and rear running diameters very close. Look at the upper suspension hub casting/arm above either front side tire and you will see it. Using my 275/35 20's as a proxy (27.7" new tire diameter), I suspect the upper limit is somewhere in the high 28" diameter range. And if you increase the overall width or pull in the inner edge of the tire via numerically greater ET's (if the tire isn't already basically width maxed), it will make that measurement more critical since that potential rub point is curved on the lower side of the casting.

Net, there is some play here above the max factory 20" wheel dimensions used on the D3, but there are limits not super far away. Missing those can lead to expensive ordering mistakes and/or serious rubbing. For any ideas up in the 22" range and/or by 295's I would be really careful and figure a careful trial fitting may be needed. Personally I wouldn't try to push it beyond 21" and 285's. On this board, I am one of one side of the debate about larger vs. smaller diameters, and I like a firmer ride and more aggressive look rather than plusher and softer. I don't live in pothole city either--non snow/freeze climate. But even w/ all these pointers toward bigger sizing, I would say be careful about messing up the really nice feel (and look) of the car. It can get kind of cartoonish at large rim sizes and way low profiles--to where I snicker when I see the stuff on the road (like a stereotype bling Escalade with mega diameter chrome stuff) and also know that things as simple as little 1" driveway edging at gutter lines or even a slightly awry everyday rail road track crossing could take out a wheel or sidewall with almost no margin for error, even keeping tire pressures robust. The owner might like and enjoy it, but away from a few quality (read, usually quite expensive) wheels at rational sizing, I see most of it as value subtract for any resale.

The Simps

Will depend upon the wheel width and tyre chosen. Mine are 255s on a 9.5" and at et30 clear all round and look well spaced in my opinion.





Echoing what has been said above, wheel design will make or break the look of 22s on the A8. Good quality is important so they don't **** themselves at the 1st pothole either! Mine are load rated and designed for the Q7 so hopefully have some decent strength in them. Downside is they are a heavy wheel which will take away from driver feel and agility.

What are you hoping for from the car mate?

Dalplex

chudlin

my car is lowered and i have 20 inch q7 alloys with 275 35s on and 20mm spacers all around. without the spacers the tyres rub on the hub arm. but i have a slight issue with inner corner wear on the front. look nice though

JulianHicks

Edited to add tyre sizes
I've just looked in the Audi 'Wheel and Tyre' Guide and the max sizes they specify are:
D3 A8 - 9J x 20 - 265/35/20 tyres
D4 A8 - 9J x 21 - 265/40/21 tyres

Julian

Jack88

Keep in mind, it's not just the diameter but the width, Fastman. I think 275/35/20 are about the biggest you can get without spacers or rub. Maybe 285's. Also, when selecting rims, avoid cheap ones, a lot of the cheaper cast rims can look nice but are structurally weak. This is a heavy car, it will destroy cheap rims on low profile tires if you don't have very nice roads to drive on, which is not only expensive but very dangerous. Best bet is to find an OEM rim you like that someone else has taken off their Audi to put on yours, they tend to be very durable. The newer ones need an adapter, but it's cheap. Good aftermarket ones tend to be very expensive, HRE makes some awesome ones, for example, but at a cost.

hifiglie

I run 20 x10.5 275/20-35 tires all around. Sorry for the giant pic