Picture 18s and 19s wheels side by side

James550i6spd · 11-12-2013, 10:25 AM

not gonna debate that 18s handle better or probably perform better, as they probably do. However, it's a marginal improvement in daily driving situations. When it comes down to it, it's a look vs performance tradeoff. Personally, I upgraded by E46 from the stock 17s to 19s and never looked back. The 19s looked proportional to the car and it looked 10x better. To me, a 5% decrease in performance was worth a 200% upgrade in looks. I'll probably go with 20s when my 335i comes in as well but keep the 18s if I find myself doing a lot of track time (which is a very low possibility). Obviously BMW engineers did not see the 20s too much of a hindrance in performance or else it would have never been offered.

It just comes down to preference. How much performance are you willing to sacrifice to get that aggressive look? The 3series already handles well above most every other car I've driven..I'm willing to give up a bit tad of that so that I can go with a nicer set of rims

nyc2sd30 · 11-12-2013, 11:23 AM

My decision to get 19s was based on the fact that I don't take corners fast enough for it to make a difference that often, but people look at my car from the outside every day that is on the road, so looks outweighed handling. Just my personal preference.

mntbiker · 11-12-2013, 11:59 AM

Aww you guys are making me question my 18s now! Oh well, I always kind of wanted the 19s but opted to spend the cash on some other stuff instead. Picking up the car on Friday at the performance center...

Rasengan · 11-12-2013, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mntbiker

Aww you guys are making me question my 18s now! Oh well, I always kind of wanted the 19s but opted to spend the cash on some other stuff instead. Picking up the car on Friday the the performance center...

i simply got the 18s knowing i would get aftermarket 19s anyway...18s don't look right to me anymore with the thick sidewalls, they look like tires for offroading...i always get new shoes for a new car...i wish i could get 20s but not on Chicago streets, we have way too many landmines

F32 · 11-12-2013, 12:14 PM

Opted to stick with the 18s...I'll be changing the tires for some proper ones, and might as well change the wheels while I'm at it. No use paying for wheels which aren't going to spend much time on the car.

The 19s do look nicer, though. Are the OEM tires the same model on the 18s and 19s?

Sedan_Clan · 11-12-2013, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F32

The 19s do look nicer, though. Are the OEM tires the same model on the 18s and 19s?

In most cases yes.

mannymazz · 11-12-2013, 03:17 PM

The car looks great on 19's definitely worth the money. What is the width on the tires in the rear, I know on the 18s they are only 225 which Is very impractical especially if you plan to tune.

snowghost · 11-12-2013, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mannymazz

The car looks great on 19's definitely worth the money. What is the width on the tires in the rear, I know on the 18s they are only 225 which Is very impractical especially if you plan to tune.

My rear 18s are 255s.

Mortis · 11-12-2013, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArthurKing1220

Quote:

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

for tracking and comfort, yes!

I tend to agree with this -- traditionally, I've always believed that smaller tires give better ride. However, I have to say, I've heard a lot of reports about the 4-series riding better on the 19s than on the 18s. We had a discussion about this a few weeks ago over at the tire sub-forum. And people were acknowledging "this is against conventional wisdom -- it should be the other way around, but for some reason, it's not." Just my $.02 -- YMMV.

Can you provide the reference for these reports and the thread you mention? Interested in learning more... Thanks!

PrinceBarin · 11-12-2013, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mortis1973

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArthurKing1220

...I have to say, I've heard a lot of reports about the 4-series riding better on the 19s than on the 18s. We had a discussion about this a few weeks ago over at the tire sub-forum. And people were acknowledging "this is against conventional wisdom -- it should be the other way around, but for some reason, it's not." Just my $.02 -- YMMV.

Can you provide the reference for these reports and the thread you mention? Interested in learning more... Thanks!

I've read this in at least two reviews, one of which is this one (the other I still need to find):

"The ride on optional 18in Pirelli run-flats is not great. There's a fizzing at the wheel, a lot of tyre roar and turn-in to corners is abrupt. By contrast, on the optional 19in Bridgestones the 435i is much calmer and quieter, with a more progressive turn-in".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...up-review.html

Also, see this thread: http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=903278

F32 · 11-13-2013, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrinceBarin

I've read this in at least two reviews, one of which is this one (the other I still need to find):

"The ride on optional 18in Pirelli run-flats is not great. There's a fizzing at the wheel, a lot of tyre roar and turn-in to corners is abrupt. By contrast, on the optional 19in Bridgestones the 435i is much calmer and quieter, with a more progressive turn-in".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...up-review.html

Also, see this thread: http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=903278

This is purely attributed to the make/model of tire, not the rim diameter.

elite. · 01-18-2014, 09:14 AM

Bringing this thread back....need some advice. I am about to order a 428i xdrive and I am deciding to either get the sport line with 18s and call it a day, or get a base with the 17s and use the VMR718s from my e46. They are 19s 235/35 and 265/30 I believe. I have to confirm offset. Does anyone know the offset of the 19s pictured here and does anyone know if the 428 and 435 have similar ride heights? In michigan so thinking id use the 17s in the winter and put on the 19s for the summer since they are brand new (the set I have).

2100 for sportline....as much as I like the 18s and the sport seats, I think id better like the confort access and in the premium package. Its a lease, dont think im doing both packages.....

Thanks!

Dippydo · 01-18-2014, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elite.

Bringing this thread back....need some advice. I am about to order a 428i xdrive and I am deciding to either get the sport line with 18s and call it a day, or get a base with the 17s and use the VMR718s from my e46. They are 19s 235/35 and 265/30 I believe. I have to confirm offset. Does anyone know the offset of the 19s pictured here and does anyone know if the 428 and 435 have similar ride heights? In michigan so thinking id use the 17s in the winter and put on the 19s for the summer since they are brand new (the set I have).

2100 for sportline....as much as I like the 18s and the sport seats, I think id better like the confort access and in the premium package. Its a lease, dont think im doing both packages.....

Thanks!

Since you live you in Michigan, get the 18's and use them for your winter wheels and get a set of aftermarket 19's or 20's for your summer wheels. The F30 wheel wells are just too big for 17s or 18s.

elite. · 01-18-2014, 10:19 AM

I was thinking 17s for winter and using my 19s. Gotta figure out the offsets. Mine are 9.5 45offset for rears, and 8.5 35offset in front. Deciding between that or upgrading to 18s all year around...hmmmm.

HapkidoNinja · 01-20-2014, 07:37 PM

New to BMW and this forum (I drive a RWD muscle car and this is my first BMW, so sorry if this is the wrong spot to post this question).

I just ordered a 335i xDrive in M Sport with Dynamic Handling.

I live in the Seattle area, which rarely gets snow. On the one or two occasions a year when we get an inch of snow, I can manage to get home as my beast has MichPilotSuperSport A/S. More than that and it stays in the garage.

The question I had is currently the car is configured with the 19" wheels, which show as mixed perf tires, can I expect similar or better or should I go for the 18" all season? When the temp drops to 30-34F, do the tires get so hard I am going sledding?

11-12-2013, 10:25 AM	#45
James550i6spd Second Lieutenant 49 Rep 255 Posts Drives: BMW x5 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Knoxville iTrader: (0)	not gonna debate that 18s handle better or probably perform better, as they probably do. However, it's a marginal improvement in daily driving situations. When it comes down to it, it's a look vs performance tradeoff. Personally, I upgraded by E46 from the stock 17s to 19s and never looked back. The 19s looked proportional to the car and it looked 10x better. To me, a 5% decrease in performance was worth a 200% upgrade in looks. I'll probably go with 20s when my 335i comes in as well but keep the 18s if I find myself doing a lot of track time (which is a very low possibility). Obviously BMW engineers did not see the 20s too much of a hindrance in performance or else it would have never been offered. It just comes down to preference. How much performance are you willing to sacrifice to get that aggressive look? The 3series already handles well above most every other car I've driven..I'm willing to give up a bit tad of that so that I can go with a nicer set of rims __________________ James <GONE> 2014 BMW 335i Melbourne red M sport. 6spd. Nothing more nothing less. ISO of Manual 535/550/335 Last edited by James550i6spd; 11-12-2013 at 10:38 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-12-2013, 11:23 AM	#46
nyc2sd30 BMW Addict 50 Rep 289 Posts Drives: 2014 435i M Sport Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Diego CA iTrader: (0)	My decision to get 19s was based on the fact that I don't take corners fast enough for it to make a difference that often, but people look at my car from the outside every day that is on the road, so looks outweighed handling. Just my personal preference. __________________ 2010 335i MSport / 2011 535i / 2014 435i M Sport
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-12-2013, 11:59 AM	#47
mntbiker Captain 123 Rep 616 Posts Drives: F15 X5 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (0)	Aww you guys are making me question my 18s now! Oh well, I always kind of wanted the 19s but opted to spend the cash on some other stuff instead. Picking up the car on Friday at the performance center... Last edited by mntbiker; 11-12-2013 at 12:17 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-12-2013, 12:14 PM	#49
F32 Banned 20 Rep 688 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: SF iTrader: (0)	Opted to stick with the 18s...I'll be changing the tires for some proper ones, and might as well change the wheels while I'm at it. No use paying for wheels which aren't going to spend much time on the car. The 19s do look nicer, though. Are the OEM tires the same model on the 18s and 19s?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-12-2013, 03:17 PM	#51
mannymazz Second Lieutenant 74 Rep 252 Posts Drives: 440 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Brooklyn iTrader: (0)	The car looks great on 19's definitely worth the money. What is the width on the tires in the rear, I know on the 18s they are only 225 which Is very impractical especially if you plan to tune. Last edited by mannymazz; 11-12-2013 at 03:22 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-18-2014, 09:14 AM	#56
elite. First Lieutenant 33 Rep 348 Posts Drives: e93 Join Date: May 2013 Location: home iTrader: (2)	Bringing this thread back....need some advice. I am about to order a 428i xdrive and I am deciding to either get the sport line with 18s and call it a day, or get a base with the 17s and use the VMR718s from my e46. They are 19s 235/35 and 265/30 I believe. I have to confirm offset. Does anyone know the offset of the 19s pictured here and does anyone know if the 428 and 435 have similar ride heights? In michigan so thinking id use the 17s in the winter and put on the 19s for the summer since they are brand new (the set I have). 2100 for sportline....as much as I like the 18s and the sport seats, I think id better like the confort access and in the premium package. Its a lease, dont think im doing both packages..... Thanks!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-18-2014, 10:19 AM	#58
elite. First Lieutenant 33 Rep 348 Posts Drives: e93 Join Date: May 2013 Location: home iTrader: (2)	I was thinking 17s for winter and using my 19s. Gotta figure out the offsets. Mine are 9.5 45offset for rears, and 8.5 35offset in front. Deciding between that or upgrading to 18s all year around...hmmmm.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2014, 07:37 PM	#59
HapkidoNinja Private First Class 42 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 2020 M340i xDrive Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Redmond, WA iTrader: (0)	New to BMW and this forum (I drive a RWD muscle car and this is my first BMW, so sorry if this is the wrong spot to post this question). I just ordered a 335i xDrive in M Sport with Dynamic Handling. I live in the Seattle area, which rarely gets snow. On the one or two occasions a year when we get an inch of snow, I can manage to get home as my beast has MichPilotSuperSport A/S. More than that and it stays in the garage. The question I had is currently the car is configured with the 19" wheels, which show as mixed perf tires, can I expect similar or better or should I go for the 18" all season? When the temp drops to 30-34F, do the tires get so hard I am going sledding?
	Appreciate 0 Quote