Going from 18s to 19s?

[darich]

My 2007 coupe is currently on 108 style split rim wheels. It's a style I've never been that keen on.
I might be having my hand forced but I wondered about what wheel to get.
Style wise, I love CSL wheels, but it's more the size.
I could stick with the stock 18inch or I could go for 19s. Thing with 19s is, I've been reading about offsets until I'm blue in the face but I'm still unsure and the last thing I want to do is buy the wrong size and they rub against something.

I was also thinking I'd go from 225x40x18 to 225x35x19 and from 255x35x19 to 255x30x19.
Car is a Sport model with standard suspension

Is this a wise move? Anyone done similar? Should I stick with 18s?

 

[j3nks79]

I went from 18’s to 19” csl reps. They do look really good but the ride is firmer.
I’ve now gone back to 18’s

 

[brillomaster]

ride comfort and handling arguably better on 18s. 19s for looks. Personally i think 19s are too big for an E85 or E86.

willtheyfit.com can help with offsets and tyre sizes

Also the wheel and tyre thread just before this one asked a very similar question regarding styles, might be helpful... https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=143068

 

[darich]

I went from 18’s to 19” csl reps. They do look really good but the ride is firmer.
I’ve now gone back to 18’s
E21F0107-D8DB-4578-8941-CF456F04923F.jpeg72658273-F4B0-45DD-B8E0-B8D6C2B9A9FB.jpeg

Looks lovely.
Is your car on stock suspension?
I'm not against 18s especially if it looks like that

 

[coldel]

18s for the ride 19s for the look, is a general rule I would say!

If you get the right offset (or just get the same as OEM and add spacers if you are concerned) 18s can still look great and stanced. I just posted a pic of my old 350z on dished with a more aggressive offset in another wheel thread, you wouldnt know they are 18 but got the benefit of the ride and handling improvements.

 

[darich]

ride comfort and handling arguably better on 18s. 19s for looks. Personally i think 19s are too big for an E85 or E86.

willtheyfit.com can help with offsets and tyre sizes

Also the wheel and tyre thread just before this one asked a very similar question regarding styles, might be helpful... https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=143068

Thanks...I did read that thread. And it partly encouraged my question about whether I should go to 19s or stay with 18s

 

[darich]

18s for the ride 19s for the look, is a general rule I would say!

If you get the right offset (or just get the same as OEM and add spacers if you are concerned) 18s can still look great and stanced. I just posted a pic of my old 350z on dished with a more aggressive offset in another wheel thread, you wouldnt know they are 18 but got the benefit of the ride and handling improvements.

I saw that pic..it was in the thread one of the other posters linked.
It's not really for ride because the Z4 is not my daily...I expect I'll do maybe 3-4k miles per year. So comfort isn't necessarily top of the list but I still don't want my fillings shaken out or anything to rub underneath.
I'm kinda leaning towards 18s I think

 

[coldel]

Depends also where you intend to drive it, I live in zone 3 london so ride comfort is important as well as ability to negotiate pot holes and speed bumps!

 

[darich]

Depends also where you intend to drive it, I live in zone 3 london so ride comfort is important as well as ability to negotiate pot holes and speed bumps!

I'm on Lanarkshire, Scotland. Some might call it pothole capital of the world!

 

[j3nks79]

I went from 18’s to 19” csl reps. They do look really good but the ride is firmer.
I’ve now gone back to 18’s
E21F0107-D8DB-4578-8941-CF456F04923F.jpeg72658273-F4B0-45DD-B8E0-B8D6C2B9A9FB.jpeg

Looks lovely.
Is your car on stock suspension?
I'm not against 18s especially if it looks like that

Standard sport suspension with tue 19’s.
Then I’ve lowered it and fitted the 18’s.

 

[j3nks79]

I went from 18’s to 19” csl reps. They do look really good but the ride is firmer.
I’ve now gone back to 18’s
E21F0107-D8DB-4578-8941-CF456F04923F.jpeg72658273-F4B0-45DD-B8E0-B8D6C2B9A9FB.jpeg

Looks lovely.
Is your car on stock suspension?
I'm not against 18s especially if it looks like that

Standard suspension with the 19’.
I’ve lowered it now and fitted the 18’s

 

[darich]

I went from 18’s to 19” csl reps. They do look really good but the ride is firmer.
I’ve now gone back to 18’s
E21F0107-D8DB-4578-8941-CF456F04923F.jpeg72658273-F4B0-45DD-B8E0-B8D6C2B9A9FB.jpeg

Looks lovely.
Is your car on stock suspension?
I'm not against 18s especially if it looks like that

Standard suspension with the 19’.
I’ve lowered it now and fitted the 18’s

I'm inclined to stick with the standard suspension but I'm leaning towards the 18s now.

 

[plenty]

The diameters are identical on 255 35 18 v 255 30 19 and only 3% larger 225 35 19 v 225 40 18, so you'll have no rubbing issues as long as you fit the same offset.

 

[darich]

The diameters are identical on 255 35 18 v 255 30 19 and only 3% larger 225 35 19 v 225 40 18, so you'll have no rubbing issues as long as you fit the same offset.

Am I right in saying the standard offsets are 47 on front and 50 on rear

 

[brillomaster]

correct, 8" ET47 on the front, 8.5" ET50 on the back.

you could consider some MV3 wheels from an E90, they're also 8"/8.5" by 18, but have a little lower offset (ET34/ET37 i think) so they fill the arches a bit better.

this is an E86 on MV3s...

 

[darich]

correct, 8" ET47 on the front, 8.5" ET50 on the back.

you could consider some MV3 wheels from an E90, they're also 8"/8.5" by 18, but have a little lower offset (ET34/ET37 i think) so they fill the arches a bit better.

this is an E86 on MV3s...

They're pretty nice....prefer the MV2 I think

 

[darich]

There's a set of 19inch CSLs for sale on Facebook not too far from me.
8.5x19 et35 and 9.5x19 et27

Any ideas if these are too low in the offset or would they fit if I got a particular tyre size?

 

[NS66]

good decision!!

19's look great but 18's are the limit especially with UK dreadful roads.

I would say 17's are probably the ideal for ride and handling but do look a little retro these days.

 

[j3nks79]

There's a set of 19inch CSLs for sale on Facebook not too far from me.
8.5x19 et35 and 9.5x19 et27

Any ideas if these are too low in the offset or would they fit if I got a particular tyre size?

Fronts will fit lovely. Rears are very aggressive and you will have poke. You would need to run a 245/35/19 tyre so it wouldn’t scrub.
Ideally for rears you would need ET35 to 42 with a 9.5J

 

[darich]

There's a set of 19inch CSLs for sale on Facebook not too far from me.
8.5x19 et35 and 9.5x19 et27

Any ideas if these are too low in the offset or would they fit if I got a particular tyre size?

Fronts will fit lovely. Rears are very aggressive and you will have poke. You would need to run a 245/35/19 tyre so it wouldn’t run.
Ideally for rears you would need ET35 to 42 with a 9.5J

Great info....I think I'll give them a miss.
Despite the 19s looking awesome, I think it might be more hassle than it's worth trying to get a set that fit well.