Going from 17" to 18" but retaining "square" set up - Options?

[Varixto]

Hi,

Once I replace my faulty AUC sensor (hopefully this weekend), next job in the list is getting a new set of alloys / tyres. I would like to go from my current set up (17", 225 square set up) to 18" (I have read about the tendency of 19" alloys to crack and that has put me off the idea...)

Ideally, I would like to retain the square set up but all the 18" alloy sets I have found on eBay (mostly 400M style) are staggered (ie: 8J front, 8.5J back -- 225/255).

What are my 18" square (or as close to square as possible) set up options?

Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestion.

 

[peter2704]

Don’t think they crack if you run normal tyres not run flat I am running 19”square and all good

 

[brillomaster]

You could still run a square 225 tyre on staggered 8" and 8.5" wheels, if it's a square tyre setup you're after... just put something on the wheels to distinguish the wider rears...

 

[Varixto]

You could still run a square 225 tyre on staggered 8" and 8.5" wheels, if it's a square tyre setup you're after... just put something on the wheels to distinguish the wider rears...

Thanks for your reply. What about a 255 square set up on a 8.5J alloy set? Would it be ok the front? (in terms of clearance).

 

[Varixto]

Don’t think they crack if you run normal tyres not run flat I am running 19”square and all good

Hmm...interesting.

 

[Mr Tidy]

AFAIK all the 18" OE wheels for Z4s were staggered.

I know they are E85 wheels but I did have sets of square 18" CSL Reps and MV2 Reps, and a set of four front M 224s.

But I seem to remember someone on here running a set of 4 fronts on an E89, just can't remember who! :roll:

If I ran staggered 8 and 8.5 wheels with the same tyres front and rear I'd probably go for 235 or even 245, as a 225 on an 8.5 would look a bit stretched IMHO.

By all accounts 19s are far less likely to crack with non run-flats (although they'll be staggered)! I had a set of 18" Style 295s on my previous E86, but they were staggered too!

Probably not a popular idea but why not just stick to square 17s? They work fine on my 330i.

 

[peter2704]

Mine are 19 square 235 front 245 rear looks fine

 

[peter2704]

 

[Varixto]

Does anyone here have pictures of an e89 with 18" 400M style alloys fitted by any chance?
It seems that this style is the easiest to find on eBay...

 

[Varixto]

AFAIK all the 18" OE wheels for Z4s were staggered.

I know they are E85 wheels but I did have sets of square 18" CSL Reps and MV2 Reps, and a set of four front M 224s.

But I seem to remember someone on here running a set of 4 fronts on an E89, just can't remember who! :roll:

If I ran staggered 8 and 8.5 wheels with the same tyres front and rear I'd probably go for 235 or even 245, as a 225 on an 8.5 would look a bit stretched IMHO.

By all accounts 19s are far less likely to crack with non run-flats (although they'll be staggered)! I had a set of 18" Style 295s on my previous E86, but they were staggered too!

Probably not a popular idea but why not just stick to square 17s? They work fine on my 330i.

Thanks for the reply and advice. I have decided to go for 18" rather than 19". I have seen a set of relatively cheap set of 18" 400M's (8J/8.5J) on eBay and the seller is located near my workplace. I will also ask my local tyre fitter for different options and take it from there, I guess. I still want to have a set up as square as possible...
And if nothing fully convinces me, well...this is not an emergency, as my 17" tyres are still in pretty good condition. I can wait until I find a better option.

 

[B21]

Late to the party…what’s the focus / obsession on a square set up?

Are you going to carry a full size 5th wheel as a spare ?

 

[Zedebee]

Personally I like a square setup as you can swap front to back to manage wear.

 

[B21]

Personally I like a square setup as you can swap front to back to manage wear.

Understood…I do the Mini and Volvo on that basis…

Given BMW on the E89 settled on almost exclusively on staggered set ups..I’d just go for two rear sets for one front set :driving:

 

[Varixto]

Late to the party…what’s the focus / obsession on a square set up?
Are you going to carry a full size 5th wheel as a spare ?

I have read posts in several forums about the staggered set up introducing too much understeering. The posts I have read mentioned/recommended a square set up for a more neutral/oversteering response and behaviour. I do like driving the car in a...let's say "spirited" way and would also love to be able to take it at some point in the future to a track so I am just simply a bit apprehensive about it. Having said that, I am also aware that 80%-90% of the time I will be driving the car at speeds and in situations where it just won't matter. I don't know if I am overthinking this...

 

[B21]

Late to the party…what’s the focus / obsession on a square set up?
Are you going to carry a full size 5th wheel as a spare ?

I have read posts in several forums about the staggered set up introducing too much understeering. The posts I have read mentioned/recommended a square set up for a more neutral/oversteering response and behaviour. I do like driving the car in a...let's say "spirited" way and would also love to be able to take it at some point in the future to a track so I am just simply a bit apprehensive about it. Having said that, I am also aware that 80%-90% of the time I will be driving the car at speeds and in situations where it just won't matter. I don't know if I am overthinking this...

Could you point out the several E89 tests that highlight this issue pls?

 

[Varixto]

Late to the party…what’s the focus / obsession on a square set up?
Are you going to carry a full size 5th wheel as a spare ?

I have read posts in several forums about the staggered set up introducing too much understeering. The posts I have read mentioned/recommended a square set up for a more neutral/oversteering response and behaviour. I do like driving the car in a...let's say "spirited" way and would also love to be able to take it at some point in the future to a track so I am just simply a bit apprehensive about it. Having said that, I am also aware that 80%-90% of the time I will be driving the car at speeds and in situations where it just won't matter. I don't know if I am overthinking this...

Could you point out the several E89 tests that highlight this issue pls?

As mentioned earlier, nothing scientific. Just posts from other owners (ie: personal experiences) in other forums.

 

[B21]

I have read posts in several forums about the staggered set up introducing too much understeering. The posts I have read mentioned/recommended a square set up for a more neutral/oversteering response and behaviour. I do like driving the car in a...let's say "spirited" way and would also love to be able to take it at some point in the future to a track so I am just simply a bit apprehensive about it. Having said that, I am also aware that 80%-90% of the time I will be driving the car at speeds and in situations where it just won't matter. I don't know if I am overthinking this...

Could you point out the several E89 tests that highlight this issue pls?

As mentioned earlier, nothing scientific. Just posts from other owners (ie: personal experiences) in other forums.

So these posts were specifically E89s?

Wonder why BMW doesn’t offer a square set up on any wheel bar the baby 17”…even then they offer a 17” staggered set up..

 

[Varixto]

Could you point out the several E89 tests that highlight this issue pls?

As mentioned earlier, nothing scientific. Just posts from other owners (ie: personal experiences) in other forums.

So these posts were specifically E89s?

Wonder why BMW doesn’t offer a square set up on any wheel bar the baby 17”…even then they offer a 17” staggered set up..

From what I have read, BMW does this because correcting understeering is more intuitive than correcting oversteering, specially for more novice drivers.
Lots of people will come to a BMW from a front wheel drive car. With these, if you really over do it on a bend, you have to let off (ie: do not touch) the accelerator pedal and not brake (this is the only unintuitive bit o front wheel drive cars, as most people will slam the brakes) and bring it back in line by turning against the understeer (ie: the natural reaction). Rear wheel drive cars behave in a completely different manner, which is less intuitive.

 

[sars]

One of the other benefits of a square set up is less road noise, especially as you sit quite close to the rear tyres. [ref]Varixto[/ref], I also had the square 225R17 set up and upgraded to a set of BBS alloys 225R18 with Goodyear F1's, go for it.

 

[Varixto]

One of the other benefits of a square set up is less road noise, especially as you sit quite close to the rear tyres. [ref]Varixto[/ref], I also had the square 225R17 set up and upgraded to a set of BBS alloys 225R18 with Goodyear F1's, go for it.

Thanks for your reply. I feel tempted to go aftermarket, as you suggest...the only reason for sticking to BMW alloys is because if possible, I would like to keep the car as OEM-looking as possible. Member MrTidy replied earlier something about another member using 4 x 18" 225 fronts (ie: 8J all around). Maybe this could be an option? (it would be more expensive though...).