Will Audi Wheels Fit On a Subaru?
If you’re thinking about changing your car’s appearance, or you’re in a bind and need to swap the wheels out, you might be tempted to skip out on buying new wheels and using what you have available.
The only issue with this is that it can be challenging to switch the tires from a different car brand and use them on your current model
If you’re aware of what wheels can fit other cars, it’ll make it a lot easier to replace the wheels.
Audi wheels seem pretty similar to Subaru wheels, but do they fit the rim?
Will Audi Wheels Fit On a Subaru?
Audi wheels do not naturally fit Subaru models because they do not share the same bolt pattern. Most Audi wheels typically have a 5×112 bolt pattern, and Subarus require a 5×114.3. However, some share the same pattern of 5×100, but you can’t be sure the other wheel dimensions will match.
When trying to fit tires from one car brand onto another car brand, there are several considerations such as offset, tire size, and rim size.
Certain modifications known as wheel adapters can allow drivers to make the tire fit even if it’s not natural, but those also come with risks.
Keep reading to determine how you can find the best tire swaps for your car and whether a wheel adapter is suitable for you.
Why Don’t the Audi Wheels Fit?
You cannot switch the Audi wheels to the Subaru without problems because they have a different bolt pattern.
This might seem strange because the numbers are so close (5×100 vs. 5×112), but it makes a big difference.
You could require a modification to allow a bigger tire to fit a smaller frame.
Several models between Audi and Subaru shared the same bolt pattern, such as:
- Subaru Baja (2003-2006),
- BRZ (2012-2016),
- Crosstrek (2012-2016),
- Impreza (1993-2016),
- Impreza WRX (2002-2013),
- Forester (1998-2016),
- Legacy (1990-2014),
- Outback (1990-2014)
With the Audi TT (2000-2014), and Audi TTS (2009-2014).
They all have a bolt pattern of 5×100; however, the wheel sizes vary.
This is where it takes a little more research to understand whether they’re a perfect match or whether you’ll have to tweak them a bit.
Things to Consider Before Swapping Another Vehicle’s Wheels
If you consider the following factors and the tires match in these areas, switching them from one car to another should be safe.
Bolt Patterns: The new rims will look out of place if you select a rim with a different bolt pattern, and it may hang over or be too small.
Tire size: The tire diameter and wheel assembly have to match the manufacturer’s tires. This will allow the speedometer and the odometer to function correctly.
Wheel size: Ensure that the hub and the rim match the new tire that you want or switch to. You can always find a rim compatibility chart online if you’re unsure about the measurements.
Offset: The offset is the distance between the hub mounting surface and the centerline of the rim. You measure it in the following ways:
Negative offset: the mounting surface will face the brake/rear of the centerline.
Positive offset: This feature might only be on the newest cars, but it features a mounting surface that faces frontward.
Zero offset: This occurs when the centerline and the mounting surface are on an even level.
It may seem like these are minor considerations, but they can cause multiple problems if ignored.
How to Find the Right Wheel Size For My Car?
How to go about figuring out what rims fit the vehicle may seem daunting, but it’s fairly easy to calculate.
There are many ways to figure out the best fit for your car, such as examining the details on the sticker plate or simply taking measurements on the rim itself.
If your goal is to learn the standard size for your car, read the label on the driver side of the inside door jam.
However, if you’re looking to put larger rims on your vehicle, measure the tire manually instead.
To find the dimensions of your rim, follow these steps.
1. Find the Bolt Pattern
Count the number of nuts on the real to find the pattern.
Next, take your tape measure and measure the distance between two nuts that face each other.
2. Measure Your Wheel
Measure the wheel itself and remember to measure both the width and diameter in inches. If you purchase a similar size, it will surely fit your vehicle.
3. Check The Wheel Offset
You must be sure that the wheels do not protrude too far from the body of the vehicle.
Likewise, they should not stay next to the suspension and brakes.
If you don’t trust your abilities to measure the tire and you have reservations about reading the sticker correctly, feel free to visit a tire dealer near you for assistance.
What Are The Effects Of Using A Wrong Wheel Size?
The wrong wheel size can screw with your vehicle’s driving performance.
Furthermore, it could increase your car’s noise level, ruin the fuel economy, and even distort the overall appearance of your car.
For instance, if you were to replace your tires with an oversized tire, the larger tires you will have to install will undoubtedly cause more friction.
Consequently, when these tires move, more energy is consumed, which will be reflected in your gas consumption. You will be forced to spend extra money on gas.
Moreover, if your vehicle happens to have a low offset, the car’s performance can suffer as well.
More specifically, the extra negative offset can increase pressure on the vehicle’s suspension.
As a result, the steering wheel may be negatively affected, being susceptible to causing accidents, especially when navigating tight corners.
What’s more, an excess positive offset can hinder your vehicle’s performance too.
This problem will wear out parts of the inner suspension and the brakes.
Consequently, the car will not run smoothly, especially at high speeds.
The tires are more prone to bursting due to the frequent contact with the wheel.
What is a Wheel Adapter?
A wheel adapter allows a wheel to be placed on a vehicle that wouldn’t fit under normal circumstances.
To achieve this, wheel adapters are equipped with two bolt patterns.
The first pattern is the holes—they will match the car’s hub.
The second pattern is the bolts that jut out from the adapter and connect to the new wheel.
Moreover, wheel adapters can safely space wheels away from a car on which the pattern corresponds to the wheel.
However, the space is insufficient to mount the wheel properly.
First, bolt the adapter to the vehicle with the help of countersunk lug nuts.
Next, the wheel is bolted to the adapter as if it were the original hub. Adding wheel adapters will permanently alter wheel geometry.
Because of how they get installed, adapters cause the car’s stance or footprint to widen.
Ultimately, this alters the alignment geometry, and therefore front-wheel alignment must be performed to guarantee proper cornering and steering.
Similarly, cars with front-wheel drive have to have the rear alignment to be corrected.
If you are unsure about your ability to pull this job off, go to a professional to ensure your safety.