Audi 8V A3 Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide

Models Covered in This Guide

2015-2021 Audi A3 (8V)

The 8V generation Audi A3 provides plenty of refined performance for spirited street driving. However, with the right setup these cars can prove to be quite competent out on the track. Taking into consideration the Quattro AWD system and front-biased weight distribution of the A3, a rotatable square setup is a must to ensure even tire wear at all four corners. Shedding unsprung weight by downsizing to an 18" or even a 17" wheel will also improve upon the overall handling, braking, and acceleration characteristics of the car.

Our 17" and 18" SM-10, VS-5RS, and ML-10RT wheels compliment the 8V generation Audi A3 perfectly for both street and track use, with various fitments available to cater to your specific application. With a 5x112 bolt pattern and a 57.1mm center bore, our VW/Audi-specific wheels provide a complete bolt-on fitment without the need for centering rings, spacers, or hub adapters.

These fitments are ready-to-bolt-on, typically without any modifications, and provide a meaningful increase in wheel width over stock. Available in both 17" and 18" diameters, the fitments listed in this section are an ideal choice for the enthusiast who regularly drives their Audi on the street but still wants to participate in a few HPDE's as well. These fitments are a great match for a completely stock or lightly modified S3/A3.

Wheels

Front & Rear: 17x8.5” ET43

• Popular Fitment
• Available in SM-10 design only

Tires

APEX Staff Pick: 235/45-17

• Direct fit.
• The best option for additional ride comfort and compliance.
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wider Alternative: 245/40-17

• Direct fit with most street tire compounds
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Goodyear Supercar Eagle 3R (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Slimmer Alternative (OE width): 225/45-17

• Direct fit
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Goodyear Supercar Eagle 3R (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wheels

Front & Rear: 18x8.5” ET43

• Popular Fitment
• Available in SM-10 design only

Tires

APEX Staff Pick: 235/40-18

• Direct fit
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Michelin Cup 2 240 Connect (240 TW)
• R-Compounds: Goodyear Supercar Eagle 3R (100 TW), Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wider Alternative: 245/40-18

• Direct fit with most street tire compounds
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW), Goodyear Supercar 3 (220 TW)
• R-Compounds: Goodyear Supercar Eagle 3R (100 TW), Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wider Alternative 2: 245/35-18

• Direct fit
• With a shorter overall rolling diameter compared to the 245/40-18, the 245/35-18 will allow you to run a wider contact patch while reducing the chance of rubbing under suspension compression.
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (180 TW)

Wider Alternative 3: 255/35-18

• Direct fit with most street tire compounds
• Not recommended when running tire compounds that tend to run wide in the shoulders (200TW or R compounds), as those will be better supported with our 18x9" ET42 fitment.
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Slimmer Alternative (OE width): 225/40-18

• Direct fit
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Michelin Cup 2 240 Connect (240 TW)
• R-Compounds: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)

These fitments are the perfect match for weekend track warriors and hardcore racers seeking to maximize the wheel and tire size that they can fit on their 8V S3/A3. These aggressive wheel specs will typically require supportive modifications commonly found on track cars. Available in 17", 18", and 19" diameters to cater to a variety of performance-focused tire sizes and compounds. With a focus on brake clearance, our Audi-specific fitments are able to clear the standard A3/S3 brakes with ease, as well as a variety of aftermarket BBKs. However, brake clearance can vary depending on wheel design, as the VS-5RS and SM-10 will have better clearance for larger aftermarket brakes compared to the ML-10RT.

Wheels

Front & Rear: 17x9” ET42

• Popular Fitment
• Available in SM-10 and VS-5RS designs.

Tires

APEX Staff Pick: 255/40-17

• Additional front and rear negative camber is recommended when using aggressive track-focused tire compounds.
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Goodyear Supercar Eagle 3R (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Slimmer Alternative: 245/40-17

• Direct fit with most street tire compounds
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Goodyear Supercar Eagle 3R (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wheels

Front & Rear: 18x9” ET42

• The best track setup option for those running aftermarket BBKs with rotor sizes that require 18" or larger wheels.
• Available in SM-10, VS-5RS, and ML-10RT designs.

Tires

APEX Staff Pick: 255/35-18

• Additional front and rear negative camber is recommended when using aggressive track-focused tire compounds.
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wider Alternative: 265/35-18

• Additional front and rear negative camber is required when using aggressive track-focused tire compounds.
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Slimmer Alternative: 245/40-18

• Direct fit with most street tire compounds
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
• Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Continental Extreme Contact (340TW)
• Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
• R-Compounds: Toyo R888R (100 TW)

Wheels:

• Front & Rear: 19x9” ET42
• • Available in ML-10RT design only.

Tires:

• APEX Staff Pick: 245/35-19
• • "Fender screw mod" is recommended to help alleviate any rubbing that may occur under suspension compression.
  • Additional front and rear negative camber is recommended when using aggressive track-focused tire compounds.
• Wider Alternative: 255/30-19
• • Additional front and rear negative camber is required when using aggressive track-focused tire compounds.
  • May require a "fender screw mod" to alleviate rubbing under suspension compression.

Wheels

Front & Rear: 17x8.5” ET43

• Popular Fitment
• Available in SM-10 design only

Tires

APEX Staff Pick: 235/45-17

• Direct fit.
• The best option for additional ride comfort and compliance.
• All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)

Whether you are a casual weekend track warrior that still enjoys your car on the street, or a hard core racer competing for a spot on the podium, negative camber is a vital part of chassis setup that has many benefits. Not only will adding negative camber create more room for wider wheel and tire configurations, it more importantly improves handling, turn-in and tire longevity. Learn more in our blog article, The Positives of Negative Camber.

Still have questions?

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