tyres

just wondering if it was ok to go with slightly narrower tyres than the standard size on the e34 x-spoke alloy or will it cause problems. currently running 225-60-15's  considering 205-60-15's as the prices are better or get some 2nd hand wheels with tyres from EGAY

My E28 is fitted with E34 cross spokes of exactly the same size as yours. Replaced one of the tyres the other day, and was expecting some horrendous bill but it only came to 45 quid + fitting. The last car had the dreaded metrics at 190 quid a corner, so I'm not complaining at that. The tyre was a fairly cheap Nankang, but the tread seems good and quite a lot of people seem to fit them. The only one small problem I have is the enormous amount of tramlining I now get with the wide tyres, which after driving a 1.4 Astra on 175 profile rubber is quite a lot! I'll get used to it though. I'd say if BMW specced the car with 225 rubber, they did it for a reason. Stick with it.

For me it's really only bad on rough or badly surfaced B roads. If I cross the unbroken double white lines on an A road, the car does tend to pull across to the other lane, which was slightly unnerving the first time it happened! But I've got used to these things after just five days of ownership. The upside of the wider tyres is that the back end is difficult to lose, even on the wet roundabouts today (not that I was trying, officer). I'd keep the wider tyres, it isn't too hard to get used to the tramlining really. You could always get yourself a set of steels from a 518i or 520i, which are much narrower, but I reckon the cross spokes are by far the better looking wheels.

My father in law has 195's on his BBS x-spokes. I would keep your 225's on if I were you though, as you get much more grip in the wet. Mmm-five is spot on here. If your car is tramlining you have a problem somewhere else. I have 225's on and have no directional problems at all. The only time I did was when the old pitman & idler arms were worn & slack, causing slop in the steering. Your steering should be tight and responsive, not wandering about.

Hope that helps,

Shaun

tramlining.... the term given to a car with wide tyres tendency to follow ruts in the road and white lines as if on rails like a tram.... hence tramlining

My original wheels on my first car were 195's

Someone will have to check the data, but I seem to remember that you could have 195, 205, or 225 width, with the 225's being the "wide tyre option"

When I upgraded from 195 to 225, the only difference I noticed was an increase in tramlining.

Wider tyres do mean more grip in the dry ( if both sets of tyres are the same compound), but it can mean less grip in the wet, as you are spreading the weight of the car over a wider area, so you may induce aquaplaning earlier, and sit "on top" of any snow.

Edited by Nigel

I have the 5-series price list & specifications booklet from march 1990. It lists the 520i SE spec as having cross-spoke Alloy wheels 7J x 15 as standard, whereas they were a £1,314 option on the 518i & 520i. I would assume they were shod with 225 tyres. So if you car is a 520i without the SE kit, you can run 195's on steel rims no problem. Pull the "birth certificate" out from under the rear seat (driver's side) and give us the row of numbers next to "SA:".  Then we can see what your car had fitted when it left the dealer all those years ago!

Cheers,

Shaun