Ride comfort with wide wheels

Joker · 08-13-2006, 10:11 AM

Those of you that have changed the OEM 16" wheels to 17" or even bigger wheels: How big is the change in ride comfort and steering wheel feedback? I want to get wider and bigger wheels because the OEM 205/55 16" don't have enough grip on the twisty roads (and look too damn small to me). The problem is that the roads up here have big grooves because of the winter and I'm worried the 225/45 or wider tyres will be pulling the car in the grooves.

Sho · 08-13-2006, 11:44 AM

How bad the road condition is in Finland?
I am running 17x8.5" wheels with 235/45-17 run flat. The ride is much better than the stock 255/40-17. I think 225 would be fine.

Joker · 08-14-2006, 06:06 AM

Well some (main) roads are in good condition but the B-roads that have all the cool corners are rather bumpy. But I think that the 225 isn't too wide but I think I wont be getting them as run flats then. Regular tyres should be more comfortable then?

Zagor · 08-15-2006, 10:01 AM

I've just put 245/18 (front) and 275/18 (rear) on my 330i Touring. This is a bit wider than most people, but the ride is still much better than the stock (17 inch) wheels. As far as I remember, swedish and finnish roads are about the same quality.

The key, of course, is to dump the runflats.

Joker · 08-15-2006, 12:25 PM

Ok Zagor, I'll dump the run flats and move to some wider wheels...

Tack så mycket!

08-13-2006, 10:11 AM	#1
Joker Private First Class 8 Rep 143 Posts Drives: BMW 320i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Finland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 320i [0.00]	Ride comfort with wide wheels Those of you that have changed the OEM 16" wheels to 17" or even bigger wheels: How big is the change in ride comfort and steering wheel feedback? I want to get wider and bigger wheels because the OEM 205/55 16" don't have enough grip on the twisty roads (and look too damn small to me). The problem is that the roads up here have big grooves because of the winter and I'm worried the 225/45 or wider tyres will be pulling the car in the grooves. __________________
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08-13-2006, 11:44 AM	#2
Sho Lieutenant 36 Rep 574 Posts Drives: E90 325i 6-speed Join Date: May 2005 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	How bad the road condition is in Finland? I am running 17x8.5" wheels with 235/45-17 run flat. The ride is much better than the stock 255/40-17. I think 225 would be fine. __________________ 2006 325i Sport - SSR GT7, Euro tails, Rogue Ikon muffler/w custom 3.5" piping, Painted OEM Splitters 2005 Toyota Matrix - Commuter
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08-14-2006, 06:06 AM	#3
Joker Private First Class 8 Rep 143 Posts Drives: BMW 320i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Finland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 320i [0.00]	Well some (main) roads are in good condition but the B-roads that have all the cool corners are rather bumpy. But I think that the 225 isn't too wide but I think I wont be getting them as run flats then. Regular tyres should be more comfortable then? __________________
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08-15-2006, 10:01 AM	#4
Zagor . 15 Rep 141 Posts Drives: 330i Touring Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i Touring [0.00]	I've just put 245/18 (front) and 275/18 (rear) on my 330i Touring. This is a bit wider than most people, but the ride is still much better than the stock (17 inch) wheels. As far as I remember, swedish and finnish roads are about the same quality. The key, of course, is to dump the runflats.
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08-15-2006, 12:25 PM	#5
Joker Private First Class 8 Rep 143 Posts Drives: BMW 320i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Finland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 320i [0.00]	Ok Zagor, I'll dump the run flats and move to some wider wheels... Tack så mycket! __________________
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