18" vs. 19" wheels
 

I am thinking about "downgrading" from 19" to 18" wheels, because they would be more comfortable and less noisy (and cheaper to replace and better fuel economy) Does anyone have experience how noticeable is the difference in practice? Oh and if anyone fancies a swap let me know +++

Hello mate.
If you are after a ultimate comfort then even 17'' like A8L Chick has on her A8L.
But 18'' are comfortable enough, way more than 20" and noticeable than 19".

I've had 18'' with Dunlops and 20" with Toyos and still difference is big. 20'' more for styling and or better handling.

But there are ways to get 18" to stick better by lowering suspension so the Dynamic becomes way more stiffer but still on comfy 45 profile.

Now, funny story, I have a set of 4 5 spoke genuine audi wheels with dunlops on but you wont get a lot from the tyres.

They are in the garage corner for couple of years now, stored appropriately which I always said I will keep for winters but after few seasons they are still there with dunlops on

Hi M-A8,

Thanks for your comments. I have 4.2TDI with sport trim, I believe 18" was standard size for these, would 17" even fit?

The standard Audi 5-arm design is not my favourite, thanks for offering though :)

Of course it would fit if is 5x112 and 8.5'' on 50 profile, Becky (A8L-Chick has them for ultimate comfort, but if you go this way then try to get offset as far from ET40-45 because then wheels will be sitting in the wheel arches so deep it will look a bit weird. Offset has no effect of the comfort but will just make car look slightly better as 17s and 18s making A8s look a bit standard, but ET40-45 can leave them looking a bit ugly.

That's A8L on 17'' and 50 profile, this is so comfy...I do miss it sometimes

http://www.sevenoakschauffeurs.co.uk/our-cars.html

Hi M-A8, stud pattern is of course the same, but are the brake discs the same size too? Some car models with bigger engines have bigger brakes, hence the smallest wheel size cannot be fitted.

Bex's A8L is obviously heavier from start, and it is a 3.0 TDi and I'm almost sure it came with 17s from the dealer.
I'm not sure if 3.0tdi has same size callipers and discs on LWB and SWB, swb has 360mm discs.

Is your d3 swb or lwb and what's under the bonnet ?

When I saw it for the first time I could not believe it, I was sure 18'' is min.

Not sure if that German cops A8 isn't actually on 17s
http://www.fourtitude.com/cgi-bin/ar...iew.cgi/6/1657

...or that
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...r_IAA_2011.jpg

Armored one :D
http://www.cianciarmored-cars.eu/Audi-A8-Armored.htm

Mine is SWB 4.2TDI, with Sport trim option that included 19" 12-arm wheels. That armoured car appears to have same design wheels - didn't know they were available as 17" variants :)

the armoured car looks like a W12 from the exhausts on it so I would suspect that the wheels shown are bigger than 17 inch as the brakes are likely to be the 394mm s8/w12 discs and calipers which are pretty damn big!
here is a picture when I upgraded my D2 to give you an idea of comparison!

I thought 18" were the smallest you could fit to a 4.2 TDI. I have a 4.2 TDI and mine has 20" and the gap between inner rim and calliper is quite slim.