[M4TW]

Poking around on the Dinan site I noticed that their 19" wheels for the 335xi use a square set up and a staggered set up for the 335i:

335i: 19 x 9" Front Wheels, 19 x 9.5" Rear Wheels with 255/30-19 in front, 265/30-19 in rear recommended for tires.

335xi: 19 x 9" wheels, with 255/30-19 (front and rear) recommended for tires.

For this you save $97 on wheels for the xi. Does this validate the notion that the xi works best with a square set up?

I presume that having fatter rears is for off-the-line traction and perhaps looks? Do staggereds promote understeer? I squared my winter set-up and it seems to work well. Do any of my fellow xdrive ballers have any experience going from staggered to square with the summers or vice versa?

Lastly, are 19"s only about looks?

[who's ur daddy?]

going square will definitely lessen understeer because the fronts have more traction than compared to the fronts in a staggered set up. Didn't know you can fit 255's in the front! what are the offsets?

[jgalaxy]

I'm running 245's all around on Kosei 17's and it removes a tremendous amount of understeer. It's been night & day on the track. There's room for 255's, but not with the 8.5" Kosei's.

[who's ur daddy?]

Originally Posted by jgalaxy

I'm running 245's all around on Kosei 17's and it removes a tremendous amount of understeer. It's been night & day on the track. There's room for 255's, but not with the 8.5" Kosei's.

your 245s on the 8.5 width rims okay? i might try that...

[Tortfeasor 335xi]

Originally Posted by Sparkplug

Lastly, are 19"s only about looks?

It all depends on the 19's you buy. A larger sized wheel with a lower profile tire tends to increase the sharpness at turn in and can improve handling. The problem is that the larger the wheel you go with the further the dish is from the hub. This gives greater rotational inertia by shear dint of leverage even when the wheel itself weighs the same. This can negatively affect acceleration and handling. But when you get light weight wheels and tires the decrease in weight can offset the leverage effect of the larger wheel and result in better performance. So basically, if you slap on larger heavier wheels and tires for looks it is only about looks and likely has degraded your car's performance. But if you buy a nice set of light weight wheels and tires it can dramatically improve performance.

[SGxi]

Wow... 19x9 front and rear!!!

[jgalaxy]

Originally Posted by who's ur daddy?

your 245s on the 8.5 width rims okay? i might try that...

They feel fine actually. I dont feel any tire roll on hard turn in, all very predictable. I may even try to add 2 or 5mm spacers up front to see if that helps any. Anything to get rid of the understeer.

As an aside, the square setup on 245/45/17s helped reduce the understeer by about 30%. It was a huge improvement.

[jgalaxy]

Originally Posted by Sparkplug

Poking around on the Dinan site I noticed that their 19" wheels for the 335xi use a square set up and a staggered set up for the 335i:

335i: 19 x 9" Front Wheels, 19 x 9.5" Rear Wheels with 255/30-19 in front, 265/30-19 in rear recommended for tires.

335xi: 19 x 9" wheels, with 255/30-19 (front and rear) recommended for tires.

For this you save $97 on wheels for the xi. Does this validate the notion that the xi works best with a square set up?

I presume that having fatter rears is for off-the-line traction and perhaps looks? Do staggereds promote understeer? I squared my winter set-up and it seems to work well. Do any of my fellow xdrive ballers have any experience going from staggered to square with the summers or vice versa?

Lastly, are 19"s only about looks?

• My daily driver 19" rims (9F & 10.5R) for summer sport 235/35/19 and 265/30/19 tires. On the track they were not too good. Lots of understeer.
• My track setup is square on 17s (245/45/17). 17s for light weight and low tire replacement cost. 19s cost just about double the price of 17s.
• Winter setup is square (255/35/18).

Staggered is really for looks on this car. If you are looking for a track setup I think the consensus is a square setup. If the track isnt your bag, go for the looks.

[M4TW]

Wow, thanks for the info guys This forum is the best.

Based on what you guys are saying, I think a light set of square 18's would be best for me. I don't have access to a track but that doesn't mean I'm not influenced by the same considerations. I do have access to a 1/4 mile track so acceleration matters too. I also want something that looks fantastic. I guess I want it all.

Any recomendations? It seems that the only choices offered for 'performance' wheels are 19's. Where there is a front and back tire specified would you simply order 4 fronts to be 'hip' with the xi?

[adr1974]

Originally Posted by jgalaxy

They feel fine actually. I dont feel any tire roll on hard turn in, all very predictable. I may even try to add 2 or 5mm spacers up front to see if that helps any. Anything to get rid of the understeer.

As an aside, the square setup on 245/45/17s helped reduce the understeer by about 30%. It was a huge improvement.

Jgalaxy -- do you have any pictures of your car with the 245/45/17s?

[Getagrip]

I use stagger for street (looks), square for autocross, and square for winter.

[jgalaxy]

Originally Posted by adr1974

Jgalaxy -- do you have any pictures of your car with the 245/45/17s?

Unfortunately I dont have the wheels on long enough to take photos. I usually switch them as soon as I get home from the track. The Kosei rims are quite popular. I'm sure you'll find someone that has a set. Let me know if you have any questions.

[jgalaxy]

Originally Posted by Sparkplug

Wow, thanks for the info guys This forum is the best.

Based on what you guys are saying, I think a light set of square 18's would be best for me. I don't have access to a track but that doesn't mean I'm not influenced by the same considerations. I do have access to a 1/4 mile track so acceleration matters too. I also want something that looks fantastic. I guess I want it all.

Any recomendations? It seems that the only choices offered for 'performance' wheels are 19's. Where there is a front and back tire specified would you simply order 4 fronts to be 'hip' with the xi?

I think we could recommend a ton, but you already know what you want. You just aren't convinced yet. Try a search or two. Here is a starter link that you might want to try http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151294

When selecting your tires/rim combo, just be sure to stay as close as you can to the OEM roll diameter. There are lots of tire size calculators out there (thre is one on the Vendor Tires/Wheels forum).

[M4TW]

Originally Posted by jgalaxy

I think we could recommend a ton, but you already know what you want. You just aren't convinced yet. Try a search or two. Here is a starter link that you might want to try http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151294

When selecting your tires/rim combo, just be sure to stay as close as you can to the OEM roll diameter. There are lots of tire size calculators out there (thre is one on the Vendor Tires/Wheels forum).

Thanks JG! I think I know now exactly what I want, but they are 19's, not square but at least seem to be lighter weight (according to the BMW website), the new 313's:

BMW Performance double spoke 313

19-inch, cast. The BMW Performance double spoke 313 is the perfect blend of form and function. The elegant minimalism of its design also has numerous practical benefits. It is manufactured using a special process which involves rolling the rim after it has been cast. This, combined with the very small spoke diameter, keeps weight incredibly low. And the cut-away design of the join between spokes and rim allows more air to get to the BMW Performance brakes, ensuring they work with maximum efficiency even at high temperatures. For BMW 3 Series. 8J x 19 front, 9J x 19 rear. Single wheel, without tire. Not for M3.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230870

To me these are like, "how can I dance with another when I saw you standing there?"

If I went with 4 fronts, would they be too skinny? 4 rears too fat? Staggered too much understeer? Work with xi fit on a modestly lowered car?

Anyway, unless they drastically go on sale, I'll have lots of time to decide since I'm over my mod budget for the year as it is.

Stoopid mod budget.

[jgalaxy]

Originally Posted by Sparkplug

Thanks JG! I think I know now exactly what I want, but they are 19's, not square but at least seem to be lighter weight (according to the BMW website), the new 313's:






http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230870

To me these are like, "how can I dance with another when I saw you standing there?"

If I went with 4 fronts, would they be too skinny? 4 rears too fat? Staggered too much understeer? Work with xi fit on a modestly lowered car?

Anyway, unless they drastically go on sale, I'll have lots of time to decide since I'm over my mod budget for the year as it is.

Stoopid mod budget.

Nice wheel choice. You might be able to find some replica's from **********, JLeviSW and save a bundle. Depending on the offset of the rim and the tire purchased you should be able to stuff 9" upfront no problem.

I run 9" F and 10.5" R on 19s on M1 replicas. No issues for me.

As far as what I like driving on, staggered for daily driver looks and square for winter and track - your mileage will vary based on your needs.

[wakeboarder109]

Originally Posted by Sparkplug

The 313's are one of my favorite wheels as well. Unfortunately, I'm also strapped for cash at the moment. Hopefully one day soon I'll be able to get a set.

[M4TW]

Originally Posted by wakeboarder109

The 313's are one of my favorite wheels as well. Unfortunately, I'm also strapped for cash at the moment. Hopefully one day soon I'll be able to get a set.

Well we'll just hafta gets ourselves some of that bailout money.

While our governments chew on our applications, if you did get them, would you go for the stock staggered set-up, 4 fronts or 4 rears?

[wakeboarder109]

Originally Posted by Sparkplug

Well we'll just hafta gets ourselves some of that bailout money.

While our governments chew on our applications, if you did get them, would you go for the stock staggered set-up, 4 fronts or 4 rears?

Since they're 19's and I don't go to the track, I would most likely get the staggered setup.

[MemphisRheins]

Idea I had... I currently have the 162 Style staggered set up... would the rear 18x8.5 with the 255/35/18 tires also fit just fine in the front?...

if so I could pick up another set of 162's, run all 4 rears in the summer, and all 4 fronts in the winter with some snows on them

[larelol]

I couldn't get my head straight whether the "335xi: 19 x 9" wheels, with 255/30-19 (front and rear) recommended for tires." set up will work with stock 335xi e92? I guess the same goes for 255/35/18 then.

I'm also looking to get the chassis lowered and probably little stiffer too - what is the recommended squared set up for looks? I know 235/35/19 will work but that will look stupid in the back. Thanks

[AKF12]

you guys made my head spin in circles
I'm really confused here.

I have a 2006 330xi sedan and I was definitely going 19" staggered setup.
Now, I'm taking a step back to think this over!!

I definitely want the looks of 19". But isn't performance, handling and acceleration is one reason to drive a bimmer? the ultimate driving machine?

For me this is important too. So now I started thinking about 18" square setup again with wheel spacers to get more aggressive looks while keeping the performance and handling under control?? i don't know gents!

I need some good advice here!
Help! I'm new too on this great forum.

[4corners]

Originally Posted by AKF12

you guys made my head spin in circles
I'm really confused here.

I have a 2006 330xi sedan and I was definitely going 19" staggered setup.
Now, I'm taking a step back to think this over!!

I definitely want the looks of 19". But isn't performance, handling and acceleration is one reason to drive a bimmer? the ultimate driving machine?

For me this is important too. So now I started thinking about 18" square setup again with wheel spacers to get more aggressive looks while keeping the performance and handling under control?? i don't know gents!

I need some good advice here!
Help! I'm new too on this great forum.

I think a square setup is the way to go on xi's. Same size wheels and tires on all four corners. Not to say the OEM staggered setup isn't great too, but I don't think it's worth the money, if you don't already have it.