[Aulm]

Tire/Wheel opinions and questions. Thanks.


I currently have a 2008 S5, Ibiz White/Brown interior. As of now the car is completely stock.

In my brilliance I hit a nasty pothole at night - leading me to need 2 new rims and 4 new tires (tires due to fun driving...not the pot hole luckily).

I was quoted 2 new OEM 19" rims at $500/piece. For that price I was thinking I may as well go aftermarket, so I figured I'd see what the experts here had to say.

Searching around I found some relatively cheap 20X9.5 rims - to the point where I can get 4 new rims (plus a spare or two) for cheaper then the 2 OEM wheels. While I definitely care about the look of my car Minnesota roads can chew up rims here. Because of this I'm thinking truly high end rims are out (that plus I just bought a house....stupid mortgage)

I've never had aftermarket rims (other than for snow tires) so I'm not really sure what I lose by going with cheaper rims. My understanding is manf. process leads to a weaker and heavier rim - but is it really that much of a difference?
Is there anything else I'm missing (other then the "look") by going cheaper? I'm basically trying to see if I'm making a mistake by throwing these rims on my baby.

Any input would be appreciated.

The rims I'm looking at are these (http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=ST5095345112ADC&wheelMake=Sport+Edition&wheelModel=ST5&wheelFinish=Machined+w%2FAnthracite+Accent&showRear=no&autoMake=Audi&autoModel=S5&autoYear=2008&autoModClar=&filterSize=20&filterFinish=All&filterSpecial=false&filterBrand=All&filterNew=All&sort=Brand) in the 20X9 with a 34mm offset.

Any thoughts or comments on the size or wheel style? I'm open to suggestions, however I typically prefer cleaner more polished look
as opposed to something more flashy. I do like the look that shurick has (http://www.a5oc.com/forums/showthread.php/several-new-shots-11650/index.html)
Any moderately price rims I would consider. I pretty much only looked at hartmann rims and tirerack.

From all the wheel/tire threads it would seem that 275/20/30 is the way to go for wheels. In one of the threads (Suprablurs) he explains the proper offsets/spacers so as not to rub.
I was thinking a 10mm spacer would be needed for clearance - but wasn't sure if these were 1: Large enough 2: Would "fill out" the fenders. I did use the

Also, I'm thinking about going with General Exclaim UHP tires (275/30/20). Anyone have any thoughts on these tires?

Thanks in advance for your help/suggestions.

 

[rnlabas]

Also, I'm thinking about going with General Exclaim UHP tires (275/30/20). Anyone have any thoughts on these tires?

Thanks in advance for your help/suggestions.

I can offer a comment on these tires (in 265/30-20) - they fit fine on 9.5x20 with no spacers and so far at about 5k miles, seem to be doing very well all around. I feel the 275s would have also fit easily w/o spacers too, and perhaps added a little margin in sidewall height, but since Audi fits the 265s as a factory option, I was happy enough with that choice too.

 

[Aulm]

Thanks, much appreciated.

 

[Meteor Ghost]

I think the first set of rims from tire rack are nice but questionable about how they'd look on the S5.

I think the OEM rims from the other forum user are very nice and are wheels that I am considering myself.

You may want to check into the Velocity Motoring wheels. I can honestly say that I understand they are very reasonable priced wheels and you'd think that they may be a little easier to bend. I can say that I've had a set of their wheels before and hit a pot hole so bad in Dallas, TX that I could have swore I would need a new tire, rim and some other parts but I took it to Discount Tire and they said the rim was in perfect shape.

 

[spottwd]

If you are having pothole problems with 19" rims, you might want to reconsider 20" rims.

 

[Aulm]

You are absolutely correct, normally I wouldn't think about going with 20"s, especially with pothole problems where I'm from.

What got me thinking about going with 20"s is the fact I can get 4 + 2/1 (spares) 20's wheels for cheaper then 2 OEM replacement 19"s...at least how my dealership and another wheel shop are pricing OEM replacements.

Further, I'm going with the 275/30/20 in the hopes that the extra bit of air cushion protects the rims.