Alloy Wheels - Your opinion
Discussion
Aesthetically I really like it on the smaller wheels, I think it's a massively improvement over the ridiculously over-sized ones you have now. IMO cars almost always look better with some sidewall.
How much it will improve the way the car drives, I've no idea.
How much it will improve the way the car drives, I've no idea.
Edited by kambites on Friday 26th April 15:46
I really hate MV2s so immediately am steering towards the alternative!
They look very underwheeled in that picture, but I suspect that's as much about the inset as anything else. If it was me, stick the smaller ones on, but with 20mm spacers all round, it'll fill the arches out nicely and still give you a bit more compliance through the sidewalls.
Or if you're on old, knackered tyres, then just buy some nice new fresh rubber for your current wheels.
They look very underwheeled in that picture, but I suspect that's as much about the inset as anything else. If it was me, stick the smaller ones on, but with 20mm spacers all round, it'll fill the arches out nicely and still give you a bit more compliance through the sidewalls.
Or if you're on old, knackered tyres, then just buy some nice new fresh rubber for your current wheels.
Heathwood said:
Not a huge fan of MV2s but those 17s in the second picture are far worse IMO. How about some style 107s (Ellipsoids)?
I vote for these too. The MV2s are unobjectionable but a bit dull, and I don't like spidery wheels on silver cars, something about the weight/ balance looks off, so that's the other two suggestions out. With the bold shapes on the car some bold shaped wheels with a decent amount of silver will work really well, so I'd go for these ellipsoids or something similar. Jordan247 said:
Hello everyone,
I currently have a BMW Z4 which is sitting on MV2 Style Alloys, like this....
They look nice but could do with a refurb and they are extremely heavy, and if any of you have driven a Z4 previously you will know it is a very stiff ride.
Locally there is a chap selling BMW Style 104 wheels which when fitted to a Z4 looks like this -
My thinking is this makes the car look more like a traditional sports car, the ride would be better and the un-sprung weight would be reduced, but I am after other opinions on what looks best
Many thanks
I approve. Get them. I currently have a BMW Z4 which is sitting on MV2 Style Alloys, like this....
They look nice but could do with a refurb and they are extremely heavy, and if any of you have driven a Z4 previously you will know it is a very stiff ride.
Locally there is a chap selling BMW Style 104 wheels which when fitted to a Z4 looks like this -
My thinking is this makes the car look more like a traditional sports car, the ride would be better and the un-sprung weight would be reduced, but I am after other opinions on what looks best
Many thanks
Going counter to the trend of increasingly larger, heavier wheels that ruin the ride.
Not Z4 but another BMW
I run 17 inch steels in the winter
and 18 inch alloys in the summer
Much prefer the 17’s from a ride comfort perspective, the square set up is a nicer balance and generally when I put the 18’s back on I miss the 17’s for several weeks
In the winter when I go from 18’s to 17’s I think why don’t I run these all year round……
I run 17 inch steels in the winter
and 18 inch alloys in the summer
Much prefer the 17’s from a ride comfort perspective, the square set up is a nicer balance and generally when I put the 18’s back on I miss the 17’s for several weeks
In the winter when I go from 18’s to 17’s I think why don’t I run these all year round……
We had quite a bit of Z4 wheel chat (with example pictures) in Court_S's M coupe thread:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Sorry OP, but I don't particularly like either the wheels you have, or the wheels you're considering!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Sorry OP, but I don't particularly like either the wheels you have, or the wheels you're considering!
Just check the size of the 104’s.
I used to run them during the winter months with winter wheels and I’m sure they used to be 16’s. The only way the z4 would get anywhere if it snowed!
The car became a lot more compliant and comfortable after having ditched the run flats but still communicative enough. It did feel looser and less engaging, but a lot of that is down to the different tyre type too. So I can’t give a straight comparison.
I always thought they looked really weedy though in comparison even to the style 106 17’s it ran in the summer!
I used to run them during the winter months with winter wheels and I’m sure they used to be 16’s. The only way the z4 would get anywhere if it snowed!
The car became a lot more compliant and comfortable after having ditched the run flats but still communicative enough. It did feel looser and less engaging, but a lot of that is down to the different tyre type too. So I can’t give a straight comparison.
I always thought they looked really weedy though in comparison even to the style 106 17’s it ran in the summer!
The Big G said:
Just check the size of the 104’s.
I used to run them during the winter months with winter wheels and I’m sure they used to be 16’s. The only way the z4 would get anywhere if it snowed!
The car became a lot more compliant and comfortable after having ditched the run flats but still communicative enough. It did feel looser and less engaging, but a lot of that is down to the different tyre type too. So I can’t give a straight comparison.
I always thought they looked really weedy though in comparison even to the style 106 17’s it ran in the summer!
Yeah, they are 16" and usually have 225/50/16 tyres fitted, nice and stocky looking I think - functionality over style.I used to run them during the winter months with winter wheels and I’m sure they used to be 16’s. The only way the z4 would get anywhere if it snowed!
The car became a lot more compliant and comfortable after having ditched the run flats but still communicative enough. It did feel looser and less engaging, but a lot of that is down to the different tyre type too. So I can’t give a straight comparison.
I always thought they looked really weedy though in comparison even to the style 106 17’s it ran in the summer!
They are very plush wheels, makes the ride as you said feel nice and compliant and not crashy at all, my dad had these on his 2.0 Z4 - it drove very well.
I would most certainly have these over any larger wheels these days, especially on roads in the UK.
Even 17's are becoming a chore in the UK for me, 16" is the sweet spot I think.
7 5 7 said:
Yeah, they are 16" and usually have 225/50/16 tyres fitted, nice and stocky looking I think - functionality over style.
They are very plush wheels, makes the ride as you said feel nice and compliant and not crashy at all, my dad had these on his 2.0 Z4 - it drove very well.
I would most certainly have these over any larger wheels these days, especially on roads in the UK.
Even 17's are becoming a chore in the UK for me, 16" is the sweet spot I think.
Last few cars I have had with 16” wheels - tyres have been bloody expensive and with fairly limited choices - 17” seems the choice is unlimited and prices far friendlierThey are very plush wheels, makes the ride as you said feel nice and compliant and not crashy at all, my dad had these on his 2.0 Z4 - it drove very well.
I would most certainly have these over any larger wheels these days, especially on roads in the UK.
Even 17's are becoming a chore in the UK for me, 16" is the sweet spot I think.
Personally I like the smaller wheels, but I understand for most they're not 'eye candy'/
I had an R53 MCS back in the day that came with big 'ol heavy 17s.
In the winter I ran it on 15" pepper pots with decent sidewall height winter tyres and it just made the car feel so much happier.
Felt lighter on it's feet and it bit of squirm from the chassis under load was more communicative and playful than the rather authoritative stiff grip levels of the 17s.
Plus on favourite broken blacktop routes it was no slower because surface imperfections seemed less pronounced, the car could breathe a bit whilst still being in contact with the road.
On the 17s you were always watching the surface ahead carefully to avoid being hop, skip and jumped off line with the chassis loaded.
The look of it was certainly more old school than modern and more Mini One than Copper S in profile, but again personally had no issue with with that. I'd go as far as to say I actually liked it, bit of an anti-statement I guess! The 17s never went back on and sat in the garage until I sold it.
But it's your call.
How a car looks is only really relevant to me as I walk up to it, the connection is formed actually driving the thing.
So I'd always prioritise that first. And it then just looks how it looks as a result.
But we all like our cars for different reasons, some (actually most, probably) think the polar opposite to me - and seeing as it's their car, well good for them I say, you do you!
I had an R53 MCS back in the day that came with big 'ol heavy 17s.
In the winter I ran it on 15" pepper pots with decent sidewall height winter tyres and it just made the car feel so much happier.
Felt lighter on it's feet and it bit of squirm from the chassis under load was more communicative and playful than the rather authoritative stiff grip levels of the 17s.
Plus on favourite broken blacktop routes it was no slower because surface imperfections seemed less pronounced, the car could breathe a bit whilst still being in contact with the road.
On the 17s you were always watching the surface ahead carefully to avoid being hop, skip and jumped off line with the chassis loaded.
The look of it was certainly more old school than modern and more Mini One than Copper S in profile, but again personally had no issue with with that. I'd go as far as to say I actually liked it, bit of an anti-statement I guess! The 17s never went back on and sat in the garage until I sold it.
But it's your call.
How a car looks is only really relevant to me as I walk up to it, the connection is formed actually driving the thing.
So I'd always prioritise that first. And it then just looks how it looks as a result.
But we all like our cars for different reasons, some (actually most, probably) think the polar opposite to me - and seeing as it's their car, well good for them I say, you do you!
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