I have a 97 A4 Quattro. Picked up a set of Giovanna 17x7 wheels with a offset ( which I measured) of 5-1/2"-5-9/16". Don't know what that is in mm. The tires are 235/45-17, they look good in front, but in the rear are really close to the upper control arm. I don't know if the offset is too tight and maybe I need a shim, can anyone tell me. Also the wheels have a universal 10 bolt pattern. The one pattern matches up perfect, but the lug nut hole is just a hair tight, almost like I could thread it in it's so close, so wonder if it's OK to open the hole with a bit just a hair bigger so the lug will go thru. Thanks in advance.

 

That's not the offset. Look at the inside face of the spokes and wheel center - it's probably stamped/cast in. As for the bolt pattern, you said it lines up perfectly but not perfectly (since you would have to open it up. That's a bad idea - the lug likely won't seat right and could become dangerous. what bolt patterns do the wheels support?

 

OK so the wheel says 17x7 JJ, so 17x7 is wheel size, don't know what JJ means, VIA690KG, don't know the VIA, but I think 690KG is weight wheel supports, A-145 don't know. Can you decipher it. I measured offset as I always have, straight edge accross rim , measure down to bolt pattern, not familiar with he metric stuff, mostly american muscle cars. My measurement may be off a little, because 5-5/8" crosses to abt. 145mm thus the A-145 ??
But most A4's I looked up take 45mm offset, it can't be off by that much

 

well offset is measured from center of wheel to mounting face.
the number after jj should be your offset

 

Yeah centerline of the wheel face to the hub mating surface, in millimeters, is the offset.

 

I just checked the offset on the stock 15"wheels, it comes up 5-11/16"so its darn close and actually the stock wheel would sit closer to the control arm, so the offset of the 17" Giovanna''s is abt. 1/4",less, which would put the tire, considering the tires would be equal, 1/4" out or away from that arm. Maybe they are so close because the Giovanna rim is 7" wide, don't know stock rim width. Also the tires are pretty darn close, both being around 25" tall and 8-1/2" wide, but the 17" may be a little meatier by eye, without looking up specs. I'd say there is abt. 1/2" clearance between the arm and the 15", and maybe 1/8" with the 17", thus my thinking it needs a slight spacer, or is that 1/8" OK? So if you guys think this is OK I just have to deal with the lug hole, I have heard of guys drilling wheels for the track and stuff, this would be so slight, like just the thickness of the thread, maybe I should call Giovanna. I read another thread on Mercedes wheels where the lug was a hair smaller and guys drilled them out 1 mm to fit Audi's and had no problems, anyone heard of this

 

Does the hub of the wheel fit the hub of your Audi tight? If it is not a tight fit then you need hub-centric rings. Do not install your wheel if the hub on the wheels is bigger unless you get the rings!! I had two wheels come off on separate occasions, due to the wheel not resting on the hub. If the hub fits then you can drill the holes slightly. I have 225/40/18's on mine, which is 8.875" wide by 25" tall, your size is 9.25" wide by 25.3 tall, mine fit nice, yours may be too tall, big question is the wheel fitting your hub?

 

Op, it sounds liek you have had the wheels mounted? Yes the merc wheels need to be drilled to fit, not one tho they all get bigger so they clear, drilling one would trow somethings off.

 

Woulny drilling throw the balance off as well? Something to think about although it's probably common sense to you, thought I'd point it out

 

You can drill as long as the rim rests on the hub, then all the lugs do is hold it on.