Best wheel size for E90 in Australia

John_01 · 12-20-2009, 11:20 PM

Here is a poll that is just for a bit of fun. I am interested to know what peoples opinions are for different size wheels.

Question: For use on Australian roads, What size wheels are the best for E90 series cars?

Please only post if you own drive an E90 (or E91, E92, E93) on Australian roads.

N52B30 · 12-20-2009, 11:56 PM

I had two E90's when I lived in Sydney - one of them had RFT 17"s and the other had Non-RFT 18"s. The Non-RFT 18" felt a lot softer than the RFT 17" so I believe going one-up to Non-RFT 19" is still going to give you a reasonably comfortable ride on rough NSW roads (provided you are prepared to pay the hefty premium for 19" tyres!!) Also depends if you do a lot of country/interstate driving cos you'll be stranded if you have a flat tyre in the middle of nowhere!

Scooterman · 12-21-2009, 12:13 AM

17" with run craps on Aus crap roads
18" conventionals on Aus crap roads and because 19" tyres are a rip off

E92325i · 12-21-2009, 02:25 AM

I've got 19" 225M's on the E92 with non-runflats, ride is way better compared to the Bridgestone RE050's (factory fit runflats). I've learned to live with it and actually don't mind it at all as my other car (alfa 147 GTA) has a very shit ride (on 17" wheels and just feels fidgety overall) so the BMW is 10X better even with the 19" wheels

John_01 · 12-21-2009, 04:35 AM

Thanks for your comments so far. I started this poll because I see many people using 19" rims. I have my own views on the suitability based on my experience with the following setups:

17" factory RFT (Bridgestone RE050A)
17" Non-RFT (Goodyear Eagle F1)
18" Non-RFT (Michelin PP2)

Personally I like the 17" Non-RFT best, because the ride is confortable, the grip is consistent and there is good steering feel with no noticable tram-lining. I admit the larger wheels look more impressive, so it makes me wonder if I am being un-cool when so many others are going for 19". It is also possible that what works well overseas may not be as suitable for local conditions.

However this poll is very simplistic and there are lots of variables due to peoples expectations, different roads, different tyre brands etc. It is just interesting to get a range of views from people on the forum. At the least, this could be food-for-thought for people who are contemplating a new set of wheels.

John_01 · 12-21-2009, 04:40 AM

My apologies to people who are using 16" stock wheels. I feel bad now that I left you guys out of the poll. Perhaps you can just select the fifth option for 17" / 18" if you are quite happy with the standard setup.

VGR00 · 12-21-2009, 07:48 AM

I do at least 25,000klms of mainly city driving a year. I've had 19" on both my E90 with M-sport setup and can't complain with the ride. I'm always on the lookout for pot holes (to avoid them that is !!!). Deffinitly an improvment over the 17" with run flats. The E9x is a big car and 18 or 19" don't look out of place on them.

Z320i · 01-08-2010, 07:09 AM

Nice post John

i was on 16s run flats to 17" factory RFT (Bridgestone RE050A) (staggered setup)
love it, in cooler weather can be bit more tyre roar otherwise no complaints, cant wait to one day put non RFT on it from what i have heard on the forum from all .

16s didnt feel as tight or glued to the road as these do, definately lighter hence bit more acceleration with the 16s for sure...

i think that will be another big advantage of the non RFTs

mmmmQuattro · 01-08-2010, 05:51 PM

It really does depend on where you drive.
We drive mainly around town or inner suburbs, where most of the roads are billiard table smooth and the speeds are less than 80km, so 18" or 19" runcraps are OK.
However, I did one drive in the wagon (18") down to Port Adelaide one morning and I felt that on a road with isn't super smooth it was just tiring to drive.

I have had 17" / 18" / 19" wheels for the last 10 years and never felt the ride too harsh, but with runflats I am starting to feel that they aren't suited to anything greater than 17".

View Poll Results: For use on Australian, what size wheels are the best for E90 series cars?
I prefer 19” wheels. They are fine when using OEM RFT safety tyres.	0	0%
I prefer 19” wheels. They are fine when using conventional Non-RFT tyres.	13	40.63%
I prefer 19” wheels because of the looks. However they are not always practical.	5	15.63%
I prefer 19” wheels because of the looks. However I haven’t upgraded yet.	3	9.38%
I prefer a smaller size wheel such as 17” or 18”.	11	34.38%
Voters: 32. You may not vote on this poll

12-20-2009, 11:20 PM	#1
John_01 Colonel 232 Rep 2,643 Posts Drives: E90 325i, E82 135i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	Best wheel size for E90 in Australia Here is a poll that is just for a bit of fun. I am interested to know what peoples opinions are for different size wheels. Question: For use on Australian roads, What size wheels are the best for E90 series cars? Please only post if you own drive an E90 (or E91, E92, E93) on Australian roads. Last edited by John_01; 12-20-2009 at 11:51 PM..
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12-20-2009, 11:56 PM	#2
N52B30 Private 3 Rep 60 Posts Drives: E92, E70, W204 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0)	I had two E90's when I lived in Sydney - one of them had RFT 17"s and the other had Non-RFT 18"s. The Non-RFT 18" felt a lot softer than the RFT 17" so I believe going one-up to Non-RFT 19" is still going to give you a reasonably comfortable ride on rough NSW roads (provided you are prepared to pay the hefty premium for 19" tyres!!) Also depends if you do a lot of country/interstate driving cos you'll be stranded if you have a flat tyre in the middle of nowhere! __________________ BMW E92 323i, MY2009, Space Grey, 18"s; BMW E70 X5 xDrive30i, MY2009, Space Grey, 18"s; MB W204 C230 Touring, MY2009, Calcite White, 17"s
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12-21-2009, 12:13 AM	#3
Scooterman Private First Class 1 Rep 144 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	17" with run craps on Aus crap roads 18" conventionals on Aus crap roads and because 19" tyres are a rip off __________________ 2008 E90 335i MSport, Blacklines, Tint, V4
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12-21-2009, 02:25 AM	#4
E92325i First Lieutenant 10 Rep 362 Posts Drives: E92 325i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	I've got 19" 225M's on the E92 with non-runflats, ride is way better compared to the Bridgestone RE050's (factory fit runflats). I've learned to live with it and actually don't mind it at all as my other car (alfa 147 GTA) has a very shit ride (on 17" wheels and just feels fidgety overall) so the BMW is 10X better even with the 19" wheels
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12-21-2009, 04:35 AM	#5
John_01 Colonel 232 Rep 2,643 Posts Drives: E90 325i, E82 135i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	Thanks for your comments so far. I started this poll because I see many people using 19" rims. I have my own views on the suitability based on my experience with the following setups: 17" factory RFT (Bridgestone RE050A) 17" Non-RFT (Goodyear Eagle F1) 18" Non-RFT (Michelin PP2) Personally I like the 17" Non-RFT best, because the ride is confortable, the grip is consistent and there is good steering feel with no noticable tram-lining. I admit the larger wheels look more impressive, so it makes me wonder if I am being un-cool when so many others are going for 19". It is also possible that what works well overseas may not be as suitable for local conditions. However this poll is very simplistic and there are lots of variables due to peoples expectations, different roads, different tyre brands etc. It is just interesting to get a range of views from people on the forum. At the least, this could be food-for-thought for people who are contemplating a new set of wheels.
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12-21-2009, 04:40 AM	#6
John_01 Colonel 232 Rep 2,643 Posts Drives: E90 325i, E82 135i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	My apologies to people who are using 16" stock wheels. I feel bad now that I left you guys out of the poll. Perhaps you can just select the fifth option for 17" / 18" if you are quite happy with the standard setup.
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12-21-2009, 07:48 AM	#7
VGR00 Major 53 Rep 1,497 Posts Drives: 430i Gran Coupe Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brisbane - Australia iTrader: (1)	I do at least 25,000klms of mainly city driving a year. I've had 19" on both my E90 with M-sport setup and can't complain with the ride. I'm always on the lookout for pot holes (to avoid them that is !!!). Deffinitly an improvment over the 17" with run flats. The E9x is a big car and 18 or 19" don't look out of place on them.
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01-08-2010, 07:09 AM	#8
Z320i Enlisted Member 1 Rep 45 Posts Drives: 06 Bmw 320i e90 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	Nice post John i was on 16s run flats to 17" factory RFT (Bridgestone RE050A) (staggered setup) love it, in cooler weather can be bit more tyre roar otherwise no complaints, cant wait to one day put non RFT on it from what i have heard on the forum from all . 16s didnt feel as tight or glued to the road as these do, definately lighter hence bit more acceleration with the 16s for sure... i think that will be another big advantage of the non RFTs
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01-08-2010, 05:51 PM	#9
mmmmQuattro Major 259 Rep 1,165 Posts Drives: f83 / E93 335 / E70 X5 40d Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Adelaide, South Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 320 E91 M-Spor ... [0.00] 2009 335-E93 M-Sport [0.00]	It really does depend on where you drive. We drive mainly around town or inner suburbs, where most of the roads are billiard table smooth and the speeds are less than 80km, so 18" or 19" runcraps are OK. However, I did one drive in the wagon (18") down to Port Adelaide one morning and I felt that on a road with isn't super smooth it was just tiring to drive. I have had 17" / 18" / 19" wheels for the last 10 years and never felt the ride too harsh, but with runflats I am starting to feel that they aren't suited to anything greater than 17".
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