[boss_royce]

I'm a fast driver and live in Chicago which has aweful aweful roads with potholes. How are the rims on BMW M2s/M3s?

I put in a reservation for the new M2 but am super worried about the huge 19in rims up front and 20s in back. Do dealerships have options to downgrade rim size?

[zero21]

Originally Posted by boss_royce

I'm a fast driver and live in Chicago which has aweful aweful roads with potholes. How are the rims on BMW M2s/M3s?

I put in a reservation for the new M2 but am super worried about the huge 19in rims up front and 20s in back. Do dealerships have options to downgrade rim size?

BMW offers an 18 and 19in set standard on M3. See if you can buy some of those.

[LivingInSalt]

I hate to break it to you but the M2 is sold with one piece wheels

[Ghostrider.1127]

Originally Posted by zero21

BMW offers an 18 and 19in set standard on M3. See if you can buy some of those.

You can go 19 square ; with 18 not all are a straight fit due the Front disc size.

https://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bm...el_6957#compat

[JA-06]

Originally Posted by boss_royce

I'm a fast driver and live in Chicago which has aweful aweful roads with potholes. How are the rims on BMW M2s/M3s?

I put in a reservation for the new M2 but am super worried about the huge 19in rims up front and 20s in back. Do dealerships have options to downgrade rim size?

You’ll be able to find 19 inch for both front and rear for sure. I will use these for winter tires. 18 might not fit since the front disc is very large

[PNTDG42]

Just get the tire and wheel warranty the finance officer will push on you.

You must be downtown? I’m in the burbs and the roads are pretty great out here (when not under construction for 10 years in a row).

[Rx-7ames]

I'm thinking about getting 19" Apex front and rear. I don't think a 20" rear looks any better than a 19.

[zero21]

Originally Posted by Rx-7ames

I'm thinking about getting 19" Apex front and rear. I don't think a 20" rear looks any better than a 19.

I was thinking this as well earlier, but noticed the weight of the 285/35 also increased 2lbs so there's a bit of offset performance/weight wise. Should be more comfy though.

[Expert@ApexWheels]

I have an 18" track fitment for the G80/2/3 that might work on the M2s but it would be really aggressive on these cars: 18x10.5 ET18 square. We'll know more about what can and can't clear once we bring a few cars in for scans.

-Tom

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by boss_royce

I'm a fast driver and live in Chicago which has aweful aweful roads with potholes. How are the rims on BMW M2s/M3s?

I put in a reservation for the new M2 but am super worried about the huge 19in rims up front and 20s in back. Do dealerships have options to downgrade rim size?

You can build an M2 and see what wheel/tire options there are.

Then speak to the dealer about getting a wheel/tire setup that you believe would be better for where you drive.

Have to say my experience is while I have hit a pothole big enough/deep enough to ruin a run flat tire the wheel/suspension was fine. 'course, was with a MINI JCW not a M2. But I also have to point out that I hit that same pothole driving my Hellcat with its 20" wheels/tires and the larger diameter/wider wheel/tire rolled right over the pothole. Thus I was not aware of how bad it was until I hit it driving my JCW.

Also, you can be a bit more sensible about when/where you chose to drive fast.

Was in my Porsche 996 Turbo which I drove fast at times. I had to detour a bad accident on I40 west of Albuquerque. I ended up on a paved road that was more pothole than road. I slowed down and weaved around the potholes. Made it just fine. And anyone of those potholes would have meant doom for at least a tire...

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by RockCrusher

You can build an M2 and see what wheel/tire options there are.

Then speak to the dealer about getting a wheel/tire setup that you believe would be better for where you drive.

Have to say my experience is while I have hit a pothole big enough/deep enough to ruin a run flat tire the wheel/suspension was fine. 'course, was with a MINI JCW not a M2. But I also have to point out that I hit that same pothole driving my Hellcat with its 20" wheels/tires and the larger diameter/wider wheel/tire rolled right over the pothole. Thus I was not aware of how bad it was until I hit it driving my JCW.

Also, you can be a bit more sensible about when/where you chose to drive fast.

Was in my Porsche 996 Turbo which I drove fast at times. I had to detour a bad accident on I40 west of Albuquerque. I ended up on a paved road that was more pothole than road. I slowed down and weaved around the potholes. Made it just fine. And anyone of those potholes would have meant doom for at least a tire...

When building an M2, no tire, rim or size options other than do you want the rims in all black or bi-color.

[KC87ZB]

I had a 2017 Alfa Giulia and broke a wheel in a pothole. It had 19" cast aluminum. I cannot imagine the M2 wheels will fare better if it is the right pothole.

Certainly if the M3/M4 can fit an 18 the M2 will be able to. It has the same subframe assembly and track. We also know it has the same brakes as the M3/M4. That said you will need to carefully check because not all 18's will fit, that's for sure.

[Squidget]

Not to hijack too much, I hope, but if anyone has G8x experience with SPECIFIC 19 square wheels good for winter potholes, I'd love to hear it. I'll need winter shoes for my M2.

On my E90 (RFTs, sigh) I first tried cheaper wheels, but they dented up pretty bad, so I finally settled on some BBSes that were robust. Of course, I can't use those since they are the dying 5x120 offset.

So if anyone has had great success with a relatively affordable set of strong wheels, that info would be helpful to me. Looking tolerably nice and being rugged are the key goals, lower unsprung weight is just a bonus. Do any OEM wheels fit that bill?

[Mike_H_]

Originally Posted by Squidget

Not to hijack too much, I hope, but if anyone has G8x experience with SPECIFIC 19 square wheels good for winter potholes, I'd love to hear it. I'll need winter shoes for my M2.

On my E90 (RFTs, sigh) I first tried cheaper wheels, but they dented up pretty bad, so I finally settled on some BBSes that were robust. Of course, I can't use those since they are the dying 5x120 offset.

So if anyone has had great success with a relatively affordable set of strong wheels, that info would be helpful to me. Looking tolerably nice and being rugged are the key goals, lower unsprung weight is just a bonus. Do any OEM wheels fit that bill?

I destroyed a low-profile tire and damaged the rim from a surprisingly small pothole. Would it be better to run a higher profile winter tire? A taller sidewall greatly reduces the likelihood of a blowout and wheel damage.

[Squidget]

Originally Posted by Mike_H_

I destroyed a low-profile tire and damaged the rim from a surprisingly small pothole. Would it be better to run a higher profile winter tire? A taller sidewall greatly reduces the likelihood of a blowout and wheel damage.

Sure, but you only increase sidewall by either reducing WHEEL size or increasing TIRE size. The former is preferable for several reasons.

My understanding is that, for the M2, you probably can't drop below 19" on the fronts and still clear the brake assembly. And you want to use a square setup on winters (IMO) so you can move wheels around as needed. So 19 square seems to be the way to go.

EDIT: To be clear, if someone DOES know about a specific 18 wheel that will fit on a G87, I'd love to know!

[Mike_H_]

Originally Posted by Squidget

Sure, but you only increase sidewall by either reducing WHEEL size or increasing TIRE size. The former is preferable for several reasons.

I'm not following, diameter is determined by wheel size, sidewall height is determined by the tire width and profile, not the wheel size.

A 255/35/19 and a 255/35/18 have the same sidewall height of 3.5"

APEX is a wheel vendor here that has a focus on BMW. They are very knowledgeable.

APEX does fitments on vehicles soon after they become available, and it won't be long before they have fitment information on the M2.

I would reach out to them and see what they have to say about a square 19 for the M2.

[Squidget]

Yes, that chart shows what I am trying to say. On the second setup, the wheel diameter has increased by an inch. I was taught that you should not alter that. Your ECU expects a specific wheel diameter, changing it screws with ABS, messes up your odometer, etc.

I was taught that the better way to increase sidewall is to keep the same tire diameter, and to reduce the wheel size. (And yes, means you have to figure out a new aspect ratio, because tire math is fun, whee)

[Squidget]

Maybe this example will be more clear, this is how I was taught to increase sidewall for pothole resistance.

Start with the OEM size (285/30/20), then drop the wheel size (19), then play with the tire width and profile until your tire diameter is within a percent or so of the original OEM. In this case, I ended up with (275/35/19). That's a half a percent smaller diameter, which is considered OK. (285/35/19) also works but (for winter) narrower tires are considered better.

[Rx-7ames]

Originally Posted by Squidget

Maybe this example will be more clear, this is how I was taught to increase sidewall for pothole resistance.

Start with the OEM size (285/30/20), then drop the wheel size (19), then play with the tire width and profile until your tire diameter is within a percent or so of the original OEM. In this case, I ended up with (275/35/19). That's a half a percent smaller diameter, which is considered OK. (285/35/19) also works but (for winter) narrower tires are considered better.

I think more important is to maintain the same diameter between the front and back tire. Since the front is a 275/35R19, a rear tire with the same exact size (the size you noted above) would be THE SIZE for a square setup.

[Squidget]

Originally Posted by Rx-7ames

I think more important is to maintain the same diameter between the front and back tire. Since the front is a 275/35R19, a rear tire with the same exact size (the size you noted above) would be THE SIZE for a square setup.

You are correct, I knew that but neglected to mention it. Thanks for the catch!

To others: My example downsized the G87's OEM rear tires. I didn't do the same example for the fronts, because the downsize resulted in 275/35R19, which is also the exact size of the G87's OEM FRONT tires. So I'd already come up with a single size that I could use for all 4 corners of the car.

[sweetvar26]

Originally Posted by Expert@ApexRaceParts

I have an 18" track fitment for the G80/2/3 that might work on the M2s but it would be really aggressive on these cars: 18x10.5 ET18 square. We'll know more about what can and can't clear once we bring a few cars in for scans.

-Tom

The perfect downsize and sticking to 18" square would be
Front- 275/40/18 (+0.4% diameter difference)
REar - 275/40/18 ( exact match)

Stock 9.5J front and 10.5J rear will have to be worked though. Question is will an 18" 9.5J wheel clear the brakes and have no issues with dust etc getting stuck between the brakes and wheel like some people reported with the 824M wheels.

[skyline408]

I have both the 18/19 824M combo and the 19/20 826M combo for my G80 M3. I much prefer the 18/19 setup for everyday use, and I actually think the car handles / steers better with the smaller setup.