Do I Need To Lower My Car with Aftermarket Wheels?
10-09-2010, 09:37 AM
#1
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Sorta new to the forum...I have a 2004 530i with sport suspension and was wondering if I go with 20 inch rims if I will need to lower my car with springs? Please let me know your thoughts? Is the sport suspension good enough with 20s to not have to install new springs also? Pictures and suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!
10-09-2010, 05:58 PM
#4
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Lowering a car is about many things --- not just visual thing
1. Depends on the tires you have on the car -- The size of the tire for example; sometimes the gap between the tires and the fender might not be a visual concern but how a car behaves when it hits a bump might.
Usually when there is a big gap between the tire and fender, the suspension is soft and there is a lot of play provided to the wheel to maintain a comfort level to the passenger. Hitting a bump will use all your play to the level that the tire hits the wheel well, reason -- soft suspension.
(So then you move from base suspension to sport suspension that lowers your car a little but makes it more stiff)
The more you lower your car, the more stiff suspension you end up with the more comfort you loose.
2. You want more precession-- Lowering the car would lower the center of gravity thus providing less air to pass beneath the car and maintain stability specially at higher speeds and on tight corners
3. Now comes the visual where a 20 inch wheel with a thin tire looks funny on a car that has a lot of gap between the fender and the tires
(most people are concerned about this)however it depends from person to person what gap they could live with.
I think the ideal gap would be 1 inch when the car is stationed and when you get in the car with a passenger the gap is reduced another 0.5 inch. Looks great when a 3rd person is looking at you from his car window on a freeway and the tires are playing mostly in the remaining 0.50 inch.
(Might need a fully adjustable coil-over system to attain this setup)
Its up-to what you want ultimately
1. Depends on the tires you have on the car -- The size of the tire for example; sometimes the gap between the tires and the fender might not be a visual concern but how a car behaves when it hits a bump might.
Usually when there is a big gap between the tire and fender, the suspension is soft and there is a lot of play provided to the wheel to maintain a comfort level to the passenger. Hitting a bump will use all your play to the level that the tire hits the wheel well, reason -- soft suspension.
(So then you move from base suspension to sport suspension that lowers your car a little but makes it more stiff)
The more you lower your car, the more stiff suspension you end up with the more comfort you loose.
2. You want more precession-- Lowering the car would lower the center of gravity thus providing less air to pass beneath the car and maintain stability specially at higher speeds and on tight corners
3. Now comes the visual where a 20 inch wheel with a thin tire looks funny on a car that has a lot of gap between the fender and the tires
(most people are concerned about this)however it depends from person to person what gap they could live with.
I think the ideal gap would be 1 inch when the car is stationed and when you get in the car with a passenger the gap is reduced another 0.5 inch. Looks great when a 3rd person is looking at you from his car window on a freeway and the tires are playing mostly in the remaining 0.50 inch.
(Might need a fully adjustable coil-over system to attain this setup)
Its up-to what you want ultimately
10-09-2010, 08:42 PM
#5
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This is like asking should I super size my fries? How am I suppose to know how hungry you are!? Wait we're talking about wheels here, how am I suppose to know what it looks like with the aftermarket wheels to decide whether it needs it or not. 
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