January 26, 1998
By: Robert Leidy

After 20,000 miles the original rear tires on the Z3 were nearly bald. The front tires were still in fairly good shape. I started shopping for tires (which isn't much fun) but then I got lucky. Around the same time someone posted a set of AC Schnitzer 17" wheels and almost new 235/40/ZR17 tires for sale. I had always loved the looks of the Schnitzer type II wheels and just couldn't pass up the price this guy was offering.

A couple weeks later, four wheels and tires showed up on my doorstep. I put them on the Z3 that evening, the following day during my lunch hour I drove over to a tire shop and had them rebalanced (just to be safe).

Now my Z3 has always handled great, but the extra meat on these 17" tires gives the Z3 even more stick on the turns. I can't really tell a difference in ride quality, but my CD player has skipped a few times going over railroad tracks. I drove over these same track nearly every day and I don't ever remember the CD skipping with the 16" wheels. I'm only bring this up because I can't "feel" a difference in ride comfort, but obviously my CD player does.

Another benefit is that the Z3 seems a little more sure footed on high speed turns. There are some pretty good off-ramps here in Dallas. Occasionally the Z3 felt a little figity on high speed turns with the 16" tires. It must be the wider footprint of the 17" tires that made the difference.