<center><img src="http://www.discounttiredirect.com/product/wheels/cifaa4.large.jpg"></center><p>I put on my winter wheels on this past weekend. They are replicas of the previous generation A4 in 16" that I bought from Discount Tire Online. I have Michelin Pilot Alpins on them. I used this setup on my previous 99.5 A4 for 3 seasons. The wheels originally came with no balancing weights on them, so I took them to a place to get balanced last season. They had no stick-on weights, so they used the crimp-on type on the inside lip. When I put the wheels on, I can feel the steering wheel vibrating a little and the same vibration is coming through the gas pedal/body at 60+ mph. Under that speed there is no noticeable difference. I swapped the front and rear wheels on one side and that helped it a little. I am also using the stock lug bolts. These wheels came with pins/cone seat lug nuts and I'd rather not use them anymore. They also use hub spacer rings to get the proper diameter. I know the stock bolts are ball seat and I would be willing to buy proper bolts if that is what is causing my problem. What do you think? Should I get the proper bolts? Should I get them re-balanced? Is it possible that they are bent? I spun the 'bad' wheel on the car and I cannot see it wobbling at all. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

I bought the exact same winter setup from Discount Tire last year (16" A4 5-spoke replicas and Michelin Pilot Alpins). However:

1. my set arrived balanced (with stick-on weights on the insides of rims).

2. the lugbolts they sent me were cone-seat - same as my stock lugbolts. That's what I'm using.

3. my rims don't have hub rings. To tell you the truth, I thought that since these are replica wheels, they already have the proper centerbore to fit A4, so no need for a hub ring (centering ring).

My suspicion is that your wheels have not been balanced properly. Find someone in your area that has the Hunter machine for wheel balancing.

A good search will give this up, but you are in the danger zone...

1. Audi uses a ball-radius seat lug. Use NOTHING else. It will damage the insert and may pull the insert out of the rim.

2. The weight tolerance setting varys. Always ask to have the machine set on "high resolution" or high speed; have the weights on BOTH sides of the rim; and, have no more than 1 oz per side or remount the wheel.

I am not sure how to determine if the wheel has either type. I cannot tell by just looking at it. The replica wheels I have came with the cone seat stuff, so I am assuming that is what I need to use.

I took the wheels to a tire shop that had a Hunter machine. The guy there told me the previous shop stiffed me and all 4 of my wheels were unbalanced. He did the proper balance and it seemed better, but not as good as stock yet. I broke down and got the cone seat lug bolts from Prestige Wheels together with wheel locks they sell. Now it rides like it should. I guess the lesson here is that you should do something right the first time.