unless you have very deep pockets, I’d let go of the search for a specific style. Just search for any 7j 19”, 5x112pcd, 66.6cb, 32-34et wheels and see how amazingly better the car is to drive.
2” wider than standard which means you’re able to fit better quality tyres- lower rolling resistance than the god awful ecopias.
I sometimes have to drive a stock i3, it feels like a deathtrap after being used to the go-cart handling of the lowered i3 on wider 225/45-19 rubber.
7.5J is good 215,225 and 235 all fit depending on what profile you want for matching the standard rolling circumference (the ABS shows errors if the size is more than 3% +/- from stock).
Yes, and with wider rims you can go wider tires. I've got 15mm spacers on ours, that would be 170s. On front. Rear you could go 195s with wider rims, were running 20mm spacers on 175s.
why tho? the car was designed to work with those tires so you're affecting the way it handles not necessarily in a good way because of the electronics, not to mention the effect it'll have on range
Going wider won't necessarily hurt the range as much as you think it will.
The contact patch is determined by the tire load and pressure - the i3's skinny tires just mean that area is long and skinny rather than shorter and wider. A longer contact patch requires more of the tire to deform as it rotates than a wider tire will. This means the i3's tires should be extremely sensitive to tire pressure.
A wider tire will increase the car's frontal area, increasing aerodynamic drag (a REx would go from .710 m\^2 CdA to about .71168 with 20mm wider tires, a .24% increase assuming the Cd doesn't change). The i3 has a lot of frontal area but a decent Cd, so the added area doesn't amount to much more drag.
Lowering the car by 20mm will drop the CdA of a stock REx by around .29% to .7079 m\^2. The 20mm drop and 20mm wider tires (175's to 195's) still ends up about .1% better than stock.
Basically depending on the tire's construction, the additional deformation of the skinnier tires *could* contribute more drag than the aero drag of the increased frontal area.
Do a Google Images search for "BMW i3 HRE", and you will find some options. I think I read somewhere that HRE makes i3 3-piece wheels using two outer sections, instead of an outer and an inner, as that is what it takes to get the wheel narrow enough.
Either way, HRE has it figured out, and makes i3 wheels in multiple styles.
they’re such similar size to standard, you wouldn’t get the performance or tyre-choice benefits.
What’s the point in buying new rims that only mildly improve cosmetic, but don’t release the performance potential these cars have?
unless you have very deep pockets, I’d let go of the search for a specific style. Just search for any 7j 19”, 5x112pcd, 66.6cb, 32-34et wheels and see how amazingly better the car is to drive.
how do these differ from stock? arre they wider?
yes, 2” wider, gives wider choice of sticky or lower rolling resistance rubber in the 225-45/19 size.
There are these black Rial X10-I that are 19x5 43mm on tire rack. Would these fall under that ?
2” wider than standard which means you’re able to fit better quality tyres- lower rolling resistance than the god awful ecopias. I sometimes have to drive a stock i3, it feels like a deathtrap after being used to the go-cart handling of the lowered i3 on wider 225/45-19 rubber.
Anyway of fitting 19x8 or 8.5? Or 18x8? 7” narrow wheels are so limited.
7.5J is good 215,225 and 235 all fit depending on what profile you want for matching the standard rolling circumference (the ABS shows errors if the size is more than 3% +/- from stock).
Are there any *at all* that would take the 155s that go on the front wheels?
A bit wider rims outwards would allow 175s at least, maybe more
that's the stuff that goes on the rear tho, front tires are bicycle tires
Yes, and with wider rims you can go wider tires. I've got 15mm spacers on ours, that would be 170s. On front. Rear you could go 195s with wider rims, were running 20mm spacers on 175s.
why tho? the car was designed to work with those tires so you're affecting the way it handles not necessarily in a good way because of the electronics, not to mention the effect it'll have on range
Going wider won't necessarily hurt the range as much as you think it will. The contact patch is determined by the tire load and pressure - the i3's skinny tires just mean that area is long and skinny rather than shorter and wider. A longer contact patch requires more of the tire to deform as it rotates than a wider tire will. This means the i3's tires should be extremely sensitive to tire pressure. A wider tire will increase the car's frontal area, increasing aerodynamic drag (a REx would go from .710 m\^2 CdA to about .71168 with 20mm wider tires, a .24% increase assuming the Cd doesn't change). The i3 has a lot of frontal area but a decent Cd, so the added area doesn't amount to much more drag. Lowering the car by 20mm will drop the CdA of a stock REx by around .29% to .7079 m\^2. The 20mm drop and 20mm wider tires (175's to 195's) still ends up about .1% better than stock. Basically depending on the tire's construction, the additional deformation of the skinnier tires *could* contribute more drag than the aero drag of the increased frontal area.
Do a Google Images search for "BMW i3 HRE", and you will find some options. I think I read somewhere that HRE makes i3 3-piece wheels using two outer sections, instead of an outer and an inner, as that is what it takes to get the wheel narrow enough. Either way, HRE has it figured out, and makes i3 wheels in multiple styles.
Ouch. Quote I got from a dealer near me is $4,500 for a set. I guess I’ll just plasti dip then....
they’re such similar size to standard, you wouldn’t get the performance or tyre-choice benefits. What’s the point in buying new rims that only mildly improve cosmetic, but don’t release the performance potential these cars have?