RS6 C5 and 19" wheels issue - solved the mystery

[skiper]

Hi There,

This would be my first thread and I'm really looking fw for more , hopefully not regarding issues :) .

This is a an excellent place for BEAST owners, to have a word. Keep up the good work and glad to be part of this exquisite forum .

Now, back to my issue :

I recently bought 4 x 19"9J ET35 genuine 5 spoke rims for my c5 RS6 2004 and guess what ? When I put them on ,big unpleasant surprise , the tire is rubbing the upper fishbone head . After tons of measuring , spacers on , spacers off , testing on another car , I FINALLY SOLVED THE MYSTERY with mik15's help , thanks for that, man .

It seems that the fishbone comes , just not ready to adopt 19" rims ( standard size or more ) , from AUDI and needs a bit adjustment . I just uploaded 2 pictures below to highlight the difference :

13658 13659
This is mine This is my friend's

My friend's RS6 came from the factory with 19" 5spoke rims and the fishbone , "adjusted" :))) but mine came with 18" and the untouched arm :)

I'll do the adjustment soon but in between if you guys have any suggestions , please feel free.

P.S. just felt the need to share with you a picture from last night , Abu Dhabi rs6 club :)

13660

Regards,

[marklar182]

Actually, with the correct tires no adjustment is needed.

You have to use a tire without a inner lip protector.

[skiper]

Well, I'm using Michelin PS3 255/35/R19 with a lip protector indeed .

What was the brand ( 19") the car came with, back in the days ? any idea ?

[mik15]

the lip might be a solution, didn't think of it because i didn't think it can shave off cca. 1/2 inch, he's now running 10mm spacers and it's still very close to the upper point on the arm where it rubs against...are there tires to be bought which have the outer protection lip but don't have the inner one?

[hahnmgh63]

Are you sure they are OEM wheels? Could the lower stance with the KW's have complicated the issue some?

[marklar182]

Check out this thread for the correct Michelin model number

http://www.rs6.com/showthread.php/8707-RS6-tire-size-what-are-you-running?highlight=

[skiper]

Yes, hahnmgh63 (http://www.rs6.com/member.php/3357-hahnmgh63) . Brand new 19" OEM wheels . I bought them from the audi dealer .

[mik15]

the link posted above by marklar182 explains it all, thanks a lot! :)

[skiper]

Thanks marklar182 (http://www.rs6.com/member.php/15822-marklar182) .

[ben916]

The ol' knob has been noted for some time on RS246 and some of the UK Audi forum.

They grind it off = done.

Here is a recent one (http://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=102832)

[mik15]

i guess that's the best solution to this problem! It must've been a design error as probably 19" wheels weren't taken into account at the time the car was being developed, this is why the had Michelin do those special tires without the inner lip instead adjusting the arm's shape, which is what they should've done from the beginning! Anyway, grinding that knob is the way to go!

[Dynmicracr]

It's odd. My car came with some VMR 19" wheels on it when I got it. I just ordered a set of Continental DWS tires and have had no rubbing issues and I dont have to use spacers. Could be the offset of the rims I guess. Or are these tires made without the protection lip?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8445/7994412503_d769f90c7e_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8311/7994418046_098532b44c_b.jpg

[nene]

My rims are 19x9 ET29. I run the recommended Michelin's, but given that the wheel is out at least 6mm, I think any tire will be fine.

[lswing]

nene, good to see a post, how's the beast?

[nene]

Better than ever; upgraded to KWv3 suspension. Trying to enjoy every little mod.

[lswing]

Cool man, yea it keeps the car fresh to keep tweaking it.