Widest tires on RS3?

[RocketRS3]

Hi there,

I'm currently running the stock RS3 rims (8/8.5 inch wide) and 235/35/19 Pirelli tires.

Towards the end of the winter, I'll be getting new 9.5 inch BC forged rims so I'm wondering if anyone has had experience with wide tires on an RS3. I'd like to be able to run the widest tires I can and the general rule is 275 is the widest you can go on 9.5 inch rims.

For example: Michelin 275/30/19

That's a huge jump from the stock tire width, so curious to know if that would cause problems? Do you think there would be any tire rubbing on the inside? How can I be sure its going to work flawlessly?

Thanks ahead of time guys!!

[mjfloyd1]

Offset of new wheels will matter in determining what size tires will work

[RocketRS3]

Alright thanks!

[mjfloyd1]

https://www.willtheyfit.com

[RocketRS3]

Appreciate that! Curious if the front wheels would be able to turn comfortably without rubbing.
Nobody has tried it yet with the RS3 and I'm afraid to be the test rat haha

[RS3_4ME]

I am running 18x9ET45 BC Forged ZR39s with Michelin Pilot Super Sports - 255/35zr18, square setup and I have the CCB brakes up front. Works perfectly. No rubbing. Lighter. More tire options.

I could have potentially gone 265 but the absolute minimum recommended rim width for those is 9” and I would rather be in the middle of the recommended wheel width for the tire. Some of the rubbing will depend on the tire. Even tires of nominally same spec have different on rim sections and widths. Michelins are pretty good and do not bulge.

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[MerlinS3]

Not an RS3, but I am running 275/35/18 on my S3

[Spinnetti]

Not an RS3, but I am running 275/35/18 on my S3

Lowered/Camber? What's your wheel offset? I'm on 034 springs and camber plates with 18x8.5 ET30/255's and have some 18x9 ET30 going on next. I think 265 will fit, but not sure about 275.

[MerlinS3]

Lowered/Camber? What's your wheel offset? I'm on 034 springs and camber plates with 18x8.5 ET30/255's and have some 18x9 ET30 going on next. I think 265 will fit, but not sure about 275.

Running custom ORT FR spec coilovers
18x10 et35 all around
-2.8 front
-3.1 rear

IMG_0226.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[Spinnetti]

Running custom ORT FR spec coilovers
18x10 et35 all around
-2.8 front
-3.1 rear

IMG_0226.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

Thanks. I think I'll run 265/35F, 245/40R (gets both the width but also diameter stagger I'm looking for to trick haldex into earlier engagement)

[Chaoscreature]

Is there anything different in the sheet metal of the RS3 or would these setups theoretically carry down to a lowly A3 as well?

[Spinnetti]

Is there anything different in the sheet metal of the RS3 or would these setups theoretically carry down to a lowly A3 as well?

Can't say as a fact, but pretty sure the "flares" of the RS3 are just cosmetic. Pretty sure that anything you can stuff in an RS3 you can stuff in the A3. Same chassis after all. With the 034 camber plates and springs, I have lots of room up front yet and it still understeers at the limit with 255's. In the back its about perfectly flush, but I'm also running less than stock camber (trying to get it to turn in better). Soon as my tires wear out, I'll swap in the 18x9 ET30's and stagger the tires. Worst case, you can put in some camber plates if you need a bit more room up front.

[Brian@Unitronic]

Is there anything different in the sheet metal of the RS3 or would these setups theoretically carry down to a lowly A3 as well?

Yes, front rs3 fenders are 10mm wider I believe

[Spinnetti]

I got my stagger setup on now... 18x9 ET30, with 255 up front and 235 in back. Everything fits fine. Probably will run 265 up front next time, and the staggered fitment did improve cornering balance as I'd hoped.

[colariu]

Hello all -

I am currently on the RS3 staggered setup 255/30R19 fronts and 235/35R19 rears. I can't seem to figure out if I could put 265/30R19 tires on the fronts. One tire shop here in town says it might rub at full turn, but they don't know for sure. I don't want to order the tires, get them on, and find out I can't use them. (Unfortunately, Toyo doesn't offer the Proxes R888R in 255/30R19, but they do in 265/30R19, hence my dillema).

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[RightonRed]

I'm running 265/30r19 Michelin PS4S on a set of BCForge RZ21s 19x9.5 et +43/+45 and they seem to be just fine at stock ride height. YMMV.

[rex_racer]

Running custom ORT FR spec coilovers
18x10 et35 all around
-2.8 front
-3.1 rear

IMG_0226.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

Didn't you have your fenders pulled?

[Flom Motorsports]

as previously stated, your wheel offset will 110% affect your tire fitment. depending on how much work you want to do in terms of pulling a wheel getting inside the wheel well to take exact measurements, I have an excel spreadsheet that does all of the calculations for you and gives you a visual overlay of your current set-up and the desired set-up. PM me and i'll see if i can send it back, worst case I can email it to you

[colariu]

I'm running 265/30r19 Michelin PS4S on a set of BCForge RZ21s 19x9.5 et +43/+45 and they seem to be just fine at stock ride height. YMMV.

Thank you! I'm very close to pulling the trigger.

[rcaro900ss]

I am running 265/35x18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 on a set of Neuspeed RSE11R 18x9 +45mm wheels, and had to make adjustments to the front inside of the right rear wheel well to fit. These Michelins are a track tire with thread for the street, and therefore have a square profile. I tried fitting my 275/35x18 Nitto RRs, which are on a set of TSW Interlagos 18X9.5 53mm, that I adjust the offset with spacers. They will not fit without pulling the fender lip or fender flares. This is all at stock height, and when I lower my car, I don't see the problematic right rear fender situation getting any better. BTW, the TSW wheels are a Mercedes fitment. Mercedes run the same 5x112 bolt pattern and a 53mm offset. This opens up more wheel options for Audis. I run studs on all my track bound Audis, and use spacers to adjust my offset to fit my wheels. The Mercedes wheel I used has a 66.6 mm hub center (same as my S4) and the RS3 is 57.1, so remember to get 66.6 to 57.1 ring adapter.

[colariu]

This doesn't seem promissing then, since I'm on 19" wheels. I plan on using the stock wheels, I have a separate square setup that I use for street driving.

[LJS5]

I'm running 265s all around on 18x9.5. 275 should be dooable

[robr]

Reviving a slightly older thread rather than creating a new one.

I have a 2017 S3 with stock wheels and tires (235/35/19). I run 6 or 7 autocross events a year but am not looking to purchase dedicated rims and tires. Looking at going with 265/30/19 which is 0.3" smaller in diameter but 1.1" wider. I have no idea what the stock rim offsets are. Any idea if these will fit? And would going narrower on the back help with reducing understeer?

[TheDude420]

I thought a staggered setup wasn't recommended for the A3/S3/RS3? How will a staggered setup affect performance, handling, wear, Haldex AWD, and mag-ride? I just got new lightweight 19x8.5 wheels for my S3 and will be getting tires in the next month or two. Right now I'm on 235/35R19 tires and was wanting to go for a wider more aggressive look in the rear. Maybe 245 nothing too crazy. I don't want wider tires up front because they may rub like they did when I had 245's on my B7 A4. Also, turning is much easier or "lighter" on 235's. If it matters I live in Florida and our roads are pretty good in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area.

[Spinnetti]

I thought a staggered setup wasn't recommended for the A3/S3/RS3? How will a staggered setup affect performance, handling, wear, Haldex AWD, and mag-ride? I just got new lightweight 19x8.5 wheels for my S3 and will be getting tires in the next month or two. Right now I'm on 235/35R19 tires and was wanting to go for a wider more aggressive look in the rear. Maybe 245 nothing too crazy. I don't want wider tires up front because they may rub like they did when I had 245's on my B7 A4. Also, turning is much easier or "lighter" on 235's. If it matters I live in Florida and our roads are pretty good in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area.

You want the rolling diameter to be within 4% of the same front to rear. Use online calculators when sizing the tires and you just use a lower section height with the wider widths. The RS3 comes as a factory option with reverse stagger tires 255/235, and they are a couple percent different rolling diameter. The A3 platform is super nose heavy and needs all the tire and track width up front you can get. The other trick to get the "quattro" to engage quicker is have the fronts a touch smaller diameter than the rears so the the computer reads "slippage" earlier and brings on rear traction faster. You can do a traditional stagger for the look if you want but it will just handle worse, and you have to use wheels with different width front lip for it to even look any different. I run the reverse stagger 255f/235r on 18x9 ET30 wheels, and you can't tell there is any stagger at all unless you read the tire sizes. Sounds like in your case if you want a more flush look, just put some spacers on - on stock wheels I did 10mm F and 15mm R.

[AlexQS]

I got my stagger setup on now... 18x9 ET30, with 255 up front and 235 in back. Everything fits fine. Probably will run 265 up front next time, and the staggered fitment did improve cornering balance as I'd hoped.

Spinnetti, are your wheels 18x9 all four corners, or are you running 18x8.5 rear wheels? I had never considered that one could run staggered tire sizes on square wheel setup.

I like idea of staggered sizes to get a lil more meat up front hopefully reducing understeer.

[Spinnetti]

Spinnetti, are your wheels 18x9 all four corners, or are you running 18x8.5 rear wheels? I had never considered that one could run staggered tire sizes on square wheel setup.

I like idea of staggered sizes to get a lil more meat up front hopefully reducing understeer.

You can definitely run staggered tires on a "square" wheel setup. My wheels are 18x9 on all 4 corners. 9" is still within the recommended range for 235. Ideally I'd have a 8.5 in the back, but that was not available in the wheels I chose and its no biggie. to get the rolling diameters right, its 255 with a 35 section in the front, but 235 with a 40 section height in the rear. You could never tell just by looking at the car that it has a staggered setup.

[Sho Off]

You're running ET30 rim I noticed

Just picked up my car came with a set of summer wheels 19 x 8.5J ET 34, but are running a square setup with stock Pirelli tires 235s.


I want to change out for a square setup or something a bit wider. 255/30 F and if not the same in the rear at least a 245.

Worried about fender rubbing in back and front when turning wheels. Plan to track the car with this setup.

Any issues you've had or anyone else running a larger width tire with ET32 wheels. Would not want to get a 3rd set of rims for tracking.

[Spinnetti]

I have 034 lowering springs and their fixed camber plates and have loads of room with 18x9 ET30 and 255/235. I had 4 adults in the car and never bottomed either. No concerns about tracking with that setup but I have a set of 18x8.5 ET35 that I'd probably use for the track still with 255/235 which has even more clearance and is lighter. If you have the option, bigger diameter wheels aren't great for the track as they have more momentum and weight. If I were really into it with this car I'd probably run 17's like I do on my track car.

[Sho Off]

Thanks for the input.

I know quite a few run staggered setup to help with the understeer. If you ran a square setup with 255s on the back think that would still be OK?

[Spinnetti]

Thanks for the input.

I know quite a few run staggered setup to help with the understeer. If you ran a square setup with 255s on the back think that would still be OK?

yes, you can always adjust camber a bit if you need to in the back for more clearance. BTW, you can't tell there's any difference in the tires just by looking at them - the stagger is invisible.