RS5 SB new wheel.
08-21-2018, 04:01 PM
#21
AudiWorld Member
08-21-2018, 04:30 PM
#22
The ultra-low profile tires probably offer handling improvements. If the tires lasted longer than the duration between two oil changes, maybe that would be a good thing.
But the reality of short tread life AND being very vulnerable to pot-holes (due to their very low aspect ratios) plus a slight increase in unsprung weight and increased road noise, really means the low profile tires and extra large wheels are, in practice, "all yak and no shak" -- and I don't care how much money you have in your checkbook or how high the line is on the old Plutonium card -- these large wheels and low profile tires are for show, not go.
But the reality of short tread life AND being very vulnerable to pot-holes (due to their very low aspect ratios) plus a slight increase in unsprung weight and increased road noise, really means the low profile tires and extra large wheels are, in practice, "all yak and no shak" -- and I don't care how much money you have in your checkbook or how high the line is on the old Plutonium card -- these large wheels and low profile tires are for show, not go.
It's true in flyover country -- that much is for certain. But, the last few times I've been to Boston, New York, and San Francisco (not flyover cities for sure), their streets and roads were pretty well pock-marked, too. Maybe these wheels are for Germans who may be more likely to have super smooth ribbons of highways stretching hundreds of KMs. Audi (of America) needs a US wheel program. If the LOOK is what they're after, why not go with optional wheels that 40 series (and suitably wide) shoes will be the ones that "fit" properly and bag the 35 and 30 series tires that have life-span shorter than the common house-fly.
I'd pay EXTRA for an 18" wheel that matched the appearance of the optional 19" wheel on my 2018 S4. And, I'm sure my wife would have paid for the look of the 21" wheel but in the 20" size of the OEM SQ5 Prestige wheel. If the goal is financial, this approach would surely serve that purpose. If the goal of the larger wheels is ONLY for performance, well that is another matter but Audi of America needs to survey its owners who probably want "purty wheels" but just are fed up with paying and paying and paying for bent wheels, blown tires and all-wheel alignments over and over.
I went into my dealer last Saturday and I noticed they actually were stocking SQ5s without the 21" wheels -- you know the reasons they gave for not having ordered these wheels for their inventory. The reason my rep gives is "I want repeat customers -- you quickly sour your customers on the brand when they realize they'll be spending thousands on the tires, wheels, alignments that will be associated with the +sized wheels." Customers would like the "fancy" wheels and would pay for them -- they just hate getting new tires everytime the car's birthday comes around.
Too bad no one from Audi reads these things.
11-23-2018, 01:48 PM
#24
AudiWorld Senior Member
Not a fan. Give me a simple symmetrical design that doesn't draw your eyes to it. I do wish Audi had a broader range of options to choose from when selecting wheels, at least on the customer ordered cars. Doesn't seem like that would be to big an ask, just contract out with a well know reputable wheel manufacturer and offer some of their standard design options. They wouldn't need to maintain a stock - just pass through the order whenever the build sheet hits the computers.
11-23-2018, 03:21 PM
#25
AudiWorld Member
Not a fan. Give me a simple symmetrical design that doesn't draw your eyes to it. I do wish Audi had a broader range of options to choose from when selecting wheels, at least on the customer ordered cars. Doesn't seem like that would be to big an ask, just contract out with a well know reputable wheel manufacturer and offer some of their standard design options. They wouldn't need to maintain a stock - just pass through the order whenever the build sheet hits the computers.
i don’t like them either in fact I’m still kinda mad that to get the BO package you had to get the wheels. I’m going aftermarket bu want the reference to the OEM wheel weight so I don’t get anything heavier. I saw in another forum a reference to 34lbs but don’t know if that was for the 20’s.
11-25-2018, 07:21 AM
#28
11-25-2018, 08:09 AM
#29
11-25-2018, 11:06 AM
#30
AudiWorld Member
Agreed 100% re low profile tires & 20s. We didn't have a choice with our 2018 R5s. I'm thinking of going to 19 inch All-Season tires once I use up the OEM Continentals. Will have to do a search for proper aftermarket wheels. I'm shocked at being able to put almost 5000 miles on mine and no curb rash yet. Our midwest roads are not the best, and I've cringed going through construction zones, but so far, the protective rubber rim has saved the wheels. Really would have liked the option of 18s or 19s as OEM....
Not to mention the loss in safety with longer braking distances in all conditions (We're talking like 8-16 ft longer stopping distances... That's the difference between slamming your brakes and laughing because the RS5 stops so well, and crying because you smashed your 90k car into the back of a truck). And remember that summer tires are going to be better in the wet than A/S AND winter, assuming operating and ambient temperature aren't in the lows.
I know I'm just some guy you don't know, but if you take my advice, highly advise you stick to either SPT or WPT contingent on the winter temperatures in your location.