[rbaxe]

Living in Philadelphia, home of potholes that could swallow a Miata, my 2021 m240i 6M convertible is causing me misery with cracked rims. I’m on my third one in a year and I’m not driving like an idiot. Does anyone have a suggestion for either tougher aftermarket rims or different tires that will reduce my trips to the rim repair shop. I would even sacrifice a bit of performance. (Luckily I have a great one near me that repairs cracks same day for about $130)

[morphomeman]

17" rims are less likely to be damaged, simply because the tire will be a bit fatter (though many folks do like the look of the bigger rims and bicycle tires). That was my solution, though it is not perfect. One of my 8-year-old 17" rims cracked the other day.

[atek]

thicker sidewall (40/50/55 series) tires and forged wheels are your best bet. Also, tire compound will also make a difference. Slightly harder tire compound is more resilient than softer stickier compounds.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by rbaxe

Does anyone have a suggestion for either tougher aftermarket rims or different tires that will reduce my trips to the rim repair shop. I would even sacrifice a bit of performance.

Originally Posted by atek

thicker sidewall (40/50/55 series) tires and forged wheels are your best bet. Also, tire compound will also make a difference. Slightly harder tire compound is more resilient than softer stickier compounds.

I think this is good advice, and below is one take on a solution. It's not cheap.

Wheels – 17X8.5 ET40: https://www.bimmerworld.com/BimmerWo...-Wheel-17.html. These wheels appear to be excellent quality at a good price for a true forged wheel.

Tires – 235/45-17: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surve...=true&filter=y. I'd recommend calling Tire Rack to help pick the best tire for your situation.

It wouldn't hurt to call Bimmerworld, either - they may have less expensive wheels that they think would work just as well. They're also experts at BMW wheel and tire fitment combinations.

A forged race wheel and a grand touring tire would ordinarily be a unicorn combination, but with the 45-series aspect ratio on a 235mm-wide tire it's likely to be better-suited to avoiding cracked wheels than the more typical combinations.

[rbaxe]

Thanks for the great tips!!!!!

[XutvJet]

Are you running running flats?

[MarcoZandrini]

I think you'll be hard pressed to find a 17" alloy that'll clear the brakes.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini

I think you'll be hard pressed to find a 17" alloy that'll clear the brakes.

I have BBS-SR 17" rims with the MSport blue calipers (painted Valencia to match). Found them on Tire Rack.

[dradernh]

From the material on BimmerWorld's TE:AL TA16 Forged Race Wheel - 17":

"Massive Caliper Clearance"

They're probably going to clear.

[Dom147]

apex 17" wheels also fit on the stock m sport brakes. Clearance is tight so I recommend knocking off the little vibration dampers that are on some brake pads, but it's not necessary.

[rbaxe]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

Are you running running flats?

Nope, probably going to wait until I need new rubber to make the switch anyway.

[rbaxe]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

I have BBS-SR 17" rims with the MSport blue calipers (painted Valencia to match). Found them on Tire Rack.

Those look great. I have the MSport Blue on mine too. Going to check those out.

[freakystyly]

Just beware of those diamond cut wheel surfaces and winter road salt, if you're looking for winter wheels. The clear coat tends to corrode easier than regularly painted wheels.

[morphomeman]

TireRack has about 10 types of 17" rims that will fit the m sport brakes. I just bought a set after learning the hard way the disadvantage of having non-OEM rims. One cracked (after almost 8 years) and I had to buy an entire set because they are no longer available.

[Shovelman]

Change out that porky 6 cylinder engine.

[OffThegrid]

Get something forged

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by OffThegrid

Get something forged

This is the way to go. 17” vs 18” is a personal preference but if these are for winter wheels only then I’d definitely go 17”. 17” will allow you to run taller side wall tires and, with the correct wheel width and offset, you could run tires narrower than stock. You want narrower winter tires so they run on top of the snow rather than act like a snow plow.

If these are the only set you plan on using year round then I’d go 18” forged with proper et and tire width that doesn’t require the use of absurd negative camber and/or tires that are 2-3-4 steps down in tire width to prevent rubbing on fender and inner wheel liner.

[Resoelg]

Fellow suburban Philadelphian here. Bent many a rim, blown multiple tires and a strut on these lovely streets (Im actually NOT a bad driver!). Dumped the run flat AS first year or ownership and carry full size wheel in trunk.

I use the crab claw oems with Pilot Alpins in winter. Overkill for this area.

I have 2 sets of 19" BBS "summer" wheels purchased from of forum members coupled with less expensive summer rubber than Michelins (I don't track) with higher profile.

Shit happens so...

I got a guy....he has mad skills at wheel repair plus sells lightly used tires. Trust worthy, fair pricing, quick turnaround.

PM me if you want his name.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

You want narrower winter tires so they run on top of the snow rather than act like a snow plow.

You want narrower tires because they will more easily go through the snow and down onto the pavement, where the available grip is.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by dradernh

You want narrower tires because they will more easily go through the snow and down onto the pavement, where the available grip is.

Sure that is possible but getting to pavement also means that roads have nicely plowed and treated allowing contact with the road surface possible. However, untreated, or partially plowed, roadways will still have significant snow covering the roadways and, in this situation, the skinner tires will roll thru/over the snow whereas wide tires try to push thru the snow.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

Sure that is possible but getting to pavement also means that roads have nicely plowed and treated allowing contact with the road surface possible. However, untreated, or partially plowed, roadways will still have significant snow covering the roadways and, in this situation, the skinner tires will roll thru/over the snow whereas wide tires try to push thru the snow.

Good points. In place of "pavement", I should have said "the hard surface below any loose snow that may be present". While best avoided, even ice will do if you've got the right tires and know how to drive on it.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by dradernh

Good points. In place of "pavement", I should have said "the hard surface below any loose snow that may be present". While best avoided, even ice will do if you've got the right tires and know how to drive on it.

Agreed. Black ice is the worst thing to encounter!