Wheels

H

Howard

Zorg Addict
French Zeds
Joined
Nov 17, 2016
Points
64
Location
South West France
Model of Z
3.0i (manual)
Hi, my newly purchased Z3 (3.0i) has 18 inch wheels fitted with 225/40/18 Bridgestone tyrers, the car tram lines. The problem has been helped by changing front wheels to the back, fitting Polly bushes on the rear of the front suspension.The above actions have been about 50% successful. I suspect the 18 inch wheels are the main cause of this problem, if I do change the wheels, what is the best size to go for? 16inch or 17 inch and does a wheel with less off set help this problem , if so what is the best off set?.Also which brand of Tyre is also less prone to this tram lining?. Can anyone recommend a particular wheel, have been looking on WheelBase Alloys.com.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Howard
 
Howard said:
Hi, my newly purchased Z3 (3.0i) has 18 inch wheels fitted with 225/40/18 Bridgestone tyrers, the car tram lines. The problem has been helped by changing front wheels to the back, fitting Polly bushes on the rear of the front suspension.The above actions have been about 50% successful. I suspect the 18 inch wheels are the main cause of this problem, if I do change the wheels, what is the best size to go for? 16inch or 17 inch and does a wheel with less off set help this problem , if so what is the best off set?.Also which brand of Tyre is also less prone to this tram lining?. Can anyone recommend a particular wheel, have been looking on WheelBase Alloys.com.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Howard
Click to expand...
Hello mate, apparently 17's help a tad. Have you tried paying with the tyre pressures? I've got staggered 18's (225 front and 255 rear) which were a mare for tramlining until I changed the pressures. 32 front and 34 rear, all but gone. Nothing done to the suspension as yet.
 
Hi, the pressures are 30 rear & 28 front. I will change them & try it tomorrow. Changing the wheels is last resort as I love the black wheels this car has.
Howard
 
No tramling with my 18s on. I ran my 18s on 35 psi all round. I put 17s on - now I have tramlining - tyres worn on front though - about 3-4 mm tread remaining - but before changing tyres I will check tyre pressures first.
 
Howard said:
Hi, the pressures are 30 rear & 28 front. I will change them & try it tomorrow. Changing the wheels is last resort as I love the black wheels this car has.
Howard
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Having read many of the posts on the Z3 tramlining on here it seems to be a black art in that what works for one doesn't seem to work for another.
 
Hi, David the rears are about 4mm and worn on the edge( were on the front) and the fronts are about 6mm and it's running on Bridgestones. Which makes are the best?
Haven't got round to fitting the LHD headlights yet?
Howard
 
There is a lot of makes, but most people in the BMW community go for Falkens, but many have found success with Maxxis me included. I know people have had problems with Avons but I'm not sure on Bridgestones. The uneven wear is likely to be a factor in why it is doing it and your pressures seem quite low. I run 34-36 all round on mine. Put some more pressure in them first and then look at changing the tyres and you should pretty much get rid of it.
 
Although my tyres are only 16" I needed 2 new ones and put Falkens on the front and not really that impressed they seem hard . I won't buy them again when i need the next 2 tyres.
 
I had bad tram lining to the point it felt dangerous, I had a full geometry check and adjusted, its much better now but still get some on bad roads, I am also running 18s
 
Biggest effect on tramlinig is down to too low pressure. On low profile tyres you have less support from the sidewalls so you need more pressure to keep the tyre from deforming. The vast majority of tyre wear I see as an M.O.T. tester is caused by low tyre pressure, which again, allows the tyre to roll over on the sidewall when cornering.

Tony.
 
Hi Guys, thanks for everyone's answers, so I shall be upping my tyre pressures today and going from there.
H
 
Hi Guys, IV just road tested my mates Z3 (2.8), it's fitted with standard 16 inch alloys with 225/50/16 Bridgestones.
Wow a completely different driving exsperance, no tram lining, not sent off centre by any type of poor road surface.
So after Xmas my loverly black 18inch wheels will have to go, I absolutely love the look of them but can't and won't
put up with this tram lining which seems to effect some Z3s.
I'm going to do a wheel swop when iv a spare 1hr or 2, then will make the final decision.
Howard
 
It might be worth adjusting tyre pressures to see if there is any difference in tram lining before making the final decision?:)
 
Howard said:
Hi Guys, IV just road tested my mates Z3 (2.8), it's fitted with standard 16 inch alloys with 225/50/16 Bridgestones.
Wow a completely different driving exsperance, no tram lining, not sent off centre by any type of poor road surface.
So after Xmas my loverly black 18inch wheels will have to go, I absolutely love the look of them but can't and won't
put up with this tram lining which seems to effect some Z3s.
I'm going to do a wheel swop when iv a spare 1hr or 2, then will make the final decision.
Howard
Click to expand...
If the tram lining bothers you that much you are probably better off going back to stock, It doesn't particularly bother me now its very slight and the look of the 18" 108s far out weigh it for me
 
Had a 3 series in for test this morning and it had these wheels on, so I wondered what they might look like on a Z4?

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Tony.
 
Yes very short of time, busy time of the year. So will definitely be trying the standard wheels from my mates Z3 in the new year.
Personally I always put performance over looks every time, but I fully understand why some wheels look amazing.
H
 
DavidM said:
It might be worth adjusting tyre pressures to see if there is any difference in tram lining before making the final decision?:)
Click to expand...
Hi Davi, iv already gone down the tyre pressure route, makes a difference but still very noticeable.
H
 
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