Will bigger wheels improve handling?

skimo · 10-23-2005, 09:30 PM

I love to take corners at a million miles per hour. I have the 325i 16's right now, wondering if upgrading to 19" with a wider wheel base will allow me to take corners at a million and one miles per hour?

Not planning to change from stock suspension yet.

Thanks
Skimo

JVFan · 10-23-2005, 09:33 PM

You needed the sport package dude...lower profile rubber and a tighter suspension make a world of difference.

skimo · 10-23-2005, 09:43 PM

Thanks. But the wheels alone wont help?

D-Rock · 10-23-2005, 09:46 PM

your ganna have to drop it guss it will look silly with 19 not droped

JVFan · 10-23-2005, 09:47 PM

Well it will help but it is b/c with bigger wheels you have to get lower profile rubber to keep the diameter the same or you'll be all f'ed up.

ben1364 · 10-24-2005, 07:03 AM

Take a driving school first. Otherwise you might never know if the plus tire/wheel combination helped.

fredtoo · 10-24-2005, 07:31 AM

If tire life is not an issue, you should be able to get race compound tires to fit the stock wheels. These should stick better than street compound tires on 19" wheels.

Meatnog · 10-24-2005, 08:06 AM

Also if you get 19" wheels from the 16" you will NEED to get new brakes/rotors. That big of an increase will vastly change the rotational energy which means you need more stopping power.

MCS · 10-24-2005, 08:27 AM

Do a search on Wheel + Unsprung weight.

The wheel, tires, air, breaks & the suspension from the shoks on down are part of unsprung weight. i.e. Weight that is not supported by the springs/shocks/struts. The heavier the unsprung weight, the worse a car will handle.

In general, a car's manufacturer will build their OEM wheel to the best balance of unsprung weight for optimum combination of comfort/handling etc. Buying a 19 inch rim means extra weight at the corners due to the weight of extra steel/alloy. If the alloy is light enough to offset the reduction in rubber/air and unsprung weight is reduced, you have a better control at the corners.

Tires and the lateral friction is what you are probably asking. In that case best bet is to replace the tires with track or semi track/road tires. However, these are not legal for the roads and if they are, if you drive on cold or wet days - you are completely screwed. A work colleague had an old turbocharged Porsch whaletale that he tracked regularly and had semi street/track tires. He could only drive the car when the temperature was over 55 and weather called for no rain.

10-23-2005, 09:30 PM	#1
skimo Lieutenant 91 Rep 532 Posts Drives: 2011 335 vert Dinan II Join Date: May 2005 Location: Austin Texas !! iTrader: (1)	Will bigger wheels improve handling? I love to take corners at a million miles per hour. I have the 325i 16's right now, wondering if upgrading to 19" with a wider wheel base will allow me to take corners at a million and one miles per hour? Not planning to change from stock suspension yet. Thanks Skimo
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10-23-2005, 09:33 PM	#2
JVFan Lieutenant 36 Rep 515 Posts Drives: Very Well Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lloydminster, AB CANADA iTrader: (1)	You needed the sport package dude...lower profile rubber and a tighter suspension make a world of difference. __________________ 2012 328i White Luxury/ Saddle Brown
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10-23-2005, 09:43 PM	#3
skimo Lieutenant 91 Rep 532 Posts Drives: 2011 335 vert Dinan II Join Date: May 2005 Location: Austin Texas !! iTrader: (1)	Thanks. But the wheels alone wont help?
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10-23-2005, 09:46 PM	#4
D-Rock Lieutenant Colonel 188 Rep 1,855 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: miami iTrader: (2)	your ganna have to drop it guss it will look silly with 19 not droped
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10-23-2005, 09:47 PM	#5
JVFan Lieutenant 36 Rep 515 Posts Drives: Very Well Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lloydminster, AB CANADA iTrader: (1)	Well it will help but it is b/c with bigger wheels you have to get lower profile rubber to keep the diameter the same or you'll be all f'ed up. __________________ 2012 328i White Luxury/ Saddle Brown
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10-24-2005, 07:03 AM	#6
ben1364 Captain 14 Rep 940 Posts Drives: E90 330iA Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Georgetown, TX iTrader: (0)	Take a driving school first. Otherwise you might never know if the plus tire/wheel combination helped.
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10-24-2005, 07:31 AM	#7
fredtoo First Lieutenant 15 Rep 340 Posts Drives: 325 328 350 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: nj iTrader: (0) Garage List 1986 328 [0.00] 2006 325 [0.00]	If tire life is not an issue, you should be able to get race compound tires to fit the stock wheels. These should stick better than street compound tires on 19" wheels.
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10-24-2005, 08:06 AM	#8
Meatnog Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 202 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Sedan Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (0)	Also if you get 19" wheels from the 16" you will NEED to get new brakes/rotors. That big of an increase will vastly change the rotational energy which means you need more stopping power. __________________ 2006 330i Sedan: Monaco Blue, Beige/Walnut, Premium Package.
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10-24-2005, 08:27 AM	#9
MCS e90 newbie 35 Rep 448 Posts Drives: 2012 M3 E93 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern NJ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Do a search on Wheel + Unsprung weight. The wheel, tires, air, breaks & the suspension from the shoks on down are part of unsprung weight. i.e. Weight that is not supported by the springs/shocks/struts. The heavier the unsprung weight, the worse a car will handle. In general, a car's manufacturer will build their OEM wheel to the best balance of unsprung weight for optimum combination of comfort/handling etc. Buying a 19 inch rim means extra weight at the corners due to the weight of extra steel/alloy. If the alloy is light enough to offset the reduction in rubber/air and unsprung weight is reduced, you have a better control at the corners. Tires and the lateral friction is what you are probably asking. In that case best bet is to replace the tires with track or semi track/road tires. However, these are not legal for the roads and if they are, if you drive on cold or wet days - you are completely screwed. A work colleague had an old turbocharged Porsch whaletale that he tracked regularly and had semi street/track tires. He could only drive the car when the temperature was over 55 and weather called for no rain. __________________ E93 IL Blue M3 ZPP, ZCW
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