OEM 18s vs OEM 19s. Which handles better?

NorthwestM3 · Sat, Jan-03-2009, 08:11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluextc

how come BMW equips CSL with 19s?

My god not this one again. Sorry but this gets thrown out there every time the topic comes up.

It is because the 19 looks better. BMW does not design everything purely for performance. The CSL wheels are actually on the heavy side for a high performance 19. You can find many 19's that are quite a bit lighter. Why the engineers at BMW put a fairly heavy 19" wheel on a car that is supposed to be a stripped down lightweight variant is a complete mystery that makes no sense from an engineering and performance point of view.

bluextc · Sat, Jan-03-2009, 08:44:22 PM

hmm yea doesn't make sense to me either. i'm not trying to be 'that guy' but i'm curious...is csl with 18s faster around a track than csl on 19s? I'm genuinly curious.
any records to prove this?

PB · Sun, Jan-04-2009, 06:16:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorthwestM3

My god not this one again. Sorry but this gets thrown out there every time the topic comes up.

It is because the 19 looks better. BMW does not design everything purely for performance. The CSL wheels are actually on the heavy side for a high performance 19. You can find many 19's that are quite a bit lighter. Why the engineers at BMW put a fairly heavy 19" wheel on a car that is supposed to be a stripped down lightweight variant is a complete mystery that makes no sense from an engineering and performance point of view.

Agree, the CSLs (BBS) are lighter than stock but not forged as advertised in North American ads, the BBS RGR would have been the equally good looking, lighter, high quality choice especially in 18s but 19 is the sexy look and forged is a lot more money. Sad comment on BMW.

snakedoc · Sun, Jan-04-2009, 06:37:01 AM

Yeah, but the RGR would have been double the price of the CSLs. With all the outcry over the $4000 for ZCP, people would've been screaming bloody murder if it was say, $6000 for it.

**John_T** · Sun, Jan-04-2009, 07:47:45 AM

...lets try not to wander off topic.

jjojo2004 · Sun, Jan-04-2009, 02:34:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarqE46

track/performance = 18s
street/looks = 19s

It couldn't have been said any better! I agree.

**PKumarM3** · Sun, Jan-04-2009, 03:40:17 PM

depends on the tires as well

jpmotdyn · Sun, Jan-04-2009, 03:52:43 PM

Arent the 18's and 19's the same outer diameter?

jpmotdyn · Sun, Jan-04-2009, 03:53:30 PM

And if they are the same OD the wouldnt the 19's be better because there is less tire roll?

NorthwestM3 · Sun, Jan-04-2009, 05:14:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpmotdyn

Arent the 18's and 19's the same outer diameter?

Yes they are the same OD tire but about 75% of the wheels mass is in the outer rim so you are moving that mass 1/2" farther away from the axis of rotation and that leads to the negative effects that we have been discussing.

On tire roll just read what has already been said about having too short and too stiff of a sidewall.

Sat, Jan-03-2009, 08:44:22 PM	#42
bluextc Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 615 Reputation: 0 Location: Reston	hmm yea doesn't make sense to me either. i'm not trying to be 'that guy' but i'm curious...is csl with 18s faster around a track than csl on 19s? I'm genuinly curious. any records to prove this? __________________

Sun, Jan-04-2009, 07:47:45 AM	#45
John_T Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,631 Reputation: 578 Location: Switzerland	...lets try not to wander off topic. __________________

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Sun, Jan-04-2009, 06:37:01 AM	#44
snakedoc Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 171 Reputation: 0 Location: San Francisco	Yeah, but the RGR would have been double the price of the CSLs. With all the outcry over the $4000 for ZCP, people would've been screaming bloody murder if it was say, $6000 for it.

Sun, Jan-04-2009, 03:40:17 PM	#47
PKumarM3 Banned Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 7,508 Reputation: 0 Location: NJ	depends on the tires as well

Sun, Jan-04-2009, 03:52:43 PM	#48
jpmotdyn Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 187 Reputation: 0 Location: Roseville	Arent the 18's and 19's the same outer diameter?

Sun, Jan-04-2009, 03:53:30 PM	#49
jpmotdyn Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 187 Reputation: 0 Location: Roseville	And if they are the same OD the wouldnt the 19's be better because there is less tire roll?