Alpina Wheels... 14x7 vs 16x7/8 why the preference of 16?

[abe3.0CSi]

Okay, I know I am asking for troubble..but here it goes. When I look at the 16" it almost looks too big for the car. The fender arches have a smaller radius and the wheel just looks like its diameter is too big. The 14" looks more appropriate and they look more like they belong. I know most think that the car may ride better....but am I the only one that think the 16" look big? What am I missing here?
abe

 

[bmwmadman]

It comes down to preference. Some people like 16's other 15 and some 14. I had 16's on my coupe and overtime grew to like the 14in alpinas instead. Recently switch out and find the ride a little softer with 14in wheels and period correct with more tire sidewall.

 

[Bill Riblett]

If you are at all concerned about performance, the problem with 14" wheels is the extremely limited choice of tires. There are no 14" performance tires available today.

Otherwise, the 14" wheels do look more period correct, although the 16" Alpinas must have come out about 1976 or 1977 as I can remember seeing them on early E24s.

 

[MichaelP]

If you are at all concerned about performance, the problem with 14" wheels is the extremely limited choice of tires. There are no 14" performance tires available today.

I see that Tire Rack has the Sumitomo HTR200 in 195/70-14, which they refer to as a summer performance tire. I had a set of them in 15" on a 535is I used to own and liked them a lot, especially at less than 50 bucks per corner.

One big reason folks go to 16" wheels is to reduce the sidewall height and thus sidewall flex. It makes cornering transitions considerably smoother. One argument for going with smaller wheels is that it results in a lighter wheel/tire package. The biggest reason for larger wheels is probably fashion, though...

 

[bmwmadman]

I saw those same tires on tirerack. They were the only performance tire offered for 215/70/14 size. Comes down to limited choices with the 14in setup. It seems harder and harder to stay standard and not give in to the changing time.

I will say this though - 14in Alpina's is way cheaper than the 16in Alpina's route...

 

[dang]

I think the best part about our coupes is that the car looks good with both 14's and 16's. A lot of cars are very plain and boring with a stock setup, where the E9 is sexy regardless!

 

[dp]

I will say this though - 14in Alpina's is way cheaper than the 16in Alpina's route...

I dunno about that, since there are scads of 14" knock-offs period-FIR's and recent Alpina remakes, the 14's may seem cheaper because so many are available. But correct date-coded 14" Alpinas are far less common than even perfect refinished staggered open-lug 16's, and command a higher price. Its the little things like these that make the 6-figure cars, boys. BUT...I'm with Bill, damn shame theres so little available tire-wise for the 14's. And I always wondered if anyone produced a 20-spoke 15" wheel, even today there'd still be better tire choices, and there'd be the benefit of lower-profile tires.

 

[lip277]

Speaking of tires.....

What are the thoughts on a good overall 16" tire? I'm going with 205/55 size.
I have Falken ZE-512's on my 2002 and have liked that set-up.
I'm considering the same for the new wheels I have for the Coupe but just thought I'd see if there were any other thoughts.....

Or folks that may have these on their cars as well and know about them...

Thanks

 

[pamp]

Wheels

I am running period correct 14 X 7 BBS wheels. I think they look cool with the color "sienabraun-metalic" Sumitomo HTR 200 205/70 R tires H rated. Not great, but decent around town rubber.

 

['69 2800cs]

I like the 14's too, for their "period correctness". I wouldn't say the 16's look too big, for me 17's cross that line but if done right they can look good too.

I had 14's on my '71 911 when I bought it and now I have 17's. That car also got a cage, stiff suspension, flares etc. I definitely don't like the feel of low profile tires on an old car with stock suspension and a flexy tub. For the best results everything needs to be upgraded to work together well.

I recently picked up these WEDS 14x7's and will refinish them in silver with polished outers. They have *some* of the mojo of the cool Alpina wheels for a lot less money. A good mojo to money ratio.



[Broken External Image]:http://home.comcast.net/~todd.simpson/pwpimages/WEDS 028.jpg

 

[pamp]

Now this got me thinking. On my road warrior 'benz I use 215/60 R 14's
This gives me a wider foot print with the same O.D. as stock. The meats on the coupe are what came with the car, but that said, 205/70 more than likely
is a larger O.D than stock 195/70. This means that gear ratios are compromised, as well as increasing ground clearance, etc. Bummer. Now I wonder if I should track down another set of the 60's. These work primo on the big sedan. Kind of have had the nose on the grindstone with other issues on my coupe, but what could be more important than tires ? I will need to research further. Thanks for the wake up call.

 

[YBNormal]

225/60 x 14

The Tire Rack website does indicate they have both 215/60 and 225/60 x 14 in B. F. Goodrich T/A's. Not a great tire but a decent one by the numbers, and they can be mounted with the white letters inside (or painted black). With 7" wheels you get full advantage of the width. IMHO the 205/70's look a bit tall, and the 225/60 O.D. is nearly identical to the 195/70. You could put 215's on the front and 225's on the rear and minimize fender rubbing issues.

 

[pamp]

Meats

So far I have found Yokohamas, B.F. T/A's and Forenzo in the 215/60 size.
Don't know about high end such as Kumhos or Hoosier. Got to run now, but any more input on this thread is appreciated. A stagger set up might be cool... Hmm...

 

[Orangener]

I drove 14", 15" and 16" on my Orange, here are a few examples from my photobucketfolder:
(i prefer the 7x14" Wolfrace for their period correctness, the 7x14 looks best on our coupes)

7x15" MSW

6x14" ATS

7x14" Wolfrace

6x14" original

7x16"+8x16" Alpinas

7x14" BBS on stock

7x15" Chrome spokes on stock

7x16 BBS RS

 

[pamp]

Meats

This an excellent subject and I am glad for the start of the posting. Wheel preference aside.
Somewhere out in my shop, in disarray after our move, I have a wheel/tire/gear calculator for this... The members with recent autocross/hill climb/track day experience please weigh in.
This is for sure a discipline in and of itself. I'll stick to the 14's, tire availability...rats.

 

[G-Man]

The main reason why everyone likes 16" Alpina's is tire selection. The tire size for a 14x7 rim is 225/60-14 tire. Try to find this tire size these days. The only tire I could find in this size is a BF Goodrich Radial TA in a raised white letter tire, it's only S rated. Sumitomo, Michelin, Falken, etc... have discontinued this size. Yoko still makes a 215/60-14 tire. I recently found a set of Falken Ziex 502 (only three years old) 225/60-14 tires that were mounted on a Toyota Supra rims. These tires are like new, I dismounted the tires and I'm putting them on my 14" Alpina's which are being restored.

G-Man

 

[bmwmadman]

For a 14in alpina wheel - is there much different between a 215/60 14 compared to a 225/60 14 tire size?? What are others people running with 7 in wheels? I have heard the 225 is a bit large and rubbs the fenders unless you fold them back. How do the 215 fit and look?

I have some 14in Alpina's that need to be restored - sounds like I better start looking for the right size tire. Perhaps used performance ones...

 

[bert35csi]

Personally, I prefer the looks of the staggered 16" Alpinas. To me, the 16's just have the correct proportional appearance, just the right amount of rims and tires. Even today, 16" high performance tires are readily available from every manufacture. The 16" rims were designed by Alpina mainly for the later 6 and 5 series car in the mid and late 1970's but Alpina probably also had the CS fitment in mine during their initial design process.

As for the 14" Alpinas, period correct aside, they have the appearance of just too much tire, too much sidewall height. The original 14" Alpina setup was just a tad too wide for the stock fenders hence the neccessity for the Factory Chromed wheel arch. Pretty sure others have noticed the slight protruding rims/tires on these cars. The ride height of the CSL's that left the factory were overly high, the primary reason for this probably was not to have the overly wide rims/tires hit the fenders. I may be wrong but lowered CS will probably not work with the 14x7" rims and tires setup.

Hate to nitpick but what is so period correct about 14x7" Alpinas and the inexpensive and rather mid performance mostly Asian made 14" tires that are only available now? These rims with period Michelin Xas tires, YES!!!

Bert

 

[bert35csi]

Re: Wheels

I am running period correct 14 X 7 BBS wheels. I think they look cool with the color "sienabraun-metalic" Sumitomo HTR 200 205/70 R tires H rated. Not great, but decent around town rubber.

Pamp, your BBS setup looks pretty cool but they are not necessarily period correct. These BBS wheels with the center hubcaps were produced during the early to mid 1980's and would look correct on an early 633/635CSi.

The correct BBS/Mahle's 14x7" rims are pictured below. I believe these were available as an option on the 73's and later coupes. I "borrowed" this pic from Orangener.

Bert

 

[Stan]

I do like how the 16" look but both "Coupe King" Peter Sliskovich and Carl Nelson warned to stay with 14"

The tires are pretty fat! In fact maybe a bit too fat as I needed to flare out the front wheel well lips to accomodate them.