Low profile tire woes

[shiftmygears]

I have a 335i vert with 19s. The 19s use low profile tires. I just moved here and didn't realize our roads are terrible and in the last 27K miles I've put on this thing $6700 roughly of damage has been caused by just hitting potholes.

Are the slightly thicker tires on 18s more pothole friendly? Would 17s and even thicker tires fit on this car? I really like my wheels, but this money spent fixing stuff from hitting potholes is beginning to look like additional car payments. People here beat up their wheels all the time from the roads (so much that people use it as an excuse to daily half tons) but wondering if I can do something to lessen the pain.

[0107n54guy]

I have a 335i vert with 19s. The 19s use low profile tires. I just moved here and didn't realize our roads are terrible and in the last 27K miles I've put on this thing $6700 roughly of damage has been caused by just hitting potholes. Are the slightly thicker tires on 18s more pothole friendly? Would 17s and even thicker tires fit on this car? I really like my wheels, but this money spent fixing stuff from hitting potholes is beginning to look like additional car payments. People here beat up their wheels all the time from the roads (so much that people use it as an excuse to daily half tons) but wondering if I can do something to lessen the pain. the smaller the rim the more friendly to pot holes. But then it won't look as good. I have 18"s and I replaced 7 tires in 6 months, it's just a con of low pro tires. Having tired that are not run flat will help a lot

[Pilgrim]

Yes, smaller diameter tires will have taller sidewalls, and will both ride more smoothly and be more resistant to pothole damage. They will be just slightly less responsive because taller sidewalls are less stiff.

I frankly don't understand the obsession over bigger and bigger wheels and tires. They increase the weight and inertia of the tire/wheel assembly and an inch or two makes no significant difference to the look IMO. Heck, before I'd spend $6000 on tires I'd drive 14" rims...like we did for decades.

[cochise325]

Just make sure that whatever wheels you end up substituting, have the proper offset and clearance for brake rotors and calipers.

[Critter7r]

Yes, smaller diameter tires will have taller sidewalls, and will both ride more smoothly and be more resistant to pothole damage. They will be just slightly less responsive because taller sidewalls are less stiff.

I frankly don't understand the obsession over bigger and bigger wheels and tires. They increase the weight and inertia of the tire/wheel assembly and an inch or two makes no significant difference to the look IMO. Heck, before I'd spend $6000 on tires I'd drive 14" rims...like we did for decades.

Having driven my old E30 with 14-inch wheels and then swapping to 16-inch wheels, I understand the obsession with shorter sidewalls. It makes the car very much more responsive. However, one must find a balance between the desired handling and the realities of their driving environment.

[shiftmygears]

My question would be is how much of an actual difference does 18" make vs. 19" in terms of pothole protection, as that'd be the smaller size that would actually fit? The X5/X6/X5M/X6M is seen a lot more here than BMW coupes/sedans for that reason, as our roads suck and they have thicker tires and are a bit more rugged, but they don't come in 3 pedals and don't feel the same :(