19" wheels .... what difference do they make.

plymjack · 08-28-2015, 03:20 AM

Hi OK as per the title really... I have a base X3 2.0l auto diesel.
It fantastic but if there was a cost effective upgrade I would do it.

So what is the benefits of the 19" wheels? or is there other options I have missed?

gIzzE · 08-28-2015, 04:13 AM

What tyres are you running at the moment? What wheels are on your car now?

plymjack · 08-28-2015, 05:33 AM

17" standard P7 RFT
also have winter wheels/tyres...

gIzzE · 08-28-2015, 05:53 AM

Just ditching the runflats makes the most difference.

19" wheels on proper tyres ride 100x better than the 17" runflats.

There is nothing to loose expect cost more to shod 19" wheels come tyre time.

ianfp · 08-28-2015, 06:35 AM

I like the look of 19" wheels on the X3, which is why I chose them - nothing to do with handling or practicality. The non-runflats ride so much better though!

The only other thing I didn't particularly like about my X3 was the single exhaust outlet. I had twin tail pipes fitted by BMW and I think it looks a lot nicer!

Kimo · 08-28-2015, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianfp

I had twin tail pipes fitted by BMW and I think it looks a lot nicer!

I - for one - would be interested in taking a peek at that . . .

evilken · 08-28-2015, 11:19 AM

They Look Cooler
Better handling while cornering "on edge" as there is less sidewall to flex.
Tires are more expensive.
Bumps on the road will be felt more.

There may be more, but that is all I can think of at the moment.

ianfp · 08-29-2015, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimo

I - for one - would be interested in taking a peek at that . . .

Kimo, this is how the tail pipes look.

philtrick123 · 08-30-2015, 04:02 AM

I had 19" staggered 369M's with RFT- they look great on the car. Unfortunately with the semi rural roads I need to travel on with work they were too harsh. Switched to 17" to give me the tyre depth.
The 369M's are in the garage, I never got around to selling them- PM me if you're interested.

gIzzE · 08-30-2015, 05:06 AM

It is the fact they are run flats rather than the fact they are 19's that make them harsh.

Hardly ant difference between 17 and 19's on the F25 for ride comfort.

evilken · 08-30-2015, 06:57 PM

If you compare the same tires to wheel size diameter, the larger size wheel will always be harsher than the smaller one. Comparing 17 with run flats to 19 w/o run flats isn't a fair analogy.

gIzzE · 08-31-2015, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evilken

If you compare the same tires to wheel size diameter, the larger size wheel will always be harsher than the smaller one. Comparing 17 with run flats to 19 w/o run flats isn't a fair analogy.

The 19s on proper tyres are much more comfortable and lots more grip than the 17s on run flats.

If going from 17 run flat to 19 proper tyres there is no downsides at all, you will get a more planted drive, less fidgety on poor surfaces especially corners, and it soaks up the poorer road surfaces better too. Plus they look better of course.

The only downside is cost, but even then, you can get a 19" normal tyre for hardly any more than a 17" run flat, so even the cost difference is not massive.

Of course, if you wanted even more comfort, you could just whack non runflats on your 17's, but the difference between 17 and 19s for comfort is not much at all.

AlphaMendoza · 08-31-2015, 05:27 AM

I have 17" non run flats (P7) and thinking about moving to 18" non run flats summer tyres.

Is this worth it? I don't want to go up to 19"!

Will I get a better ride on the 18"? Less waver, less wandering in side wind ?

(I can then put winters onto the 17" rims.)

08-28-2015, 03:20 AM	#1
plymjack Nuclear Chief of the Watch 120 Rep 637 Posts Drives: X3 (F25) 2.0D, i3 BEV Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Plymouth, UK iTrader: (0)	19" wheels .... what difference do they make. Hi OK as per the title really... I have a base X3 2.0l auto diesel. It fantastic but if there was a cost effective upgrade I would do it. So what is the benefits of the 19" wheels? or is there other options I have missed? __________________ BMW i3 (BEV) 2014. . Capparis White. . Park Assist, Comfort Access, Enhanced USB BMW X3 (F25) xDrive20d SE 2017. . . . Oyster Leather . . 8 Speed Servotronic. .RFTs. . Electric Seats Canon 70D 500mm, 85mm, 40mm, 24mm Sony QX10 & GoPro Hero 3
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08-28-2015, 04:13 AM	#2
gIzzE Major General 363 Rep 5,984 Posts Drives: F11 + 911 C4 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Norfolk, UK. iTrader: (2)	What tyres are you running at the moment? What wheels are on your car now?
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08-28-2015, 05:33 AM	#3
plymjack Nuclear Chief of the Watch 120 Rep 637 Posts Drives: X3 (F25) 2.0D, i3 BEV Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Plymouth, UK iTrader: (0)	17" standard P7 RFT also have winter wheels/tyres... __________________ BMW i3 (BEV) 2014. . Capparis White. . Park Assist, Comfort Access, Enhanced USB BMW X3 (F25) xDrive20d SE 2017. . . . Oyster Leather . . 8 Speed Servotronic. .RFTs. . Electric Seats Canon 70D 500mm, 85mm, 40mm, 24mm Sony QX10 & GoPro Hero 3
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08-28-2015, 05:53 AM	#4
gIzzE Major General 363 Rep 5,984 Posts Drives: F11 + 911 C4 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Norfolk, UK. iTrader: (2)	Just ditching the runflats makes the most difference. 19" wheels on proper tyres ride 100x better than the 17" runflats. There is nothing to loose expect cost more to shod 19" wheels come tyre time.
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08-28-2015, 06:35 AM	#5
ianfp Lieutenant 144 Rep 560 Posts Drives: X5 40D M Sport Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I like the look of 19" wheels on the X3, which is why I chose them - nothing to do with handling or practicality. The non-runflats ride so much better though! The only other thing I didn't particularly like about my X3 was the single exhaust outlet. I had twin tail pipes fitted by BMW and I think it looks a lot nicer!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-28-2015, 11:19 AM	#7
evilken New Member 4 Rep 26 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0)	They Look Cooler Better handling while cornering "on edge" as there is less sidewall to flex. Tires are more expensive. Bumps on the road will be felt more. There may be more, but that is all I can think of at the moment.
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08-30-2015, 04:02 AM	#9
philtrick123 Lieutenant 44 Rep 469 Posts Drives: TBA Join Date: May 2012 Location: Maidenhead iTrader: (0)	I had 19" staggered 369M's with RFT- they look great on the car. Unfortunately with the semi rural roads I need to travel on with work they were too harsh. Switched to 17" to give me the tyre depth. The 369M's are in the garage, I never got around to selling them- PM me if you're interested.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-30-2015, 05:06 AM	#10
gIzzE Major General 363 Rep 5,984 Posts Drives: F11 + 911 C4 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Norfolk, UK. iTrader: (2)	It is the fact they are run flats rather than the fact they are 19's that make them harsh. Hardly ant difference between 17 and 19's on the F25 for ride comfort.
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08-30-2015, 06:57 PM	#11
evilken New Member 4 Rep 26 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0)	If you compare the same tires to wheel size diameter, the larger size wheel will always be harsher than the smaller one. Comparing 17 with run flats to 19 w/o run flats isn't a fair analogy.
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08-31-2015, 05:27 AM	#13
AlphaMendoza Admiral 3 Rep 48 Posts Drives: X3 F25 LCI 20D Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: North West, UK iTrader: (0)	I have 17" non run flats (P7) and thinking about moving to 18" non run flats summer tyres. Is this worth it? I don't want to go up to 19"! Will I get a better ride on the 18"? Less waver, less wandering in side wind ? (I can then put winters onto the 17" rims.)
	Appreciate 0 Quote