2003 Allroad Wheels/Tires
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2003 Allroad Wheels/Tires
I just purchased a 2003 Allroad and am selling a 2001 2.8 Quattro a4. The a4 came with high performance Pirelli tires - not suitable for a Minnesota winter. So I upgraded to the Dunlop Winter Sport m3's - which are 225/45 with upgraded 17" sport spoke rims.
Here is my problem - I want to put the old Pirelli tires with a set of cheap rims on the a4 when I sell it and keep my 17" spoke rims and Dunlop tires and put them on my new allroad. I would keep the existing setup that came on the allroad for the summer (Pirelli 225/55 tires with standard factory allroad rims)
The tire guy says it is not possible for me to put my dunlops on the allroad because the allroad requires 225/55 for 17" rims. This is what I am understanding he is saying anyways. But I don't understand why.
Can someone help me understand this? You can view my tires/wheels on ebay where I have posted my car for sale. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6003&item= 2460821211
The tire guy also says he can help me sell my dunlops from the a4 for $500 and then I can get a new set for my allroad.
What I want for my allroad is the rs4 8.5Jx18 ET 20 wheel.
Can anyone explain this tire/wheel stuff to me? It is like a foreign language to me.
Here is my problem - I want to put the old Pirelli tires with a set of cheap rims on the a4 when I sell it and keep my 17" spoke rims and Dunlop tires and put them on my new allroad. I would keep the existing setup that came on the allroad for the summer (Pirelli 225/55 tires with standard factory allroad rims)
The tire guy says it is not possible for me to put my dunlops on the allroad because the allroad requires 225/55 for 17" rims. This is what I am understanding he is saying anyways. But I don't understand why.
Can someone help me understand this? You can view my tires/wheels on ebay where I have posted my car for sale. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6003&item= 2460821211
The tire guy also says he can help me sell my dunlops from the a4 for $500 and then I can get a new set for my allroad.
What I want for my allroad is the rs4 8.5Jx18 ET 20 wheel.
Can anyone explain this tire/wheel stuff to me? It is like a foreign language to me.
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The best place to start...
...is to look at the "tire tech" page at TireRack.com. They have all sorts of information there about tire sizes and ratings; as well, they have a "wheel tech" page.
A starting point is this: A4s have smaller tires, in terms of their overall diameter, than allroads. You don't want to put A4-sized tires on an allroad; even if you fit them onto the right wheels, they'd make the engine run faster than it needs to; and your speedometer would be off -- the difference is that the A4 size is about 9% smaller, and this is a lot, in terms of tire sizes.
Now, the RS4 wheels you mention are OK for allroads (assuming they have the right bolt pattern, which they probably do -- it should say 5x112 somewhere).
Finally, even though one of the 17" sets from the A4 -- the wheels -- would "fit" on an allroad, they'd not fit properly. This has to do with one of the aspects of wheel design, the offset (which is the ET20 in the RS4 wheel you mention). allroads and A4s have different requirements there as well as different tire sizes. HPH
A starting point is this: A4s have smaller tires, in terms of their overall diameter, than allroads. You don't want to put A4-sized tires on an allroad; even if you fit them onto the right wheels, they'd make the engine run faster than it needs to; and your speedometer would be off -- the difference is that the A4 size is about 9% smaller, and this is a lot, in terms of tire sizes.
Now, the RS4 wheels you mention are OK for allroads (assuming they have the right bolt pattern, which they probably do -- it should say 5x112 somewhere).
Finally, even though one of the 17" sets from the A4 -- the wheels -- would "fit" on an allroad, they'd not fit properly. This has to do with one of the aspects of wheel design, the offset (which is the ET20 in the RS4 wheel you mention). allroads and A4s have different requirements there as well as different tire sizes. HPH
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Joined: Aug 2000
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If you're selling the A4 now, sell it with the M3's
Good snows and quattro will sell the car for you.
You mention keeping the stock allroad wheels and tires for summer, and you also mention buying 18's. Better to use the 18's in summer and the stock 17's in winter. IMNSHO, you would do well to sell the stock allroad tires (they suck) and buy some Nokian WR's in 225/55-17. For summer, get some 245/45-18 tires for your spiffy RS4 rims.
As far as sizes and offsets go, here goes: Do read the tech section as HPH pointed out. It's good. An A4 tire (225/45-17) is about 24.8" tall, overall. An allroad tire (225/55-17) is about 26.8" tall. A 245/45-18 summer tire for an allroad is also about 26.8" tall. Anything you put on an allroad needs to be about 26.8" tall. That's why your old tires won't work. A higher offset number moves the wheel under the car further and closer to the suspension, all other things equal. An A4 wants about ET35 or 45. An allroad wants about ET 20 or 25. Your A4 wheels will go too far under the car and might rub on the suspension.
HTH-
-df
You mention keeping the stock allroad wheels and tires for summer, and you also mention buying 18's. Better to use the 18's in summer and the stock 17's in winter. IMNSHO, you would do well to sell the stock allroad tires (they suck) and buy some Nokian WR's in 225/55-17. For summer, get some 245/45-18 tires for your spiffy RS4 rims.
As far as sizes and offsets go, here goes: Do read the tech section as HPH pointed out. It's good. An A4 tire (225/45-17) is about 24.8" tall, overall. An allroad tire (225/55-17) is about 26.8" tall. A 245/45-18 summer tire for an allroad is also about 26.8" tall. Anything you put on an allroad needs to be about 26.8" tall. That's why your old tires won't work. A higher offset number moves the wheel under the car further and closer to the suspension, all other things equal. An A4 wants about ET35 or 45. An allroad wants about ET 20 or 25. Your A4 wheels will go too far under the car and might rub on the suspension.
HTH-
-df
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