[mlcman]

I'm currently at a dead end regarding which wheels to pick for my summer set and ordering is due in order to have them here by April. Requirement is to go with a 18x8.5 wide wheel as I don't feel 245 on 8J would work well at the front axle in terms of response and steering feel. OR a 18x9.0 with a 255 tire (tight fit but supposedly working on lowered xDrive).

The designs I am after resemble the 763M, but I'm not considering cheap replicas due to questionable/random quality so...

Leggera HLT: Not coming in wider than 8.0 for 18" (WHY OZ???)

Bola FLC: No stock of GLOSS BLACK 18x8.5 in the foreseeable future (WHY BOLA??? It's so many months it's out of stock but still...)

Bola B19: No 18x8.5 in foreseeable stock, only 18x8.0 (as above)


What other similar design wheels that come in 18x8.5 Gloss Black would people suggest? I guess at this point only more expensive models (ie. over 400EUR/wheel) would be in stock/available?


I don't want to end up going for Protrack ONEs in 18x9.0 and 255 but I might just have to do that.

 

[Tegs200]

You need Marco to read this as he knows absolutely everything from what I've seen and very helpful 👍 if I end up keeping mine I am going to ask him loads of questions lol , good luck with your wheels anyway.

 

[mlcman]

Haha yeah, he should start charging for having replied to so many wheels and tires questions.

But really this is more a question of designs that fit under my criteria and I am ignoring, or designs that people find are working well on these cars (subjective I know) rather than sizes/fitment so I am hoping it could attract broader attention

 

[Stegosaurus]

Why not go for a wheel and then get it powdercoated gloss black? If it's done properly, it'll last as long as the OEM finish that would come on the wheels

 

[mlcman]

Why not go for a wheel and then get it powdercoated gloss black? If it's done properly, it'll last as long as the OEM finish that would come on the wheels

Because the cost of doing that properly in Sweden is absurd, equal to an extra average quality wheels set (over 6000 SEK...). I had gone for a half-way solution in the past and whilst the paint was durable, the orange peel was annoyingly noticeable. It's just not worth it spending that much extra money on standard-range wheels, rather go for an expensive set right away.

 

[Bimmert]

Form Follows Function...

You can't see the rims while driving but will be constantly reminded that the handling is lacking when the wrong spec was chosen over better looks.

Glossy black might provide a visual pop when clean but won't make the car go faster

 

[mlcman]

I agree, which is why I would not consider some 18x8.0 wheels with 245/35 just because I like their design, hence I'm stuck.

On the other hand, I cannot disregard aesthetics, in this case the colour or design I am after. This is not the opposite of "form over function" as you put it, they are rather parallel requirements that have to be simultaneously met.

There has to be a 18x8.5 good quality wheel in gloss black and in the design I am after to match it with the 245/35 all-around, I just have to find it...

 

[Stegosaurus]

Because the cost of doing that properly in Sweden is absurd, equal to an extra average quality wheels set (over 6000 SEK...). I had gone for a half-way solution in the past and whilst the paint was durable, the orange peel was annoyingly noticeable. It's just not worth it spending that much extra money on standard-range wheels, rather go for an expensive set right away.

Oof yikes, fair point!

Could be worth emailing or calling them to see when they'll be getting some back in stock perhaps?

Bola were out of stock on the gunmetal FLB's I have now, but then let me know they'd be back in stock around 10 days later.

 

[mlcman]

Oof yikes, fair point!

Could be worth emailing or calling them to see when they'll be getting some back in stock perhaps?

Bola were out of stock on the gunmetal FLB's I have now, but then let me know they'd be back in stock around 10 days later.

Yeah that would help but suppliers have already told me they have no update from Bola so I doubt me as an individual would manage something better, doesn't hurt to try though.

At this point I would be fine paying the price OZ Leggera HLT but they just don't come in 18x8.5, only 18x8.0.

How bad is a 18x8.0 ET40 with 245/35 at the front though? Is the tire bulging too much?
As I said I am going for Asymmetric 6 which are generally hard shoulder so maybe not a big an issue. If I could only get an idea / experience of this it would help a lot in deciding...

 

[Stegosaurus]

Yeah that would help but suppliers have already told me they have no update from Bola so I doubt me as an individual would manage something better, doesn't hurt to try though.

At this point I would be fine paying the price OZ Leggera HLT but they just don't come in 18x8.5, only 18x8.0.

How bad is a 18x8.0 ET40 with 245/35 at the front though? Is the tire bulging too much?
As I said I am going for Asymmetric 6 which are generally hard shoulder so maybe not a big an issue. If I could only get an idea / experience of this it would help a lot in deciding...

Believe you should be fine.

I run 18x8.5 at ET40 on the front, with no spacer and I only gently run the arches when I hit a large bump. Other than that, no issues.
Also run 245/35/18 all around

 

[mlcman]

Believe you should be fine.

I run 18x8.5 at ET40 on the front, with no spacer and I only gently run the arches when I hit a large bump. Other than that, no issues.
Also run 245/35/18 all around

Ah no I meant how bad is it on road feeling with the tire being that wide on a 8.0J rim, does it add much "flexibility" under load? I am after a firm and responsive sidewall in general hence the preference of 8.5J over 8.0J.

With a 8.0 i think it should be fine although I would 42 for a bit of extra safety if i had the choice.

 

[mlcman]

Started considering the Bola FLC in matt gunmetal which is available in the perfect size and perfect spec overall (flowforged, light, good quality, reasonable price). I actually think it might show off its design better in the gunmetal, black always hides the lines but with the rest of the car in black trim it might not hurt after all...

 

[Stegosaurus]

It'll likely feel the same on the rears, as the standard 1 series 18 inch rears are 18 x 8.
Front will feel more responsive, but a little heavier as you're putting more resistance into the road.

As for sidewall responses etc - depends on the tyre compound

 

[Stegosaurus]

Started considering the Bola FLC in matt gunmetal which is available in the perfect size and perfect spec overall (flowforged, light, good quality, reasonable price). I actually think it might show off its design better in the gunmetal, black always hides the lines but with the rest of the car in black trim it might not hurt after all...

[Image]

Yeah, I've got FLB's on mine as I said in gunmetal and I'm definitely glad I went for that colour over the black.
I use them on my track car and will be switching to semi-slicks over the summer for track use

 

[mlcman]

Yes I agree black is showing off less details, and probably seems more cheap and yet somehow I always pick black wheels, what can I say...

Yours looks awesome in the pic above.

Considering everything is as I want it and the current very limited supply status I might have to make the difference this time with gunmetal... hmmm....

 

[Bimmert]

Ah no I meant how bad is it on road feeling with the tire being that wide on a 8.0J rim, does it add much "flexibility" under load? I am after a firm and responsive sidewall in general hence the preference of 8.5J over 8.0J.

With a 8.0 i think it should be fine although I would 42 for a bit of extra safety if i had the choice.

If I remember correctly you have 12mm spacers, use those to mount the OEM rear rims on the front and determine for yourself what 245/35 on a 8J and ET40 looks and feels like

I did the same with my OEM wheels which have 235/40 CC2 tyres:

• Front: 8J ET52 minus 12mm spacer is ET40
• Rear: 7.5J ET45 minus 10mm spacer is ET35

Now the slightly stretched tyre is up front which combined with the additional track width did improve cornering, but the sidewalls of the CC2 are a lot softer versus the Asy6.

I have zero cornering issues with the 245/35 Asy6 on the 8J OZ rims, but they do need at least 2.4/2.5 bar to be stable at vmax and they have more tram lining than the 235/40 setup. With the 235/40 setup the car goes straight at 170km/h with one finger resting on the steering wheel whereas with the 245/35 setup I need to work the steering wheel more to keep the car going straight.

 

[mlcman]

If I remember correctly you have 12mm spacers, use those to mount the OEM rear rims on the front and determine for yourself what 245/35 on a 8J and ET40 looks and feels like

I did the same with my OEM wheels which have 235/40 CC2 tyres:

• Front: 8J ET52 minus 12mm spacer is ET40
• Rear: 7.5J ET45 minus 10mm spacer is ET35

Now the slightly stretched tyre is up front which combined with the additional track width did improve cornering, but the sidewalls of the CC2 are a lot softer versus the Asy6.

I have zero cornering issues with the 245/35 Asy6 on the 8J OZ rims, but they do need at least 2.4/2.5 bar to be stable at vmax and they have more tram lining than the 235/40 setup. With the 235/40 setup the car goes straight at 170km/h with one finger resting on the steering wheel whereas with the 245/35 setup I need to work the steering wheel more to keep the car going straight.

I threw those damn spacers away after I only managed to remove them with a blow-torch and a hammer ... They were unbelieveably stuck on the hub, hence why I am picking the right wheel now.

So I got my offer just now: 18x8.5 ET42 FLC in matt gunmetal with Asymmetric 245/35 all-around, delivery time 2-3 weeks, for 2000 EUR, pull the trigger??

This tram-lining comment worries me a bit, I wonder how newer cars like Audi RS3 and new Type-R that come with 265+ wide tires at the front manage with respect to high speed tram-lining?

 

[Bimmert]

The increase in tramlining is only minor but the difference was noticeable when going back and forth between the two setups. A bigger difference was the more aggressive pulling and breaking of the 245/35 setup due to less rotational mass, better rubber and slightly smaller diameter.

With ET42 your scrub radius change is only 4mm versus OEM btw whereas with ET40 its 6mm whereas it should ideally stay within 5mm. Again nothing to worry about but its a slight improvement none the less.

 

[mlcman]

The increase in tramlining is only minor but the difference was noticeable when going back and forth between the two setups. A bigger difference was the more aggressive pulling and breaking of the 245/35 setup due to less rotational mass, better rubber and slightly smaller diameter.

With ET42 your scrub radius change is only 4mm versus OEM btw whereas with ET40 its 6mm whereas it should ideally stay within 5mm. Again nothing to worry about but its a slight improvement none the less.

So what you're saying is essentially: "go for it?!"

 

[mlcman]

By the way, is ET42 the ideal offset for a 18x8.5 with 245 tire? I don't care having it further out so it's OK on that aspect, but is it certain to clear the strut on a lowered car on H&R??

@marco_polo ?

I have a special offer with free shipping that I should pull the trigger by tonight and it would be an expensive mistake to make ...