2012 Audi S4 Wheel Interchange

2012 Audi S4 Wheel Fitment Guide

You want a straight answer without sales fluff. I get it. Let’s set a safe baseline, walk the edge cases, then use the on-page calculator to validate every change before you buy hardware. If something is unknown or varies by trim, I will say so and show how to check.

1. Baseline

These are the known OEM specs for the 2012 Audi S4. Treat them as your reference point when comparing donor wheels or custom sizes.

If your trim or brake package is different, some clearances may vary. Set “Installed on” to 2012 Audi S4 in the calculator, then compare any donor wheel to this baseline. The tool will show poke, inner clearance, and diameter changes.

2. Edge cases

• Brake caliper shape can be the limiter. Spoke design may clear or hit even if diameter looks fine.
• Inner barrel clearance can get tight near the front strut and control arms with lower offsets or wider wheels.
• Outer fender lip may rub during compression if width and offset push the tire out.
• AWD sensitivity. Mismatched rolling diameters can stress the driveline in some cases. Keep front and rear diameters matched.
• Hub bore matters. Wheels with a smaller bore than 66.6 mm will not seat. Larger bores need rings.
• Lug seat style can differ. Some Audi use ball-seat OE hardware, while many aftermarket wheels require cone-seat. Mixing seats can loosen hardware.
• Winter setups may need extra inner clearance for chains. Check chain maker guidance before downsizing.

3. Detection

Use the calculator on wheelinterchange.com to test fitment virtually before buying.

• Set “Installed on (your vehicle)” to 2012 Audi S4.
• Set “Wheels from (donor vehicle)” to the vehicle you want to borrow wheels from, or enter a “Custom wheel size.”
• Adjust rim width and offset in small steps. Watch inner clearance and poke changes.
• When you change rim diameter, the tool updates tire diameter in the comparison. Keep overall tire diameter close to baseline.

In the garage, do a dry test fit with no spacer first. Spin the wheel by hand. Check barrel-to-caliper clearance. Cycle steering from lock to lock. Compress the suspension slightly if possible and watch the fender lip.

4. Mitigations

• Hub-centric rings. If an aftermarket wheel has a larger bore than 66.6 mm, use rings to center it.
• Spacers. Small hub-centric spacers can recover caliper or strut clearance. You may need longer M14x1.5 hardware matched to spacer thickness.
• Tire choice. A tire with a rounder shoulder can reduce rub at the fender. Stay mindful of load ratings.
• Alignment. Modest camber within OEM tolerance can help clear the fender. Keep toe in spec.
• Hardware seats. Match lug bolt seat type to the wheel seat. Do not reuse mismatched seats.

Do not force a smaller center bore on the hub. Do not mix front and rear tire diameters on AWD. Verify spacer hub bore is 66.6 mm and the wheel’s seat matches your bolts.

5. Safe defaults

• Stay near the OEM 18x8 ET47 baseline while you learn the car’s clearances.
• Keep overall tire diameter close to stock to avoid speedometer and driveline issues.
• Use hub-centric rings whenever the wheel bore exceeds 66.6 mm.
• Use quality M14x1.5 hardware with the correct seat for the wheel.
• Torque to the OEM value and recheck after 50 to 100 miles.

6. Checklist

• Confirm bolt pattern 5x112 and center bore 66.6 mm.
• Match thread size M14x1.5 and correct seat type for the wheel.
• Validate wheel width and offset in the calculator against the 2012 S4 baseline.
• Check inner barrel and caliper clearance on a test fit.
• Turn lock to lock and check fender clearance under compression.
• Install with clean hub faces, hub-centric rings if needed, and proper torque.
• Re-torque after short mileage. Monitor for vibration. Adjust as needed.

Helpful tools

• 1/2 inch torque wrench
• M14x1.5 lug bolts
• 66.6 mm hub-centric rings
• 5x112 hub-centric spacers 66.6 mm

Always confirm seat type, length, and spacer thickness with the wheel maker and the calculator before purchase.

Final note

If anything in your setup feels uncertain, pause and compare it against the 2012 Audi S4 baseline in the calculator. Small changes can have big effects at the fender or the caliper. Take it step by step and you can land a clean, rub-free fit with confidence.