The difference between 14" and 15" rims

[JoeP]

Oh my god, I cannot believe how differently the car handles. I thought my suspension was shot the way it used to roll and bounce. I got 5 15" BBS cross spokes with decent Avon tyres for Ԛ£80 from my local scrappy.
Corners I used to nervously take at 50 I now fly round with confidence at 60. So anyone out there on the factory 14" get some bigger rims, you'll be amazed.

[6potWil6pot]

Probably the tyres more than the alloys i think! Rubber makes a huge difference on handling.

[320Touring]

problem with going up in rim size is that you lose sidewall depth-ergo you have less 'spring' in the tyre.

Thats why the ride becomes firmer...

IMO a max size of 215/45/16 is a good plan


glad the 15" BBS made a difference mate!they are great wheels!

[JoeP]

I only really bought them for aesthetic reasons and because they were cheap. I had no idea they would make that much difference to the way the car drives, the extra width also makes the car look a bit more purposeful. Do 16s not make the ride too hard?

[Geeman]

My 320iS had 190bhp... I was still on the standard 14" Cross spokes with Bridgestones on, and I still reckon it would out-handle my current Sport on 15's... and the tyres on my Sport are Eagle F1's - one of the best!

But tyres DO make loads of difference... not just the size of the rim.

[orangecurry]

isn't the 320is a europe-only jobbie?
is it a 4-pot? If so, that's why it outhandles the 'sport' which I assume is a UK 325?