wow - thnaks for all the feedback! i really appreciate your help. I will let you know how I make out!

 

I didn't know 17" wheels will fit on B6 S4 .

Can somebody post pics of a B6 S4 with 17" winters?
I would like to see how they look with the smaller wheels.

Thanks

 

The only pic I have ... right before coils and summers were installed:



OZ Canyons: 17x7.5 et 35 (25 lbs.)

 

Thanks Avantquattro!!!

What size tires are you running 225 45 17 or 235 45 17?

 

Pretty sure they're 225's but will be able to confirm in a couple of weeks when they're out of storage and on the car.

 

Guys, i have found a set of Maragoni Meteo HP 225/45/17 on 17" Audi 9 spoke rims. would these work on my B5 S4 Avant? has anyone ever used the Maragoni tires??

 

You mean B6 S4 right ?

I had never heard of the Maragoni's until now but read a good review of them and those wheels should fit.

 

speaking of snow tires/wheels,

ISSUES with 18'' S4 B6 wheels accumulating snow --> which causes pretty serious vibration. That 6-spoke design makes for a poor winter wheel.

Anyone else having this same problem??



if so, then maybe you share in my pain. I felt very reluctant to continue driving above 50k as I feared I would cause damage to the alignment. AND worst of all, there is no easy way to clear the snow out of the wheels other than parking indoor to allow it to melt out or find a gas station where you can hose out the snow from the wheels.

 

Although I've had this problem in the past, its not often. I just use a snow brush to get rid of the accumulation. That said, I understand the 1st gen All Road wheels were the absolute worst for this due to the dual spoke overlapping design.

 

Actually a taller wheel does have a larger contact patch. It doesn't really make a whole lot of difference with winter tires but I will explain how it does anyway.

A taller tire for more contact is generally only used in drag racing circumstances. If you are running a full slick on your car and want more traction a taller tire will provide that better than a wider tire. Lets say you were running 24.5 x 8 x 15" mickey thompsons on your drag S4 lol. For more contact you would be better off with the same tire in a 26" setup (so 26 x 8 x 15) than you would be with a 24.5 x 9 x 15" slick. A taller tire provides a longer foot print to the ground which is more advantageous than a wider footprint is in terms of traction.

With that said, on a winter tire where the tire shedding snow is the issue, a thinner tire is the best option. The best tire is the thinnest knobbiest tire you can fit on the car. So if you can get a 205 on it vs a 225 then that would be the way to go, just make sure to maintain the overall height of the OEM wheel or you can throw the electronics (speedo etc) out for a huge loop.