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[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I will bet that our cars handle better with 18s.

I tend to doubt it. This is a heavy car and the stiffer sidewall of the 19s should help handling. There is another thread on this subject and the evidence is mixed. One member, possibly 4SEVENS, had some good experience. He ran 18s and 19s with the same model tire on the same car on the same track and did about one second better per lap with the 19s (not sure of the duration of each lap).

[Talk2meg00se]

Question: if the 19s represent a slight step down in terms of performance, why did BMW put 19s on its GTS?

[dhoggm3]

I chose the 18's solely for ride quality. Now, with 35 profile PSS's all around, I think that advantage is gone. Realistically, I think the ride difference is negligible either way. If I did it again, I might just do the 19's.

[SchnellM3]

Gun Metal 18s can look good on certain colors, not really a fan of them in the Silver they now come in. Other than that 220s FTW

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by ottoblotto

Got the 270M square setup and had them painted black wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport Alpin and the 359's for summer...

mine are both Stye 220m (summer 19" offset BMW stock OEM's and winter 18" square none BMW 220 reverse engineered - hardly can tell the difference from original stock) both sets with Michelin tires of course.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by Talk2meg00se

Question: if the 19s represent a slight step down in terms of performance, why did BMW put 19s on its GTS?

I think 19" is an option is it not?

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I tend to doubt it. This is a heavy car and the stiffer sidewall of the 19s should help handling. There is another thread on this subject and the evidence is mixed. One member, possibly 4SEVENS, had some good experience. He ran 18s and 19s with the same model tire on the same car on the same track and did about one second better per lap with the 19s (not sure of the duration of each lap).

Good thought. I would wager a 6 pack but you're about 2000 miles away. I would think that the 18s would provide a little more roll and be easier to control with a softer sidewall. Who knows...we're probably splitting hairs here.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by username11

Amazing how opinions differ. I think the stock 18s are one of the ugliest BMW wheel designs -- especially the dark color which makes the car look cheaper. On either the 220M or 359M 19s the car looks worlds better. As for ride, supposedly the 18s are softer, but on stock 19s the ride is already quite soft for this type of car. Don't think I'd want it any softer.

That's what makes this forum so interesting...civilized disagreements and discussion.

[Richbot]

Screw you! 18's 4eva!1!

[donovan]

I love the 18s, lots of wheels look good with 18s on the bmw m3.

19s and 20 are for flashlyness and the tires cost more and you run a higher chance of rubbing..

[K-M3]

18's it is for me. I havent really looked at comparative numbers, nor do I care. I do plan to track the car a little bit, but it is also going to be my predominant daily driver and I would much prefer the extra side-wall protection of the 18's over the thinner sidewalled 19's. Plus I am not too big a fan of bigger wheels and to me the stock 18's are a perfect match for the looks of the m3. In fact, I am not ordering the ZCP for similar reasons - dont want the 19s and would much rather use a regular suspension rather than a lowered one in my neck of the woods here in Oklahoma. Its just fortunate that I like the 18'ers more anyway......

[smmmurf]

I have 3 sets of wheels, 2 18's, one with PSS and one with PS2, and 1 of 19's with PS2's, and the 19's never go on the car. Ride too crappy. Louder, bumpier. Handles worse. No thanks. I am thinking of putting a 35-profile A/S tire on the 19's with some quiet, nice riding tires or maybe just selling them. They look ok but there is a huge tradeoff. The car feels so cheap crashing over bumps.

[dawgdog]

I have two sets of Volks, both 18s, and the stock 19s. I much prefer the ride of the 18s and do not plan on using the 19s in the future.

[tiggers m3]

cheaper

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by dhoggm3

I chose the 18's solely for ride quality. Now, with 35 profile PSS's all around, I think that advantage is gone. Realistically, I think the ride difference is negligible either way. If I did it again, I might just do the 19's.

If you put wider tires on the 19s and had to go down in aspect ratio from 35 to 30 series, the ride quality would go down.

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by dhoggm3

I chose the 18's solely for ride quality. Now, with 35 profile PSS's all around, I think that advantage is gone. Realistically, I think the ride difference is negligible either way. If I did it again, I might just do the 19's.

35 profile and what tire width?
I assume 255/35 and 275/35?
that's what I was interested in getting, would like to know if it's too hard

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Good thought. I would wager a 6 pack but you're about 2000 miles away. I would think that the 18s would provide a little more roll and be easier to control with a softer sidewall. Who knows...we're probably splitting hairs here.

I'll defer to 4sevens, who has tested both on the track and street.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572754

[TobiasMUC]

I drive 18s on the track and 19s for the show

[enricob]

Definitely I prefer the 18s!

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I'll defer to 4sevens, who has tested both on the track and street.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572754

I encourage you to do your own testing. By all means try everything, but accept nothing until you put your own stopwatch on it.

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by smmmurf

I am thinking of putting a 35-profile A/S tire on the 19's with some quiet, nice riding tires or maybe just selling them.

That's what I did, I took the PS2's off the 19's last weekend and put on some 255/275 Conti DWS's for the colder months. That way when we have one of the freak 2-inch snowjobs we get around here I don't have to sit and wait for it to melt to get home, and the PS2's don't get heat-cycled out from running in cold weather. Still have a pickemup for the real snows. The DWS's look like mudders compared to the PS2's and the sidewall seemed even softer which I wasn't sure was even possible

[smmmurf]

Originally Posted by Richbot

That's what I did, I took the PS2's off the 19's last weekend and put on some 255/275 Conti DWS's for the colder months. That way when we have one of the freak 2-inch snowjobs we get around here I don't have to sit and wait for it to melt to get home, and the PS2's don't get heat-cycled out from running in cold weather. Still have a pickemup for the real snows. The DWS's look like mudders compared to the PS2's and the sidewall seemed even softer which I wasn't sure was even possible

How does the car ride on 19" DWS in that configuration? Quiet? Soak up bumps well? I am thinking of doing the same.
I might even do a 225/40R19 and 245/40R19 on the stock 19's.