E34's on 18" rims

[RiggsyB]

Just how badly is the ride affected?

I'm running 16" 5 spokes right now (with 225/55R16 tyres) and obviously the ride is exceptionally smooth... I appreciate going to 17's would firm things up a bit and it would lose some of the suppleness, but how bad is it on 18" rims?

[alpinaracerX]

I have 18x8.5 with 245/40 tires. And its not that bad.. Its rough sometimes... I'm switching to 17's next season because I'm installing Dinan lowering springs and Koni shocks and I do enjoy the smooth ride.

[Incantation]

it's fine.. i'm on 18s with a sachs kit.. it rides close to stock, really.

only major difference is that 55mph shimmy comes a lot quicker with the wheels on, whereas with the 15s it doesn't even exist (at least for me)

[alpinaracerX]

I agree with Incantation, I get that shimmy around that speed too. But my thrust arms are toast. Lol. But I'd always get a slight one around 120km/h (I dunno MPH, Sorry I'm Canadian)

[nizmainiac]

i'm running 8x18" fronts and 9.5x18" with 235 and 265's and the ride is fine, i've got a jamex suspension kit to go on it, i'm just waiting for some workshop time to put it all on

[Qube]

Next year, I'm moving from 17 to 18 staggered. Sure, rubber costs quite a bit more but 18 looks nicer :) Of course, I'll install the Konis then too.

[attack eagle]

Just how badly is the ride affected?

I'm running 16" 5 spokes right now (with 225/55R16 tyres) and obviously the ride is exceptionally smooth... I appreciate going to 17's would firm things up a bit and it would lose some of the suppleness, but how bad is it on 18" rims?

The ride is Firm and Supple. Feels Like a sporting car, not a luxury car, as you cna feel the road, insteado f being completely isolated from it.
Exactly like I like it.
18x8.5s w/ 245/40 18 Bridgestone potenzas.

[saj3n]

A agree with eagle. I don't however get the 55mph shimmy at all. Thrust arms replaced and such. running 18x8.5 fronts 18x9 rear. 255x40 fronts 275x35 rears.

[ILoveMPower]

18x8.5 all around, 235/45/18

Ride is nice, but you better make sure your front end is in check before you toss some big heavy wheels on!

[pundit]

Okay it depends on your road conditions and what you consider acceptable ride comfort.
Most 18 - 25 year olds will say almost anything is acceptable if it looks hot and helps pick up chicks.
In other words looks come first and practicality last... as you get older your perspective changes!

I have geniune factory 17" 'T' Stars with Michelin PP2 Pilot Precedas, Eibach Prokit springs and Koni sports (yellows) set to full soft and the ride is quite a bit less comfortable than the stock factory suspension and wheels. The worse aspect is all the niggling little cracks, joints and bumps in the road surface that now get transferred into the cabin.

The Eibachs claim not to compromise ride comfort, the Michelins are supposed to be one of the most comfortable sports tyres available, the 'T' Stars are forged and quite light and the Konis are supposed to be better ridewise than the Bilsteins. Even so if you increase your spring rates, increase your shocker dampening and then fit heavier, larger diameter wheels which add more unsprung weight AND reduce your sidewall height then your ride quality will suffer.

So knowing what I know at this point would I ever consider going up to 18" wheel???..... NO WAY!!

The next car I buy will be a 2001 E39 530i and have Koni FSD's. ;)

[attack eagle]

Hmm I'm 31 now and I don't have a problem with it...

[Evan]

I have 18s on low profile tires and H&R springs... my car is low and the ride isnt as soft as it was when it was on stock 15s with big tires...

but the car looks great and the ride is still great... im happy.. and im over 30

[ericbendler]

I am running 18's with 45 series tires to try to absorb some of that impact. Aside from the rear scraping problems that are forcing me to run stock springs in the back with an Eibach setup in the front, the ride is acceptable.

Corners like its on rails.......with a 4000 pound roller coaster car. lol

[John B.]

I'm obviously in the minority around here but I'm no fan of the "huge wheel with a black bandaid wrapped around it" look. I'd take the stock alloys over 90% of the wheels I see on this forum although a set of 16" Style 5s would be hard to resist but that would be my limit. The E34 is a classic design, like an older Jag sedan & IMO looks much better with more sidewall then these 17/18" wheels allow.

[repenttokyo]

i'm worried about the weight of 18 inch wheels slowing down and already slow car...but I can't seem to find 17 inch m parallel's :(

[GJPinAU]

The only thing I've found (which is VERY important) is to monitor tyre pressures.
I'm running 40psi and found most of the probs I had before haven't re-occurred. The old 30-all-round doesn't apply to 18s or probably 17s.

cheers,
Greg

[BigTed00]

I have 18x8.5 with 245/40 tires. And its not that bad.. Its rough sometimes... I'm switching to 17's next season because I'm installing Dinan lowering springs and Koni shocks and I do enjoy the smooth ride.

I'm running 245/45/18 front and 285/35/18 in the rear

I would not reccomend going larger then 245/40. The 285/35 rubs in the back and provides a harsher ride then I would prefer.

Additionally, while 18s look baller on e34s, if I could do it all over again I would go for 17" rims, only because the improved ride and clearance well make up for the extra inch

[Roderick]

Just how badly is the ride affected?

I'm running 16" 5 spokes right now (with 225/55R16 tyres) and obviously the ride is exceptionally smooth... I appreciate going to 17's would firm things up a bit and it would lose some of the suppleness, but how bad is it on 18" rims?
I'm on 275/30/19 rear, 245/35/19 front with no rub or anything. Car is a 95 540i, the ride is good.

[SC David]

The only thing I've found (which is VERY important) is to monitor tyre pressures.
I'm running 40psi and found most of the probs I had before haven't re-occurred. The old 30-all-round doesn't apply to 18s or probably 17s.

cheers,
GregI've been wondering what tire pressures to run with 17"s, but never really thought too hard about it and stuck with the pressures for the standard 15" tires. Should I be running slightly higher pressure front and rear?

[attack eagle]

ON a nice day use a spray bottle and lightly spray the tread of the tire, then rol forward and read the damp impression on the concrete like a wear pattern. It'll get you closer than a random add x psi guess will.

This assumes you have camber within spec.

[Paul in NZ]

the ride on 17s is fine,but as soon as you get sharp iregularities like expansion strips etc they are quite harsh....the consensus here seems to be running 39 front 40 ish rear....35 is minimum on 17s i beleive.Get the lightest wheels you can,thats the biggest disadvantage with bigger wheels,in tht most are HEAVY.

[Nick.Hay]

I have 18x8.5 wheels, and 30mm lowering springs.

The ride is no where near as nice as it was, but 9 times outta 10, style has to sacrifice something...

And fitting the 18s without lowering will look funny, too. If you are worried about the ride quality, then go to 17in wheels instead. :)