Winter tires for new Q7?
12-31-2016, 09:34 AM
#121
AudiWorld Super User
255/55 is the base size for the Q7. My winters and summers are both that size, but yes, the +39 could be an issue.
01-01-2017, 10:20 AM
#122
Cat Herder
I misstyped. I have 8" Q5 OEM wheels with 235/55R19 on them. I can't find tires to fit those that would satisfy the load rating requirement.
Last edited by pierreb; 01-01-2017 at 10:31 AM.
03-02-2017, 12:21 PM
#125
AudiWorld Senior Member
03-02-2017, 04:14 PM
#126
Audiworld Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Southern California
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Hey Cadx6,
I got these wheels after I read your post from a while back. I received them today and just got back from the tire shop. The OEM bolts fit perfectly. The technician at the tire shop thinks they are well made. The Audi logo caps came with the wheels. These are for my winter set. Thanks for the information.
I got these wheels after I read your post from a while back. I received them today and just got back from the tire shop. The OEM bolts fit perfectly. The technician at the tire shop thinks they are well made. The Audi logo caps came with the wheels. These are for my winter set. Thanks for the information.
03-03-2017, 10:14 AM
#127
AudiWorld Senior Member
Hey Cadx6,
I got these wheels after I read your post from a while back. I received them today and just got back from the tire shop. The OEM bolts fit perfectly. The technician at the tire shop thinks they are well made. The Audi logo caps came with the wheels. These are for my winter set. Thanks for the information.
I got these wheels after I read your post from a while back. I received them today and just got back from the tire shop. The OEM bolts fit perfectly. The technician at the tire shop thinks they are well made. The Audi logo caps came with the wheels. These are for my winter set. Thanks for the information.
I never even knew there was such a thing as different Winter & Summer tires when I lived in Southern California
Seriously, glad things worked out for you - looking' good
12-23-2018, 09:49 PM
#129
AudiWorld Junior Member
After extensive reviews, this is my take on the winter package for the Q7:
Tires size: 255/55/19 are best, 255/50/20 good, 265/50/20 and up to 1% wheel diameter difference -acceptable.
Tires brand: Nokians Happlekita R3 and Michelin XIce are best, Continental, Dunlop are good; Pirelli, Goodyear etc are ok. I would put Bridgestone Blizzak DM 2 in the "best" category, but only for the first 50% of the thread life, the second half they are pretty much all season.
Wheels: BBS SX best (only 20", 35lbs, $440); Hartmann/achtuning (only 20', 29.5lbs, $370)-good, MSW type 48 (19", by OZ, 33 lbs, $210)- ok. Other replicas that fit and have reviews: DAI ART, Replika, Rial Quinto, Mandrous;;;; Niche, Quad, Verde- these are new, no long term reviews, all made in China/Asia/Poland.
Important:
1. Wheel load rating needs to be 1800 lbs minimum, per factory specs. The Q7 weighs about 5000 lbs. None of the other Audi models have wheels with this load rating, it is mostly 1500 lbs. I saw a lot of guys here buy S8 or SQ5 wheels from eBay, but with a loaded car you are at the max capacity. Forget about trailers or additional external carriers. In fact the load capacity IS the biggest limiting factor for a Q7 wheel replacement.
2. I have only selected wheels with a central bore of 66.56mm, which is Audi OEM. You will sometimes see them listed as 66mm or 67mm, but its 66.56mm. There are many good wheels options for larger center bore wheels, usually 71mm, like Enkei, Konig, TSW, but will require a center ring to be installed by your shop. This introduces another variable you don't want, b/c there are many stories with wheel vibrations due to poor installment or melting of the center ring.
3. I have only selected wheels with OEM Lug nuts M14x1.4 like Q7 OEM. It can be replaced with others like M13s, but check length to clear the brakes, and have at least 7 turns to hold the wheel.
3. Stick with ET 25-35 (OEM is 28 for the 19", 33 for the 20")
4. Check the weight of the wheel also. Since these wheels are all cast aluminum with similar designs, the weight of the wheel can tell about the strength (minus non-structural design additions). This does not apply to spun cast/rotary casts, or forged wheels, which will be lighter and be just as resistant to impact as casts (not tougher, but lighter). Expect > $1000 for forged.
5. The Audi winter package is $3000 with Pirelli tires. I dislike the design and the winter tire choice, which is why I started the search for replacements, but don't expect to save a lot of money for quality replicas. If the wheel is cheap, means it's made in asia/china/poland. It has a good design, but quality control is lacking- there are many stories about wheels bending too often, or cracking due to porosity. BBS and Hartmann are made in Germany.
Tires size: 255/55/19 are best, 255/50/20 good, 265/50/20 and up to 1% wheel diameter difference -acceptable.
Tires brand: Nokians Happlekita R3 and Michelin XIce are best, Continental, Dunlop are good; Pirelli, Goodyear etc are ok. I would put Bridgestone Blizzak DM 2 in the "best" category, but only for the first 50% of the thread life, the second half they are pretty much all season.
Wheels: BBS SX best (only 20", 35lbs, $440); Hartmann/achtuning (only 20', 29.5lbs, $370)-good, MSW type 48 (19", by OZ, 33 lbs, $210)- ok. Other replicas that fit and have reviews: DAI ART, Replika, Rial Quinto, Mandrous;;;; Niche, Quad, Verde- these are new, no long term reviews, all made in China/Asia/Poland.
Important:
1. Wheel load rating needs to be 1800 lbs minimum, per factory specs. The Q7 weighs about 5000 lbs. None of the other Audi models have wheels with this load rating, it is mostly 1500 lbs. I saw a lot of guys here buy S8 or SQ5 wheels from eBay, but with a loaded car you are at the max capacity. Forget about trailers or additional external carriers. In fact the load capacity IS the biggest limiting factor for a Q7 wheel replacement.
2. I have only selected wheels with a central bore of 66.56mm, which is Audi OEM. You will sometimes see them listed as 66mm or 67mm, but its 66.56mm. There are many good wheels options for larger center bore wheels, usually 71mm, like Enkei, Konig, TSW, but will require a center ring to be installed by your shop. This introduces another variable you don't want, b/c there are many stories with wheel vibrations due to poor installment or melting of the center ring.
3. I have only selected wheels with OEM Lug nuts M14x1.4 like Q7 OEM. It can be replaced with others like M13s, but check length to clear the brakes, and have at least 7 turns to hold the wheel.
3. Stick with ET 25-35 (OEM is 28 for the 19", 33 for the 20")
4. Check the weight of the wheel also. Since these wheels are all cast aluminum with similar designs, the weight of the wheel can tell about the strength (minus non-structural design additions). This does not apply to spun cast/rotary casts, or forged wheels, which will be lighter and be just as resistant to impact as casts (not tougher, but lighter). Expect > $1000 for forged.
5. The Audi winter package is $3000 with Pirelli tires. I dislike the design and the winter tire choice, which is why I started the search for replacements, but don't expect to save a lot of money for quality replicas. If the wheel is cheap, means it's made in asia/china/poland. It has a good design, but quality control is lacking- there are many stories about wheels bending too often, or cracking due to porosity. BBS and Hartmann are made in Germany.
