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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > All-Wheel-Drive (Xi / xDrive) Talk > Anyone switch from 17" to 18" wheels?



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      02-19-2009, 07:26 AM   #1
matts335
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Anyone switch from 17" to 18" wheels?

I know that making this switch will degrade the ride quality and increase the risk of bent rims, but I was wondering if anyone has actually made the switch? If so, how was the ride compared to the 17s?
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      02-19-2009, 07:49 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by matts335 View Post
I know that making this switch will degrade the ride quality and increase the risk of bent rims, but I was wondering if anyone has actually made the switch? If so, how was the ride compared to the 17s?
I went from 17 to 19, because there's no 18 inch version of the wheel I want

I had 17 inch Continental RFT, which are not that bad. Perhaps because RFTs have stiffer sidewalls, the 17 and 19 setups felt similar. The main difference to me is the increased effort needed to steer, but that's because I went from 225 to 245.

I've hit quite a few potholes but not have bent rims. Maybe I've got not so bad rims Or I'm lucky. Or I've become so good at avoiding the holes I have the vague impression that hitting potholes with the RFTs cause more pain (and bang) than the current non-RFTs...
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      02-19-2009, 01:01 PM   #3
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17s to 18s

I got the stock 18s on my car and just absolutely hated the run flats. The ride was plain annoying. This winter I switched them out for Borbet 17s with winter snow tires. The winter 17s were a better and quieter ride than the factory run flat 18s. The problem is that I hit a pothole last week and demolished my winter right side wheels. So factor in my prior experience here: I ran the factory 18s on my '06 audi S4 for 3 winters and never lost a wheel. They were BBS CH (yes these were standard s4 for 06.00 not the avus wheels) and I hated them but they never got demolished like the cheaper 17 borbets I ran this year.

I switched to these breyton 18s with direzza tires and the ride is the best of the 3 setups thus far on my 335. Probably a little more rolling noise than the factory, but much more comfortable overall.

So, to answer your question, the tire and wheel you are running probably matter as much or more than the difference between 17 and 18.
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      02-19-2009, 04:04 PM   #4
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I switched out my stock 17s for 197 18s and love 'em. Even had snows on and they ran great. Having 17s on a beautiful BMW is a sin in my opinion; especially with the XI wheel gap and especially when they make great 18" snow tires (i.e. Blizzaks). So to answer your question, no degradation of ride quality - even in winter (especially with non RFTs)!
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      02-19-2009, 04:19 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin G View Post
I switched out my stock 17s for 197 18s and love 'em. Even had snows on and they ran great. Having 17s on a beautiful BMW is a sin in my opinion; especially with the XI wheel gap and especially when they make great 18" snow tires (i.e. Blizzaks). So to answer your question, no degradation of ride quality - even in winter (especially with non RFTs)!
just to be clear, when you switched to 18s, did you go non-rft, or was that just for the Blizzaks? I'm curious mainly about a direct 17"-rft to 18"-rft comparison.
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      02-19-2009, 08:51 PM   #6
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I know this doesn't help much, but I've actually looking to do this same move since I received my car a couple of weeks ago (with stock 17's) and have really been torn between going 18 or 19.

18's just don't have many options available, but are the more affordable of the 2.

19's definately seem have many more available options and look better, but I have read many complaints about the lack of ride quality and I'm not sure how comfortable I am with the lack of sidewall protection to the wheel.
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      02-20-2009, 08:04 AM   #7
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from everything i've read, it seems like it would be a mistake to put 19s on the car unless you drive on smooth roads all the time....which i'm guessing you don't since you have all-wheel drive.
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      02-20-2009, 09:31 AM   #8
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matts, I haven't done the conversion but I used to consider it. How do you feel about the ride on the 17s? To me the ride is pretty bumpy already, and it will only get worse with +1 wheels, from my past experience.
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      02-20-2009, 10:17 AM   #9
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to me the ride on the 17s isn't bad. In fact, it's smoother than my acura TL. It's all relative i guess. Really, the only reason i'm considering the 18s is for the wheel gap issue. I could deal with the 18s if they were a little bit rougher....but a lot rougher? not so sure.
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      02-20-2009, 10:28 AM   #10
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All else equal, why would ditching the 17s for 18s help the wheel gap?
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      02-20-2009, 10:35 AM   #11
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The wheel gap is usually exaggerated (by visual illusion) when a tire of same overall diameter but with a thinner sidewall is installed. Think of this, the ratio of wheel gap-to-sidewall is increased. The actual wheel gap is not increased, it just looks like it. If you are worried about gap, then just drop the car a little.
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      02-20-2009, 10:36 AM   #12
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yup

Based on my very limited understanding - There is no reason that it would. If done properly, the tire diameter would remain constant. Right? Hence, no change in wheel gap.
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      02-20-2009, 06:00 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by matts335 View Post
just to be clear, when you switched to 18s, did you go non-rft, or was that just for the Blizzaks? I'm curious mainly about a direct 17"-rft to 18"-rft comparison.
I went non-RFT on the Blizzaks b/c that's all that was available at the time. But my summer tires are (18") RFT Potenzas. When I bought the car it had the stock RFT 17" wheels.
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      02-21-2009, 05:21 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adr1974 View Post
All else equal, why would ditching the 17s for 18s help the wheel gap?
Because the tire is black and so is the wheel well (ok, dark) and with a larger rim it kinda fools the eye a little.

I've got the stock 162s 18" on my 335XI and they look great. Lots of 328s etc with 17" wheels around here and they all look terrible IMO. The car really needs an 18+". As the other poster said, it's a beautiful car and 17s just take something away from it IMO.

Ditto on the XI ride height/tire gap point.

18" (and prob 17s) with run flats are absolutely horrible over bumps- enter "the big bang". My ride is a LOT smoother after ditching the runflats for yoko 18" all seasons (which I bought for the snow and they work great). I've never actually changed a tire roadside on any car I've owned so I'm not particularly worried about that.

Go with 18s IMO unless you're below the snow belt. I've not run 19s but I think that's nearly suicide in the northeast with all of the potholes and recessed manhole covers I encounter every day.

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      02-22-2009, 11:28 AM   #15
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Out of curiosity, besides looks, is there any real benefit to going with an 18" wheel over a 17?

What i'm worried about is killing the razor sharp steering that my car currently has (stock 161's and continental RFT's).
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      02-22-2009, 12:24 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by str86diesel View Post
Out of curiosity, besides looks, is there any real benefit to going with an 18" wheel over a 17?

What i'm worried about is killing the razor sharp steering that my car currently has (stock 161's and continental RFT's).
No, 17" will generally be lighter and less expensive for replacement tires.
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      01-09-2015, 08:33 PM   #17
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Just did the switch today from stock style 393 with 225/50R17 Pirelli all-weather RFTs to stock style 397 with 245/45R18 Continental all-weather RFTs. They look great, and I'm not sure if it's psychosomatic and I'm looking for a difference, but I feel like I have to control steering more...
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      01-09-2015, 10:06 PM   #18
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I had stock 16s and skipped right to 18's for winter (235/35/18) and 19s for summer (235/35/19 & 275/30/19).
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      01-10-2015, 10:02 AM   #19
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My stock 17s are now my winter wheels. Bought some Apex 18s last spring for my summer tires (square setup). They're lighter than stock and also a half inch wider.

I noticed I dropped 2 MPG when I made the switch to the summers. I figure it was either the tires and/or the extra half inch of tire now making contact, causing more friction. Oh well, the wider tires look cool
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      01-10-2015, 11:24 AM   #20
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I'm on KW's & 19' Style95's and they look fantastic, but drastically slowed me down. SO heavy. Didn't realize how much of a difference it really was until I put my stock wheels back on for winter. The E90 body / wheel gap is so large, got to go 18' and up I think!
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