[NickFrance]

Hi to all,

The alloys on my 2005 E90 are looking pretty terrible, non-standard, made by Dotz, paint peeling off by the day.

I will also probably need 4 new tyres for the next MOT in a few months, so might as well kill both birds with one stone.

I have no experience at all with changing/upgrading wheels, on all my cars I've only ever kept the same wheels and simply put on same dimension new tyres.

Can anyone help with a list or guide of what wheel-tyre combinations will fit my e90? Or a way of working out wether a specific wheel-tye combo will fit?
In case in makes a difference, currently it has 225/40 R18 all round.

Obvious concern is will they physically fit, but could there be any problems with ABS/Tyre pressure/Speedo if there's a change in diametre or tyre size?


Thanks for your help!
Nick.

[ValSolo]

I`d take a look here for the standard e90 wheels and their parameters list
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245554
https://www.auto-treff.com/wcf/index...ab.wcf.article

You can also check the sticker on the drivers door frame where common wheel and tyre sizes are indicated along with the pressures.

[Rich_D]

You can just go for 225/40/18 all round again, or get a staggered setup like the M Sport with 225/40/18 front and 255/35/18 rear.

There won't be any issues with ABS, tyre pressures or speedo and they're OEM sizes.

[NickFrance]

Thanks for the info, I'll take a look at those links.

[nick46]

I found this site very useful when choosing wheels and tyres.

https://www.willtheyfit.com/

[NickFrance]

A further question, assuming I keep the same wheels, will changing the tyre size affect anything?

I've got 225/40 R18 currently,
I assume 225 and R18 can't be changed, or the tyre won't fit the wheel, but if I get higher profile tyres what will this change?
More comfort? Less noise? Raise the ride height? Any issues with speedo etc?

[NickFrance]

Okay, I've narrowed it down to one tyre size for each wheel diameter, just need to choose one:

19 inch: 225/35 (78.75mm sidewall)
18 inch: 225/40 (90mm sidewall)
17 inch: 225/45 (101.25mm)
16 inch: 205/55 (112.75mm)

My main concern is looking right, followed closely by ride comfort.
I've heard that 19s are too harsh, and roads around me are pretty bad.
16s look like shopping trolley wheels, unless someone has a good looking suggestion?
So the choice is between 17 and 18 (which I already have).
Will there be much of a ride difference between the 17 and 18? Extra 10mm of sidewall height.

Any thoughts?

[Rich_D]

19's are definitely a harsher rider than 18's due to the smaller sidewall, conversely 17's are like a magic carpet in comparison (my winters are 17"), 16's won't even clear my brakes and look tiny.

For me 18's are the best balance for both looks & ride quality, having had 6 BMW's now, also having non-runflat tyres will make a massive difference to ride quality.

Are you looking at OEM wheels or aftermarket?

Also are you having a square setup or staggered setup, with wider rears?

[NickFrance]

I'm hoping for a set of OEM, used, same size on all 4 corners.
Magic carpet 17 inches sound good to me!

[Rich_D]

Compared to 19's, there's less of a difference to 18's.

With 17's you'll get more ride comfort, but at the cost of looks & slightly to handling as the bigger sidewall with flex more when driven hard, but if you're not likely to drive hard and value ride quality more, then 17's are not a bad option.

The Style 194's are a staggered 17" OEM wheel from the smaller engined M Sport E90's and they're a good looking wheel.



(photo stolen from Google)

[Rich_D]

This is a handy page for all the OEM alloys that will fit the E9X range and you can clock on them to get sizes & offsets

http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/3/E90+

[RajB]

I’d go with 19’s and non run flat tyres and maybe choose 235/35/19. Will look spot on and give fairly good comfort.

If comfort is more desirable then 18’s are the best bet. 18’s in the right style alloy will still look superb and the provide a really decent ride.

[nick46]

To be honest since switching from 18's to 19's I've not really noticed any difference in ride quality. 19's definitely look the best.

[NickFrance]

No love for 17s on here then!
Predictably most ads for sale near me are 16s, which I don't want, and a few 17s, which I think would be okay (also tyres for the 17s are cheaper than the other sizes)

Most ads seem to have 17s around 250-300 euros (~250 pounds), that seems like a reasonable price?

[NickFrance]

Well I've just been out and bought some style 284 17 inch wheels, not bad condition I think.

Someone had replaced the centre caps with plain grey ones, but the seller has 4 new BMW ones to replace them.

2 brand new tyres and 2 almost new, only 300 euros!

I'll try and add a photo when I've got them fitted.

Thanks for your help.

[Rich_D]

Style 284's are not a bad design, I quite like them, it was the winter wheel option for the E9X I believe.

[NickFrance]

These are them, with the plain grey centres, no idea why someone would put them on, much better with BMW centres on.

I bought them from somebody with an e93 switching to 19s as it happens, he said he felt the car was more stable on the road on 19s, but far less comfort, which is what I'm after, so hopefully I've made the right choice.

I've still no idea whether or not the tyres are runflats

[NickFrance]

Here's the result, I'm quite happy with them, might just be my imagination but the ride does feel a bit more forgiving.
Taking into account the tyres and fitting costs I've saved the wheels only cost about 20e a corner, very pleased.

And a photo of the ruined 18 inch Dotz Mugello (I think?). I'll probably try and sandblast them and repaint eventually.

[Rich_D]

Those are M&S winter tyres, so once the weather warms up you’ll need to swap them as they will get destroyed on summer, the rubber is much softer.

They don’t like like runflat tyres though from the photos, but can’t see all the markings.

[NickFrance]

Thanks for the heads up.
Any idea how much faster winter tyres will wear in summer conditions?

I'll have to get my old alloys refurbed quick and get some summer tyres fitted.

[Rich_D]

A lot faster, I left a set on my E46 330d a few years ago and they got destroyed quickly.