Summer rim choice: help me choose - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

E34///M5 · 4th April 2006, 06:21

I live in MN and have a red E34 M5, on the stock wheels I put some snow tires for the occasional jaunt in the inclement weather here. I am currently shopping for some summer tires and wheels to put them on.

My goals: as light or lighter than stock, not super expensive (prefer under $250 each), look like they could have been a BMW factory option, have the correct offset (20-22mm or so), and I think I'd like 18's (as long as they are light). One other thing, I don't want to put E39 M5 wheels on my car.

Here are the ones that I have found. They come in 8" or 9" width.

These are made by ASA "using BBS technology", but are cast wheels. My cost is $229 each for an 18x8 and $239 for an 18x9.

I have three main questions:
1) Do you think these look okay--I'd be glad to take recommendations.
2) What size rim width
3) Any tire size recommendations

The car has a Dinan suspension.

Thanks.

M540i LE · 4th April 2006, 07:17

Generally, I am an OEM kind of guy and think you can't go past the M-Parallels if you are looking for an 18" set.

However, I understand that they can be difficult to come by - certainly at $250 a rim.

So given that, I consider those wheels look quite good. Comes down to personal taste in the end.

In terms of tyre size, I come back to OEM. BMW chose to fit the 95 model M5 with 18" wheels - 8" fronts and 9" rears and shod them with 245/40/ZR18 all round. Their engineers reckoned this worked best - so who are we to argue!?

In terms of tyre choice, all of the many threads on here and elsewhere all seem to suggest that the best tyre for an E34 M5 is the Michelin Pilot Sport 2.

Cheers and good luck with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by E34///M5

I live in MN and have a red E34 M5, on the stock wheels I put some snow tires for the occasional jaunt in the inclement weather here. I am currently shopping for some summer tires and wheels to put them on.

My goals: as light or lighter than stock, not super expensive (prefer under $250 each), look like they could have been a BMW factory option, have the correct offset (20-22mm or so), and I think I'd like 18's (as long as they are light). One other thing, I don't want to put E39 M5 wheels on my car.

Here are the ones that I have found. They come in 8" or 9" width.

These are made by ASA "using BBS technology", but are cast wheels. My cost is $229 each for an 18x8 and $239 for an 18x9.

I have three main questions:
1) Do you think these look okay--I'd be glad to take recommendations.
2) What size rim width
3) Any tire size recommendations

The car has a Dinan suspension.

Thanks.

redl1nerpm · 4th April 2006, 08:18

Id have to agree. I like the wheels I purchased, and I like a few other styles, but really, I wish I would have just gone with M parallels. Good looks and good for the resale value as well

E34///M5 · 4th April 2006, 19:01

Thanks. I do like the M parallels as well, but am also sure that my next car will be an E39 M5 and will keep these rims for that car as well so the resale isn't that much of a deal for me. At the moment it looks like I will do 8's and 9's with the 245 40 18's.

redl1nerpm · 4th April 2006, 19:17

Heres the wheels I have, cant remember what company now though.
http://x11.putfile.com/10/30119152469.jpg
http://x12.putfile.com/12/35601493128.jpg
http://x11.putfile.com/10/30119150380.jpg

They're 265's in the rear with dinan suspension. No rubbing, just a perfect fit.