b4 wheels on b8.5?

[ColdComfort]

I've been looking for a set of winters for my A4 b8.5, and I've struck out finding OEM 17s at a reasonable price (the car has sport 19s, but I don't want 19" winters). But I have found OEM b5 17s from a 1999.5 A4 Avant 1.8 turbo.

According to wheel-size.com, this is the difference:



So the width of the rim and offset of the 1999 A4 Avant's wheels is less my OEM 17" spec, by an inch and 5 mm respectively.

1. Do these differences matter at all, and are the b5 wheels ok to use on my b8.5? Will my steering geometry be messed up because of these differences?
2. Do I need to do anything about the ET42 offset vs my car's ET47, in conjunction with the narrower wheels (7j vs 8j)?

Reading this, it sounds as if the combination of lower positive offset and reduced tire width will result a negative backspacing of 30.4 mm for these smaller wheels, as compared to spec for 17s on my car. The 30.4 mm comes from the 5 mm offset difference plus 25.4 mm for the one-inch narrower tires.

So do I need 5 mm wheel spacers, 30 mm wheel spacers, or am I making this too complicated?

[scsu]

I've been looking for a set of winters for my A4 b8.5, and I've struck out finding OEM 17s at a reasonable price (the car has sport 19s, but I don't want 19" winters). But I have found OEM b5 17s from a 1999.5 A4 Avant 1.8 turbo.

According to wheel-size.com, this is the difference:



So the width of the rim and offset of the 1999 A4 Avant's wheels is less my OEM 17" spec, by an inch and 5 mm respectively.

1. Do these differences matter at all, and are the b5 wheels ok to use on my b8.5? Will my steering geometry be messed up because of these differences?
2. Do I need to do anything about the ET42 offset vs my car's ET47, in conjunction with the narrower wheels (7j vs 8j)?

Reading this, it sounds as if the combination of lower positive offset and reduced tire width will result a negative backspacing of 30.4 mm for these smaller wheels, as compared to spec for 17s on my car. The 30.4 mm comes from the 5 mm offset difference plus 25.4 mm for the one-inch narrower tires.

So do I need 5 mm wheel spacers, 30 mm wheel spacers, or am I making this too complicated?

I can't comment about the shim. But, the center bore of the new wheel is 57.1 so it won't fit over your hub without being enlarged, if that can even be done.

Have you looked at any SUV wheels? I was in the same predicament as you and stumbled across 2011 Q5 winters that fit perfectly on my 2017 A4 P+. I paid 350 for an entire Audi winter tire and wheel package.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Audizine mobile app

[ColdComfort]

Hah you’re right! That’s a good idea about checking the SUVs, I’ll look around.