Wheel cracking ongoing - inevitable?

[Billy_Whizzzz]

Fed up with hassle of wheels cracking (g31, 20
Inch RFs). Is only option to go to 18s and non RFs?

[EmailAddress]

Yes.

Or drive like a drunken sailor and avoid any bump deeper than a fag packet.

It's a pain.

[EmailAddress]

19"s should be okay no?

[danb79]

Drop down to 19s, fit non RFTs and don't suffer cracked alloys...

Big alloys and RFTs are simply asking for trouble; they cannot cope with UK roads

[Aquamarine]

danb79 said:

Drop down to 19s, fit non RFTs and don't suffer cracked alloys...
Big alloys and RFTs are simply asking for trouble; they cannot cope with UK roads

Agreed, and you'll have much better ride for good measure.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

Thanks all. Going to get some black steel 18s. That should work.

[danb79]

Billy_Whizzzz said:

Thanks all. Going to get some black steel 18s. That should work.

Haha; just run non-RFTs, you'll be fine

Exactly what I did with my F01 that came on 20" wheels with RFTs...

Got a set of 18s and fitted non-RFT winters to cover the colder/wetter months:



And then a set of 19s, fitted with non-RFT summer tyres for the warmer months etc:



The car drove superbly on them and was much better on rougher roads and didn't tramline at all, which it did on the 20s everywhere!

[MattOz]

It's the RFT's transferring the shock via stiff sidewalls to the wheel itself that do the damage. Ditch them and you'll be better off. I've been running 20's with 30 profile tyres for 5 years now and have never had a wheel crack. Have had one tyre go in that time, which was an unfortunate narrow lane incident which could/should have been avoided. Either way, no issues with wheels cracking.

[Mr Tidy]

Smaller wheels/non run-flats, ideally both, seem to seriously reduce the risk of cracked rims.

Loads of E89 Z4 owners have had cracked 19s when using run-flats.

[Aluminati]

BMW wheels are st. I had 6 cracked Cromodora on my E92. Non rf.

Had Alpinas on an E90, they didn’t crack, just bent.

Had 20’s on a Jag XFS, they also bent. Non rf.

Couple that with st UK roads…no win.

[EmailAddress]

Aluminati said:

BMW wheels are st. I had 6 cracked Cromodora on my E92. Non rf.

Had Alpinas on an E90, they didn’t crack, just bent.

Had 20’s on a Jag XFS, they also bent. Non rf.

Couple that with st UK roads…no win.

What suspension were you running?

[BrownBottle]

It's mainly down to the run flats.

My G30 is an SE with 18 inch wheels and even that had 2 buckled wheels causing a vibration through the car.

Got them repaired changed to non run flats and never had a problem since.

Previously owned an E65 with 20 inch wheels, that model never came with run flats and I never had any problems with the wheels.

[rottenegg]

Billy_Whizzzz said:

Thanks all. Going to get some black steel 18s. That should work.

Nice, I've pondered that for winter wheels. Some nice banded steelies for extra chunk and aesthetics.

Might look a wee bit small on a G31 though without losing some of the arch gap.

I borrowed a 2022 420d last year, which had 20s on it, and it was truly awful. My 8 year old F30 on 18" run-flats with modified suspension rides like a Bentley by comparison.

It's not just the crashiness that does my head in with big run flats, it's more the tramlining and fidgety steering that is intolerable when commuting lots of miles. The super stiff 20s and firm suspension of the 4 series also creates a lot of creaks and rattles in the cabin, which is equally annoying.

It boggles the mind how BMW let cars out of the factory in that state.

[Aluminati]

EmailAddress said:

Aluminati said:

BMW wheels are st. I had 6 cracked Cromodora on my E92. Non rf.

Had Alpinas on an E90, they didn’t crack, just bent.

Had 20’s on a Jag XFS, they also bent. Non rf.

Couple that with st UK roads…no win.

What suspension were you running?

330 d was the E92
335d was the E90
Jag was like a boat.

None of them were run flats, which have come a long way since the originals.

[EmailAddress]

Aluminati said:

EmailAddress said:

Aluminati said:

BMW wheels are st. I had 6 cracked Cromodora on my E92. Non rf.

Had Alpinas on an E90, they didn’t crack, just bent.

Had 20’s on a Jag XFS, they also bent. Non rf.

Couple that with st UK roads…no win.

What suspension were you running?

330 d was the E92
335d was the E90
Jag was like a boat.

None of them were run flats, which have come a long way since the originals.

Were you running standard spec suspension, and how many miles on the shocks?

(Curious)

[Aluminati]

EmailAddress said:

Aluminati said:

EmailAddress said:

Aluminati said:

BMW wheels are st. I had 6 cracked Cromodora on my E92. Non rf.

Had Alpinas on an E90, they didn’t crack, just bent.

Had 20’s on a Jag XFS, they also bent. Non rf.

Couple that with st UK roads…no win.

What suspension were you running?

330 d was the E92
335d was the E90
Jag was like a boat.

None of them were run flats, which have come a long way since the originals.

Were you running standard spec suspension, and how many miles on the shocks?

(Curious)

Both BMW’s were bought from new, and run up to 160 k.

I put the Alpinas on at 12k 335d was a saloon, did they do m sport suspension ? 330d was an m sport not se.

Jag was bought with 12k on and run up to 25k and got shot of, as it was the worst car I ever bought.

Cromodora on the 330d only had to think about cracking, and they did. All were on their factory suspension.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

Gone down to 18inch non RFs. Looks a bit rubbish but drives SO much better

[danb79]

Billy_Whizzzz said:

Gone down to 18inch non RFs. Looks a bit rubbish but drives SO much better

Function over form...

If they give a comfier ride with less anxiety as to whether you'll bend / split another alloy then so be it

[Harry you Potter]

I’ve seen a fair few 18 inch BMW alloys that have had cracks. It’s frustrating.

Its an expensive game