[Bronze]

SE Michigan roads are just awful. I was in Chicago on I-94/294/290 last week, and those roads are gorgeous. Lots of traffic, but gorgeous.

Summer wheels go on later this week, but come fall, if any of you in SE Michigan are selling 17" wheels that fit over E90 335i calipers, I'm interested in seeing what you have (bargains, not HREs, though).

I use my 18" sport OEM wheels with winter tires (type 162 I think?), and while I love the tires in the snow, the narrow sidewall just isn't enough on 18s to keep from bubbling. I have THREE of my four tires with bubbles on them.

So I think I'm going to move to 17s for winter, and see if that goes better.

[tambat]

lol at calling chicago roads beautiful. Maybe the highways, but get off on any exit in the city and the roads looks like we've had bombs dropped on us. its especially terrible in the city. only advice i can offer is to just buy road hazard warranties when you buy tires. i had a blowout last week from hitting a pothole in the chicago suburbs and replacing that one tire already covered the cost of the warranty. totally worth it.

[Bronze]

Originally Posted by tambat

lol at calling chicago roads beautiful. Maybe the highways, but get off on any exit in the city and the roads looks like we've had bombs dropped on us. its especially terrible in the city. only advice i can offer is to just buy road hazard warranties when you buy tires. i had a blowout last week from hitting a pothole in the chicago suburbs and replacing that one tire already covered the cost of the warranty. totally worth it.

I figured you'd enjoy the compliment. I was in Schaumburg on surface streets, which of course isn't the city proper, so they may have better upkeep. Your freeways aren't bad at all in pothole status. Maybe it's all those tolls being put to work. In Detroit, the roads are shit whether you're in Bloomfield Hills, Grosse Pointe, Jefferson Ave, or Midtown. Good suggestion on the road hazard warranty, too. That might be something I put into the equation.

[trohde78]

That sucks, man! I had 17's and still took out two tires and bent the wheels on our "gorgeous" roads this winter. :-(

[ken1137]

Yep, just took that route today up to Grand Rapids for a meeting. Wholly shit! 294 in IL feels like a NASCAR track compared to those Hwys in IN (294) and MI (196). Hit a huge pothole in the hwy (avoided hundreds) and threw out my suspension for the 2nd time this year! Wheel and tire look ok, but will remove them this weekend for a closer inspection.

[Spazdoc]

I guess it is all relative. On of my coworkers traded in his flashed 2013 550 because he blew out 6 tires due to potholes. And he is just down the street from me in Winnetka. He cannot down size to 17s because of the brakes, and we did not think dropping to 18s would make that much difference.

[scott in cincy]

I'd try switching to non runflats first. Are all of you still running those?

[335xs2dinan]

Originally Posted by scott in cincy

I'd try switching to non runflats first. Are all of you still running those?

completely agree, lived in Chicago and Detroit area and got tons of bubbles until I switched to Michelin pilot supersports. no bubbles.

[Bronze]

Originally Posted by scott in cincy

I'd try switching to non runflats first. Are all of you still running those?

My winter Pirellis are non-runflat. I'm thinking run flats may hold up better to pot holes, given their thicker sidewall construction.

[Spazdoc]

I have had 4 bubbled RFT. 3 with 18 in rims while in Boston, and one with 19 in rims in Chicago. I have also cracked three 19 in rims in Chicago with RFT mounted. My winters are also 18 in non-RFT, and had one tire cut after a bad pothole, but not bubble.

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by scott in cincy

I'd try switching to non runflats first. Are all of you still running those?

My winters are not RFTs, nor are my summers. Hwy suck in IN and parts of MI. I may rent a car to see that client again.

BTW...confirmed my front right wheel is now bent due to that enormous pot hole in MI.

[Bronze]

Originally Posted by Spazdoc

I have had 4 bubbled RFT. 3 with 18 in rims while in Boston, and one with 19 in rims in Chicago. I have also cracked three 19 in rims in Chicago with RFT mounted. My winters are also 18 in non-RFT, and had one tire cut after a bad pothole, but not bubble.

OK, that's good data, shattering my potential plan B.

[asus389]

Originally Posted by Bronze

My winter Pirellis are non-runflat. I'm thinking run flats may hold up better to pot holes, given their thicker sidewall construction.

I switched to non-runflats two years ago and I haven't had a bent rim since. But I am like a ninja swerving to avoid potholes and I won't drive on some roads at all due to the poor condition. My guess is that RFT, while they are thicker in the sidewall actually transmit more of the impact to the rim/suspension causing more bent rims and "pothole explosions". Ideally you need a tire that is well constructed/thick enough to withstand the impact, but also soft/light enough to dissipate the energy so that the impact doesn't damage your car.

FWIW, my summers are Bridgestone Potenza s04 and Winters are Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3. Both seem to have held up well (no bubbles) and provide decent ride quality and grip. Although this past winter I could have used a more aggressive winter tire I guess. I am running 225/45 17 for my summers and 205/55 16 for my winters. I don't think 16s are an option for 335s though.

Anyways, with respect to wheels - if you can't find a used set, I have had a good experience with the Rial Salerno wheels from tire rack. They are light, well constructed, don't require hub rings, and they look pretty much like 189s.