DAMN YOU AND YOUR LOGIC!!!!!

Up until your last reply I was sure that I would go with 19s, but I'm second guessing myself now. MY conscience says get 18s for comfort, but my eyes say get 19s for looks. I can't stop thinking about it........ GRRAAAAHHHH!!

I hate you like I hate you like I hate my mom: She frustrates me, but I know she's right!!

 

For bling and show... there's nothing like looking at dubs, but they won't roll!

This is a German performance car, not a Japanese go-kart. If you want to increase the performance of the car, then keep your priorities in check. The visual effect will follow logically.

 

The staggered look is a tough combo when trying to get the best balanced performance from the Audi.

This is not a straight line dragster like an old Mustang or Road Runner. This is meant to hug corners and ride like it's on rails. Wide rears are predominantly reserved for rear wheel drive cars that need to put the maximum amount of rubber to the ground at the drive axle - thus allowing maximum thrust for a straight line kick.

When it comes to high speed cornering, a staggered tire combo can create a very unnerving feel. This is why so many early Porsche Turbo drivers got into trouble at high speed - they didn't know how to handle the car when the steering and suspension dynamics progressively changed as the cornering forces increased with speed. Thus, Porsche began to refine the staggered look - it became less dramatic.

As far as Audi and Quattro is concerned, a larger rear tire/wheel combo does little for the overall performance of the vehicle. A refined balance within the suspension and wheels is engineered to enhance the quattro system.

 

the advantage of quattro is the nuetral handling ie...FWD=understeer RWD=oversteer if you go with a stagered setup you disrupt the neutrality of the car unless you do other suspension mods like a thicker rear antiroll bar but it would be time consuming to dial in

 

I agree - there is a reason staggered setups are rare on our quattro cars. You will need aftermarket swaybars to compensate. If you do not do this you actually hurt the balance of the car.

Lots of people run 19's on A4's. You will sacrifice in handling and in acceleration though. A 19x9.5 wheel WILL rub in the front if you lower your car even a little, so fender rolling will be inevitable. And it will not only be on severe cornering. My 18x8.5's rubbed on only semi-hard cornering.

The rear fenders are already "rolled" (ie. there is no lip there to begin with), which is why a larger tire/wheel can be put on the rear without worries. Rolling the front fenders is not a big deal either. People give the impression that its something to be left to a professional. I had never seen it done, and I did it myself with a rolling pin and a hair dryer in about 4 hours. Took lots of muscle and patience, but it turned out great. Just don't rush it.

 

Damn brrman!!

And you were complaining about "muscling" the corner lights off!

 

lol - I have short fingernails!
I was gonna buy a baseball bat to do the fenders, but why spend $30 on a bat when I could go to Target and get a rolling pin for $9? heh heh - worked out rather well.

 

Weren't you nervous about paint spiders or other damage? How did you ensure no paint issues? How long did it take you to do a fender?

 

Yeah, how did you avoid any paint damage? Could you explain how you did it and possibly take some close up shots of the end result? I'm definitely a perfectionist so if it's doable I will surely put in the time necessary to get a good clean end result.

Actually, I'm gonna start a new thread with this question so just look there...