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[simianspeedster]

I'm strongly leaning towards a 128i M-Sport Coupe to replace my 335i M-Sport Coupe when my lease is up. This time around, I want to remove the stock wheels and runflats when the car is new, store them and put 'em back on for the lease return. My primary goals are to improve ride quality and lose some unsprung weight. A little extra grip/balance is a bonus.

I've come up with a few replacement options (please see chart). I'm thinking it might be a good idea to go with the first option (18x8" and 225/40-18 all around) because it would give me a little more front end bite and I don't need as much beef in the back with the N52 engine. I also threw in two staggered options derived from Tire Rack's site.

I'm open to all suggestions and advice. Thanks in advance!

[ApexWheels]

We have 1 series specific fitments that fit great on your car as a square or staggered fitment.

• We have an 18x8.5" ET45 ARC-8 that you could use a 235/40/18 tire on. This set up would not require spacers and would not rub. A staggered fitment could consist of 18x8.5" ET45 ARC-8 in the front with a 235/40/18 tire and an 18x9.5" ET62 in the rear with a 255/35/18 or 265/35/18 tire. This set up would also not require spacers and would not rub.

• The same fitments are also available in our new EC-7 wheel with 1 series fitment wheels arriving at our warehouse August 24.

• The Aero 7 is another option for the 1 series crowd. We have an 18x8" ET40 which you could run either a 225/40/18 or 235/40/18 tire square. You could also run a staggered fitment of 18x8" ET40 with either a 225/40/18 or 235/40/18 and an 18x9" ET50 with a 245/35/18 or a 255/35/18.

As you can see we have many 1 series specific fitments and all of our wheels are lighter than the weights you have listed in the chart you have prepared above.

[Artmasterx]

I previously had a 128i sport MT (2008), and I can assure it was a really well-balanced and fun car to drive. You will probably be a bit disappointed in the torque coming from a 335i, but it is still a lot of fun to drive (in a manual transmission).

For street use, I replaced my stock runflats with a square set of 225/45/17 General Exclaim UHP tires and thought it worked well. They weren't the grippiest tires, but were fine for daily use. There is a distinct benefit to being able to rotate tires as well.

I also auto-x'ed my car and ran a set of 235/40/17 Goodyear GS-D3 on 17x8 et40 wheels. These provided a very good amount of grip and I was able to beat a number of 135i's on the autox course because it made for a very balanced car.

If it were me, I would 100% go with a square setup with 225/40/18 or 235/40/18 tires with the Pilot Super Sports. You should have plenty of grip with either size in that tire. The 128's don't have enough power/torque to worry about needing a really fat tire in the rear, and you will probably have to really drop the clutch to spin the tires.

If you are concerned with weight, definitely consider the Apex wheel because they are some of the lightest non-forged out there and have a good reputation for durability. They may push you closer to $2000 for a square setup, but probably is a better wheel.

I miss my 128i... needing 4 doors is a bitch.

[Monterra]

I also have a 128 sport running stock wheels and really want to get Mich super sports that don't come in stock front fitment 205/50. Cost consciously, would you:
A) keep stock wheels and go 215/45 F and 225/45 R or
B) get 7.5" matching F and R wheels and square it up 225/45 or
C) something else I'm not thinking about

[simianspeedster]

Originally Posted by Joe@ApexRaceParts

We have 1 series specific fitments that fit great on your car as a square or staggered fitment.

• The Aero 7 is another option for the 1 series crowd. We have an 18x8" ET40 which you could run either a 225/40/18 or 235/40/18 tire square. You could also run a staggered fitment of 18x8" ET40 with either a 225/40/18 or 235/40/18 and an 18x9" ET50 with a 245/35/18 or a 255/35/18.

As you can see we have many 1 series specific fitments and all of our wheels are lighter than the weights you have listed in the chart you have prepared above.

Thanks, Joe. I'm not sure how I missed your products before. The Aero 7s look fantastic, especially on the 1. Something about how the gently curved spokes pick up the curves in the E82 body, I think.

I just need to decide between staggered and square -- more research needed, but I'm leaning toward the latter. If I want to go with 18 x 8 Aero 7s and 225/40/18s all around, do I need to do anything special or do they just work?

Thanks again!

[simianspeedster]

Originally Posted by Artmasterx

I previously had a 128i sport MT (2008), and I can assure it was a really well-balanced and fun car to drive. You will probably be a bit disappointed in the torque coming from a 335i, but it is still a lot of fun to drive (in a manual transmission).

For street use, I replaced my stock runflats with a square set of 225/45/17 General Exclaim UHP tires and thought it worked well. They weren't the grippiest tires, but were fine for daily use. There is a distinct benefit to being able to rotate tires as well.

I also auto-x'ed my car and ran a set of 235/40/17 Goodyear GS-D3 on 17x8 et40 wheels. These provided a very good amount of grip and I was able to beat a number of 135i's on the autox course because it made for a very balanced car.

If it were me, I would 100% go with a square setup with 225/40/18 or 235/40/18 tires with the Pilot Super Sports. You should have plenty of grip with either size in that tire. The 128's don't have enough power/torque to worry about needing a really fat tire in the rear, and you will probably have to really drop the clutch to spin the tires.

If you are concerned with weight, definitely consider the Apex wheel because they are some of the lightest non-forged out there and have a good reputation for durability. They may push you closer to $2000 for a square setup, but probably is a better wheel.

I miss my 128i... needing 4 doors is a bitch.

Very good info all around -- thanks a bunch, man.

I realize that I'm going to give up some power immediacy by trading in an N55 for an N52, but I strongly prefer the feeling of BMW's NA engines so I'm willing to trade speed for feel. As I've posted elsewhere on these forums, I'm really looking for a car that splits the difference between my old Z4 3.0si Coupe and my 335i M-Sport Coupe (both manuals). I think a 128i M-Sport Coupe will be just right. I test drove one this week -- alas, an automatic -- and it felt just right in terms of size and weight, though I only had a chance to drive city streets at lower speeds. I'll test drive one again closer to order time.

I also see MY2013 as the last year that I'll be able to get a new "old school" BMW -- no turbo, no iDrive, relatively light weight and a manual transmission. I understand why BMW is moving the direction they are, but it's not for me so I'm putting my money where my mouth is by downsizing to a simplified 128i. The only thing I wish it had is the 255HP version of the N52 -- I really love that engine -- but the 230HP variant is no slouch and I've heard/read suggestions that it may be underrated anyhow.

So, given my goals, I'm looking to set aside the runflats and start with lighter shoes this time around. I just need to figure out whether I want to keep a staggered setup or go square. My gut instinct is to go 225/40-18 all around, but keeping in mind that I'm going to keep the factory M-Sport suspension, does a square setup "fight" the factory tuning of the the car? I'm not a track junky, so 225s in the front and 255s in the rear feels like a lot of tire for a 128i that will be used as a daily driver 90% of the time, especially considering that improved ride quality is one of my goals in all of this.

Let me ask it this way: if I go with 18 x 8 Aero 7s and 225/40-18 Michelin PSS all around, what, if anything, will I miss or regret by not going staggered?

Thanks again!

[chachacha28]

id go square 225's. the Enkei's and PSS's sound like a winning combo to me, though im sure you could find some lighter wheels if you shop around.

[simianspeedster]

Updated chart reflecting current thinking. I'm leaning towards the green column, though I might consider the Pilot Sport A/S tires to get a lot more wear for the buck since I don't need the most hardcore handling (red column) -- I had a set on a previous car and they were great.

[simianspeedster]

Originally Posted by ezeedee

id go square 225's. the Enkei's and PSS's sound like a winning combo to me, though im sure you could find some lighter wheels if you shop around.

Thanks -- would you mind elaborating on your opinion about going square?

[ApexWheels]

Originally Posted by simianspeedster

Thanks, Joe. I'm not sure how I missed your products before. The Aero 7s look fantastic, especially on the 1. Something about how the gently curved spokes pick up the curves in the E82 body, I think.

I just need to decide between staggered and square -- more research needed, but I'm leaning toward the latter. If I want to go with 18 x 8 Aero 7s and 225/40/18s all around, do I need to do anything special or do they just work?

Thanks again!

225/40/18 on the 18x8" ET45 Aero 7 is a great square direct fitment, will not need spacers, and will not rub. They are also very light weight at 19lbs.

[simianspeedster]

Originally Posted by Joe@ApexRaceParts

225/40/18 on the 18x8" ET45 Aero 7 is a great square direct fitment, will not need spacers, and will not rub. They are also very light weight at 19lbs.

Thanks again -- sounds like the right direction for me.

Now I just need to decide between the Pilot Super Sport and the Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires. I know the former are the better pure performance tire, but it's hard to ignore a 500 treadwear rating on a tire that is probably 90% as good under most conditions and even better in the wet.

I had the original A/S tires years back and thought they were great. Anyone here rolling with the A/S Plus tire on a 1?

[John_01]

Another idea is to put 225/40/18 front and 245/35/18 rear. 18x8" ET45 rims all around. Mainly it looks better and gives the rear rim a bit more protection.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by simianspeedster

Thanks again -- sounds like the right direction for me.

Now I just need to decide between the Pilot Super Sport and the Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires. I know the former are the better pure performance tire, but it's hard to ignore a 500 treadwear rating on a tire that is probably 90% as good under most conditions and even better in the wet.

I had the original A/S tires years back and thought they were great. Anyone here rolling with the A/S Plus tire on a 1?

If you are considering the Michelin A/S, any reason not to also check out the Conti DWS? performance looks to be similar at a much lower price. After nearly 20k miles, I'm quite pleased with the staggered 17" set on my 128i.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/CompareTires.jsp

(link is for 17" size)

Tom

[simianspeedster]

Thanks for the tip. I was looking at the Contis as well. Most of the Tire Rack comments for both tires were generally positive, but there are a few worrying comments in there as well about noise, sidewall stiffness / turn-in, etc. for the Contis.

Even though they cost more, I'm admittedly biased (pardon the pun) toward Michelins. I've never had a bad Michelin tire, something I can't say of other brands I've tried, especially Goodyear and Bridgestone.

And here's an interesting question: considering that they're comparable tires on paper, why do the Contis way significantly less per tire (24 lbs. for the Pilot Sport A/S Plus vs. 21 lbs. for the DWS in 225/40-18)?

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by simianspeedster

Thanks for the tip. I was looking at the Contis as well. Most of the Tire Rack comments for both tires were generally positive, but there are a few worrying comments in there as well about noise, sidewall stiffness / turn-in, etc. for the Contis.

Even though they cost more, I'm admittedly biased (pardon the pun) toward Michelins. I've never had a bad Michelin tire, something I can't say of other brands I've tried, especially Goodyear and Bridgestone.

And here's an interesting question: considering that they're comparable tires on paper, why do the Contis way significantly less per tire (24 lbs. for the Pilot Sport A/S Plus vs. 21 lbs. for the DWS in 225/40-18)?

There is very little noise from my DWS tires and the effect of the softer sidewalls (probably true of non-RFTs in general) on initial turn in is easily alleviated with about 3 psi more air. Also, after almost 20k miles, I don't notice the "softer" steering feel anymore, even when set to the recommended 32/35 pressures - and the ride is great.

I haven't tried the Michelin A/S - was going to buy them but opted for the DWS as they were about 50% cheaper. I agree with you about Michelin as a brand, dating back to the Michelin X tires I mounted on my Corvair back in 1967 - although I never cared for the XVS tires on my wife's SAAB as the average performance didn't justify the premium price.

I'm sure you'll be pleased with either the Michelins or Contis.

And the weight question is interesting, indeed...

Tom