Question about rims, tires, and comfort on 328i sedan

E90ninja · 01-13-2011, 01:18 AM

Hey guys,

I just bought my first BMW a few months ago, a 2007 328i sedan, black on black. It's got the stock 16" rims on it, and I was thinking of trying to get 18"s on it instead, particularly these:

http://www.elementwheels.com/products.asp?cat=3623

MRR GT-7

I'm very content with the comfort of my ride right now. I don't feel the road at all, and I like that a lot. My main question is:

would getting bigger rims make my ride less comfortable? Would I feel the road more? and to what degree?

This is definitely a deciding factor on whether or not I upgrade the rims on my car. As played out as it may be, i think it would look aesthetically sick to have a blacked out car, rims included, since I'm tinting the windows and changing the lights and etc, but if it ends up making for a shittier ride then it isn't worth it.

Thanks!

XieJin · 01-13-2011, 03:05 AM

First question is if you have the sports suspension, in that case you might feel a difference. If not i believe the difference will be negligible. Obviously it depends on what tires you are putting on, RFT's seem to be harder and give a bumpier ride if you're considering them

db2112 · 01-13-2011, 07:45 AM

I would assume with stock 16" wheels that you do not have the sport suspension. You are giving up some sidewall cushion by increasing the rim size. I think 18" rims will make the ride rougher and you would feel a lot more of the road. But as XieJin said, tire selection will make a difference. I have the sport suspension with 17" wheels on my car and I wouldn't even think of going to a bigger rim - ride is harsh enough for me already.

quality_sound · 01-13-2011, 07:53 AM

As noted above you will generally feel more of the road with shorter sidewalls, but there is a caveat. Some tires are have softer sidewalls so it's not ALL about the aspect ratio. Pirellis, for one, are pretty soft where Michelins tend to be stiffer.

Then there's the dampers. My M3, on the OEM 19s wearing the Continental ContiSport Contact3, was softer than a friends 328i on 17s when my M was in comfort mode. I test drove a 328iT and it was also stiffer than my M, I can not recall what wheel/tire combo it was wearing, however.

HighlandPete · 01-13-2011, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90ninja

...I'm very content with the comfort of my ride right now. I don't feel the road at all, and I like that a lot. My main question is:

would getting bigger rims make my ride less comfortable? Would I feel the road more? and to what degree?

..... but if it ends up making for a shittier ride then it isn't worth it.

You may be interested in a current discussion over in the UK Technical Forum, on 'downsizing' from 18" to 17".

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=475438

HighlandPete

E90ninja · 01-13-2011, 07:34 PM

what tires do you guys suggest for the best blend of comfort and control?

01-13-2011, 01:18 AM	#1
E90ninja New Member 1 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2007 328i black on black Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Question about rims, tires, and comfort on 328i sedan Hey guys, I just bought my first BMW a few months ago, a 2007 328i sedan, black on black. It's got the stock 16" rims on it, and I was thinking of trying to get 18"s on it instead, particularly these: http://www.elementwheels.com/products.asp?cat=3623 MRR GT-7 I'm very content with the comfort of my ride right now. I don't feel the road at all, and I like that a lot. My main question is: would getting bigger rims make my ride less comfortable? Would I feel the road more? and to what degree? This is definitely a deciding factor on whether or not I upgrade the rims on my car. As played out as it may be, i think it would look aesthetically sick to have a blacked out car, rims included, since I'm tinting the windows and changing the lights and etc, but if it ends up making for a shittier ride then it isn't worth it. Thanks!
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01-13-2011, 03:05 AM	#2
XieJin Private First Class 10 Rep 197 Posts Drives: '15 M235i xDrive Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	First question is if you have the sports suspension, in that case you might feel a difference. If not i believe the difference will be negligible. Obviously it depends on what tires you are putting on, RFT's seem to be harder and give a bumpier ride if you're considering them
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01-13-2011, 07:45 AM	#3
db2112 Enlisted Member 9 Rep 30 Posts Drives: '07 328i Sedan Sport Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cary, NC iTrader: (0)	I would assume with stock 16" wheels that you do not have the sport suspension. You are giving up some sidewall cushion by increasing the rim size. I think 18" rims will make the ride rougher and you would feel a lot more of the road. But as XieJin said, tire selection will make a difference. I have the sport suspension with 17" wheels on my car and I wouldn't even think of going to a bigger rim - ride is harsh enough for me already.
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01-13-2011, 07:53 AM	#4
quality_sound 8 tracks of madness 62 Rep 2,735 Posts Drives: Slowly Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: At home iTrader: (1)	As noted above you will generally feel more of the road with shorter sidewalls, but there is a caveat. Some tires are have softer sidewalls so it's not ALL about the aspect ratio. Pirellis, for one, are pretty soft where Michelins tend to be stiffer. Then there's the dampers. My M3, on the OEM 19s wearing the Continental ContiSport Contact3, was softer than a friends 328i on 17s when my M was in comfort mode. I test drove a 328iT and it was also stiffer than my M, I can not recall what wheel/tire combo it was wearing, however.
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01-13-2011, 07:34 PM	#6
E90ninja New Member 1 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2007 328i black on black Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	what tires do you guys suggest for the best blend of comfort and control?
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