What are the best brands of rims for BMW 3 Series? We analyze everything you have to take into account to choose the new tires for your car.
Wheels are one of the components that most change the exterior of a car. An attractively designed vehicle with undersized tires or too much stock can ruin your image. Therefore, if you have a BMW 3 Series and you are looking for wheels, in this article we want to help you choose the model that best suits the style of your car.
In the article we will not recommend specific models, since this depends on many factors such as the generation of the BMW 3 Series, the homologation or the style you want to give to your car. However, we will help you with everything you need to know before choosing the new wheels for BMW 3 Series, that is, what you must take into account before buying them.
How to find the best rims for BMW 3 Series?
To find the best rims for BMW 3 Series you must first ask yourself what style you want to give your car. You can look for something that looks original and standard, something more racing or something more classic. That choice will depend on your personal preferences and your tastes, so it is the first thing you have to take into account before taking the step of buying new tires.
But there are more aspects to consider that go beyond the merely aesthetic. It is key that the tires you choose are valid for your car and, more importantly, that they are of an approved size. To check this, pay attention to the following sections:
year of your car
The first thing is the year of your car. As you well know, there are a total of seven generations of the BMW 3 Series spread over more than four decades of history. Of course, they will not be the same wheels for a first generation 3 Series (E30) as for a last generation (G20).
And it is that some rims that are too modern can be tacky in a classic car like an E30, and some with a classic look will break the style line of a G20, for example.
Take into account, in addition to the year of manufacture of your Series 3 and the generation, if it has a double measurement, that is, if the front wheels are narrower than the rear. This is quite common in rear-wheel drive cars, especially in sportier versions, since they allow better traction by equipping wider tires on the drive axle.
Rim size for BMW 3 Series
The next key point to take into account is the size of the rim of your BMW 3 Series. The quickest thing is to read the measurements of the tires to find out what size they are and then go to the technical data sheet of your car to consult other measurements and approved rim sizes. You will find this information in an additional section of the documentation.
If you are going to change the size, keep in mind the equivalence. This means that you will be able to modify the measurements as long as they are within a variation of +3% or -3%. To find out if the size you are thinking of meets the equivalence criteria of your car, you can consult it in the many tire equivalence calculators available online.
Don’t forget the so-called ET of the rim, also known as offset. This measurement (it is a numerical code) refers to the support plane of the rim with respect to the width, taking its center as a reference.
This allows the rim to slide further into or out of the wings once installed on the car. If it protrudes too much, you will be altering the track width of the vehicle, so you will be incurring an irregularity that will be unfavorable in the ITV.
Choose the brand
Choosing the brand of rims for BMW 3 Series depends on your preferences, tastes and budget. Famous manufacturers such as BBS, OZ Racing, Compomotive or H&R offer rim models for Series 3 within their product catalogue. Of course, they are much more expensive than a tire of a more general brand.
If you are looking for something cheaper, you can also access more common brands with somewhat more competitive prices. And if you want a more original style, official BMW wheels are also a great choice. Installing the rims of an M3 on a standard 3 Series will give it a sporty and original touch.
What pressure do I put in my 3 Series tires?
The tire pressure of your BMW 3 Series will depend on the size of the rim, the generation and even the load you carry in the car. If you travel alone or accompanied, or if you do it with your family and with a full trunk. All this implies changes in the pressures that you must take into account.
You will find a pressure chart specific to your model in your owner’s manual. Select the tire size you have and the driving conditions (alone, accompanied, loaded trunk…). Remember to check your tire pressures at least once a month so that you don’t compromise their grip or lead to excessive tire wear.