Frozo

Warcity, Jason from Maximwheels, recommends 17" RS4 Replicas over 18". I know you got the 18" yet I am getting conflicting advice. 17" is better during winter for the Q5 but ppl are complaining it is too small. I am a bit confused

warcity

iTrader: (1)

Last year I called Audi they recommended 18. I also went to tirerack.com they recommended 18. When I spoke to Jason I basically told him what size I wanted. I didn't take his actual size recommendation. Q5 factory is shipped with 18" rims which means the rotors can accommodate maximum 17" but it will be very very tight between the rim and rotor and depending on the rim it may not even fit.

Its true that smaller tire is better in winter but it still has to be proportional to car's body. I drove an entire winter and based on my experience 18 is perfect. 17 will be too small and tight. I will be putting my winters on in Nov you can swing by look at them even drive them. In the means time I think you've seen my posted pics. You have lots of time still.

warcity

iTrader: (1)

Last year I called Audi they recommended 18. I also went to tirerack.com they recommended 18. When I spoke to Jason I basically told him what size I wanted. I didn't take his actual size recommendation. Q5 factory is shipped with 18" rims which means the rotors can accommodate maximum 17" but it will be very very tight between the rim and rotor and depending on the rim it may not even fit.

Its true that smaller tire is better in winter but it still has to be proportional to car's body. I drove an entire winter and based on my experience 18 is perfect. 17 will be too small and tight. I will be putting my winters on in Nov you can swing by look at them even drive them. In the means time I think you've seen my posted pics. You have lots of time still.

Regina_TTS

To add to what Warcity has said in greater depth, people generally go smaller when it comes to winter wheels for two reasons. A smaller wheel means a larger tire sidewall area because the overall diameter of the wheel and tire combined remains the same. Most people feel this makes the tire more compliant, absorbing more of the road. Generally smaller diameter wheels will be narrower as well. Narrower wheels mean narrower tires, which will drive through deeper snow easier. For the purely functional aspect, most times it will be recommended that you go with the smallest wheel size that will fit over the vehicle's brakes.

Most of us agree however that 17" wheels and tires plain and simply look too small on the Q5. The only real reason any of us have gone larger than 17" is just for aesthetic reasons. As Warcity suggests, have a look around at pictures of the Q5 with the different sized wheels and decide for yourself what you like best.

Frozo

Thanks for the advice guys. I am trying to get my research done early and get them at the right time before the shops get busy and run out of tires. There is always a mad rush when the weatherman says its going to snow the next week.

warcity

iTrader: (1)

Jason ordered the tires for me within about a week, they're pretty good and flexible you can go any time and get them installed or install them yourself. Last year I ordered Nov 1st and they were on my car about 10 days later well before it was time.

canmick

Guys newbie both to this forum as well as to owning an Audi so decided time to register to get some advice from fellow Q5 owners.

Have had my 2010 Q5 Sline for about 4 months now and have the 20's for my summer tires and see that people seem to be recommending 18's and 17's for winter (makes sense to minus size but agree 17's seem crazy small as some have said).

Live in Calgary and since our summer has sucked I am planning to get the most out of winter by hitting the mountains at least twice a month. My question for you all is:

Has anyone gone bigger then the 18's for their winter tires or is 18 the move for sure?

Have dropped a pic of my summer rig in use and then once I figure out the winter tires/rims will update with that as well.

Thanks all, hope everyone is enjoying a better summer then us and lets hope for a monster snowfall this winter

warcity

iTrader: (1)

Hi there:

Welcome to the forum, sweet ride.

I've done 18". I am very happy it was fantastic, I hit the hills (or bumps I should call them here in Ontario) every single weekend and quattro+winter tires=total snow domination.

Check out this post, I have pics on the top:

https://www.audiforum.ca/q5-q7/50837...ires-q5-2.html
I don't knwo of anyone over 18" for winter but 18"s certainly look fantastic.

canmick

Thanks Warcity,

The 18's do look good, I think that has just put me over the edge and not to small which I was worried of from the 20's. I will grab a pair from Tire Rack (leaning towards the Pirelli Scorpions) and will drop a pick after the first big snowfall here cant wait!!!

Good luck out East (with your nice summers that make me jealous every time I watched the news this year)

Cheers

warcity

iTrader: (1)

Personally I love the cold, saw I was equally jealous looking at your (not so nice) summer .

Cheers.