I have a 2008 Audi A8 and i wanted to buy staggered 20" wheels for it. I heard plenty of people at dealership, les shwab tires, and discount tires say that they will not sell staggered wheels because it will ruin the transmission. But then i also heard other A8 owners and various ebay wheel/tire companies say that its perfectly fine as long as the diameter is the same, but im not going to put 20" in the back and 19" in the front. It will be the same 20" all around but staggered in the rear. Just want to know if anyone is an experties at the trasmissions and if it is okay to put staggered wheels. Any advice will really be appreciated.

 

I think it's a silly (a "look at me" thing...NO functional advantage at all) idea on an AWD and just don't get it at all.
But all that aside, all that matters is that the rolling diameter of the front matches the rear very closely...exact tire size is critical, NOT just the rim size (lots of tire size calculators available online to match tire diameters). In that case, no damage is done to the trans or differentials....that's a fact. Knock yourself out

 

Thank you very much for the reply. So width does not matter, only the diameter of tire, correct?? And yes the staggered wheels are only for show. lol

 

Correct, diameter only.
Varied width will only affect handling characteristics.

 

Thanks alot Silverd2