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[My 10th BMW]

I wanted to try to soften the ride on My ZCP Sedan, so I removed the 19'' ZCP wheels and installed 18'' Apex ARC-8's.
It was a success ! ,ride quality is much improved.
Front's are 18 x 9.5 ET 35 with 255/40/18 PS2's
Rears are 18 x 10 ET 25 with 275/40/18 PS2's

[w00tw00t]

did you notice any improvemments in acceleration? the apex's are about 6lb lighter per wheel compared to the ZCPs... i can't wait to mount my APEX ARC 8's too..

[elh0102]

The ZCP front wheel is ET 31. Seems, between the greater offset and wider wheel and tire, you would have to be very close to the strut. How much clearance do you have? I might consider running that wheel on all corners, with 265/40 tires and a rear spacer.

[GOLFFRR]

Looks awesome!

[aus]

Originally Posted by elh0102

The ZCP front wheel is ET 31. Seems, between the greater offset and wider wheel and tire, you would have to be very close to the strut. How much clearance do you have? I might consider running that wheel on all corners, with 265/40 tires and a rear spacer.

It's a little tight up front, but it works. OP may want to consider using a 10mm spacer for better looks and strut clearance.

[kitw]

Thanks for posting pictures, I'd actually thought about doing the same thing... but it confirms my belief that the wheels would look "too small"

[jonasaurus]

Perhaps the front looks like its not quite filling up the arches (relative to the 359Ms) but as long as it achieved the desired outcome! Overall looks great!

[My 10th BMW]

Originally Posted by w00tw00t

did you notice any improvemments in acceleration? the apex's are about 6lb lighter per wheel compared to the ZCPs... i can't wait to mount my APEX ARC 8's too..

I will let You know next week after I finish My 1200 breakin

[My 10th BMW]

Originally Posted by elh0102

The ZCP front wheel is ET 31. Seems, between the greater offset and wider wheel and tire, you would have to be very close to the strut. How much clearance do you have? I might consider running that wheel on all corners, with 265/40 tires and a rear spacer.

The new ET 35 front and wider tire combo is only about 1/2 " closer to the strut than the ZCP combo.No rubbing issues Here. A spacer would bring the outside tire edge even with the fender edge for a better look, but Im OK with it set in like this.

[My 10th BMW]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

Looks awesome!

Thanks GOLFFRR, so what's up with You selling Your M ?

[My 10th BMW]

Originally Posted by aus

It's a little tight up front, but it works. OP may want to consider using a 10mm spacer for better looks and strut clearance.

No rubbing issues, and Im OK with the tire set in a little.

Originally Posted by kitw

Thanks for posting pictures, I'd actually thought about doing the same thing... but it confirms my belief that the wheels would look "too small"

Yea , it does look small,but I wanted a taller tire profile to soften the ride a little.

Originally Posted by jonasaurus

Perhaps the front looks like its not quite filling up the arches (relative to the 359Ms) but as long as it achieved the desired outcome! Overall looks great!

The 255/40 is actually taller and wider than the 245/35 ZCP, so it fills the fender arches even more

[pbonsalb]

How bad are the roads in southern CA? I am buying 18 x 9.5/10.5 ARC8s and have to decide whether to squeeze the 245/40 and 265/40 from my stock wheels or buy wider tires. 255/40 and 275/40 would certainly be a gentler ride. I was leaning towards 265/35 and 285/35. I am in NH, where we have frost heaves in winter, but I have snows in 235/40 and 255/40 to soften the ride then.

[elh0102]

Originally Posted by My 10th BMW

The new ET 35 front and wider tire combo is only about 1/2 " closer to the strut than the ZCP combo.No rubbing issues Here. A spacer would bring the outside tire edge even with the fender edge for a better look, but Im OK with it set in like this.

Thanks. And regarding the looks. if you have sufficient inside clearance, I'd leave it as is. I tried my OE ZCP rear wheel/tire up front, since it is also a 10", ET 25 wheel, which is what I was considering on all corners. I would never be satisfied with that size up front on the street. I believe the description of an "aggressive" wheel fitment must have been the result of someone wanting a kind term for it. But it reminds me of all the Hondas driven by 18 year olds who stick a large spacer up there. Your car looks fine.

[gthal]

Looks great.

I have found that you can also get better comfort from changing tire brands and staying with 19s if that's someone's goal. The PS2s are not bad at all but if someone wanted to stay with 19s they could go with Hankook V12s or Continental DWs. I have found that the ride quality can be improved quite a bit that way too. You sacrifice a bit of side wall stiffness but definitely improve ride quality IMO.

[Legion5]

I'd get some 18" VMR 710s visually I think you downgraded the car.

[My 10th BMW]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

How bad are the roads in southern CA? I am buying 18 x 9.5/10.5 ARC8s and have to decide whether to squeeze the 245/40 and 265/40 from my stock wheels or buy wider tires. 255/40 and 275/40 would certainly be a gentler ride. I was leaning towards 265/35 and 285/35. I am in NH, where we have frost heaves in winter, but I have snows in 235/40 and 255/40 to soften the ride then.

The freeways have a lot of expansion joints that are annoying.Im OK with them, but My Girlfriend looks like a bobblehead.
I would have used 245/40 and 265/40 if I had them,but because I needed to buy new , I went the next size up.
I think the 35 series tires would ride too rough.

[My 10th BMW]

Originally Posted by elh0102

Thanks. And regarding the looks. if you have sufficient inside clearance, I'd leave it as is. I tried my OE ZCP rear wheel/tire up front, since it is also a 10", ET 25 wheel, which is what I was considering on all corners. I would never be satisfied with that size up front on the street. I believe the description of an "aggressive" wheel fitment must have been the result of someone wanting a kind term for it. But it reminds me of all the Hondas driven by 18 year olds who stick a large spacer up there. Your car looks fine.

I completely agree with You ! ,10" ET 25 up front too agressive for daily use.
I am buying another set of 10" ET 25's for the track though.

[My 10th BMW]

Originally Posted by gthal

Looks great.

I have found that you can also get better comfort from changing tire brands and staying with 19s if that's someone's goal. The PS2s are not bad at all but if someone wanted to stay with 19s they could go with Hankook V12s or Continental DWs. I have found that the ride quality can be improved quite a bit that way too. You sacrifice a bit of side wall stiffness but definitely improve ride quality IMO.

Thank You, Ive considered that route.I will probably try one of those next.

[aus]

Originally Posted by Legion5

I'd get some 18" VMR 710s visually I think you downgraded the car.

They're pretty similar, but the APEX wheel has a large center opening since it was mainly designed for the track. The large center allows easier access to the lugs. Just depends on what you're looking for.

[elh0102]

Originally Posted by Legion5

I'd get some 18" VMR 710s visually I think you downgraded the car.

Well, it'a a totally subjective thing. Generally, if I think someone's spouse is ugly, I don't feel obligated to express that opinion.

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by My 10th BMW

I wanted to try to soften the ride on My ZCP Sedan, so I removed the 19'' ZCP wheels and installed 18'' Apex ARC-8's.
It was a success ! ,ride quality is much improved.
Front's are 18 x 9.5 ET 35 with 255/40/18 PS2's
Rears are 18 x 10 ET 25 with 275/40/18 PS2's

If you think the M3 rides rough you probably bought the wrong car. As far as performance cars go the M3 is one of the best riding cars there is, even with ZCP. If you drove any of the competitive cars I am quite sure you would find the M3 is the best riding of the bunch! Even with Eibach springs my 2011 ZCP M3 rides better than my 2006 330i w/sport pack did. On my 20" wheels i'd say the ride compared to my old 330i is about equal.

Contrary to what others have told you, ride quality won't be improved much over the PS2's in 19" sizes. The PS2 has soft sidewalls and they ride quite good!!!

[DCC]

Originally Posted by elh0102

Thanks. And regarding the looks. if you have sufficient inside clearance, I'd leave it as is. I tried my OE ZCP rear wheel/tire up front, since it is also a 10", ET 25 wheel, which is what I was considering on all corners. I would never be satisfied with that size up front on the street. I believe the description of an "aggressive" wheel fitment must have been the result of someone wanting a kind term for it. But it reminds me of all the Hondas driven by 18 year olds who stick a large spacer up there. Your car looks fine.

Are you saying that you actually tried the rear ZCp wheel up front with the stock tire size 265/35/19 and it works?
Did it stick out past the fender edge?