Should I upgrade?

[Neil_uk7]

14" bottletops to 15"? I'm in need of new tyres (3). 195/65 x14 (H) seem to be thin on the ground. 205/55 x15 seem more common and come V rated. But I love my bottletops!

[steve_k]

hhmmm if jaymos see's this then he tell you to stick with the bottle tops.

go for the 15" bbs that you'll find on ebay.

sorry but to me they look a damb sight better.

[jimmyspeed]

get some mim 1900

[Neil_uk7]

I would like to keep the car as standard as poss - I don't mind going for 15" BBS if I'm going to have an easier time replacing tyres in the future. 19" - over the top - all the potholes around here they'll crack like and egg. A bit worried that 195/65 will die out and I'll be forced toward 15" then anyway

[sihooker]

These look ok...

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=160033

[jimmyspeed]

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/ ... _Crop2.jpg

there 15 inch

come in a few size but the et 13's fit fine - usually come in silver no white

[Neil_uk7]

Thanks for the links guys...the BBS 15"s in Brighton look good for the money

[DavieP]

You'll have absolutely no problem with retaining the OE look by switching to 15" BBs and you will probably find that the ride is better too.

[darkchild]

You'll have absolutely no problem with retaining the OE look by switching to 15" BBs and you will probably find that the ride is better too.

Spot on - the best mod I ever made to mine and transformed the way it drived.

[DavieP]

While I was doing a 'home refurb' on my wheels, I borrowed a set of bottletops from eko to keep me on the road. Now I was immensely grateful for the loan, but the quality of ride was pretty damn awful. It took away virtually all enjoyment of driving and I delayed making any long distance trips until my wheels were finished. Getting the 15" back on was bliss.

[Morat]

With stock size tyres on 14" bottletops and 15" BBS I found that the 14s give you a smoother ride but the 15s definitely sharpen the whole thing up. The tyres were Vredestein Sportrac on the 14s and Dunlop SP9000 on the 15s

[Blitz]

With stock size tyres on 14" bottletops and 15" BBS I found that the 14s give you a smoother ride but the 15s definitely sharpen the whole thing up. The tyres were Vredestein Sportrac on the 14s and Dunlop SP9000 on the 15s

+1 14" slightly smoother ride, but the 15" is far more composed and lots more grip.

[Ollie_bwoii]

Tyres in 195/65/14 aren't thin on the ground......

I was looking into new tyres for my bottletops and there is plenty available. You can get decent toyo's, uniroyal's, kumho's, goodyear's etc.... And there is always Nankang's.

I already have two uniroyal's on my car so I was planning on continuing into two new ones as well eventually. Now that a set of 15" BBS are in the pipeline (thanks rob), that's looking like the way i'm going to go too.

[jonny323i]

how much have you been quoted for the 14" tyres

[Neil_uk7]

sorry jonny for the slow reply - been away - qouted £55 for Kumho tyres or £92 for Michelin. Going to stick with the 14" - sorry but bottletops are unique (if less desirable). Cross spoke BBS fitted to too many vehicles to be unique and stand out (Golf GTI etc...)

[BMWxGOLF]

i think it will be nice if you upgrade it and give you more grip and more nice look too

[Ollie_bwoii]

This should help. Delievered to your door, or fitted via mobile tyre fitter.

http://www.blackcircles.com/order/tyres/search

[Jhonno]

The car will drive much nicer on the BBS'.. Bottletops are gash, good for weighing in only

[DavieP]

The car will drive much nicer on the BBS'.. Bottletops are gash, good for weighing in only

I have personally witnessed them making excellent axle stands

[jonny323i]

thats alot of money for khumos i only paid £55 fitted for goodyear 205 55 16

[Neil_uk7]

seems about right for khumos myself. And as for bottletops making good axle stands or weigths....pooey!

[djk]

Kumhos are gash IMO - give a crap ride, tramline like crazy and they fall to bits. All due to over-stiff sidewalls I reckon.

[Neil_uk7]

me thinks you place too much value on the handling of your car - personally 14" wheels and decent tyres I think make for a better ride than some low profile stuff

[Tedswagon]

I just put some mims on mine - have a look here;

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=160352

I have Kumho ECSTA on my BBS and have done about 6000 miles on them - most of it was spirited driving as the car is just for weekends and I have to say I think they are pretty good as an alternative to TOYOs.

[Neil_uk7]

Very nice - always good to have 8mm of tread again! Especially when you find your last tyres were shot because the tracking was 3mm out