How is the ride of 18s with RFTs vs. 19s without?
08-01-2009, 11:30 AM
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Also, I'm having ALOT of trouble finding some take off 172s. Any help would be greatly appreciated! (have posted and checked classifieds across several boards and checked eBay as well).
08-01-2009, 11:49 AM
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My 550i Sport rolls on the OEM 172s wrapped by the non-RFT Contis. The ride quality is firm but not harsh. Of course, over giant potholes that eat up the entire suspension travel, the ride does crash but that's a rare event.
08-01-2009, 07:37 PM
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My Ride: 2008 550i sport SAT
2012 535i Xdrive msport
2007 550i Sport w/SMG (gone)
2000 528i (gone)
1991 535i (gone)
Originally Posted by bay550i' post='962100' date='Aug 1 2009, 02:30 PM
Also, I'm having ALOT of trouble finding some take off 172s. Any help would be greatly appreciated! (have posted and checked classifieds across several boards and checked eBay as well).
My 07 550i had 18 run flats and I hated them. In my opinion they were harsh, now my 08 550i has 19" regulars and I think that they are firm but not harsh. I love the non'-flats a lot more.
08-02-2009, 03:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Sas' post='962652' date='Aug 2 2009, 05:05 AM
Comfort : Stay with 18" NON RFT
Sport : Go for 19" NON RFT
Looks : 20"
Go for the 19" 172M style
, I love mine!
Sport : Go for 19" NON RFT
Looks : 20"
Go for the 19" 172M style
, I love mine!
08-02-2009, 06:42 AM
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From another forum:
Truth: Tall wheels with short sidewall tires are more about show than go. The original purpose of large-diameter wheels was to make room for larger brakes. Stylists and motorists liked the look of big wheels with short-sidewall tires and engineers took the opportunity to fit even bigger brakes. Also, low-profile tires tend to provide increased steering response, giving many the illusion of good handling. However, traction is determined largely by the composition of the tread rubber and, to a lesser extent, tire width. Pierre DuPasquier, former head of Michelin's race-tire program, said that if F1 lifted its current mandate of 13-inch diameter wheels, the size would grow to about 18 or 19 inches, "but certainly not 20 or above."
source: edmunds
Truth: Tall wheels with short sidewall tires are more about show than go. The original purpose of large-diameter wheels was to make room for larger brakes. Stylists and motorists liked the look of big wheels with short-sidewall tires and engineers took the opportunity to fit even bigger brakes. Also, low-profile tires tend to provide increased steering response, giving many the illusion of good handling. However, traction is determined largely by the composition of the tread rubber and, to a lesser extent, tire width. Pierre DuPasquier, former head of Michelin's race-tire program, said that if F1 lifted its current mandate of 13-inch diameter wheels, the size would grow to about 18 or 19 inches, "but certainly not 20 or above."
source: edmunds
08-02-2009, 07:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Kzang' post='962710' date='Aug 2 2009, 10:42 AM
From another forum:
Truth: Tall wheels with short sidewall tires are more about show than go. The original purpose of large-diameter wheels was to make room for larger brakes. Stylists and motorists liked the look of big wheels with short-sidewall tires and engineers took the opportunity to fit even bigger brakes. Also, low-profile tires tend to provide increased steering response, giving many the illusion of good handling. However, traction is determined largely by the composition of the tread rubber and, to a lesser extent, tire width. Pierre DuPasquier, former head of Michelin's race-tire program, said that if F1 lifted its current mandate of 13-inch diameter wheels, the size would grow to about 18 or 19 inches, "but certainly not 20 or above."
source: edmunds
Truth: Tall wheels with short sidewall tires are more about show than go. The original purpose of large-diameter wheels was to make room for larger brakes. Stylists and motorists liked the look of big wheels with short-sidewall tires and engineers took the opportunity to fit even bigger brakes. Also, low-profile tires tend to provide increased steering response, giving many the illusion of good handling. However, traction is determined largely by the composition of the tread rubber and, to a lesser extent, tire width. Pierre DuPasquier, former head of Michelin's race-tire program, said that if F1 lifted its current mandate of 13-inch diameter wheels, the size would grow to about 18 or 19 inches, "but certainly not 20 or above."
source: edmunds
08-02-2009, 08:07 AM
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Thats a stupid statement to be honest, short sidewalls dont give the illusion of better driving, they do have infact less give and less weight then a larger sidewall tire. Of course theoretically if a tire mfg decided to make a low profile tire with crappy tread and traction then sure that statement would be true, but in the real world every manufacturer puts their best tread compound on their low profile Z rated tires
08-03-2009, 04:42 AM
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When I bought my 520d M Sport last year, I was trading in an SE model and was concerned about the ride.
I borrowed a 520d M Sport from BMW Ireland (I'm a motoring journalist). It was on 19" standard tyres and
compared to my SE, it was definitely firmer but in no way harsh. The roads can be terrible in Ireland so this
is an important point.
The handling is definitely better than the SE, you feel more part of the car and the steering is definitely sharper
and more precise.
I was happy to go with the M Sport and ordered it with standard 18" wheels, which unfortunately came with runflats.
I have to be honest and say I can't tell the difference between the two simply by driving. My last 5 series was an 06
model and even in the two years between the two cars, progress has been made with the runflats.
Still don't like them, though - I have no problem changing a wheel when necessary.
I borrowed a 520d M Sport from BMW Ireland (I'm a motoring journalist). It was on 19" standard tyres and
compared to my SE, it was definitely firmer but in no way harsh. The roads can be terrible in Ireland so this
is an important point.
The handling is definitely better than the SE, you feel more part of the car and the steering is definitely sharper
and more precise.
I was happy to go with the M Sport and ordered it with standard 18" wheels, which unfortunately came with runflats.
I have to be honest and say I can't tell the difference between the two simply by driving. My last 5 series was an 06
model and even in the two years between the two cars, progress has been made with the runflats.
Still don't like them, though - I have no problem changing a wheel when necessary.
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