Winter Wheels and Tyres

[nigelwi]

Hi everyone. I am new here and am looking for some advice. I have a B7 A4 Avant S-Line Quattro Special Edition with RS4 style 18" alloys size 235/40 R18. I am looking to get a used set of wheels and winter tyres but do not know which size wheels will fit? Was thinking of some 17" wheels maybe off ebay but cant be sure if they will fit. Do you know where i can get some guidance? i believe offsets etc are important? Any help would be greatly appreciated as i am currently sliding around all over the show on some useless summer tyres!

[iwaters]

Welcome.

Before you go any further with the wheels have you checked if you can get any winter tyres, now the snow has set in you will find they are probably rarer than rocking horse poo.

I think the general wisdom is to get your winter tyres in July and keep them safe till you need them. I know that doesn't help you now but I wouldn't want you to geta set of wheels only to find you can get the rubber for them.

[James05]

Hello,

Might also be worth checking with your insurance company as well....after all technically you are 'modifying' your vehicle if you change wheel size and the last thing you want happening is your insurer refusing to pay up should anything happen....

Agree about buying your winter tyres in summer - you will also find the prices are cheaper, although I would imagine winter tyres for 235/40 R18's are not cheap!!

[Road Rocket]

A4 Avant 3.0TDI Quattro

I had winter tyres/wheels (17") fitted last year and they are now back my vehicle and working brilliant in this snowy weather, You are right to be concerned about the offset and you must ensure any new alloys (or steels) will fit your model. If you get them off ebay make sure you can return them if they don't fit.

I chose mine via Rochford Tyres and despite the first set being described as suitable for the A4 they didn't have the clearance to take them away from the brake calipers and the lack of offset was too little even for spacers to be used. Apparently they would have fitted a standard A4 but not the 3.0TDI. Rochford were very good and I was able to return them and purchase another set which had very good offset.

Ebay might be cheaper but if the buyer won't accept returns and your alloys don't fit you will be paying twice.

By the way, you've reinforced the view that even 4WD with summer tyres can still slip on snow and ice - four wheels slipping instead of two! Winter tyres are definitely the answer and superior in every way for driving in cold, wet weather as well as on snow and ice.

[iwaters]

Hello,

Might also be worth checking with your insurance company as well....after all technically you are 'modifying' your vehicle if you change wheel size and the last thing you want happening is your insurer refusing to pay up should anything happen....

Agree about buying your winter tyres in summer - you will also find the prices are cheaper, although I would imagine winter tyres for 235/40 R18's are not cheap!!

Good point about the insurance, theya lmost certainly will view this modifying.

I got a quote for winter tyres, I only needed 205/55/R16 and they were a £100 a corner!! Hopefully can get them cheaper in the summer for next winter

[nigelwi]

Firstly thanks for all the quick replies! Been scouring the new and cant find anywhere with any used wheels that may (or may not!) be suitable for A4 Avant Quattro.

Also was thinknig of just getting tyres. However 4 Michelin winter Sports tyres size 235/40 R18 at £193 each have today gone up to £250 each! So that would seem to confirm there is something of a shortage! Also not sure i can justify such a huge outlay anyway!

Guess i will just have to keep scouring for some used tyres...but i think i will be paying a hefty premium whatever way i go at this late stage!

One thing ihave definitley learnt tha last few days is 4WD is definitely of no benefit in adverse weather conditions without winter tyres. Turning and braking are a nightmare with large summer tyres and heavy car.... it seems to just carry on in direction it started out on!

[James05]

Have you considered auto socks ?

I've not tried them myself but they seem to be finding favour with a number of motorists on other forums that I visit....

[patrickhorton]

Winter tyres are phenominal. Fitted four to the wife's Clio last week and you can now hill start on just about anything.

Bought them from "mytyres.com" ordered Sunday arrived Thursday.

Try a tyre fitting place for rims. Bought my set off steelys off Ebay for 100quid. Went to a back street tyre place in Coventry to get the tyres on and they had the biggest pile of newish steel rims I've ever seen. They sell them for either 5 or £10 each depending on condition. The place is called "cheap tyres" and it may be worth giving them a ring (google) if you're struggling. They had loads of large 5 hole rims.

I went through the "offset" headache. The easiest thing to do is get the offset value from somone with a steel wheeled A4. My Clio rims should be ET43 and I bought ET49 + 6mm spacers. At the front, the bolts are too short so I dumped the spacers. There is about an inch space before any fouling and the car handles fine. I reckon you're ok for 6mm of offset error - (can anyone else correct me on this?)

So don't be put off. You need those winter tyres. Good luck.

Patrick

[Road Rocket]

Regarding insurance: I have checked this out and you do NOT need to contact your insurance company if just you are just changing to winter tyres (or visa versa). However, if you change to different size wheels then you should notify them as a some companies might consider it a modification - albeit a very minor one if the sizes are just one step up or down.

[aveling]

I had some Continental Winter Contact TS 830's fitted yestarday to my A4 Quattro. Ordered online from Kwik Fit, who I would normally not touch with someone else's bargepole, but needs must as they say.
Not cheap at £683 for the 4 fitted, but I reckon they will repay the outlay in the extra confidence given through the winter motoring.
My wife does 50 miles a day in the car, from Newport to Ebbw Vale, so I think it was justified.
By the way they're 235/40/18 on RS4 style wheels.
A4 2.0 TDI S line Special Edition Avant Quattro.