Winter Wheels

[NDP]

Hello all, I am a brand new member and new to owning a Z4, having taken delivery six days ago. I have some questions regarding winter wheels and thought the forum may be able to help. Mt “Z” is an E89 28i. At the moment it is shod with 19in wheels with the standard run flats. My questions are:

1). Presuming smaller wheels may mean narrower tyres, will 16in wheels fit my Z4, or are 17in the minimum?

2). What are the narrowest tyres anyone on here has fit to their Z4 and did that mean fitting any sort of spacer?

3). With reference to the above, can the wheels be steel rather than alloy?

4). Is it better to fit standard tyres for winter / snow or will run flats perform as well?

I have a couple more questions not about the wheels.

1). I do not have the top spec sound system as an optional extra and therefore I have a blank panel immediately above the storage shelves between the seats. Has anyone come across any other optional extra that could utilise that space (for instance a small lockable compartment) that could be retro fitted?

2). The key hole in the drivers side door handle has not got a blanking cover in it. Has mine got lost or don’t BMW do these? I only ask because my last car was a Saab and they did body coloured blanking caps to cover the emergency door lock and it looked so much neater.

Thank you for any feedback.

NDP.

 

[Chris_D]

Hello all, I am a brand new member and new to owning a Z4, having taken delivery six days ago. I have some questions regarding winter wheels and thought the forum may be able to help. Mt “Z” is an E89 28i. At the moment it is shod with 19in wheels with the standard run flats. My questions are:

1). Presuming smaller wheels may mean narrower tyres, will 16in wheels fit my Z4, or are 17in the minimum?

2). What are the narrowest tyres anyone on here has fit to their Z4 and did that mean fitting any sort of spacer?

3). With reference to the above, can the wheels be steel rather than alloy?

4). Is it better to fit standard tyres for winter / snow or will run flats perform as well?

I have a couple more questions not about the wheels.

1). I do not have the top spec sound system as an optional extra and therefore I have a blank panel immediately above the storage shelves between the seats. Has anyone come across any other optional extra that could utilise that space (for instance a small lockable compartment) that could be retro fitted?

2). The key hole in the drivers side door handle has not got a blanking cover in it. Has mine got lost or don’t BMW do these? I only ask because my last car was a Saab and they did body coloured blanking caps to cover the emergency door lock and it looked so much neater.

Thank you for any feedback.

NDP.
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u432/ndpadgett/Z4%20YL64%20UCG%208_zpszqyuprcx.jpg

Wheel-size.com should be able to inform you about whats possible and i'm sure our resident expert, mr.wilks will be along shortly to advise too. If memory serves i'm sure he advised that 17in would be minimum for e89's. Needs clarification.
Fyi i'll be putting my 16in winter tyres on my e85 this year. 225/40/16 square setup (same size all around) with 20mm spacers on the rear. It won't look too pretty but i'm more concerned with performance/safety in smow and ice.
I can't reccomend Nokian winter tyres enough and my tyre of choice has been wr-a3. 4 sets on 2 cars so far over the past 10 years. I think nokian have a new version of this tyre now. Used on polish motorways in thick slushy snow going up a hill was prob the biggest challenge and they performed effortlessly.
Alloy or steel should be fine although a 2nd hand set of cheap alloys would be your preferred option maybe.
I'd go for normal over runflats personally. If you hit a snow-covered rock or pothole in a runflat i think thered be a higher risk of knackering or cracking your alloy if using alloys. Steelies will just buckle.

 

[mr wilks]

Welcome to the forum , , i chose this pic but you may want to remove the link above as its open to your watch collection :? nice Glycine airman btw :wink:

What kind of budget are you thinking for the winter set ?
I have this set off my sisters BMW that will fit . Alloys efurbed last season
17inch OEM BMW alloys with matching Dunlops on 4-5mm / £265
Near Colne / Lancashire

 

[NDP]

Mr. Wilkes,

Many thanks for getting back to me. I do not live too far from you, so I might just pop across to have a look at the wheels but can drop me a line about them together with your contact number to [email protected].

Regards,

Neil.