New Wheels

[SJ_GTI]

Not sure what area to post this, but figured I'd put it here since my car is technically a luxury brand.

Anyway as winter comes to an end and I get closer to putting summer tires back on, I am tempted to get a new set of wheels.  The wheels in my sig pic are the aftermarket wheels I bought a couple years ago. They are not bad looking, but are REALLY hard to clean because of all the weird angles. They have been high quality though (IMHO). I bought them from Hartmann so I am thinking about buying another set from them (Hartmann) to go with new summer tires.

This is the one I am leaning toward:





Its a replica of a style that Audi already uses for the A4/S4 and I have seen them on other cars and really dig them. They come in a darker color, but I think the glossy silver will work better on my car since I have a bright paint color and the mirror's are also silver ("S" models have the aluminum mirror housing).

The other wheel I am kind of thinking about is from the previous gen S4:





I've never seen this wheel on a B8 A4/S4 in person, but they have some pictures on their website:



Difference is those are 20" wheels, but I would just get the 19" inch wheels. The 19" inch wheels are almost identical to the stock wheels, but have a lower ET (which IMHO actually improves the stance...its barely noticeable but I do see it even with my current wheels). The main concern is that these may again be a pain in the butt to clean, where as the first ones seem like they will be way easier to wipe off. That might seem petty but I hand wash my car (almost every weekend in the summer) and with my current car it takes longer to clean the wheels than it does to clean the entire rest of the car. Part of it is because I am anal retentive about cleaning out every nook and cranny, but I know I am not gonna change so may as well find a wheel to make my life easier, no? But at the same time I like that I would likely be the only B8 A4/S4 running these wheels (kind of like how I have never seen another A4/S4 running my current wheels).

Thoughts?

[MrH]

Don't get the 5-spokes.  Not a fan of those at all.

I haven't tried it on wheels yet, but I just got a new steam cleaner.  The wheels on my BRZ get pretty filthy, so I might give it a shot.  Should be pretty easy to get in all the crevices with it and a microfiber towel.  What are you using now to clean your wheels?  Maybe YOUPEE Chris can weigh in on this?

[FoMoJo]

The second choice, with more spokes, looks more suitable, imo.  Don't they have a spray on, rinse off cleaner for wheels that doesn't require any rubbing or scrubbing?  Spray on, rinse off, repeat until all the crap's gone and then air dry with a compressor.

[68_427]

[thewizard16]

I like the first set (the 5 spokes) a lot. They make the wheels look less busy and seem more aggressive/sporty than the lower wheels.

[68_427]

I like the first set (the 5 spokes) a lot. They make the wheels look less busy and seem more aggressive/sporty than the lower wheels.

The look great on Passats too FYI

[SVT666]

First set by a long margin.

[Raza]

Don't get the 5-spokes.  Not a fan of those at all.

I haven't tried it on wheels yet, but I just got a new steam cleaner.  The wheels on my BRZ get pretty filthy, so I might give it a shot.  Should be pretty easy to get in all the crevices with it and a microfiber towel.  What are you using now to clean your wheels?  Maybe YOUPEE Chris can weigh in on this?

Funny, I just got a steamer myself.  That's pretty coincidental.  Haven't tried wheels, but it does rice flawlessly. 

[Raza]

Wait, Tony, what year is your S4?  I think my brother's is a 2011 and it's got the 5 "triple" spoke 19"s. 




I think they look fucking awesome.  You should get them. 

[68_427]

Pretty sure his car came with those.

[Raza]

Pretty sure his car came with those.

Oh.  Those look better than the ones he has now, I wonder why he switched.   

[SJ_GTI]

Oh.  Those look better than the ones he has now, I wonder why he switched.   

Ef you! 

Yeah those are the stock wheels that came with my car, I use them for winter wheels (ie: they are the wheels I currently have on my car). They are much easier to clean then the aftermarket wheels I got (which are replicas of the Audi R8 wheels), but for some reason I just don't dig em. 

Edit: Oh, and my car is a 2010 MY.

[2o6]

2nd set

[SJ_GTI]

2nd set

Yeah I am really leaning towards those right now. Will probably decide (and place the order) next week.

[GoCougs]

That's the only thing I'd do. I've never seen a good set of aftermarket wheels on any car.

[CALL_911]

That's the only thing I'd do. I've never seen a good set of aftermarket wheels on any car.

Then you aren't looking hard enough

But I dig those 5-spoke wheels.

[MX793]

I really like the first set.

[Northlands]

That's the only thing I'd do. I've never seen a good set of aftermarket wheels on any car.

Wat.

There's gazillions of decent sets out there. The overall looks changes not just with the car model, also trim model will make a difference. Wheel size as well...etc etc.

I'd pick the second set. IMO a little more elegant looking, and still says sporty. Perfect for a car like this.

[Secret Chimp]

I like the first wheels posted the best too. I've seen them in person more than once and the way the spokes pull in to the hub is much more striking.

[hotrodalex]

First.

[SJ_GTI]

BTW, new wheels canceled. 

Went to order them and they weren't in stock. It might seem lame but I don't want to put my summer tires on now, and then in 4-6 weeks have to change them to new wheels. Not worth the effort IMHO. WIll just stick with my current wheels for another summer for now.

[12,000 RPM]

Get the triple 5s in 19s