[tibra1]

Originally Posted by E90SoFlo

17 > 18 > 19

$$$ = Better performance

^ This..i went w 19s purely cosmetic..now going to 18s for performance

Less unsprung weight means better acceleration, quicker stopping, better handling..

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by bigdnno98

Most people out there with 19" wheels have their car lowered right? I have no interest in lowering the car. Shiv has noticed issues with lowered cars with 400hp and drivetrain issues.

Agree with this..if your gonna dump the car u most certainly will have suspension and driveline issues..modest drop of 1 inch w correct tire wheel set-up to fill up the gap and you will be golden

[turb0mik3]

Also realize if you do CONSIDER getting a BBK, then realize most are meant for an 18" setup. 17s for drag radials are awesome though.

[bigdnno98]

from vishnu performance

"Hey,
From racing these cars we have noticed that many cars have been snapping axles and mostly on cars that are lowered with coilover or springs. On our shop car we have upgrade shocks only with stock springs. Ride height is the same and 80k miles of racing miles and even dragging the car on slicks and drag radials we haven't snapped any axles yet. We are suspecting that lowering the ride height on these cars changes the riding geometry of the car and puts a lot more stress on the drive train components which forces the axle to handle heavier load. If you are going for cosmetics then 19" will be the way to go. If you want performance and look at the same time 18" is the way to go. For us when we are racing we actually run 17" wheels on slicks/drag radials. 17/18" wheels will give you more/wider tire that you can fit under the fender. Let me know if you need anything else. If you want light wheels at a good price. K1 or Apex both are legit.
Regards,
Robert@Vishnu Performance
Office: 925.415.9148"

FYI

[Outlaw 06]

All other things being equal (same make/model/width) 18" wheels will ride better, handle better, accelerate better and brake better because they're lighter than 19” wheels. 18" wheels AND tires are less expensive than 19s which is also a big plus. Simply put, wheels over 18” are marketed to people who prefer style over substance.

[Syndicategt]

Originally Posted by TJDiCandido

All other things being equal (same make/model/width) 18" wheels will ride better, handle better, accelerate better and brake better because they're lighter than 19” wheels. 18" wheels AND tires are less expensive than 19s which is also a big plus. Simply put, wheels over 18” are marketed to people who prefer style over substance.

Not true! My 19" rims only weight 19 lbs each (granted the 19" tires weight slightly more than 18"). If 19" was more style over performance, why does Porche, Lotus, and Ferarri use 19" wheels on many of their models? Now I do 100% agree with using 17" wheels for a track setup due to the fact the rubbers are much less expensive

[tibra1]

19 lbs for 19s..????

Morrs r that light?

[Syndicategt]

Originally Posted by tibra1

19 lbs for 19s..????

Morrs r that light?

Yep The fronts are 19x8.5 (19lbs) and rears 19x9.5 (22lbs) Wrapped with Pilot Super Sports and my fronts weighed 42lbs each (according to my bathroom scale).

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by Syndicategt

Yep The fronts are 19x8.5 (19lbs) and rears 19x9.5 (22lbs) Wrapped with Pilot Super Sports and my fronts weighed 42lbs each (according to my bathroom scale).

Yea I looked em up the new generation forged..wow nice.

[scott_uw]

Originally Posted by Syndicategt

Not true! My 19" rims only weight 19 lbs each (granted the 19" tires weight slightly more than 18").

17"/18" Wheels made of the same construction will not only weigh less, but have their weight closer to the axis of rotation expending less effort.

Originally Posted by Syndicategt

If 19" was more style over performance, why does Porche, Lotus, and Ferarri use 19" wheels on many of their models?

Probably due to the size of the brakes, or for style since most sports cars are not biased 100% towards performance.
ie. this

[DaFish]

Originally Posted by bigdnno98

Looking to upgrade the crappy 17" wheels and RFT on my 09 e92 335i. I cannot keep any kind of traction so I am getting wider wheels and tires. Just wanted to know the forum's opinion on 18" staggered vs 19" staggered. Looking for performance related only, cosmetics not a big concern for me. And just to squash the LSD comments before they start, I am not in the market for one yet, still have 2yrs warranty on the car. LSD and meth will be the first 2 things I do the day the warranty is up.

Please, all opinions welcome. Right now I am leaning toward 18x8.5F, 18x9.5R with KooK V12.

I waited until my warranty was out... and when I upgraded, I was just kicking myself because the car was exactly what I wanted 3 years earlier....

Just relating my experience - the car is a beast, and what you want it to be now. I MAY have done it in warranty.... I certainly wanted to, and if you drove my car now you would do it.

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by scott_uw

Probably due to the size of the brakes, or for style since most sports cars are not biased 100% towards performance.

Also b/c exotics like this use forged wheels as original equipment..lightest and strongest wheels available.

[bigdnno98]

Originally Posted by DaFish

I waited until my warranty was out... and when I upgraded, I was just kicking myself because the car was exactly what I wanted 3 years earlier....

Just relating my experience - the car is a beast, and what you want it to be now. I MAY have done it in warranty.... I certainly wanted to, and if you drove my car now you would do it.

Yeah I hear you. I really want to say screw the warranty and get the LSD and DP so I can run the Cobb stage 2/FMIC. I'm really torn right now. I guess if something goes really bad I can put it back to stock before I bring it to stealership.

[tunachris]

Don't know why a LSD would be an issue. Not real likely it would be spotted, unless you had a suspension issue under warranty, and even then it would be hard to blame it on a LSD.

Not cheap, but a LSD allows you to really get the power to the road. I did a Quaife a couple of months ago, and I haven't had the E-diff light come on once since.

[samchoi604]

Originally Posted by Syndicategt

Not true! My 19" rims only weight 19 lbs each (granted the 19" tires weight slightly more than 18"). If 19" was more style over performance, why does Porche, Lotus, and Ferarri use 19" wheels on many of their models? Now I do 100% agree with using 17" wheels for a track setup due to the fact the rubbers are much less expensive

The Porsche race variants, like the 911 GT3 Cup, uses 18" rims. BTW the car is hideous with those stickers.

[BMWsky]

Originally Posted by Syndicategt

Not true! My 19" rims only weight 19 lbs each (granted the 19" tires weight slightly more than 18"). If 19" was more style over performance, why does Porche, Lotus, and Ferarri use 19" wheels on many of their models? Now I do 100% agree with using 17" wheels for a track setup due to the fact the rubbers are much less expensive

First, I'm jealous of your Morr's. Next, most people doing serious track duty will run 17 or 18's for their dedicated wheels. As for the exotics, I wonder if their average buyer does much actual track time.

Oh, not sure if I mentioned it, but I'm jealous of your Morr's.

[shock2314]

get yourself a set of e46 m3 18 inch wheels, they are forged and not heavy at all. the only thing is you will need spacers in the front, the back is fine.
or
you can buy my set of 20 inch wheels and tires, they are light (23 lbs)

[bigdnno98]

I had a set and had to sell them. The backs rubbed. Needed a fender roll but wasn't willing to do it. I loved those things. Offset is just too much. Didnt like the idea of spacers either.

[shock2314]

i do have my fenders rolled in the rear and i don't rub at all.

[turb0mik3]

DForce LTWs...

18x9.5 and 18x10. Both 18.7lbs...

BOSS.

[jlh335i]

Keep in mind also that a smaller rim means larger profile tires... So to those that notice better turn in or response with 19's, this is because the smaller slip angle of a lower profile tire.

If i remember correctly, the issue about lowered cars was more about people had lowered there cars in excess of 1 inch, throwing off some of the geometry of the car.

[R1000K3]

18" provides as much grip as you can ever ask for. But 19" looks better IMO. I have 18" wheels BTW. They provide better comfort and less tramlining vs. cars with 19" wheels that I've tested so far.