Staggered to square wheels

[imported]

My current e89 has 18" staggered alloys (wider rear) and I'm considering changing them to a set of 19" that I really like but they are only available square (all identical). Also, I will then have the option to rotate my tyres and not feel as bad about splashing on more expensive tyres.

Will I f up my z4 if I do this considering it's an sdrive?

Thanks for any help guys!

 

[techathy]

What width rims are you looking at?
225/35R19 tyres are in specification on 7.5"-9" wide rims. The ideal width is 8".
255/30R19 tyres are in specification on 8.5"-9.5" wide rims. The ideal width is 9".

 

[mr wilks]

No concerns providing you don't intend fitting 4 x 275 wide tyres
Some pics of the car always helps

 

[imported]

What width rims are you looking at?
225/35R19 tyres are in specification on 7.5"-9" wide rims. The ideal width is 8".
255/30R19 tyres are in specification on 8.5"-9.5" wide rims. The ideal width is 9".

19" alloys at 8.5J width, tyres would be 225/35R19; it's basically having alloys that are originally for the front only to be also on the rear as well (not staggered).
At the moment the current tyres are 225/40 front 255/35 rear on 18". My concern is if there will be any change in handling/noise/vibration is the rear wheels are not wide but rather the same as the front.

Some pics of the car always helps

I will post after it's all done

 

[techathy]

That'll look and handle great! The extra width on the front will help a little with turn-in but will give the front tyres a slightly stretched look.

 

[imported]

I gave it a lot of thought, and decided that 19" was a bad idea due to higher chances of cracked alloys and s**t (experience comes from the 19"s on my old e60).

I decided to just have it refurbished (they got rid of scuffs, etc and painted it along with the callipers). This is the result, pictures I took today!

 

[imported]

Hey guys,
I just changed the alloys from the painted stock 18" (above post) to 19" in matt black. It turned out alright but now I wish I had gone for 20". To anyone considering increasing your diameter you should really go for 20" (I shouldn't have followed the 19" max on the BMW spec). I can't return mine as I've already driven on them :thumbsdown: I gotta say, the Z4 is the first car that I've owned that manages to make 19" look so small.

 

[Zed Five]

I have to disagree. 19s look pefect on the e89. Yours look small because black wheels always do. Your eye loses the edge of the tyre with the wheel. A dark grey might work? :|

 

[imported]

I have to disagree. 19s look pefect on the e89. Yours look small because black wheels always do. Your eye loses the edge of the tyre with the wheel. A dark grey might work? :|

My last car was an e60, it had matt black alloys as well and they looked really good even at only 18". Actually I was only put off by 20" because I thought of the higher risk of cracks (which was a problem I had on my old car) and having a rough ride. Now I see it there is actually lots of tyre thickness even at 19" and the car actually drives noticeably smoother and cleaner than the existing 18" s which only adds to my regret of not going for 20"— the 19" has non-RFT P-Z Nero GT tyres though. Tomorrow I'll try applying some G-Techniq tyre dressing that I have somewhere, maybe it'll look good with gloss tyres and matt alloys ;/

So what do you guys do when you have non-RFT tyres and obviously no space for spare & jack? Is it enough to have a can of that tyre inflator (the one with the pipe hanging out)?

 

[Zed Five]

Yes, glossing the tyres might work. I love the black wheel look, but the visual size thing puts me off doing mine.

 

[mr wilks]

Hey guys,
I just changed the alloys from the painted stock 18" (above post) to 19" in matt black. It turned out alright but now I wish I had gone for 20". To anyone considering increasing your diameter you should really go for 20" (I shouldn't have followed the 19" max on the BMW spec). I can't return mine as I've already driven on them :thumbsdown: I gotta say, the Z4 is the first car that I've owned that manages to make 19" look so small.

Taking the car down or taking the tyre profiles up will offer you a cure :wink: