Rims and Tires

[Aiden]

I have a 328i 96'. It is time to replace the rims and tires. I dont know much about the rims. I am looking to spend 1,000 to 1,200 on a setup of rims and tires.
Can anyone recommend from experience and preference as well some good rim brands? Are there any GOOD replica companies out there?

Also, I was considering replacing the old rims with BMW brand rims, perhaps a newer line (some 5 spoke model). Are there any pros and cons to doing this? The cost is about 2x as much. I am trying to decide if it is "cheesy" to drive a BMW without BMW rims...what do you all think?

 

[jjjjjjj]

not so much cheese as class. my 1995 (pictured) got into a minor curb-hopping accident that thrashed 2 rims and a control arm (could have been worse, avioded body damage) has 17" style #44's that i believe came out in 2002, so when i got them, all my friends(even my boss...) thought i had a new bimmer! i had some 17" rice rims on my old E30, (which i bent several times, these new bmw rims are practicly indestructable) and every time i pulled up next to a stock E36 or an E46 (or even a 5 or 7 series with the sport pkg.) it made me wish i had the ol' stock 14" BMW ones on it...

but on the other hand, i bought the bimmer for the look and performance. i could care less about the 'status' or 'class' that may be attached to it. i just prefer to keep it simple, but IMO most def. go for some 17x8" with 225/45ZR17 tires! others may not agree, but i don't think it's a bimmer without the shoes, fake sticker or not!!

I'm 22 and just keepin' it real, if you want the 'bling-bling' (a.k.a. excessive tickets and police harrassment) then go for it, it's really hard to make a bimmer look bad!!

 

[Abdoman]

yesterday I saw a 745 with some aftermarket rims - 5 spoke BC Forged and it looked freakin' awesome. I thought it was the best looking 7 I have every seen.

 

[Aiden]

Enkei

Thanks for your input guys. I worked with a guy yesterday to put together a good package for rims and tires that will keep me at about 1300 tops altogether. The package is Cooper Zeon 2XS (215/45R-17 87W). http://discounttire.com/dtc/searchT...&rc=ILCINT&vid=006952&cs=215&sw=false&yr=1996

The rims are Enkei DM5 (17X7 5-112/120 38AM)
http://discounttire.com/dtc/sortWhe...wd=17&rw=&sortOrder=Price&c=1&pager.offset=10

That is the setup. Joe (the service center guy) was a big proponent of Enkei rims because of the true 360 degree wheel, lug nut locks/cover and several other features. I really wanted to stay away from chrome to begin with due to the non-durability of them and that I live in a climate that perpetuates rust. The benefit of buying at this place is that they will also rotate and re-balance your tires for you every 5k miles for free. They will also switch your winter tires on and off for free as well come October. I really did not want to spend more than about $1300 tops so this is right in my price range. I know they are not top of the line bling bling (not really what I was going for...have to be a bit more "conservative" in my line of work), but it seems like a nice setup to me for the price, and the additional service provided by the shop is well worth the $$ as well...a normal tire rotation at my other mechanic is $45.00 plus tax etc...figure the tires last for 35k minimum, that is $300 worth of service that I saved. So to me it seems like a great arrangement. If there are any red-flags on brand, cost or anything please let me know your thoughts, as I said this is the first time I have done this and I want to do it right. Thanks again for your input!!

 

[Abdoman]

I like those rims - post pics when all is said and done.

 

[jjjjjjj]

those wheels will look nice, will really sport up the 328!! but are you sure you want those little 215 tires? i have done business with dicount tire for years and the guy i always go to up there almost laughed at me when i wanted to get longer lasting, cheaper "R" tires instead of the high speed rated "ZR" tires...

i was concerned about balding them out in 3 months, but he recommended the escta supra 225/45ZR17 because they were the longest-lasting ZR tires he had, and he also recommended i keep 40-42lbs of pressure (lengthy explanation about how a car such as a camaro with sub-par suspension would rattle and shake with such high pressure, while it would greatly compliment the tight bmw suspension, plus higher gas mileage and better tire wear) and man do they grab! in the rain, off the line and around the corners, i couldn't be happier (no snow in texas, just 100+ every day) and i've had them since dec. 03, (13k miles) they are at about 70% life (and i'm rough, with the 5spd)

discount tire REALLY takes care of you, i had a flat (bolt) that was too big to patch and for only $8 i got the $125 tire replaced (buy road hazard!), no questions, i just dropped of my bad wheel and came back after lunch and they had it already mounted and balanced (be VERY careful watching those kids work up there....i prefer to put my tires on myself)

http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?tirebrand=Kumho&tiremodel=Ecsta+Supra+712&pc=K712-5506

sorry if i sound excessively anal but i've had my bimmers and rims messed up/scratched up/dinged up by too many a$$hole mechanics... what color is your 328? be sure and post some pics

 

[Aiden]

thanks

Thanks again for the input everyone.

I really know next to nothing about this so excuse my ignorance:

what is the difference between 215's and 225's? I want to be careful not to get too big of tires to avoid rub in the wheel well when I hit bumps take a tight turn etc...if you could clarify the difference between 215 and so on that would help me know what questions to ask regarding looking at alternative tires. Thanks!

I will post pics as soon as I get the car all refurbed...has a small nickel sized rust spot on the wheel well...also need to get it detailed/waxed etc...it will look sweet when it is finished and I will be sure to post it.

 

[jjjjjjj]

215 and 225 are the ratio of tire width to the rim and 40 and 45 are basically a ratio of the total diameter. for example, a 335/30 (which would never fit) will be like an 11" wide tire that stands about 1 1/2" of the rim and a 205/50 will be a 7" wide tire that stands about 3 1/2" off the rim.

a 215/45 is roughly a 1/2" smaller around and probably 1" narrower than a 225/45. i did a lot of research to find the optimal tire size for the 325i sedan, so your 328i should be identical in that aspect. i'm running 225/45's on an 8" wide rim, and it fills out the fender wells quite nicely and i have never, ever rubbed, even in the most extreme, tire screeching corners, and i'm even considering getting some 1" or 1 1/2" lowering springs.

if you are running a 7" wide rim, it will look practically the same except the tires will appear slightly wider, which is probably a good thing! a friend of mine put 215/40's on his 325ic and it looks IMO like he has little rubber bands for tires with a gaping hole around the tires!

i feel that you want as much tire on the ground as possible, as it is the only thing on the vehicle that actually touches the ground...but that's just my opinion!

 

[bigdavid1001]

if you're going with the 17x7 then you wi,ll probably have to go with the 215/50. If you get a 17x8 then you can get up to the 225x45 or 235x40 even.

 

[Madd Fajita]

I went with Millia Miglia MMII-2 Sport wheels from www.tirerack.com. They are made to accept the BMW center roundel, so they look like factory special rims. The size is 17x8, and I have 235/40/17 Yokohama AVS-ES100 tires on them. They do not rub at all on my 1997 328i. If you plan on using the same tires/wheels in winter, a narrower 225 or 215 might be better as a narrow tire digs through snow better. The whole setup cost about $1200 including shipping.

Check it out at: http://www.sounddomain.com/id/madd_fajita or http://gabe.ume.maine.edu/play/vehicles/bmw/