I agree with Don. With sand the size of pebbles in where I am, the expensive OEM rims are going to take a beating.

 

I purchased my wheel & winter tire set last year from the TireRack.com because the Audi prices we're out of this world... I got them delivered within a week, already installed on the wheels & balanced.

Here's what I got as price in fall 2010 with photos.
Performance is AMAZING.

WHEELS 19x8.5 ASA GT1 Bright Silver 796.00
TIRES P235/55R-19 Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 564.00

SHIPPING 204.74
GST 78.24
PST 123.22
DUTIES 87.24
BROKERAGE 30.00

TOTAL 1,883.84

 

Why? would be interested to hear perspectives.

 

For us here in Alberta Urban driving i.e.: (Calgary corridor and west out to the Mountains) the roads here are abrasive to windshield and wheels. Anything here that will save your exterior and preserve metal is the way to go.

 

I am also putting my Pirelli Scorpions on the factory rims and will be getting something a tad beefier looking for my summer tires once they go back on.

 

I drove a Q5 2010, 2 years ago with Winter tires Pirelli Scorpion Ice and Snow 18" tires. Last december I changed for a new 2013 Q5 s-line and wanted to keep my 18" Pirelli Winter tires. I had to drive on a snow road in Laurentides region and practically lost control of my car. My wife has a new BMW 328i xDrive with Bridgestone Blizzak and this is very stable on snow. So I decided to change my winter tire with Blizzak DM-V1 P235/60R18. I will never purchase Pirelli Scorpion again. Even the chief technicien at Audi concession told me that Pirelli was not so good on snow and at Costco, they told me that Pirelli Scorpion are overpriced and It will be better with Blizzak tires.

 

I'm also needing to purchase a winter set of wheel+tires, but I am considering downsizing the wheels to 17". The specs for the all-season tires and wheels that come with the Q5 3.0TFSI Premium state:Can anyone tell me if these are 7" wide wheels or 8"? The only wheels I can find for 17" are 7" wide. Let me know if I should I keep looking for 8"(?)

TIA

 

If you want 235/65R17, Tirerack suggested 17 x 7.5 and 17 x 8.