guido55

Searching for a used A8L. Have seen a couple of new and used listings with 21 inch wheels. Would think that the 20 inch wheels would suffice and that the 21 inch wheels would be overkill for this kind of car (noisier or reduce mileage). Any reason I would want them or would they be a negative?

Tom C

Agreed you are correct 20s are perfect any larger you will compromise the ride quality.

MP4.2+6.0

Yep even worse to 22's. On very low miles 2015 S8 I bought CPO that came w/ OE 21's, ride was a little unsettled basically. Short version: 20's much better. Factory (cast) 21's were also very heavy. 9 pounds per wheel of unsprung rotating mass got liposuctioned out of the overweight pig factory set up when I fit D4 appropriate OE forged 20 x 9's instead. 22's will just be worse.

Mine is an S8 where ride is stiffer to start with, but only benefit I saw was on the looks side. 21's do look a little better on S8 to my eye, though front brake heft and caliper quality shows better on 20's and would sort of get lost with 22's. First Audi in literally 20 years where I have gone the other way on wheel set up sizing.

Uber.8

I've never driven on 20's, only the factory standard 21' wheels. While I thought it may be overkill, I can honestly say my ride quality is perfectly fine. Where the factory or enthusiasts sometimes make mistakes is the size of the sidewall. The smaller the sidewall height, usually the stiffer the sidewall. Great for turn-in response, less so for ride quality. The sidewalls on my 21's appear reasonable. Just be sure to keep tire pressures around 36 psi, not the 40+ that is recommended. Good luck either way.

Dalplex

MP4.2+6.0

Yes, those are the look of stock 21's. From owning a set, heavy cast. To use them on a D3, besides the profile change, you need to get a set of hubcentric rings for them. D4's went to the now pretty standard larger Audi hub center at 66mm+. D'3's used the older center at 57mm+.

Dalplex

MP4.2+6.0

Nope, 57mm is now relegated to VW's and "small" Audis, aka Golfs in drag. Plus, the gen 2 R8, but oddly only on one end. Occasionally people use Bentley Continental wheels (or did w/ D3), and need to be careful on whether those have "caught up." H&R does have an obscure reverse 66 to 57 adapter, but it inherently builds in 20mm of spacing IIRC.

Yes, 5 x 112 remains std, and they got rid of the 5 x130 oddball with gen 2 Q7. At 66mm hub center, Audi's are interchange/are generic with std. Merc. they have used for many years now.