2002 A6 4.2 - 18" Wheels???

[Panteledes]

I have a silver 2002 A6 4.2 that came with 16" wheels/tires and it just does not look right at all. I want to upgrade to 17" or 18" and am here to ask the Audi experts if I can put an 18" wheel on the car without any mods (to ensure the tire will not rub). Also, I am looking for recommendations on wheels/tires. I live in New England, so I will likely put the 16" back on for the winter.

I saw some BBS CH wheels in silver (def not putting chrome on the car as I do not that a German car should have chrome... just me), but think the RS4 wheels may look better, plus feedback seems pretty good on those knockoffs on ebay.

General tire sizes for the 18" wheels seem to be 255/35 or 255/40 depending on the wheel, but I am unsure of brand. It is a daily ride, so high-end performance tires seems a bit much. I would prefer to do without road noise if possible. The Toyo Proxies on it now seem OK, but I am sure someone here has seen better.

Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Thank you

[masboykie]

Hey Pante

I am not positive on the rubbing issue, but from what I've read I am pretty sure the 18s will fit. As far as I know the factory 18s had the 245s on them, not 255s, but I might be wrong. The 4.2 is wider than the 2.7, but there is no way I could fit 245s on mine (factory size is the 235). Again this might not be the case on the 4.2 though. If you stick your and in under the fender on the top inside of the front tires, you'll feel how little room there is between the tire and the front strut. That will at least give you a rough idea. Hopefully someone else will be able to give you better info.

Anyway, there are many wheel and tire places listed here... http://www.VAGLinks.com

Cheers
Massboykie

[pwaibel]

Panteledes,

I have a 2001 4.2 A6 and recently put 18's on the car. It needed no modifications and I have only experiences rubbing, slightly, at freeway speeds when going over a swell and the suspension swells deep in the wheel well. The rubbing is superficial, it rubs slightly against some of the plastic lining inside the wheel well. The wheels I went with are from Mandrus (Mercedes Wheels, Mercedes Custom Wheels, Mercedes Benz Wheels, Chrome Mercedes Wheels, Silver Mercedes Wheels, Staggered Mercedes Wheels) and I put Goodyear Eagle F1 tires on (255/40/18). Hope that helps. BTW went with Mandrus because they fit over the calipers and look great.