A4 b6 avant quattro minimum offset

[Board Paul]

Hi guys first post so let me start by saying hello. I have just recently bought a A4 2.5tdi quattro avant 2003 as well as owning a VW T4.

I'm looking for a new set of wheels for the car and wondering what the minimum offset I can get away with on an 8j 8.5j and 9j rim both in 18 and 19 inch diameter.
I know the rolling radius needs to be the same and I am going to run the same width front and rear. I don't want to fit spacers but want to fill the arches best possible and run a little stretch.

Any photos of wheel combinations and drops also would be good.

All help appreciated.

Cheers

Paul

[paul20v]

Hi
the B6 likes around ET35 to look right with a 8" rim you could go as low as ET30 on the rear but it dependes on how low your going
picture below is an 8" with a ET32

[Board Paul]

Anything extra to consider on a tdi quattro?
I want a full arch and a little stretch. Little bit of poke but nothing to outlandish.

[paul20v]

No there all the same suspension wise so go for it

[Board Paul]

Nice one. So stick to ET 30 or above then try for 8.5 to get the width?
Was looking at bentley rimmage but may have to go outside the box.

Cheers

[paul20v]

yeah that picture is a et30 on an 8" so 8.5" will be fine
ultimately the width of the wheel doesnt change the tyre position
only the et .

[Bratty]

yeah that picture is a et30 on an 8" so 8.5" will be fine
ultimately the width of the wheel doesnt change the tyre position
only the et .

Think you will find that the width of the wheel will change the tyre position!

The ET is the distance from the center of the rim to the mounting face, so if you slap an 8j et30 on and then try the same trick with an 8.5j et30 your outer face on the 8.5J will not move out by 0.5 inches (12.5mm (ish)) it would be more like 6.25 mm on the outer edge and the same on the inner edge so you have to watch clearance on the wings and the suspension parts and bodywork (specially at full lock on the front axle).

If you have any doubt wether your car is safe after fitting your chosen combo, jack it up and chock (with an old upturned wheel-rim or blocks of wood) one of the front wheels and and one of the diametrically oppposite rear wheel and lower the car. You will get maximum simulated loading and will compress the suspension allowing you to check for positive clearance.

Dunk

[paul20v]

Think you will find that the width of the wheel will change the tyre position!

Hi
i know what ET is and what it does ,
the position of the tyre is regulated by the ET not the rim width
for example if you have an ET30 on a 7" rim fitted with a 225 section tyre
and and an ET30 on a 9" rim fitted with a 225 section tyre the centre line of the tyre and tread edge will not have moved in the arch
all you have done is stretched the beads of the tyre apart
ET controls tyre tread position not rim width
thats why the stretched tyre look started due to people wanting wide rims on cars that still keep the tread under the arch .

[Bratty]

Hi Paul, I know what you are saying and you are absolutely correct when you are talking purely about swapping a wider tyre for a thinner one.

But the tyre combo, ET, Profile, diameter, width,PCD,spigot size etc. questions are confusing if you do not compare "like for like" or explain clearly why something might work or not work.

I fitted some A5 19 inch ET35 9J wheels to my A4 B8 with 255/35 tyres, they fitted but would not get through the German Equvelant of the MOT(Tüv) and they were only slightly stretched and were a nightmare when it came to parking because the rims are exposed!



Yes, in the UK you can just about do what you want as long as you comply with the MOT rules (must not foul the chassis) but the wheel manufacturers have paperwork supporting the wheels that state what is allowed.

Stretched tyres either you like them or not, you can achieve a better result using a good ET with the correct tyre, it just looses you "PUB TRUMPS" point scoring cause you can not whip the saxos 8J Rims .

Dunk

[paul20v]

Stretched tyres are a big no no from me ,
i was purely using leaving tyres the same and increasing the wheel width as an example for the ET explanation
hopefully i explained that bit ok

Paul