Should I go with 18" or 19" wheels?

zybar · 08-09-2011, 05:45 PM

I just leased a 2011 335i Xdrive and I want to move away from the 17" stock wheels and run flats.

I live in the Southwest suburbs of Boston and was wondering what everybody thought about 18" vs 19" wheels? While our roads aren't terrible, I am a little concerned with the potential lifespan of 19" wheels.

I am not looking to lower the car or make any suspension changes.

Thanks for your help and assistance.

George

jopa489 · 08-09-2011, 06:05 PM

Congrats on the new ride and welcome!

I'd go for a 19" summer setup and keep your current wheels/tires for winter and pothole season. If your regular route is paved decently, you shouldn't have any issues unless you buy super cheap replica wheels. I can see the argument for sticking with 18" around here, but 19s look good.

Mine are 18", but I would go 19" next time provided I had a smaller set for winter.

zybar · 08-09-2011, 06:09 PM

Thanks for the reply.

I plan on using the stock 17" wheels for the winters and will store the run flats for when the lease is up.

My local roads are pretty good and I have already stopped taking the dirt road shortcut to work.

I am willing to spend around $1500-2000 on wheels and tires, so I hope that is a good enough amount to get something decent.

George

cb4 · 08-09-2011, 07:05 PM

I went with 18s. There are many more options in after market 19s though. When the style 313s came out I knew they were for me and luckily they came in 18s. Total cost 2200 tires and wheels. I have the conti extremecontact DW.

bimmerdiesel · 08-10-2011, 12:12 AM

i would stick to 18 probably 313 style as cb4. Even though your regular route will be fine for 19 but one unlucky ride to boston will be enough to get good damage. And with 19 I think you need to lower it too. Also sidewall decreases so more prone.

zybar · 08-10-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb4

I went with 18s. There are many more options in after market 19s though. When the style 313s came out I knew they were for me and luckily they came in 18s. Total cost 2200 tires and wheels. I have the conti extremecontact DW.

Very nice wheels!

George

dwells · 08-10-2011, 02:27 PM

I have 18s on the coupe, and at times I wish I went with 19s. The 18s do ride pretty nice, though, and I worry about how 19s are with the stock sport suspension.

ska///235i · 08-10-2011, 06:48 PM

18 is enough if you have a nice drop

cyphr · 08-10-2011, 07:05 PM

19s

YianniM3 · 08-11-2011, 10:40 AM

i had 19's on my last bmw and now i have stock 19's on my new.

darkrom · 08-11-2011, 11:27 AM

18's on my 325 right now.

Either one will work good. I guess its all about whatever you can find for the right price.

MJR63 · 08-15-2011, 09:04 PM

Go with 19". I had concerns but I love my 19" Alufelgen SF-71's for the spring, summer and fall. I have a set of 17" for winter.

tibra1 · 08-15-2011, 09:07 PM

If you r in Northeast and use your car year round I would do 18s..i went 19s b/c I dont use my car in the winter

zybar · 08-16-2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tibra1

If you r in Northeast and use your car year round I would do 18s..i went 19s b/c I dont use my car in the winter

I will use the 18" or 19" wheels for the non-snow months (let's say Apr-Oct) and the stock 17" wheels from Nov-Mar with snow tires.

George

ramzyo · 08-23-2011, 03:17 PM

good call.

I had 19's on my last bmw and they really got beat up during the winter. Had a bunch of bubbles and a few cracks. Now have 17's and not too happy with how they look, but they are much smoother than the 19's I used to have. Be careful with the 19's, if you get a crack in the alloy you're toast. Also, watch out around Charlestown/Rte. 1/Tobin Bridge area. I've gotten slammed everytime I drive in that area. I don't understand why but the roads seem to be even more terrible there than the rest of Boston.

TL · 08-23-2011, 03:23 PM

I got 19's for summer and 18"s for winters

19's

BMW B&W Aerolip by GQjai, on Flickr

18's

Birthday wash by GQjai, on Flickr

zybar · 08-24-2011, 06:30 PM

Thanks for the posts.

I am one starting to waver and think that 19's could work.

George

08-09-2011, 05:45 PM	#1
zybar Second Lieutenant 29 Rep 278 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 M3 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Southern New Hampshire iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 e90 M3 [6.00] 2011 335i with Xdrive [9.00]	Should I go with 18" or 19" wheels? I just leased a 2011 335i Xdrive and I want to move away from the 17" stock wheels and run flats. I live in the Southwest suburbs of Boston and was wondering what everybody thought about 18" vs 19" wheels? While our roads aren't terrible, I am a little concerned with the potential lifespan of 19" wheels. I am not looking to lower the car or make any suspension changes. Thanks for your help and assistance. George
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

08-09-2011, 06:05 PM	#2
jopa489 Major General 122 Rep 6,594 Posts Drives: Anything with Wheels Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	Congrats on the new ride and welcome! I'd go for a 19" summer setup and keep your current wheels/tires for winter and pothole season. If your regular route is paved decently, you shouldn't have any issues unless you buy super cheap replica wheels. I can see the argument for sticking with 18" around here, but 19s look good. Mine are 18", but I would go 19" next time provided I had a smaller set for winter. __________________ X7 LCI // Incoming C7 ZR1 ZTK // Sebring + TRX // Hydro + Raptor Gen1 Roush // Tuxedo
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-09-2011, 06:09 PM	#3
zybar Second Lieutenant 29 Rep 278 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 M3 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Southern New Hampshire iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 e90 M3 [6.00] 2011 335i with Xdrive [9.00]	Thanks for the reply. I plan on using the stock 17" wheels for the winters and will store the run flats for when the lease is up. My local roads are pretty good and I have already stopped taking the dirt road shortcut to work. I am willing to spend around $1500-2000 on wheels and tires, so I hope that is a good enough amount to get something decent. George
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-09-2011, 07:05 PM	#4
cb4 Captain 60 Rep 910 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (1)	I went with 18s. There are many more options in after market 19s though. When the style 313s came out I knew they were for me and luckily they came in 18s. Total cost 2200 tires and wheels. I have the conti extremecontact DW.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2011, 12:12 AM	#5
bimmerdiesel First Lieutenant 130 Rep 391 Posts Drives: E90 335d, G07 M50i, F26 X4 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 bmw X7 M50i [0.00] 2016 BMW X4 [0.00] 2009 BMW 335D [0.00]	i would stick to 18 probably 313 style as cb4. Even though your regular route will be fine for 19 but one unlucky ride to boston will be enough to get good damage. And with 19 I think you need to lower it too. Also sidewall decreases so more prone.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2011, 02:27 PM	#7
dwells ಠ_ಠ 74 Rep 1,539 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue 335i coupe Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New England iTrader: (6)	I have 18s on the coupe, and at times I wish I went with 19s. The 18s do ride pretty nice, though, and I worry about how 19s are with the stock sport suspension. __________________ \| 335i coupe \| Monaco Blue \| JB4 G5 ISO \| Style 313M \| Huper 40% tint \| Aero lip \| CSL trunk spoiler \| M3 sideskirts \| Paint-matched grilles \| Painted reflectors \| GP Thunder II angel eyes \| Smoked LED sidemarkers \| Self-coded \|
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2011, 06:48 PM	#8
ska///235i ***** noob 1369 Rep 10,479 Posts Drives: 325xi>M235i>428GCx Mspor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (34) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	18 is enough if you have a nice drop __________________ 2006 325xi (Sold) 2014 M235I (Current) 2015 428xi Gran Coupe (STB)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2011, 07:05 PM	#9
cyphr Major 69 Rep 1,239 Posts Drives: 08 335xi coupe Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Boston iTrader: (12)	19s
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-11-2011, 10:40 AM	#10
YianniM3 Lieutenant 107 Rep 590 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mass iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 335i [10.00]	i had 19's on my last bmw and now i have stock 19's on my new. __________________ Current:F80 M3 SB/SO Full leather, Black Wheels, Executive Package, Adaptive Suspension, Manual Sold: LeMans Blue 335i e92 Sold: JB 325xi e90
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-11-2011, 11:27 AM	#11
darkrom Colonel 188 Rep 2,224 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Rhode Island iTrader: (5)	18's on my 325 right now. Either one will work good. I guess its all about whatever you can find for the right price.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-15-2011, 09:04 PM	#12
MJR63 Lieutenant 21 Rep 415 Posts Drives: 2011 335i X-Drive Sedan Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Tolland, CT iTrader: (5) Garage List 2011 BMW 335i x-drvie [0.00]	Go with 19". I had concerns but I love my 19" Alufelgen SF-71's for the spring, summer and fall. I have a set of 17" for winter. __________________ 2011 335 X-Drive E90 MTECH 6MT • AST4100's • Vishnu 3.5" DP • Helix FMIC • Procede V5 • M3 Strut Brace • M3 Trunk Lip • LUX H8 • 19" Alufelgen SF-71: 8.5' front, 9.5' rear • Continental ExtremeContact DW Tires
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-15-2011, 09:07 PM	#13
tibra1 Banned 127 Rep 6,773 Posts Drives: 2011 ZCP M3 - 2007 335i crashd Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (4)	If you r in Northeast and use your car year round I would do 18s..i went 19s b/c I dont use my car in the winter
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-23-2011, 03:17 PM	#15
ramzyo New Member 1 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 335XI Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Somerville, MA iTrader: (0)	good call. I had 19's on my last bmw and they really got beat up during the winter. Had a bunch of bubbles and a few cracks. Now have 17's and not too happy with how they look, but they are much smoother than the 19's I used to have. Be careful with the 19's, if you get a crack in the alloy you're toast. Also, watch out around Charlestown/Rte. 1/Tobin Bridge area. I've gotten slammed everytime I drive in that area. I don't understand why but the roads seem to be even more terrible there than the rest of Boston.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-23-2011, 03:23 PM	#16
TL Brigadier General 283 Rep 3,102 Posts Drives: Happy on H&R coil overs Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Hub iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 335xi [1.00]	I got 19's for summer and 18"s for winters 19's BMW B&W Aerolip by GQjai, on Flickr 18's Birthday wash by GQjai, on Flickr __________________ 2008 E92 335xi ------->Links to my Mods: H&R Street Performance Coil Overs \|\| 19" Alufelgen CS7 \|\| Interior Swap: Black to Coral Red My Website \|\| My Flickr \|\| My Tumblr \|\| My Twitter\|\| My Facebook\|\| My 500px
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-24-2011, 06:30 PM	#17
zybar Second Lieutenant 29 Rep 278 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 M3 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Southern New Hampshire iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 e90 M3 [6.00] 2011 335i with Xdrive [9.00]	Thanks for the posts. I am one starting to waver and think that 19's could work. George __________________ 2009 E90 M3 in Space Gray with Fox Red Extended Leather and Carbon Leather Trim DCT/Evolve Tune (DCT, Servo, Engine) Cold Weather/ Premium/Technology Packages 18" Apex ARC-8 wheels + Michelin Pilot Super Sports 18" Apex ARC-7 wheels + Michelin Alpin PA4
	Appreciate 0 Quote