sunknee

I'll be picking up a Quartz Gray Q5 S-Line in May. I learned recently that the rims have changed in 2010 (from chunky 5 bi-spokes to thin 5 tri-spokes). I read all of the rim posts on various Audi forums with no opinions except the 5 trispoke seems to be the popular one on a lot of Audi cars.

Here are two gorgeous Q5 pics from the user Tony (Regina_TTS) of a 2010 and 2009 (Could Tony have both! Tony, if you seeing this post hope you didn't mind me posting links to your Q5 pics),

2010's tri-spoke rims on a Quartz Gray:



as compared to 2009 bi-spoke rims on a Meteor Gray:



Both rims look great but I think that I prefer 2009. Does anyone see the advantages/disadvantages to the new 2010 rim design? I may ask my dealer if he could do a parts order for the 2009 rims and I could sell the 2010 rims. I'm assuming that the tires are the same size and I would just need the rims.

Thanks,
Sonny,
London, Ontario

GenSpec

The bottom one is Tony's not sure who the top one belongs to but I've seen it before. Both very sexy machines. My understanding is that the 2009 has 19" on the SLine versus 20" on the 2010. Will glady eat my words if I am wrong as I don't know as much as I'd like about the 2009. I can say for certain however that the 2010 is 20" as that is what mine are. Rim size aside, it's a personal preference issue as some will like the 2009 and some will like the 2010. I would have to say, I would have preferred the 2010 in a smaller size as 20" seems large to me with too little rubber.

Note: my car is not in yet, it's in Canada and on it's way here, so everything I am saying I am saying from the research I did ordering mine including test drives...

sunknee

The top one was Tony's pic from the "Vote S-Line White vs Quartz Grey" thread in this forum. I assumed it was his as well.
GenSpec, I just found out from the 2009 Q5 brochues online as well as the accessories brochure (google audi q5 accessories pdf) these are the names and specs of the tires:

Top one ( I call tri-spoke):
20" five-double-spoke with 255/45 summer performance tires

Botton one (I call bi-spoke):
20" five-split-spoke with 255/45 summer performance tires

So it looks like they are both the same size. Yes I agree that these are certainly low profile. As I undertand from the ride, there is no noticable difference between 20" or 19" unless someone else pipes in.

Great to hear your car is near. I'm guessing that you won't see your 20" tires for a bit as you will probably be using snow tires for a while.

QuartzQ5SLine

Snow tires in May?

My Q5 S-line (Quartz no less) arrives in late-April..don't think I'll need snows 'till Winter 2010.

sunknee

Hello QuartzQ5SLine,
I was referring to GenSpec's post that stated his car is not in yet but in Canada and on the way here. Now that one should come in soon unlike ours.

QuartzQ5SLine

Sorry about that.

GenSpec

Hehe,

Yes, she's due here well ahead of schedule by a month, but I am not taking delivery until April as, well, that is just not possible. The dealer is ok with this and it keeps my car from Burning Warranty. Snow tires next year for sure. This year I picked up a complete set of 18" XD Series Wheels wrapped in Blizzac's for my Truck. Now that was an experience, never spent that much money on Winters before and I almost always use Blizzacs.

Regina_TTS

Hey Sonny,

Welcome to the forum and congrats on ordering a new Q5! My Q5 likes to be seen, so feel free to borrow pics.

I see you have already figured out that your tires will be completely interchangeable between the two S Line wheels. Both the 2009 and 2010 S Line wheels are 20x8.5 ET33 and bother are spec'd with 255/45R20 summer rubber.

If you can find a buyer for your 2010 S Line wheels, they retail for $1020 per wheel, as opposed to the $720 per wheel for the 2009 wheels. (I guess this is why so many replica wheel companies are successful!) I'd start feeling it out now since you have the time. Hit up the classifieds on the forums and post that you have them for sale.

The only real disadvantage to the 2010 wheels that I can think of is that they will be harder to clean. A friend of mine does 3M Stone Guard and his shop has seen a lot of Q5's. I had the chance to look closer at the 2010 wheels and I can't get my fingers between the tri-spokes. I have no problem getting my fingers wrapped in a chamois in between the spokes of the 2009 wheels. In my opinion, the 2010 S Line wheel design is being used on way too many different Audi models. I suppose for the sake of being a little more unique, you could also call that a disadvantage.

Personally I found no real ride difference between the 19" and 20" wheels. If you ordered your car with Drive Select you can dial in the ride you want anyhow.

sunknee

Genspec, great you won't have to worry about snow tires till next year like you said.

Tony, that's for all the info and pics. This is similar to what I found out from my dealer today - but here in London, your 2009's are quoted as $750 a piece (and available) and the 2010 are $1020 as you stated. I am awaiting an email from my dealer any time now to tell me how much he will give me as credit for the rim switch. May buy them and sell them privately like you said.

I still prefer the 2009s and as you said they are easier to clean and unique.

Now I'm also interested in that 3M film that you have on yours Tony. I'm googling that now.

The costs never end.

Sonny
London, Ontario

warcity

iTrader: (1)

Hi Sunkee: Search ebay for "3M Q5" and you will get a powerseller that sells custom cut 3m clear protections for hood and bumper of the Q5. I bought it, it came to under 80 dollars shipped. Thy were amazing but installing it, take it to a pro, I tried it with no luck the entire thing got destroyed. i wish audi offered such things as an extra that the factory could just install.

Cheers.