Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[Matt_UKTX]

I have a 2006 E90 330i and I'm thinking about upgrading the standard 17" rims to something new. I'm trying to decide between 18" rims and 19" rims. I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on how this will affect the ride comfort, road noise, etc.

My current setup uses run flats, which as we know are much stiffer than regular tires, so I'm actually wondering if an 18" rim with a regular low profile tire will actually make less noise and be less of a hard ride. The 19" rims look great...but I'm concerned about damage, safety and comfort...

These are the rims I'm looking at:
18": http://www.**********s.com/product.a...46%2Dwheels006
19": http://www.**********s.com/product.a...46%2Dwheels005

Does anyone have advice on what offset to use on the E90? Staggered vs non-staggered, etc. I'm looking for the safest option, but still want the car to look great. Do I need spacers? If so, how big?

On the 19s I'll use a 235/35/19 (front) and 265/30/19 (rear) tire - assuming I do a staggered setup. (235/35/19 all around for non-staggered).

On the 18s I'll use a 225/40/18 (front) and 255/35/18 (rear) tire - assuming I do a staggered setup. (225/40/18 all around for non-staggered).

Any feedback on these setups would be very much appreciated as I'm completely new to this and don't want to make a bad choice. Any advice on the offset and staggered vs. non-staggered option wouldW be great...

Thanks in advance...

[Matt_UKTX]

Anyone?

[BigDog]

i use a 19" setup and love it :-)

go 19... 18 will make you say I wish I had 19's

[Matt_UKTX]

Originally Posted by BigDog

i use a 19" setup and love it :-)

go 19... 18 will make you say I wish I had 19's

But how much road noise and harshness do you feel with 19s? I'm just very nervous that I'll be buying a new rim every 3 months after driving on Houston's roads.

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by Matt_330i

I have a 2006 E90 330i and I'm thinking about upgrading the standard 17" rims to something new. I'm trying to decide between 18" rims and 19" rims. I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on how this will affect the ride comfort, road noise, etc.

My current setup uses run flats, which as we know are much stiffer than regular tires, so I'm actually wondering if an 18" rim with a regular low profile tire will actually make less noise and be less of a hard ride. The 19" rims look great...but I'm concerned about damage, safety and comfort...

These are the rims I'm looking at:
18": http://www.**********s.com/product.a...46%2Dwheels006
19": http://www.**********s.com/product.a...46%2Dwheels005

Does anyone have advice on what offset to use on the E90? Staggered vs non-staggered, etc. I'm looking for the safest option, but still want the car to look great. Do I need spacers? If so, how big?

On the 19s I'll use a 235/35/19 (front) and 265/30/19 (rear) tire - assuming I do a staggered setup. (235/35/19 all around for non-staggered).

On the 18s I'll use a 225/40/18 (front) and 255/35/18 (rear) tire - assuming I do a staggered setup. (225/40/18 all around for non-staggered).

Any feedback on these setups would be very much appreciated as I'm completely new to this and don't want to make a bad choice. Any advice on the offset and staggered vs. non-staggered option wouldW be great...

Thanks in advance...

I went with the 19 inch option and the same staggered setup you listed. If you look through the forum you will find little or no issues that people have listed about the 19" setup. Based on this group it seems to be the preferred wheels and tires upgrade choice.

[Matt_UKTX]

Originally Posted by matsarge

I went with the 19 inch option and the same staggered setup you listed. If you look through the forum you will find little or no issues that people have listed about the 19" setup. Based on this group it seems to be the preferred wheels and tires upgrade choice.

My only concern is that going with 19's may throw off my speedo and odometer. Looking at the calculator at the top of this page, it says my speedo would show 61 instead of 60 (using a 235/35/19 tire on an 19"x8.5" wheel. I suppose it's possible that the overall diammeter may even out because I'm going from run-flats to non run-flats, so there will be more flex in the sidewalls of the tires...

Thoughts?

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by Matt_330i

My only concern is that going with 19's may throw off my speedo and odometer. Looking at the calculator at the top of this page, it says my speedo would show 61 instead of 60 (using a 235/35/19 tire on an 19"x8.5" wheel. I suppose it's possible that the overall diammeter may even out because I'm going from run-flats to non run-flats, so there will be more flex in the sidewalls of the tires...

Thoughts?

As far as the speedo, if you think about, (without getting into a "deep thought" conversation) how do you know the speedmeter is truly right now? It's a test of faith and knowledge of past history that BMW got it dead on. I can tell you that my car is about a half a mile an hour(.5) to a full mile an hour off with the same stock setup as yours right now. How do I know this, GPS. My GPS system shows that I am always going about .5 to 1 mile an hr faster then the cruise control setting. To be honest, I wouldn't worry about 1-2 mile an hour off, if you set your cruise on 65 mph in a 65 zone I doubt very seriously that you'd get pulled over because you're really doing 66 mph. 5-6 miles an hour off now that's a worry.

[Matt_UKTX]

You raise a good point. I've just been looking at tires for the 19s too.
According to Tire Rack I can put a 215/35/19 tire on a 19"x8.5" rim, and my speedo will not be off. What are the ramifications on me doing this? I mean, what will using a slightly narrower or wider tire do?

The tires I wanted (Pirelli PZero Nero M&S) are not available in a 235/35/19 size.

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by Matt_330i

You raise a good point. I've just been looking at tires for the 19s too.
According to Tire Rack I can put a 215/35/19 tire on a 19"x8.5" rim, and my speedo will not be off. What are the ramifications on me doing this? I mean, what will using a slightly narrower or wider tire do?

The tires I wanted (Pirelli PZero Nero M&S) are not available in a 235/35/19 size.

If you were buying snow tires (ha, ha, like you'll see snow anytime soon), then buying a narrower tire can be a good thing. For a performance tires, going narrower will most likely be a bad thing for handling. By decreasing the width of the tires, you're decreasing the rubber on the road and it will have an effect (most likely small) on the car's ability to corner at it's current level. You should always go would go bigger not smaller in terms of width with summer performance tires. If buying a certain tire means having to go smaller then the original size then I say you need to find another brand of tire to buy. Don't compromise the handling of the car.

[Yaajer]

Originally Posted by Matt_330i

But how much road noise and harshness do you feel with 19s? I'm just very nervous that I'll be buying a new rim every 3 months after driving on Houston's roads.

If you are even considering road noise or harshness, don't go with 19's. Stick with 18's...

[Matt_UKTX]

If you were buying snow tires (ha, ha, like you'll see snow anytime soon), then buying a narrower tire can be a good thing. For a performance tires, going narrower will most likely be a bad thing for handling. By decreasing the width of the tires, you're decreasing the rubber on the road and it will have an effect (most likely small) on the car's ability to corner at it's current level. You should always go would go bigger not smaller in terms of width with summer performance tires. If buying a certain tire means having to go smaller then the original size then I say you need to find another brand of tire to buy. Don't compromise the handling of the car.

OK...thanks. I appreciate the clarification. So, what tires do you have on your setup?

Road noise and ride comfort are VERY important to me, especially on 19's. I figure that the 19" rims over the 17's will provide much better handling and steering response as it is.

What do you think?

PS: We actually had snow here (about 2 inches) during Christmas 2004. Crazy but true...

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by Matt_330i

OK...thanks. I appreciate the clarification. So, what tires do you have on your setup?

Road noise and ride comfort are VERY important to me, especially on 19's. I figure that the 19" rims over the 17's will provide much better handling and steering response as it is.

What do you think?

PS: We actually had snow here (about 2 inches) during Christmas 2004. Crazy but true...

I know, I've got photos of my brother and his family standing out in it. I go to my brother's house every Christmas.

As far as my setup, I just bought a set of BMW Style 199 wheels and I'm going to put 235/35/19 on the front and 265/30/19 on the back. During the winter, I've got the same 225/45/17 setup you currently have.

If road noise and harshness are your primary concerns, I agree with Yaajer, go with 18" wheels and tires instead.

[Matt_UKTX]

Originally Posted by matsarge

I know, I've got photos of my brother and his family standing out in it. I go to my brother's house every Christmas.

As far as my setup, I just bought a set of BMW Style 199 wheels and I'm going to put 235/35/19 on the front and 265/30/19 on the back. During the winter, I've got the same 225/45/17 setup you currently have.

If road noise and harshness are your primary concerns, I agree with Yaajer, go with 18" wheels and tires instead.

What brand/model of tire are you going with?

[Carnage]

Michelin Pilot PS2. According to my Tire Rack guy, they're the best max performance tire out there. Top of the line handling in both dry and wet conditions, good in the wear and noise departments also.