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[vasillalov]

Hi Folks,

I have a 2008 335 with sport package and I will be upgrading my wheels this summer and I need some input on the following dilemma:

1. 18" wheels are better for ride comfort and performance (given that they are light weight). Tires will be cheaper too. Unfortunately choices are more limited with 18"s and it'll be harder to "fill" the wheel wells.

2. 19" wheels offer more choices, look better. Unfortunately, they will require thinner tires which means less comfort, more expensive tires. Also thinner sidewall on the tires means potentially less performance on the track...

Given that I will be driving almost 90% of the time on the streets in Chicago, I want to hear from all the people who a riding on 19"s and they have crappy streets:

How bad is it? Does your interior rattle more because you are riding on 19"s? That would drive me up the wall... How is your suspension holding up from the rough roads? I'd presume that thinner tires on 19" wheels will transmit more energy to the suspension components due to lack of flex in the tire walls.

[NiVeDh]

I live in midtown Atlanta. Lowered on Bilstein PSS9, running 19". No issues. A little more road noise and bumps can be a bit jarring but you get used to it. You just have to be careful to avoid all the potholes.

[cgpublic]

Try 17"

No noticeable difference in performance, cheaper to replace and insure plus better mileage as premium will exceed $5 a gallon this summer.

[vasillalov]

Originally Posted by NiVeDh

I live in midtown Atlanta. Lowered on Bilstein PSS9, running 19". No issues. A little more road noise and bumps can be a bit jarring but you get used to it. You just have to be careful to avoid all the potholes.

See that's the problem. Thats becoming harder and harder each month here in Chicago. These fools that supposed be maintaining the streets have absolutely no standards to follow. Often, there are just two illegal mexicans that jump out of a back of a asphalt truck, shovel some warm pavement into the holes and they stomp it with their boots. That's how they patch potholes here!

I remember during my VW days, I went from 15" stockers to 17" wheels. I had no problems on the east coast. When I moved to Chicago, all hell broke loose! The center console cracked, two wheels bent, brand new Koni suspension started leaking and at one point I even managed to crack the windshield because I could not avoid a pothole...

Now, the BMW rides a lot better than that. What I don't know is how bad it would be on 19"s. I just don't want to spend all this money on tires and wheels only to find out that the car is un-driveable in Chicago.

[vasillalov]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

Try 17"

No noticeable difference in performance, cheaper to replace and insure plus better mileage as premium will exceed $5 a gallon this summer.

Thanks for the input! Yeah, I know, but 17"s would look as if I am driving on balloons. The $5.00 per gallon is nothing scary to me. I barely put 5K miles a year so I am not concerned about fuel costs at all.

[Outlaw 06]

My M3 Coupe came with the optional M Double Spoke 19s, and after driving it on poorly maintained northeast roads for a while I mounted the OEM M Double Spoke 18s instead. I think the performance, ride and looks are much better than the 19s. IMO, anything bigger than 18" wheels on a BMW 3-Series looks gaudy.

All other things being equal, 18" wheels will ride better, handle better, accelerate better, and brake better than heavier 19” wheels. This is because heavier wheels = increased unsprung weight at the corners = reduced acceleration and degraded braking. As an added bonus, 18" tires are more widely available and less expensive than 19" tires too.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by vasillalov

Hi Folks,

I have a 2008 335 with sport package and I will be upgrading my wheels this summer and I need some input on the following dilemma:

1. 18" wheels are better for ride comfort and performance (given that they are light weight). Tires will be cheaper too. Unfortunately choices are more limited with 18"s and it'll be harder to "fill" the wheel wells.

2. 19" wheels offer more choices, look better. Unfortunately, they will require thinner tires which means less comfort, more expensive tires. Also thinner sidewall on the tires means potentially less performance on the track...

Given that I will be driving almost 90% of the time on the streets in Chicago, I want to hear from all the people who a riding on 19"s and they have crappy streets:

How bad is it? Does your interior rattle more because you are riding on 19"s? That would drive me up the wall... How is your suspension holding up from the rough roads? I'd presume that thinner tires on 19" wheels will transmit more energy to the suspension components due to lack of flex in the tire walls.

There are lots of 19" packages that weigh less than 18" packages. Generally a smaller sidewall will flex less and therefore handle better. I'm on 19s and they are not much rougher than my 18" winters. RFT are evil and WILL bend wheels.

Originally Posted by cgpublic

Try 17"

No noticeable difference in performance, cheaper to replace and insure plus better mileage as premium will exceed $5 a gallon this summer.

What?? From 17 to 19? That is incorrect.

[jlspeed29]

man up and quit being a beyyotch

gotta pay the cost to be the boss

i have 19's and I live in So Cal..some of the potholes make me cringe, get to know your roads and sack up.

19's on RFTs will cost you a pretty penny 255/30/19's out back are not cheap

[jlspeed29]

also, 2008 335is SEDAN?????

[SeanS54]

19's are smoother than the 18's with crappy RFT... get some 19's and keep your stock wheels as spare...

[bugmcw]

Originally Posted by NiVeDh

I live in midtown Atlanta. Lowered on Bilstein PSS9, running 19". No issues. A little more road noise and bumps can be a bit jarring but you get used to it. You just have to be careful to avoid all the potholes.

Nivedh I don't know how you handle it, I cringe every day, it hurts me to drive around midtown.

[Hdarkace]

I'm running 19's on non-sport susp and ride quality is alot better than my stock 16's on continental RFT...

Just be careful of potholes..I ride around charlotte and the roads here are 200% better than most cities ie (New York)..so i have no problems...and 19's are aggressive will be hard finding affordable tires...def keep your stocks as a spare just in case u pop a tire hitting a pothole..

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by CalBear_335i

19's are smoother than the 18's with crappy RFT... get some 19's and keep your stock wheels as spare...

+1. Put winter tires on stock wheels. Thats what i always do.

[ajeffrey]

Running 19"s on a 335is w/RFTs in San Francisco. Ride is firm but only harsh when I encounter a significant pothole.

[2kaccordocoupe]

no complaints here

[Bobble]

I guess I'm in the minority here but I had 19" RGR's on my E46 Lowered on Koni FSD's and H&R sport 29884's the ride sucked, everything rattled like hell when I drove on bad roads. I had to commutte for a while on LA freeway's 65 miles each way it is was unbearable. I say get some quality 18's lose the RFT's and go with that. I have non RFT's on the 162's on the 335 and the ride improved and everything else stayed pretty much the same (handling turn in response etc.)

[slowSwede]

Can't feel much of a difference between 18 or 19 inch rims. Potholes rumble a bit more, probably because of the tires that are 35 (or was it 30) high, on the 19's.

[jlspeed29]

Originally Posted by slowSwede

Can't feel much of a difference between 18 or 19 inch rims. Potholes rumble a bit more, probably because of the tires that are 35 (or was it 30) high, on the 19's.

35 F 30 R

[guuss]

Originally Posted by TJDiCandido

My M3 Coupe came with the optional M Double Spoke 19s, and after driving it on poorly maintained northeast roads for a while I mounted the OEM M Double Spoke 18s instead. I think the performance, ride and looks are much better than the 19s. IMO, anything bigger than 18" wheels on a BMW 3-Series looks gaudy.

All other things being equal, 18" wheels will ride better, handle better, accelerate better, and brake better than heavier 19” wheels. This is because heavier wheels = increased unsprung weight at the corners = reduced acceleration and degraded braking. As an added bonus, 18" tires are more widely available and less expensive than 19" tires too.

can try with lighter (not heavier) 19 wheels...?

[Outlaw 06]

Originally Posted by guuss

can try with lighter (not heavier) 19 wheels...?

"All other things being equal" means that the same make/model/width wheels will be lighter in 18" diameter vs. 19".

[vasillalov]

Originally Posted by jlspeed29

also, 2008 335is SEDAN?????

Yes! You read that correctly! This is what all BMW dealerships pull up on their screens when they plug in my VIN number or read my keyfob. My guess is that the "s" stands for sports package...

[vasillalov]

I forgot to mention: I ditched the RFTs LOOOONG time ago. I am running on Pirelli PZero Neros All Seasons at the moment with stock type 162s.