Okay, with 600 miles in my brand new S4 I already lost a tire due to pot hole damage. I asked around and looks like it's a common thing in my neighborhood with 19'' wheels. My gf's brother and her friend used to replace a tire every month until they got fed up and downsized the wheels. After the winter storm we had, the pot holes are worse than ever in my neighborhood.

So I am planning on downsizing the 19'' Titanium wheels and Dunlop summer tires to 18'' wheels. If I go with all-season tires I'd keep the original wheels so I can put them on when I go to tracks/autocross. If I go with summer tires I'd try to sell the 19'' original wheels and tires.

So what would stand up to pot holes better? Summer or AS tires if they are the same size?

And if I were to sell the original 19'' titanium wheels and tires, what would be a fair price? The tire only has 600 miles on them and the wheels are spotless.

I tend to have conservative taste in wheels. I like silver or polished 5 spoke design. I know, boring but easy to clean. So far I haven't been too satisfied with what I've found in tirerack and discounttire. Is there any other place that will let me search for what can fit on my car? And is a cheap wheels really okay in quality? I can't help thinking wheels that only cost about $200 won't get bent or be really out of balance or something like that. If I was going to buy wheels that will be on the car 90% of the time is it a good idea to spend some money on them or will cheap wheels be just as good?

 

Take a look at the Hartmann 5-spoke rims in 18" (bright silver vs. OEM gunmetal). Very nice and high quality!

http://hartmannwheels.com/content/ph...mann_HTTRS.JPG

 

If you're interested, I can PM you what I paid for a new set of Titanium Package wheels and tires that I bought from someone who switched to aftermarket wheels.

 

Yeah, I'd be glad to find that out!

 

I'd be interest too, as I am selling mine. As far as potholes are concerned and there bad here in Philly, I would suggest a forged wheel (much stronger) and a tire with the highest load rating. The load rating is a function of sidewall strength.

 

What makes you think that the 18" tires will hold up SIGNIFICANTLY better? If you hit a bad pothole, it will probably do damage to either size. Maybe a little more rubber between the rim and the tread on an 18", but not much. A summer tire will generally have a stiffer sidewall than an A/s tire and PERHAPS , have a little more protection for the rim.

 

So you think it will make little difference? I have been driving around in the same neighborhood with 17'' wheels and never even thought about potholes before. I can feel the potholes a lot more in the S4 than my previous car which had 17'' rims. I was hoping 1 more inch would give me some sort of protection. If there's really not too much to be gained from going to 18'' then I won't do it.

 

You'll also have a ton more selection of tires to choose from as well. Plus, 18" tires are cheaper than 19"....

 

I go with 18" wheels (245x40) in the winter, vs. my summer 19" (255x35). The add'l sidewall definitely makes a difference in road hazard shock absorption. Of course a major league pothole can bend any rim.

 

Any of you guys go to a 18" wheels / Tires "All Season" up here in the north east or snow belt from the 19" Wheels? What brand of tires you go to? I am debating selling my 19" and going to 18" All Seasons instead of changing my rims out each season before winter! Pain in the A$$!!!