I'm getting 19s(230, I think?) on my 335 coupe simply because I didn't like the stock 18s, way too busy looking for me. I didn't think about how the ride would feel until I started reading here. But is it really that much different? My daily drive to work is only 1.5 miles. I'm in FL on really nice roads. Weekends, I do a bit more driving, but the roads are good. Guess it doesn't matter much now, the car was scheduled to arrive today.
I bought my 335i with sport package in Florida. It originally had 19s. The ride was so bad that the car actually broke in half when I hit a bump on South Dixie Higway and BMW replaced it under warranty with an identical car with 18s.
The 18s were like I was driving on a cloud.
Seriously,
I did buy my 335i in Florida and on the roads there I had no issue with the ride quality of with the RFTs (although I have 18s). I got rid of the RFTs when I brought the car to NYC and I still am not thrilled with the suspension on NYC roads but in Florida I suspect that you will be fine with the 19s and will get a great deal of enjoyment out of driving the car
Good luck with it and post some pics when it comes in.
I concur and my friend Simon Kirkby, who is the driving coach at Lime Rock, recently replaced the 19s on the Lime Rock Club M3 with 18s for precisely that reason,
That is not, however, what the OP was asking and IMO on Florida roads the 19s will probably be OK.
I went from 18's to 19's when I traded my 330ci for my 335i. The ride was definitely more harsh on the 19's but it was a different car with a different suspension so its difficult to say whether it was the tires/wheels or suspension or combination of the two. I live in New England where the roads generally suck. I agree with the post above - you should be fine on the silky smooth (comparatively speaking) roads of FL.
@CA, you always got jokes!
Thanks for the input, guys. Yeah, I'm mainly thinking about the feel, on the "silky smooth" FL roads. Lol. I love driving my car, but I'm no Danica. I prob wont notice any speed or performance difference.
@CA, you always got jokes!
Thanks for the input, guys. Yeah, I'm mainly thinking about the feel, on the "silky smooth" FL roads. Lol. I love driving my car, but I'm no Danica. I prob wont notice any speed or performance difference.
You probably won't. The M3 I was referring to a few post back is regularly pushed to the limits on a race track and the tires are replaced every few months. On a road car, even one that is driven enthusiastically you should be fine with 19 on Florida roads.
How does the BMW compare to your previous Audi's? I was between an Audi S5 and another 335. I chose the 335 for a few reason, not the least of which being price.
I have a friend (who is a poster here) who has a similar car to mine (335i E93) except that I have sport package, 18s and non RFT and he has 17s, RFT and no sport package. He drove my car in his neighborhood and said that the ride on mine was less harsh.
I have a friend (who is a poster) here who has a similar car to mine (2007 335i E93) except that I have sport package, 18s and non RFT and he has 17s, RFT and no sport package. He drove my car in his neighborhood and said that the ride on mine was less harsh.
Is that an argument over tire size or over non-RFT over RFT?
I am about to order a 335is with 18s because the prevailing opinion on these forums is that the smaller wheel size gives a better ride and better performance. However, the two 335is vehicles that I test drove didn't seem to ride harshly, just firm.
Sport suspension, RFTs and 19s! Go Florida! lol
NEWS FLASH!!! My creampuff has arrived! Mineral white on cream beige. I will likely take delivery on Sat. Can't get away from work before then. Grrr! But I did take Monday off, just to play.
Hey , I used to have a 335 coupe with 18's and RFT's. I sold it and got a 335 convertible with 19's, M wheels, just like the ones on other member on this same post (CT). I do not have RFT any more, the ride as CT says is A LOT softer than the 18 RFT's. There is however loss of performance (cornering) but from the tires having a softer sidewall. If you plan to take the car to the track you will feel it, for everyday driving you will thank the softer ride. Wheels will be more prone to bend than the 18's, but a decent pot hole will ruin either 18 or 19, you have to be careful with both. I have Continental Extreme Contact DW 235-35-19 front and 255-35-19 on rear. I used to have 265-30-19 but that drops the car on the rear to much with the weight of the convertible motor so I went to a higher profile.
I am curious to know how this car feels with 18;s and RFT, if you want to switch for a few days to test, PM me, I am in Miami.
I do not agree that the handling is better with 19s and IMO it is worse. I do not track my E93. My home track (Lime Rock) will not allow a convertible without a permanent roll bar so that is moot anyway.
The Lime Rock Drivers Club recently acquired an M3. It originally came with 19s and Simon, the club driving coach, replaced the 19s with 18s because he felt they were better on the track.
I do not agree that the handling is better with 19s and IMO it is worse. I do not track my E93. My home track (Lime Rock) will not allow a convertible without a permanent roll bar so that is moot anyway.
The Lime Rock Drivers Club recently acquired an M3. It originally came with 19s and Simon, the club driving coach, replaced the 19s with 18s because he felt they were better on the track.
There are many ZO6 and ZR1s running at race tracks acrossed the US every weekend, and they all come with stock RF tires. I would say that the majority of these drivers run with RFTs instead of using dedicated track tires. Personally, I think some RFTs are better than they get credit for in many instances.
A while back I needed to move some boxes to my new office so I rented a small SUV from Hertz. It was a Ford something or other. It was so much more pleasant to drive in Manhattan than my 335. Now what is wrong with this picture?
Driving the BMW in NYC is not a pleasant experience. My car is a weekend car and is only driven in NYC to come and go buy if I was using it to get around in NYC I would much prefer an Accord or a Camry. Driving the BMW in NYC is just too stressful and I am constantly in fear of potholes. It is inevitable that eventually there will be one that can't be avoided and so far that has cost me 5 tires and 1 rim.
Once I get the car out of the city it comes into it's element and Is a pleasure to drive but the whole experience had soured me on the brand and this is very likely my first and last BMW.
I absolutely believe that (the part about the smoothness, not necessarily the part about 17s looking pathetic_
I am not a big fan of the huge rim rubber band tire look although I do like the looks of some of the cars with 19s that I see here on the forum.
Got the car today. The 19s don't feel any different than the 18s. Actually, the ride feels smoother, but that could be because I was riding on a REALLY bad rt front tire on the old car. Or maybe other things unrelated to the tires. I am very happy with the look and the ride.
Got the car today. The 19s don't feel any different than the 18s. Actually, the ride feels smoother, but that could be because I was riding on a REALLY bad rt front tire on the old car. Or maybe other things unrelated to the tires. I am very happy with the look and the ride.
I have had all differnt size wheels and tires on all different rides.. The smaller the side wall, you will get a much stiffer ride, just how it is. Also tires are a huge part od that ride. I orders 19 with Nitto tires, and I am getting rid of the run flats. I do not like them at all. No feel, and the feed back to my hands is just not there.
I will post once I put the new wheels and tires on and let you guys now.
Also putting H&R cup kit suspension kit on! yay
07 335i sports
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