[bluebellf36]

Hi guys, just got a new f36 2017. Bought it with the 19 inch wheels and stock run flats. After a couple of months driving on these on UK roads decided I need to bin the run flats and get a smaller wheel size. Kinda like the look of the 19 inches as they’re the diamond cut ones. Does anyone know the best comfort set up for wheels and tyres? Thinking 17 inch’s is best but can’t find tyres that will fit the 255 width of the rear wheels. Is it best to just ditch the run flats for 19 inch reinforced tyres or go down to 17/18 inch wheels with normal tyres?

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by bluebellf36

Hi guys, just got a new f36 2017. Bought it with the 19 inch wheels and stock run flats. After a couple of months driving on these on UK roads decided I need to bin the run flats and get a smaller wheel size. Kinda like the look of the 19 inches as they’re the diamond cut ones. Does anyone know the best comfort set up for wheels and tyres? Thinking 17 inch’s is best but can’t find tyres that will fit the 255 width of the rear wheels. Is it best to just ditch the run flats for 19 inch reinforced tyres or go down to 17/18 inch wheels with normal tyres?

I run 2 sets of 18x8 wheels on my F31; 405Ms with Goodyear Assym6s and 397s with Goodyear Vector Gen3 all season tyres (as my winters); pictured:



Both sets of tyres are 235/45/18s non RFTs and I'd never go back to 19s or RFTs...

IIRC with 17s you'd run the same 225/50/17 tyres all round - but IMO 18s would look better - they're a good medium between the 2

Don't forget if you've got the blue Brembo brakes; the smallest wheel you can run is 18"

I paid £100 for my 397s via eBay & then got them refurbed for another £200 - plenty of bargains out there on them and similar as they're not as sought after

[bluebellf36]

Really helpful message thanks mate. I do have the M sport brakes on my f36 so now know I can’t go 17”. Also didn’t know you could run wider tyres on the front (225 to 235) and smaller on the back (255 to 235), did you notice any performance decreases from this? As would assume that the 235s at the back wouldn’t be wide enough to deliver the power? Also how much of a comfort difference did you notice with your set up now compared to the RF’s and 19inch?

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by bluebellf36

Really helpful message thanks mate. I do have the M sport brakes on my f36 so now know I can’t go 17”. Also didn’t know you could run wider tyres on the front (225 to 235) and smaller on the back (255 to 235), did you notice any performance decreases from this? As would assume that the 235s at the back wouldn’t be wide enough to deliver the power? Also how much of a comfort difference did you notice with your set up now compared to the RF’s and 19inch?

The alloys I've got fitted are straight sets, so 18x8 all round. The tyres are the same all round too

It's the staggered alloys that run wider tyres on the rear (ie 400Ms which are 18x8 and 18x8.5 front/rear - tyres are 225/45 and 255/40) etc

235s are perfect for an 18x8 - the factory size of 225/45 is a bit stretched really. 235 offers a straighter sidewall, better rim protection and a better turn in too.

The 19s with RFTs were horrible. I initially dropped to a set of 400Ms that had winter tyres and that made a marked difference and the decided I wanted to go for the 405Ms and non RFTs and glad I did. Smoother, quieter ride with better handling overall. More so. Now I've just replaced every part of the suspension

[bluebellf36]

Ah that makes sense thanks. Gonna look on eBay to find some straight 18”’s. Tyres you use look good too. Probably just gonna run all season then maybe get a summer set later aha. Expensive enough as it is. Straighter and bigger sidewall is exactly what I’m looking for cheers. I assume no benefits in straight alloys vs staggered?

Don’t think I’ll be rebuilding the suspension currently ahah. Your f31 looks like a beast tho mate.

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by bluebellf36

Ah that makes sense thanks. Gonna look on eBay to find some straight 18”’s. Tyres you use look good too. Probably just gonna run all season then maybe get a summer set later aha. Expensive enough as it is. Straighter and bigger sidewall is exactly what I’m looking for cheers. I assume no benefits in straight alloys vs staggered?

Don’t think I’ll be rebuilding the suspension currently ahah. Your f31 looks like a beast tho mate.

TBH I've found the Goodyear all seasons to be superb tyres, very impressed with them. But they'll get taken off sometime in March and I'll put the 405Ms back on with the Assym6s then as I do prefer a summer tyre for the warmer months etc...

But the all seasons will do very well all year round obviously.. Its all down to personal preference etc

With a straight set of wheels, the tyres are all the same size. So generally a better choice of tyre & better prices too.

There are a few sets of wheels for sale on here currently I think. A few posts down, worth having a look

All F3x 18" wheels fit over the blue Brembo brakes FYI

[Sully91]

Originally Posted by danb1979

I run 2 sets of 18x8 wheels on my F31; 405Ms with Goodyear Assym6s and 397s with Goodyear Vector Gen3 all season tyres (as my winters); pictured:


Both sets of tyres are 235/45/18s non RFTs and I'd never go back to 19s or RFTs...

IIRC with 17s you'd run the same 225/50/17 tyres all round - but IMO 18s would look better - they're a good medium between the 2

Don't forget if you've got the blue Brembo brakes; the smallest wheel you can run is 18"

I paid £100 for my 397s via eBay & then got them refurbed for another £200 - plenty of bargains out there on them and similar as they're not as sought after

Dan are your 397s satin black? I also much prefer the ride on 18s so I'm thinking of changing my 442s to either 397/398 when I go back to summer wheels. My previous F30 had 398s and I've just got a soft spot for them.

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Sully91

Dan are your 397s satin black? I also much prefer the ride on 18s so I'm thinking of changing my 442s to either 397/398 when I go back to summer wheels. My previous F30 had 398s and I've just got a soft spot for them.

They are; had them refurbed back in October. Can't stand gloss black:



I looked for 398s but none were at a sensible price and then came across the 397s for £100!

[Leeg1633]

I've got the staggered 400m with 225 front 255 rear, running non rft PS4's all round. Can't knock the comfort, grip ( dry, wet and even in the recent -6 temp we had ) or the way it handles the power