[ndinh]

So I've put 20 inchers on my wife's F10 (base model) and it rides very rough. Just wondering if this is common with all 20" setups for F10's or is it because the car is the base model '13. The suspension feels like crap. I mean it bounces around every bump on the road. A week ago we got a 2015 528 M-sport as a loaner and it rode super smooth (granted it had 18" M-sport wheels and is a brand new car). Also, is there anything else I can do to have a better ride besides swapping the wheels back to stock.

[EL Jeffe 5]

I would think it will ride as good tires you put on.
What tires did you install?

[ndinh]

Originally Posted by EL Jeffe 5

I would think it will ride as good tires you put on.
What tires did you install?

That's exactly what I thought initially so I changed out el cheapo tires for Pirelli P-0's and it's still very rough. I'm just curious to know if this is the norm or is it just the suspension of our car being that it was a CPO base model.

[EL Jeffe 5]

what size are you running 245-35-20 front and 285-30-20 rear and what pressure?

Keep in mind ride wont be the same as stock you will get used to it.

I am not expert but I had on all my cars aftermarket wheels from 18'' to 24'' its always different

good luck

[bake]

I am running OEM 20's with Hankook Evo2 tires and AC Schnitzer springs and my car doesn't drive rough or bounce around at all. I have a 2011 M Sport which came with DHP and all the suspension bells and whistles before they dropped them from being standard with the M Sport package. Actually one of the reasons I went with a 2011 vs a 2012.

[lsturbointeg]

I'm rolling with 20' wheels and it drives like butter granted I'm rolling on RF's!

[spyroz]

better than 19"

[Ben2k9]

Lower profile definitely rides more rough, all things being equal...

[.BMW.]

My F11 with 20" Michelin PSS runs much much better than my previous F31 with 18" Bridgestone run-flats.

It's not only the diameter or sidewall that influence the ride quality, but a number of other factors like suspension type and settings, tire brand, type of tire etc.

[Autobuffoonery]

Originally Posted by ndinh

So I've put 20 inchers on my wife's F10 (base model) and it rides very rough. Just wondering if this is common with all 20" setups for F10's or is it because the car is the base model '13. The suspension feels like crap. I mean it bounces around every bump on the road. A week ago we got a 2015 528 M-sport as a loaner and it rode super smooth (granted it had 18" M-sport wheels and is a brand new car). Also, is there anything else I can do to have a better ride besides swapping the wheels back to stock.

The only way anybody could properly asses your crappy ride is with more info, first off what rims did you install, what are the widths and what size tires? Without this info we can't help you find the problem. My car has 20" forgestar wheels and low profile tires (non run-flats) and they ride alot better and smoother then stock m sport wheels. My wheels are 20x9 front with 275/30r20's and 20x11 with 295/25r20's out back, the forgestars are lighter than the stock wheels. I have Bridgestone re760's up front and nittos invo's on the back, the bridgestones were reviewed as being smooth and not a loud tire and the nitto invo's are specifically made for lowered cars to ride smooth. I didn't get the same tires all around because I didn't like the tread wear rating for the matching nittos up front. So give us more info and maybe we could help you out.

[ndinh]

Originally Posted by Autobuffoonery

The only way anybody could properly asses your crappy ride is with more info, first off what rims did you install, what are the widths and what size tires? Without this info we can't help you find the problem. My car has 20" forgestar wheels and low profile tires (non run-flats) and they ride alot better and smoother then stock m sport wheels. My wheels are 20x9 front with 275/30r20's and 20x11 with 295/25r20's out back, the forgestars are lighter than the stock wheels. I have Bridgestone re760's up front and nittos invo's on the back, the bridgestones were reviewed as being smooth and not a loud tire and the nitto invo's are specifically made for lowered cars to ride smooth. I didn't get the same tires all around because I didn't like the tread wear rating for the matching nittos up front. So give us more info and maybe we could help you out.

Well, it seems like most of the cars mentioned above are M-sport, DHP, F11's, etc. I'm sure the suspension setup is a little different than a base model pre-LCI 528i. The wheels are TSW 20x8.5 and 20x10. Front and rear tires are 245/35/20 and 275/30/20, respectively, which I believe is pretty standard and recommended for this car. Tires are Pirelli P0's all around, non run-flats. The car came stock with 17's. The ride is similar to what I use to have years ago when I had a dropped rice rocket, harsh and uncomfortable. Like I mentioned, we've only had this car for a few months, bought CPO so I'm not sure how older F10's are suppose to feel in the first place. I, myself, drive a F07 and it's a world of a difference with 20's, super smooth, but then my tires have a larger aspect ratio. BTW, thanks for the replies everyone.

[Autobuffoonery]

I didn't like the 245/35 tire size, it's too narro and doesn't have much to work with to absorbe the roads imperfections. I would try a 255/40r20 in the front, it's a little taller and wider and will put more rubber between you and the road. You could also run a little less air pressure to soften up the ride with a larger tire. My stock front tires were 245's upfront and they we're jarring.

[.BMW.]

Originally Posted by Autobuffoonery

I would try a 255/40r20 in the front, it's a little taller and wider and will put more rubber between you and the road.

Just to be clear.

255/40-20 is almost 5% taller than OEM size and might rub the steering knuckle up front depending on wheel offset.

245/40-20 (3.5% taller) or 255/35-20 (1% taller) will fit though.

[Autobuffoonery]

A 255/40 will fit all day long and won't rub on anything. It's only 1.28" taller than what he's running now. Some people who have the m sport 19's run a 245/45 and its .93 taller than what he's running now and they don't rub. The difference between 1.28 and .93 is like a 1/4" it will make a difference in the ride and won't rub. He could also put on coilovers if it's not the tires.

[.BMW.]

No need to be cocky, but since I have fitted 255/40-20 up front I know they will rub the steering knuckle depending on wheel offset.

Less than 1/10" clearance with the car on the lift and rubs with the weight on the wheels.

[Autobuffoonery]

Sorry I didn't realize that everyone has the same wheel offsets as you do.

[.BMW.]

OP didn't provide info about wheel offset.

But I checked available 8.5x20" TSW wheels for BMW, all models are ET35 except one that's ET30.

The picture above is with ET32.

[ndinh]

Originally Posted by .BMW.

OP didn't provide info about wheel offset.

But I checked available 8.5x20" TSW wheels for BMW, all models are ET35 except one that's ET30.

The picture above is with ET32.

Just to answer your question, front and rear are ET35. Thanks for all the recommendations. I'll go for larger OD tires before I have to swap back the stocks, which is what my wife wants right now because she's really frustrated.

[.BMW.]

Thanks for offset info.

The 255/40-20 tire tread rubs against the steering knuckle because it's too tall, not too wide.

This means that the offset will not be that important in this case as long as it's between 20-35.

To completely clear a 255/40-20 tire from the steering knuckle the offset needs to be around 10-15. But with that low offset a 255/40-20 tire will rub the fender liner during both compression and steering so that's nor an option for a rub free setup.

I dont like the idea of giving advice to a forum member without own experience if the tire will fit without rubbing or not. Therefore I shared my knowledge regarding 255/40-20 up front on F10/F11.

[Autobuffoonery]

Originally Posted by .BMW.

No need to be cocky, but since I have fitted 255/40-20 up front I know they will rub the steering knuckle depending on wheel offset.

Less than 1/10" clearance with the car on the lift and rubs with the weight on the wheels.

He is right and I'm am wrong, I just looked at my car to compare to his pic and a taller tire like the 255/40 is a tight fit. I would go 255/35 it's about a half inch shorter so it won't rub, but i would still consider going wider as it will make a larger contact patch and absorbe the road better. You did mention your car is a base model so a coil over upgrade will prolly be the best option.

[JamRWS6]

How did your car ride before the wheel swap compared to the new 528 you drove? How many miles do you have on the car?

[ndinh]

Originally Posted by JamRWS6

How did your car ride before the wheel swap compared to the new 528 you drove? How many miles do you have on the car?

As I can remember, the car drove fine (stiff suspension but not rough) but it definitely didn't feel like a new 528. We bought it at 36K miles so that's understandable, plus technology has changed somewhat. It's sort of like comparing apples to oranges with a new car. I was hoping to get some insight from a '12-'13 base model owner that has upgraded to 20" wheels. Although coil-overs would be a nice upgrade, since it's my wife's daily commuter, I'm not sure I want to spend a few thousand on it. We bought it as a beater for her but I then had the urge to make it look nice with the wheels. It's becoming more of a headache than its worth.