Morning boys and girls.

I'm looking around for a set of winter wheels ATM and as I dont understand much about "j's" and offsets I was hoping some one could help.

I have 18" Zenith on the car which clear the S3 345mm brakes. My standard wheels are 5 x 112 - 7.5J ET51. The new wheel will also need to clear the brakes.

For Example: Will these wheels fit?

Audi A4 S Line 18" alloys - 5 x 112 8J ET43.

Tyres size unconfirmed but might be 235/40/18

Stud pattern is easy enough - Needs to be 5 x 112

What I could do with knowing is the J and offset parameters I can consider?

And what implications it has on tyre size?

I've posted in this section rather than tyres because it might be more help to people here when searching.

Yeah, those ET43s will fit fine. You should be just about be OK with 235s at ET43.

My wheels 8J ET43 and were fine with 225s all around. With 8mm spacers bringing them out to ET35, the rears could very occasionally touch the lips inside the back of the arches with 225s. With 8mm spacers and 215s I can run it as low as I want and they'll never touch.

Thanks Nick. I know you are a wheel guru

I'd rather not use spacers.

Do you think those wheels with 235's will cause any problems? Or do I have to get 225 or 215 to be 100% sure?

I think you're fine with 235s. If that's what's already on, fine. If you're buying tyres separately and you're not going to be running low with spacers, go for 225.

I think you're fine with 235s. If that's what's already on, fine. If you're buying tyres separately and you're not going to be running low with spacers, go for 225.

Cheers Nick

Tyres are already on and I dont have much choice when looking for 18" winter set up

A lot of Audi alloys are around ET45, these will be fine up to 8” wide (you wouldn’t want to go wider than this on winter tyres anyway)

Just be careful as some on the newer Audi’s use a 66.6mm centre bore - meaning you will need spigot rings to reduce them down to your 57.1mm.

Thanks Gizmo

I am running Helios at the moment and they are 8.5J ET45 and I am running 235 tyres. They are 19's bit it doesnt make any difference.

If you can get some 8J and up to ET40 with 225 40 you will be fine. I ran some BBS CS5's in that fitment and they were fine.

Rob

I'm about to commit to these wheels and not sure they will fit from the replies so far.

I have coilovers and lowered springs on my vrs.

These are the only wheels I can currently find that are possible to fit:

Audi A4 S Line 18" alloys - 5 x 112 8J ET43 235/40/18 Winter Tyres

(Nick) Do you think they will rub?

Not going to commit to it Mark. It might be fine. It might catch slightly every now and then on the rear. I'm inclined to say at ET43 / 8J with a 235, you're in the grey area where it could come down to the shape of the shoulder on the model of tyre and the build tolerances of your own car. Up to you really bud.

Seen a number of Octavias where people have run 235s on too low an offset (Ben's was one, couple at Inters last year too) and the tyres have just beaten the lips in the back of the arches into submission over enough bumps. Problem with that is they tend to rust.

Cheers Nick.

I knew you had run a similar set up at some point and would have some useful info

Considering i'm buying them mainly for a trip across Europe I think the answer has to be on the side of caution and not fit them :( Which is a real shame because they are Continental Contiwinter Contact TS830P tyres.

Or should I risk it and buy them anyway???

If only they had 225 tyres

Update:

I bought these wheels and fitted them today. Its hard in this snow but I cant hear any obvious rubbing or catching. I did hear something on absolute maximum lock (full lock and then that little bit extra if you know what I mean) but that could of been snow rather than the wheel/tyres catching.

I will update again once ive had time to test them and provide more definite answers.

Thanks for the help and Info so far guys.