Alpina or BBS?

[steveoz32]

Here I am somewhat undecided on what to do.

My coupe track car project is comming together, quickly and nicely

I'm fitting the new suspension set up next week, 60/60 spax with shortened shocks. ATM i've got the original lightweight 15" BBS wheels, which are in stunning condition. I really do like them, but now I am being tempted to buy a set of Alpina rims. My expense on this project is already looking to spiral out of control and double my initial budget, so I'm not too sure what to do on this.

Yes they will look great, but then equally, the stock rims will also look good. Not too sure what to do? Any opinions?

Cheers!

[Ziggy]

On a track car, BBS are the obvious choice...

[Geeman]

Alpina reps or genuine Alpinas...?

The reps will be no good for track work. They're heavy and have a tendancy to vibrate / wobble.

Genuine Alpinas would be okay for the track. Choose the correct tyre size and you're on to a winner.

BBS's are better suited for the road, though the correct choice of tyre make and size does have a lot to do with the performance.

HTH

Giles

[steveoz32]

That's what I've been thinking, they look original and good, cheaper on tyres, practical.

It's just the alpinas are calling me with their seductive look lol!

[steveoz32]

Alpina reps or genuine Alpinas...?

The reps will be no good for track work. They're heavy and have a tendancy to vibrate / wobble.

Genuine Alpinas would be okay for the track. Choose the correct tyre size and you're on to a winner.

BBS's are better suited for the road, though the correct choice of tyre make and size does have a lot to do with the performance.

HTH

Giles

Cheers fella,

Out of interest what tyre sizes do you guys use on 15" BBS and 17" Alpina, and the ones I have seen are original (well so say, in local paper)

I need to change the tyres on mine anyway, they are currently sat with 195 65 lol! At a guess I would go for 205 45 if i I kept the BBS.

[Ziggy]

No such thing as an original 17" 4-stud alpina!

205/50/15 for a track car on BBS - 205/55 was OE fit.

[Geeman]

What Ziggy said...

(but there were 17" 4-stud original Alpinas made for the Z1 - but i've NEVER seen a set... ever! And if there was a set up for sale, expect to pay in excess of Ԛ£1k)

[steveoz32]

No such thing as an original 17" 4-stud alpina!

205/50/15 for a track car on BBS - 205/55 was OE fit.

Was going to say I thought they made them for the C1 Alpina? These are up for sale for 800.00 no offers, in BATH.

[Geeman]

Nope... only 16" Alpinas for the E30's...

[steveoz32]

Not that I am defo going to buy them (although they will look great, I'm swinging more towards the original and practical BBS now!) but how would I tell if they are replicas?

I guess it's a lot of cash to fork out for potential FAKE wheels? I might give him a call and quiz him a litte.

Ԛ£800.00 I guess would cover the majority of my engine work.

[steveoz32]

Anyone want his number lol?

I'll give him a call out of interest and enquire about them.......

[Geeman]

They need the Alpina stamp on the inside, and usually they have a locking centre cap.

WOuld be a fantastic find if these ARE genuine, but I'm guessing they're replicas, in which case you can pick a set of for sub Ԛ£300...

[steveoz32]

Just called him, after getting the vmail a couple of times I got through.

I asked him if they were genuine items as to my knowledge they only come in 16" and are very rare. He said they are 17's and came off of a genuine Alpina, and he can provide close up pictures of any part of the wheel and stamp. I asked if he has the car, he does not. Apparantly it transpires they were bought off of a guy from Scambay, he forked out 800 squid on them and when they arrived they were the wrong fitment and PCD although advertised for an E30. The guy insisted they were for an E30 and would not give him his cash back, he's now selling trying to recoup the costs.

I felt a little sorry for him and told him to fix his next advert lol.

BBS it is then!

[steveoz32]

Oh, and thanks for the info

[Geeman]

Aaaaha, so these will be 5 stud then...? For the E36 maybe.

Poor chap.

[Jon_Bmw]

Yeah sounds like those alpinas were for an e34 or e36. Poor bloke.

I think the standard BBS would be ideal on 205/50r15 tyres, they are quite a lightweight wheel as Ziggy said. I think the only reason you would want the 16" wheel on a track car is if you want to fit bigger brakes than standard as they would catch on the BBS.

[steveoz32]

BBS and 205 50's it is then, cheers chaps

[Geeman]

No probs... hope you have fun!

[orangecurry]

sticking my oar in as usual...

205/55/15 is the correct size to keep your speedo accurate, but what is 5% between friends?

and 205/50/16 if you upgrade.

there is a good reason for 16" wheels over 15" wheels for a trackday car

apart from fashion, wheels have become bigger and tyrewalls smaller as this keeps the same overall rolling diameter, BUT allows LESS flex of the tyre - this increases steering response and handling for any given situation for 'sporty' drivers.

On a track this is advantageous, and it SHOULD be advantageous on the road, if the road surface is good enough. Tyres also act as part of the suspension, and if you reduce the sidewall this small effect drops off significantly. So what? you say.

Too little tyre flex means that you get no warning of loss of grip, AND you will lose grip SOONER, especially on a bumpy road surface, as opposed to a smooth track surface.

[iDreamBeemer]

On a track this is advantageous, and it SHOULD be advantageous on the road, if the road surface is good enough. Tyres also act as part of the suspension, and if you reduce the sidewall this small effect drops off significantly. So what? you say.

Too little tyre flex means that you get no warning of loss of grip, AND you will lose grip SOONER, especially on a bumpy road surface, as opposed to a smooth track surface.

I went on Hayes track with my alpinas on the weekend and I experienced just that, it does step away quickly and you don't have much warning

Having said that I am running 225/45/16 and in the wet it can be a bit hairy! I bet with pratice this would improve but for the track it has to be 15s.....might even get me some for the next time!

[steveoz32]

All good.

The worst car I had for shitting me up in the wet was my Z32 300zx. It had 310 RWHP and was an auto lol. Foot down, all power lets hell loose at 3.5K and the autobox kicks down, whoosh, back end out and trying to 360 you without even feeling a twitch. Tyres on the back were 265 35 18's.

The car was absolutely imposible to drift. I'm sure it could be done, but certainly not by me. You would have needed balls the size of medicine balls and a few screws loose up stairs to try and hold it there!

So far initial tests of the 320 have been good, I'm having to faint into corners a lot to shift the weight on the back and give it a huge amount of welly. Once the backend goes, it is very easy to control, but requires a lot of revs to keep it there. The suspension atm is too soft, can't wait to get the new suspension set up on next week, new tyres and give it a go

[Jon_Bmw]

On a track this is advantageous, and it SHOULD be advantageous on the road, if the road surface is good enough. Tyres also act as part of the suspension, and if you reduce the sidewall this small effect drops off significantly. So what? you say.

Too little tyre flex means that you get no warning of loss of grip, AND you will lose grip SOONER, especially on a bumpy road surface, as opposed to a smooth track surface.

I went on Hayes track with my alpinas on the weekend and I experienced just that, it does step away quickly and you don't have much warning

Having said that I am running 225/45/16 and in the wet it can be a bit hairy! I bet with pratice this would improve but for the track it has to be 15s.....might even get me some for the next time!

I can second this! Martin took me out for a spin, and we spent a fair bit of the time sideways!

[steveoz32]

Just found a piccie of me old S13 (prior to the 300zx).



Not to everyones taste I'm sure, and not mine anymore it was a while ago (bodykit too OTT). But it went sideways everywhere I drove it and was the best fun ever!

[Jon_Bmw]

Well i like the 200sx, but not the bodykit. I am a little bias having just brought one

[oguz327]

Just found a piccie of me old S13 (prior to the 300zx).



Not to everyones taste I'm sure, and not mine anymore it was a while ago (bodykit too OTT). But it went sideways everywhere I drove it and was the best fun ever!

are you in Swindon by any chance dude?