17" vs 15" wheels

[reckless7]

I have been debating this over and over. Can someone please add their wisdom?

I currently have 15" sport wheels with nice thick Michelin primacy rubber on them. When I hit bumps I don't feel them and don't need to play frogger avoiding potholes. In my simple mind, having more rubber means having a nice, soft, cushy, bearable ride. I don't pull fast cuts in the car and use it mostly for flying down country roads late at night - pretty much in a straight line. Basically slamming the pedal and trying to get airborne as much as possible. For my kind of driving, what do I gain by going to 16-17" wheels?

[hakhawk]

looks.

[Mojo328i]

looks, looks a looot better :D

[erikerikerik]

the 15inch wheels will be faster to start and stop, they have less unsprung rotating mass.

[scooper]

weight and cost and cost of tires

[buzzboy]

For a daily driven car, unless you want to good looks, 15's are the ticket. You get cheaper rubber and more shock absorption. I bought my car with 18's on it. It felt every pebble and my replacement tires were ~200$ per corner. I've gone down to 16's, which are the smallest my brakes will fit, and I get more comfort, better feeling steering(very subjective I know) and I pay 95$ per corner for tires.

[slocar]

17s are worth it for the looks and improved steering response.

That said, I'd say 16s would be a really good balance for you. Having driven an e36 on all 3 sizes, I'd say 16s are probably the perfect choice for a daily driver (this from someone who has 17s).

[ronMtech325is]

If you want the ride comfort of 15" wheels & tires with better steering response go with 16" wheels with 205/55-16 tires. With 205/55-16 tires you get the correct outside diameter tire with a comfortable ride. If you for 225/50-16 you give up some of the comfort you had with the stock 205/60-15 tires. Also there are some better looking OEM wheels available in 16". With 17" wheels & tires you get the optimal steering response for an e36 but you do give up a lot of ride comfort. I have had 205/60-15, 205/55-16, 225/50-16, and 225/45-17 tires on different e36 cars and I found the steering response and ride comfort of 205/55-16 to be the best combination of wheel & tire package.

[poughcujiayi]

they have less unsprung rotating mass.http://finanziellede.de/6k.jpg

[Turbohugh]

Driving in chicago streets is probably like NE DC or Baltimore. Ya stay with 15s. .Maybe if you're really trying to 'look good' get some 17s for the weekend, then swap them when the summer is over / or when the weekend is over. I rid 15s in the winter.

[Moron95M3]

Sounds like you shouldn't be debating....just stay on 15's for your purposes? I go to 17's for feel and looks, but I have bent them up.

[FranksM3]

Sounds like you shouldn't be debating....just stay on 15's for your purposes? I go to 17's for feel and looks, but I have bent them up.
+1

[reckless7]

thanks for the advice guys. I am sticking with the 15s. Lately, it feels like I'm offroading when I am driving in the streets of Chicago after this brutal winter.

[slocar]

thanks for the advice guys. I am sticking with the 15s. Lately, it feels like I'm offroading when I am driving in the streets of Chicago after this brutal winter.

Guess I should plan to bring my dad's 318 instead of mine when I come up Friday/Saturday? Definitely don't want to be destroying things on a lowered car with 17s.