Ride Quality 18 vs 19 wheels
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My Ride: 2009 BMW 535i xDrive Wagon
Model Year: 2009
Engine: N54
Ride Quality 18 vs 19 wheels
Hi,
I've had my E61 for about 1.5 years now. It has 86k miles. I'm contemplating a new set of wheels and tires towards the end of the year and debating 18 vs 19 inch wheels. My main concern is the ride quality on 19 inch wheels. Will 19s be too harsh as a daily driver? I don't want something that would be great on the track and overly harsh as a daily driver. I don't track or intend to track the car. FWIW, I do have the sport package.
Thank you for your constructive feedback.
Gino
I've had my E61 for about 1.5 years now. It has 86k miles. I'm contemplating a new set of wheels and tires towards the end of the year and debating 18 vs 19 inch wheels. My main concern is the ride quality on 19 inch wheels. Will 19s be too harsh as a daily driver? I don't want something that would be great on the track and overly harsh as a daily driver. I don't track or intend to track the car. FWIW, I do have the sport package.
Thank you for your constructive feedback.
Gino
#3
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Rim size is only one factor in ride quality. Tires and suspension are also components. All else being equal with your present setup, going to a larger rim isn't going to improve it any, but you may not even notice the difference.
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My Ride: 2009 BMW 535i xDrive Wagon
Model Year: 2009
Engine: N54
Understand completely. I am not looking for 18/19 inch wheels and tires to improve the ride quality more so for the aesthetics I don't plan on doing anything to modify the stock suspension. What I am trying not to do is to degrade the ride quality.
As for tires, I was contemplating Bridgestone Potenza RE980 found on tirerack. Although I'm a Michelin fan, I hear too much about the growly noise of the Pilots. Any feedback on high performance all-season tires is also greatly appreciated.
Thanks again
#5
Administrator
The larger the wheel, the harsher the ride, so you just have to decide if aesthetics are more important. If you have 18's now, 19's aren't really going to make a whole lot of difference in either camp.
Tire Rack has a Comfort rating. If you go with new tires, select the ones with the highest rating in whatever category you choose.
Tire Rack has a Comfort rating. If you go with new tires, select the ones with the highest rating in whatever category you choose.
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My Ride: 2009 BMW 535i xDrive Wagon
Model Year: 2009
Engine: N54
The larger the wheel, the harsher the ride, so you just have to decide if aesthetics are more important. If you have 18's now, 19's aren't really going to make a whole lot of difference in either camp.
Tire Rack has a Comfort rating. If you go with new tires, select the ones with the highest rating in whatever category you choose.
Tire Rack has a Comfort rating. If you go with new tires, select the ones with the highest rating in whatever category you choose.
I currently have the stock 17s with Goodyears; nothing special or terrible about the setup. Tires are relatively quiet and roll smoothly.
Anyone else running 19s on their vehicles feel that it is harsh for a daily driver? Any feedback on what you like or don't like about certain high performance all season tires?
Thanks again
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My Ride: E61 535xi touring
Model Year: 2008
Ours came with sport package style 124 in 18 and rft that rode like crap. Ditched those quick for true winters to be run on stockers. World of difference. Fast fwd to May and summer 19's are on. I opted for beefy tires at 255/40r19, 285/35r19 to have as much shoulder and cushion as could be run for comfort. Again, this 19 setup is a world of difference vs the crap rft imo. My wife dailys the car. She even noticed the ride was much more compliant vs the original setup.
I don't have a lot of experience with all seasons any more. Winter/summer setups for the last 10 years or so. Hope that helps ease the concern some.
If you do go aggressive sizes be aware of different manufacturers run wider or narrower size for size. Tirerack is a good source and pay attention to section width spec between tires and on what width wheel you will be mounting them on based on your wheel choice.
I don't have a lot of experience with all seasons any more. Winter/summer setups for the last 10 years or so. Hope that helps ease the concern some.
If you do go aggressive sizes be aware of different manufacturers run wider or narrower size for size. Tirerack is a good source and pay attention to section width spec between tires and on what width wheel you will be mounting them on based on your wheel choice.
Last edited by Happy2b5; 05-06-2018 at 05:33 PM.
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