EBMCS03

The company ummm dedicated to The Ultimate Driving Machine is still out there to make money.

AlexFW

Under 17" wheels you cannot install decent brakes

C's Bimmer

Now now children, let's not fight. Hahahahaha!

rodneyremington

The M5 is set up for it's particular wheel/tire/suspension by engineering experts, not some ghetto modder. The idea that simply throwing big tires on your car and not touching the suspension gives you more "feedback" or makes your car handle better is a fallacy. True, high performance cars usually have larger low profile tires as part of a complete system of suspension upgrades, but in and of itself, changing the wheels/tires on an E60 with the sport package is just as likely to degrade handling as it is to help. It was the OP that pointed out the much more quiet and comfortable ride with the higher profile tires on compared to the rice wheels.

Why don't you bolt a big wing on the back while you're at it. Maybe that will give you better feedback as well. They use them in racing after all so it must be good.

Richard in NC

I would bet, given the same tire, there is minimal difference in the handling limits between 17" and 19" wheels. Handling feel, maybe. Between 15" and 17" absolutely but there are diminishing returns as you go large. Back to back, pushed to the limit you MIGHT be able to notice the improvement but only a stopwatch would know for sure. Beyond 19" is just bling IMHO.

Brake size is another aspect. I don't think you could put a 17" wheel on the latest ///Ms, their brakes are so large.

If the OP switched tires (say from PS2s or Conti SC2s down to a harder all-season tire), a bigger difference in feel and performance would be felt by that, not just the rim size.

coolguy

Thank you all the great feedback! You don't such detail at any dealer lol!!

I don't know how ppl with non-M5 managing these 166 wheels, they very easy to get bent. Each Wheel is $430 from Garry + associated costs w/ mounting & balance.

One thing I am still not clear.. these Tire-sizes for 166 wheels on a non-M5, ppl w/ Sport or Non-Sport suspension still get the same tire-size right?

SergeyM

Next you should trade your BMW to a Lexus. You'll get even more comfort and even less noise.

BigMike

I don't know about CoolGuy, but as for me, the last thing I'd want to do is drive around with a BIG L on my forehead... oops! I mean a big L on the front of my car! LOL







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seoulman

How about a big "H"? No no! Not Honda, but HYUNDAI! My company car is the Genesis. It's quiet, it's got a cushy ride, it even has a massage function in the rear seats and a infotainment system that allows me to download content! I'd be happy to convince my company to sell it to 'coolguy' who craves comfort and to 'rodneyremington' who believes BMW engineers determine stock wheel/tire size and that they provide optimum performance!

seoulman

When you go larger wheels and tires, you reduce the sidewall height which degrades that cushy ride that you and others may want, but larger wheels and tires gives your car that much more contact with the ground surface, which in general will give you a better rate of acceleration and of course a tighter grip during turns, as well as giving you more stopping power. These advantages can be had without modifying the suspension. However, 'Richard in NC' is right in the fact that, has you go 'large', there are diminishing returns in terms of cornering performance.

As for the reason that you think that BMW (the company dedicated to the Ultimate Driving Machine) uses the wheel/tire/suspension combination that they do, it's called a compromise. Not all drivers buying a 5 series or any other BMW model are searching for a car with sports car levels of corner capabilities~