New tyres or refurb wheels - which first?

[John Gibson]

Your advice / opinions would be appreciated:

My 2011 23i runs on 17” wheels with runflats (the ride isn’t too bad, mainly I suspect because the wheels are dinky ). All 4 tyres have plenty of tread on them but I have just discovered that the front tyres are 11 years old (!) so they really need to go. The rears are only 2 years old so are fine. The wheels are tatty so I’m thinking of getting them refurbished and this would seem a good opportunity

So, do I have the wheels done then buy new tyres or do i get the tyres then have the wheels done (sounds wrong to me but I know nowt)?
Do I replace just the 2 old RFs (with new RFs, obvs) or do I replace all 4 with non-RFs (bearing mind I don’t expect the sort of improved ride you’d get with 19” wheels)?

 

[mr.tourette]

I bought new tyres and had them delivered to the wheel refurb place..kills 2 birds with one stone and saves cost of fitting afterwards..I'd replace all 4 wheels with non run flats

 

[sars]

The 17" alloys with RFT are quite comfortable, if you are happy with the look replace the front tyres first with RFT's, I had Goodyear F1's with RFT's on the 435D and preferred them to the Bridgestone's. Then when the rears are getting near the limit, refurb them and fit the same make/model of RFT's on the rears

Or

Start looking on eBay for a set of 18" wheels with or without tyres, the 18" in a conventional tyre, are not noticeably less comfortable than the 17" with RFT's. A good place to look about offsets and what will fit is https://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/z4_e89_alloys or you could go aftermarket wheel package including tyres if the budget allows.

 

[sars]

Just noticed that you can get a set of genuine 18" 276's from that link for £525 or with Goodyear F1 A6's for £970, that's an absolute bargain

https://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/z4_e89_alloys/18_bmw_276_wheel_1818

 

[Argyll Andy]

Hello and welcome John, as Sars says that’s an absolute bargain

I bought the same wheels from this company but 19’s. I’ve attached a couple of picture for reference so you can see them on an E89. One of the easiest wheels to keep clean I’ve ever owner. Company was great to deal with too

 

[SonnyA85]

Get the wheels refurbed. Buying bigger wheels = harsher ride that is a fact. But bigger wheels look better is the tradeoff. Do you want the car to look better or ride better?

Personally I'd get them refurbed first then replace the front 2 with non run flats. Then when the rear 2 need replacing get them replaced with non run flats too.

 

[B21]

On E89s there are 3 variables that broadly determine rude quality..

Run flats or not especially the OE Bridgestones

Wheel diameter 17/18/19

Suspension…SE / MSport / Adaptive

You’ve not made it clear if your car is an SE or MSport..I would assume SE?

So the squidgy-ish option is non run flats on 17” rims with SE suspension…

The worse is 19” on OE runflats on MSport suspension..

General consensus is that 17” run flats are OK on SE suspension

19” run flats on MSport suspension are pretty much universally derided..

18” is regarded by many as the perfect trade off tolerating most forms of tyres and suspension..

I would suggest the best end solution is 18” with non run flats

Then 17” with non runflats

Then 17” with runflats..

FWIW most tyre companies either specifically advise against mixing run flats with non flats even if they are both the same on an axle.

That’s coming from someone whose tried 17/18/19 wheels on run f flats and non run flats with all forms of suspension…all on E89s..

E85s are a separate bag of issues ..

 

[John Gibson]

Thanks, all - much appreciated.

I should have said my Z4 isn’t an M Sport which, together with the 17” wheels, explains the not-too-crashy ride.
I wouldn’t feel comfortable swapping just the fronts to non-RFs - I’m pretty sure that’s not recommended.
I hadn’t thought about buying different wheels and the 276s are v nice. However, it might be an option (though, whilst a grand may be a ‘bargain’, it’s still a bloody lot of money just to satisfy my vanity. Buying new wheels & tyres would certainly be fairly simple, I guess but I probably need to look at the cost of refurb first and then see how much extra new wheels would be. Then the question is whether I can PX the old wheels (unlikely I’d have thought) or sell them on as they are - I don’t have room to keep them.
So, thanks for the ideas… but I still don’t know what to do for the best

 

[John Gibson]

On E89s there are 3 variables that broadly determine rude quality..

I’m very polite, me

 

[B21]

On E89s there are 3 variables that broadly determine rude quality..

I’m very polite, me

Damm iPad autocorrect….

 

[Zedebee]

£970 for new 276s on quality tyres is likely to be much the same as, or cheaper than, getting a full refurb plus new tyres. And you can sell your old wheels and tyres for whatever they are worth.

 

[Aus]

Thank you for the information.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Thanks, all - much appreciated.

I should have said my Z4 isn’t an M Sport which, together with the 17” wheels, explains the not-too-crashy ride.
I wouldn’t feel comfortable swapping just the fronts to non-RFs - I’m pretty sure that’s not recommended.
I hadn’t thought about buying different wheels and the 276s are v nice. However, it might be an option (though, whilst a grand may be a ‘bargain’, it’s still a bloody lot of money just to satisfy my vanity. Buying new wheels & tyres would certainly be fairly simple, I guess but I probably need to look at the cost of refurb first and then see how much extra new wheels would be. Then the question is whether I can PX the old wheels (unlikely I’d have thought) or sell them on as they are - I don’t have room to keep them.
So, thanks for the ideas… but I still don’t know what to do for the best

If you are still undecided and aren't in a rush a set of wheels may come up on here. I bought a clean set of 18" Style 295s on here with tyres
for less than those 276s, albeit with Bridgestone run-flats.

Fitted them to my previous car and sold the 108s it came with so it was cost neutral, or would just have been the cost of new tyres if I had wanted non run-flats.