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D3 - Wheels and Tyres Refurbing, center caps, tyre brands, tyrefitters - discuss it here

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  #1  
Old 1st February 2014, 05:02 PM
audifin audifin is offline
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Default 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
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Old 1st February 2014, 06:06 PM
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M-A8 M-A8 is offline
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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
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Old 2nd February 2014, 09:37 AM
audifin audifin is offline
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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
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Old 2nd February 2014, 10:36 AM
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M-A8 M-A8 is offline
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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.
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2006 D3 S8 5.2 V10
Ceramic Brakes, Bang&Olufsen, DTV, DAB, Rear Camera, BT, TPMS, Soft Close, Auto Boot, AMI , 4 Zone AC, Home Link, All Electric Blinds, Fingerprint, Ski Hatch, Black Extended Leather, Heated Sport Seats, Alacantra, Carbon Trim inc Aluminium Pack 2.
2015 A3 S line 1.4 TFSI - for the missus to keep her away from my car.
Standard S-line equipment, no extras.
2006 D3 A8 3.7 V8 - SOLD but not forgotten

Last edited by M-A8; 2nd February 2014 at 11:13 AM.
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Old 2nd February 2014, 11:38 AM
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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
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2006 D3 S8 5.2 V10
Ceramic Brakes, Bang&Olufsen, DTV, DAB, Rear Camera, BT, TPMS, Soft Close, Auto Boot, AMI , 4 Zone AC, Home Link, All Electric Blinds, Fingerprint, Ski Hatch, Black Extended Leather, Heated Sport Seats, Alacantra, Carbon Trim inc Aluminium Pack 2.
2015 A3 S line 1.4 TFSI - for the missus to keep her away from my car.
Standard S-line equipment, no extras.
2006 D3 A8 3.7 V8 - SOLD but not forgotten
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Old 2nd February 2014, 01:43 PM
audifin audifin is offline
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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.
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Old 2nd February 2014, 02:14 PM
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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


Armored one
http://www.cianciarmored-cars.eu/Audi-A8-Armored.htm
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2006 D3 S8 5.2 V10
Ceramic Brakes, Bang&Olufsen, DTV, DAB, Rear Camera, BT, TPMS, Soft Close, Auto Boot, AMI , 4 Zone AC, Home Link, All Electric Blinds, Fingerprint, Ski Hatch, Black Extended Leather, Heated Sport Seats, Alacantra, Carbon Trim inc Aluminium Pack 2.
2015 A3 S line 1.4 TFSI - for the missus to keep her away from my car.
Standard S-line equipment, no extras.
2006 D3 A8 3.7 V8 - SOLD but not forgotten
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  #8  
Old 2nd February 2014, 06:00 PM
audifin audifin is offline
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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
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Old 2nd February 2014, 11:55 PM
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Architex_mA8tey Architex_mA8tey is offline
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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!
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Audi A8 D2 3.7 Quattro Sport 1999 FL - Melange
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20" x 9" Bentley GTC Wheels with 385mm W12 Front Discs & Bentley Caliper Covers, Front Lowered on Coilovers, Xenons, Combined DRLs and LED Foglights to modified OEM front fog lamp position, Alcantara/Leather, Full Black Alcantara headlining + pillars and blind shelf, Bespoke Flat Bottomed Sports Steering Wheel, Dark Myrtle Wood, Autodim Mirrors, Bose, Blinds, Digital TV, Ski Hatch, Modified rear exhaust section for extra V8 Burble
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Tiptronic with Sport mode button, Sony rear entertainment package, Bose sound system, Audi Navigation Plus, 20 inch Final Edition alloys, Full Cat Back Stainless Milltek exhaust, giving a great V8 burble
Audi A8L D2 4.2 Petrol with LPG - Ebony Black
Audi A8L D4 FL 4.0T Petrol twin turbo - Havana Black
Audi A2 1.6 FSi Sport - Dolphin Grey with Votex body kit and Red Leather Interior
and some other A8's A8L's and Mercs

Last edited by Architex_mA8tey; 3rd February 2014 at 01:24 PM.
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  #10  
Old 3rd February 2014, 12:48 AM
Lee S Lee S is offline
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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.
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