Hi, are 18" wheels on Z3 a big no no? Or is it bearable. My Z4 was all over the place!
Tramline
- Thread starter Keith Lowes
- Start date
We have 18" on the Mrs z3 and it drives fine, you can feel it slightly on bad roads but not enough to pull the steering out of your hands. A lot of that feeling will be down to the rear wishbone bush. They get tired and soft.
Its normally the tyres/bushes that cause the problem, not the size of the wheels. I've run 16, 17, 18 & 19's on my zed with no issues at all.
On my Silver Z3 I have 18” Wheels, 8.5j width and ET43. With 225/40/18 front and 255/35/18 rear. Works fine for me
On my Blue Z3 I have 19” wheels.
Front - ET37, 9J with 225/35/19
Rear - ET39, 9J with 255/30/19
Again no issues for me.
On my Blue Z3 I have 19” wheels.
Front - ET37, 9J with 225/35/19
Rear - ET39, 9J with 255/30/19
Again no issues for me.
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2016
- Points
- 218
- Location
- Maybole , South Ayrshire
- Model of Z
- Z3 Individual Dakar / Orinoco Individual
I had 18' s on mine now 17 my mrs zed on 16
I would say it makes a difference to tramlining.
The bigger wheels give better handling but with a bit less compliance from the sidewalls on the bigger wheels the ride is a bit more fidgety on rough roads but not unbearably so.
I would say it makes a difference to tramlining.
The bigger wheels give better handling but with a bit less compliance from the sidewalls on the bigger wheels the ride is a bit more fidgety on rough roads but not unbearably so.
Thanks all, will give it a go
I ran 19"s on my z3 for years with no issues.
I now have 18"s, as the missus has pinched the 19"s for her Z4.....
I now have 18"s, as the missus has pinched the 19"s for her Z4.....
They do tend to wander slightly at motor way speeds even on 16" wheels I have had 2 Zeds my first was back in the day in 1998 it was almost brand new and it also felt a bit vague at the front.
New tyres, shocks, top mounts and bushes and no tram-lining for me anymore. Straight and true.
I have 18"s on mine at the moment, and with the old tyres I got with the wheels, it was tramlining a lot -- I've just changed the tyres and that has cured the problem *completely*.
Both look fabulousI ran 19"s on my z3 for years with no issues.
I now have 18"s, as the missus has pinched the 19"s for her Z4.....
M’y expérience with tram lining on my Z3(3.0)...changed wheels back to front, different tyre pressures..no effect.
Replaced front arm rear bushes with Polly bushes & fitted new top strut mountings..definitet improvement.
Replaced the wheels & tyres, back to the standard size that the car was designed to have..16 inch...
..problem completely rectified with the bonus of better handeling & a more comfortable ride over rough roads.
I love the look of the larger wheels that many folk fit, but I value the car behaving as it should.
Larger wheels & tyres do not always benefit a car unless the relevant suspension parts are matched.
I exspect many will think otherwise.
Replaced front arm rear bushes with Polly bushes & fitted new top strut mountings..definitet improvement.
Replaced the wheels & tyres, back to the standard size that the car was designed to have..16 inch...
..problem completely rectified with the bonus of better handeling & a more comfortable ride over rough roads.
I love the look of the larger wheels that many folk fit, but I value the car behaving as it should.
Larger wheels & tyres do not always benefit a car unless the relevant suspension parts are matched.
I exspect many will think otherwise.
I cured tramlining, even running 19's...Tyres tyres tyres tyres.
forget anything else, unless its really knackered.
last post, I suspect, had the subliminal message
'replaced wheels and TYRES'
forget anything else, unless its really knackered.
last post, I suspect, had the subliminal message
'replaced wheels and TYRES'
I know tyres are the main source of the dreaded tram lining but my post is also about the advantages of going back to the Manufacturers standard size. The larger diameter of the wheel the lower the profile of the tyre, the hight/profile of the tyre is an intrecote part of the overall suspension.
Love the looks of the wheels filling the wheel arch’s, but I’m firmly in function over looks camp.
It’s a good job we all like different things as all of our car would look the same.
Love the looks of the wheels filling the wheel arch’s, but I’m firmly in function over looks camp.
It’s a good job we all like different things as all of our car would look the same.
When I first fitted my 18s it frightened the life out of me and I darn't go over 60mph as it was all over the place, tyre pressure helped a bit but I have since replaced all shocks, Springs, bottom arms, drop links, ARBs, top mounts and its all but gone, I think once I get rid of the Falken tyres on the front that should sort it completely,
Yes not impressed with Falkens on the front of mine they are darn hard.
When I get new rear tyres soon I will put those Falkens on the back and try whatever I buy probably a good budget tyre on the front see how that feels.
When I get new rear tyres soon I will put those Falkens on the back and try whatever I buy probably a good budget tyre on the front see how that feels.
I also use budget tyres and have them on the rear, they are excellent, just do your research first as there are some horror stories out there,
Thanks for advice Sean I looked up budgets tyres Nexen eco & Superior eco got very good reviews for the price bracket I want to spend in the coming future when my rear old Avon's give out won't be to long.
When I had my 1.9 she had 17 inch wheels with semi directional tyres on the front and she was all over the place holding on with both hands ,changed these for Prestivo tyres which are mid range price and the transformation was like nice get and day so yes I think tyre choice is so important towards a good handling car.
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It’s interesting about the Falkens tyres, as on another forum they were recommended. I have 4 new Falkens on 16inch rims & they are brilliant. Will be interesting to see what they are like when they are half worn.