18" Wheels

[penscot]

I really fancy a used S4 and have just had a test drive in a new car. I found the ride on potholed/poorly surfaced town roads harsh, choppy and unpleasant even in "comfort" mode, on 19" rims. Acceptable 30 years ago but not now - sad, I know, but true . I reckon 18s would improve things.

Anyone know if 18" wheels were ever an option or could you perhaps suggest suitable Audi alloys which won't screw up the looks of the car or have my insurer tearing out their hair and bumping up my premiums?

Many thanks.

[Ian_C]

Quick glance at the config' shows 18s are standard, with the RS6 style 5 arms being a £1,150 option. No insurance issues if you fit 18s. Comfort mode would suggest the car you drove had the option of Audi Drive Select and electronic dampers - again not standard.

Ian

[penscot]

Ian, thanks. The dealer salesman on the test insisted that 18s are not currently an option - "they're all 19s" - although he admitted they might have been on early cars. Yes, I specifically wanted a test in a Drive Select car to check out comfort mode. I've now looked at nationwide dealer used stocks and 18s ARE fitted to some. Guess I'll have to wait until the right car becomes available, but now I know that if it's fitted with 19s, while having all my required other options, I can always source the smaller wheels.

Thanks again.

[Ian_C]

Just like the C5 RS6, B7 RS4 and other previous Audis, 99% of cars will have the larger alloy option. Interestingly, the dealer demo RS5 I saw yesterday when I poped into Audi was on 19s, not the monster 5 arm rotor 20s.....

The B8 on 19s probably runs a 35 section tyre, whereas the 18s run a 40 profile like mine. Would be a noticeable difference, although I'd imagine the electronic dampers would make more difference. Maybe someone on here who runs 18 inch winter tyres on their B8 maybe able to help.

Ian

[alex_123_fra]

The standard wheels on all S4s are 18'' 5-double spoke S design alloys. The 19s are optional. Mine came with the 18s and I have absolutely no problem with the ride even on dynamic mode. I personally think they look fine.

[Scotty]

Blimey! What sorts of roads do you use?

I'm on 19's with my B8 A4 and even in auto it's fine and comfort I have no probs. Maybe it's coming from a B6 S4 which was crazy hard.

[Pete.S]

Interesting assessment Penscot, just out of curiosity what car are you coming from? I'm on 19"s with ADS and one of the main aspects I've admired about the B8 (especially after coming, like Scotty, from a B6) is the ride, I find it very compliant even in the Auto ADS setting, let alone Comfort. In fact I had an E350 loaner for a week and in Comfort mode on the S4 there's remarkably little difference.

[penscot]

As I said, I wanted to check out the ride on bad surfaces so deliberately sought out the worst roads on the test. The ride was fine otherwise but Edinburgh has too many streets needing re-surfaced fully, and quite a few with cobbles, and the council has neglected them for far too long. I'm currently in a BMW 330i with Sports (not M-Sport) suspension, but on non run-flat 17s, and find the ride quite acceptable. As you may have guessed, I'm no spring chicken, nor even a summer one, and as 60+% of my driving is in town I just don't want to be bounced around. Don't get me wrong: I'm as likely as any of you to leave the city for a hoon around on B-roads just for the fun, and hell, of it but I must have some comfort at other times.

Arguably, I may have been hyper-sensitive to the (lack of) compliance even in comfort mode. I suspect this is the case. In every other respect the car's wonderful and I will undoubtedly become an owner sooner or later and after a couple of months will become accustomed to how the car feels, but it will definitely be on 18s.

Thanks - I appreciate all your comments.

[Madelvic]

Running 18s on winter tyres and 19s with 'summer' tyres. 18s have a much better ride - in the potholed capital called Edinburgh