Best wheel size

[DazzyA]

What would be the ideal wheel size for a 325i Cab for handling, she has been lowered, but not sure how much (40mm i think). Am looking to get new rims and was tempted to get original x spokes 205/55/15.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
I do like Ian's Hartge's

[bmwe30mtech]

People seem to like 16", but 15" im told handle the best? Lots of people on 17" out there, but dont go any bigger!

[JOSEMI]

I have bbs xspoke 205/55/15 with Avon's in the back and NCT2s in the front on mine since last month, and they are the best I have ever used. Not only the size, also the width (8J) makes the ride a complete scene altogether, not one vibration at any speed. I do recommend them chaps.

Jose

[DazzyA]

I sort of thought if BMW fitted it with 15's then how(should clearly be WHO) am I to argue, there just seems to be too little wheel and too much tyre. mmmmmm

[m-dtech]

just go for wider tyres with a lower profile ;)

[DazzyA]

I was thinking more diameter, I've got 205/45/16 on at the mo, which look ok, but seem a bit harsh, and run away all over the place.

[gareth]

i've used 15" bbs's with 205/50/15's, 17" alpina reps with 215/45/17's and now have 16" alpina reps with 215/40/16's. the 16's are by far the best. they're a huge amount lighter than the 17's (BK nasty jobs) and keep almost exactly the right rolling diameter, with a fat low profile. the tyres aren't too much dosh either.

[DazzyA]

I had a look at this and thought mine where a bit out and that would make yours even worse, I don't however understand the 40/45 bit. I have to admit the wheels I've got on are pretty nasty with 4 various cheap tyres ranging from new to 2mm. I do like the look of the Alpina reps on ebay at Ԛ£200 at the mo.

[gareth]

the first bit is the width in mm, the second bit is the height of the tyre. this is a percentage of the width. the third bit is the wheel size in inches.

try putting it into here to work out what fits: http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyresize.html

[DazzyA]

I got it now, I didn't realize the % of the width bit.
thanks for that.

[gareth]

it's a messed up method of doing it!

[hoshy]

Alpina reps have a bad reputation for quality.

205/55/15 is the biggest size in the owners manual.

16in recently won the "best wheel size" poll on this very site, all the results are here:
http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... =0&thold=0

Personally I've just moved from 195/65/14 to 205/55/15 and I'm very happy, but then I've not had 16 or 17s.

Though there's something to be said for the price trade-off. a nice set of 15in bbs and good tyres is going to be cheaper than anything in 16/17inch with good rubber.

[gareth]

i paid Ԛ£150 for my (good quality, not BK) alpina reps with tyres, then Ԛ£230 on a refurb (not that they really needed it) and then Ԛ£150ish for a set of 215/40/16 toyo proxes t1r's. that's not bad in my opinion!

the current wheel and tyre combination is about the same weight as a 15" BBS setup so there's no penalty there and due to the lower profile, the geometry is not affected.

16" was the size of choice for the M3....

[JOSEMI]

16" was the size of choice for the M3....

The 15" bbs I got were bought from a friend whose car is an M3, 1990 cabrio, he had bought a set of alpinas for his car and sold them to me for Ԛ£120 with good tyres !

jose

[Jhonno]

16" was the size of choice for the M3....

The 15" bbs I got were bought from a friend whose car is an M3, 1990 cabrio, he had bought a set of alpinas for his car and sold them to me for Ԛ£120 with good tyres !

jose

erm m3 wheels would not fit a normal e30.. m3's are 5 lug normal e30's are 4 lug

[JOSEMI]

sorry dudes, it is an m-Tech Motorsport convertible

what a liar ey !?!?!?

Jose

[bmwe30mtech]

16" was the size of choice for the M3....

The 15" bbs I got were bought from a friend whose car is an M3, 1990 cabrio, he had bought a set of alpinas for his car and sold them to me for Ԛ£120 with good tyres !

jose

erm m3 wheels would not fit a normal e30.. m3's are 5 lug normal e30's are 4 lug

Thats what i thought unless you have swapped your complete running gear over?!

[JOSEMI]

ok cruzify me now for making a little genuine mistake

I am still happy with my bbs, and that is that.

Jose

[bmwe30mtech]

ok cruzify me now for making a little genuine mistake

I am still happy with my bbs, and that is that.

Jose

Sorry i wrote that as you worte your comment! Sorry mate!!

[JOSEMI]

No worries bro' ! I deserved that for not checking first, that will teach me

[gareth]

beware the E30zone is full of total useless-in-the-real-world E30 fact hoarders!

useful when you need the facts, a pain if you make a mistake!

[JOSEMI]

Again, sorry please leave me alone

Jose

[TOURINGDADDY]

i'm running 15" bad boys 195/50/15 conti sport contact and would'nt change them for the world

[gareth]

Again, sorry please leave me alone

Jose

i was siding with you dude!!

i'v been there many times, usually due to typos with Exx and Mxx codes!

[JOSEMI]

Again, sorry please leave me alone

Jose

i was siding with you dude!!

i'v been there many times, usually due to typos with Exx and Mxx codes!

No worries, TBH Im glad to see this attitude as it cleans the site from that info of questionable credibility. The site IS safe

Jose

[Lordschleife]

Ԛ£150ish for a set of 215/40/16 toyo proxes t1r's

Whereabouts did you find that kind of price?

[m3ben05]

BMW put 16"s on the M3 so who are we to disagree!

Where did you get the toyo's for Ԛ£150???????

[gareth]

it was on here: http://ssl.delti.com/mytires/Tyres.html

about Ԛ£200 for the set now though but i think they had an offer on at the time. tyre prices do seem to fluctuate too. still good a Ԛ£200 though... but not a good as the Ԛ£150 was!

[Lordschleife]

Meh
205/55/15 are Ԛ£240 a set on there - pretty std price

[agent006]

So is 205 the standard size dor 15" BBS then? Mine have 225 on from the last owner.

[Lordschleife]

Yep size I stated - have a look in your manual

[DazzyA]

shite this is all getting to complicated, i'm reaching for the diazapan as i write.
So to clarify to a plank, if you have 205/55's what would the height of the sidewall be, as opposed to 205/45's which i am running at the mo, coz they seem well lower looking at varios pics. I do like the look of the lower profiles.
On the tyresave chart it says that a 205/55/15 is actually bigger overall than my 205/45/16 which is really freaking me out.
am gonna check that link though, thanks for the help guys.

[DazzyA]

another thing I've recently noticed is different width tyres on same same rims ie 205'and 215's how can that be (you may have noticed I know bugger all about wheels/tyres but have been informed they are preety damn important to get right.

[Lordschleife]

Sounds like you need this!
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

[bottlecapE30]

that link is great!!!!!!!