235/35/20 tires on 20s?

[ndk83]

Apart from the 5% speedo error, Whats everyones thoughts on this?

stock tire sizes: 225/40/18
19s reccomended tires: 235/35/19
20's recconmended tires: 235/30/20 or 245/30/20.


Locally cant seem to find any other sizes other than 235/35/20. No one seems to have 235/30 or 245/30.
Ill riding be at stock height for a while (Atleast through the first set of tires) as the dealership here are pretty strict about voiding my warranties.

I think it may be ok. Id benefit from a thicker sidewall/profile, yet still will be slightly stretched (wheel specs 20x9.0+38).
Not ideal but shouldn't be a problem right?

[MacFady]

235/30 is very low profile, I would never drive on that, you'd be looking for bent wheels. Not to mention 235 on a 9.0 wheel is a little stretched anyway.





Why not go with 235/40, or more like 245/40, 245/35.
Personally, 20' wheels on an A3 look terrible.

[ndk83]

235/30 is very low profile, I would never drive on that, you'd be looking for bent wheels. Not to mention 235 on a 9.0 wheel is a little stretched anyway.


Why not go with 235/40, or more like 245/40, 245/35.
Personally, 20' wheels on an A3 look terrible.

Cause those sizes that will really throw the speedo out of wack, ideally you want to me in 235/30 or 245/30 range.
Yes it sounds like its rubber bands, but honestly youll be surprised at how well they put up. Ive ran 30 profile on 19s with no issues.

[A3_Yuppie]

Apart from the 5% speedo error, Whats everyones thoughts on this?

stock tire sizes: 225/40/18
19s reccomended tires: 235/35/19
20's recconmended tires: 235/30/20 or 245/30/20.


Locally cant seem to find any other sizes other than 235/35/20. No one seems to have 235/30 or 245/30.
Ill riding be at stock height for a while (Atleast through the first set of tires) as the dealership here are pretty strict about voiding my warranties.

I think it may be ok. Id benefit from a thicker sidewall/profile, yet still will be slightly stretched (wheel specs 20x9.0+38).
Not ideal but shouldn't be a problem right?

Tire diameter can be adjusted via VCDS, but why donk your A3/S3? I am assuming looks are more important to performance and that you are willing to make this trade off, but the increase in unsprung weight may overwork your suspension and brakes, affecting comfort and safety too.

[ndk83]

Tire diameter can be adjusted via VCDS, but why donk your A3/S3? I am assuming looks are more important to performance and that you are willing to make this trade off, but the increase in unsprung weight may overwork your suspension and brakes, affecting comfort and safety too.

Think you guys are underestimating the s3.

Stock wheels are cast and heavy. The 20s im considering are forged, so unsprung weight should be about the same, if not less.

Reviews coming in from people running 20's is that they are pretty much surprised how well the car rides on 20's

I do care alot about performance, but by no means is the S3 a sports car. I do also want the car to look its best.

And i think 20s fill the arches and suite the car just fine (remember car comes in oem 19s so only go 1 size up).
an example:


vs 19s



I battled long and hard wiht this, but unless ur slamming the car, IMO 19s dont cut it on the S3.

But to each their own....

[A3_Yuppie]

I see your point re: forged wheels and unsprung weight, but you might still have to consider rotational inertia, especially versus the stock 18" wheels. Not to mention, the stock S3 brakes will look so puny behind a 20" wheel.

[drober30]

vs 19s

WOW... that looks sweet! Are these 20"s?

What wheels are these?

[ndk83]

I see your point re: forged wheels and unsprung weight, but you might still have to consider rotational inertia, especially versus the stock 18" wheels. Not to mention, the stock S3 brakes will look so puny behind a 20" wheel.

In my case im ok with the the slightly larger (but lighter) Wheels and larger contact patch area at the expensive of increased rotational inertia and its stress on the drive train. I Cant have it all. Dont forget the car does come in 19s too, not only 18s. So technically im only going up an inch.

But this does help answer my question, I've decided to forgo 235/35, and find lower (235/30) profile tires to help reduce the inherent increase in rotational inertia of larger rims.

WOW... that looks sweet! Are these 20"s?

What wheels are these?

Yup, those are 20's. BBS CH-R

[MacFady]

Ive ran 30 profile on 19s with no issues.

30 on 19's but what width? If it was 275/30 or something (obv. not on S3) then great, ie: I wasn't so much saying a 30 profile sounds harsh as hell to drive on, more that 235/30 would be, as you put it, rubber bands. It sounds like you've thought it through, I have to admit they do look nice in the pictures.

[ndk83]

30 on 19's but what width? If it was 275/30 or something (obv. not on S3) then great, ie: I wasn't so much saying a 30 profile sounds harsh as hell to drive on, more that 235/30 would be, as you put it, rubber bands. It sounds like you've thought it through, I have to admit they do look nice in the pictures.

255/30, but yea i see your point. Well honestly the s3 doesnt give us much choice. Normally id have gone for wider wheels, 19x9.5 and above. I really wanted to go with the concanve look, but for propoer concave you gotta run atleast a 9.5-10.5 with ridiculously low offset (+25 and below), which will kill the fun to drive factor and require you to do all sorts of funky stuff to your fenders, camber, control arms etc. to get it to work and look good. Running 20's is an easy cop out way to stand out in the crowd without doing too much work. This will be my first set of wheels until i can figure out what can and cannot be done w the car.

[QABB]

Think you guys are underestimating the s3.

Stock wheels are cast and heavy. The 20s im considering are forged, so unsprung weight should be about the same, if not less.

Reviews coming in from people running 20's is that they are pretty much surprised how well the car rides on 20's

I do care alot about performance, but by no means is the S3 a sports car. I do also want the car to look its best.

And i think 20s fill the arches and suite the car just fine (remember car comes in oem 19s so only go 1 size up).
an example:


vs 19s



I battled long and hard wiht this, but unless ur slamming the car, IMO 19s dont cut it on the S3.

But to each their own....

I agree with everything said there.

235/30 20 here too:



Michelin Pilot Super Sports on Vossen wheels. Lighter than stock 19's and stickier than the stock Continentals.

[ndk83]

I agree with everything said there.

235/30 20 here too:



Michelin Pilot Super Sports on Vossen wheels. Lighter than stock 19's and stickier than the stock Continentals.

Looks really good man. Great tires too. What are you dropped on?\

[A3_Yuppie]

Pilot Super Sports are the best. Good looking car.

[QABB]

Pilot Super Sports are the best. Good looking car.

Thanks! It's on H&R sports.

[OWER]

245 30 20 pirelli pzero

[Nollywood]

I’m not sure what your road surfaces are like in your area, but over here, guys with S3 and even RS3 have reported that the ride with 20’s is skittish, to say the least. Buckled 20’s are pretty common, and you don’t have to run into a pothole to get flat spots, due to the very thin rubber. It’s a harsher ride too.

19’s are a factory option, but the general consensus is that 18’s are by far the best for handling. The 18’s scored over the 19’s during road tests, shortly after the cars were launched.

[Spinnetti]

the ride even on 19's is surprisingly terrible. Much happier when I downsized to 18"s (255)