e36 Coutour help!!! Will 17X7.5 rim & 17X8.5 rim both fit rears together???

[imperialboy]

I recently bought 3 e36 98 Contour rims w/a spare contour at home.

All have mis-matched tires...

First rim, 17X7.5 on 225/45-17 (tire is for FRONT, dunlop 6000)
Second rim, 17X7.5 on 225/45-17 (tire is for FRONT, Falken)
Third rim, 17X7.5 on 245/40-17 (tire is for REAR, Pilot Primacy)
Fourth rim, 17X8.5 on 245/40-17 (tire is for REAR, PS1) <-----that's the QUESTION here...

See how the fourth rim is made for the rear (staggered set-up) with 8.5 and how the third rim is made for the front but with a fatty tire?

Question is...Will having the third and fourth rim in rear affect how I drive, any difference in driving as for the fourth rim is a rear staggered rim so it should be heavier than fronts?

Will it affect how I drive? Maybe tilt to the left or right when driving straight?
Help?

Thanks for looking.

[Chromisdesigns]

YEP -- you'll definitely notice it -- I did when I used the spare tire on the E36 (front rim size) on the rear. It works, but you don't want to drive that way for a long way. Ditto the mis-matched tire sizes, that's worse.

[imperialboy]

YEP -- you'll definitely notice it -- I did when I used the spare tire on the E36 (front rim size) on the rear. It works, but you don't want to drive that way for a long way. Ditto the mis-matched tire sizes, that's worse.

So what will I noticed with the same size tire but with staggered set up in rears (17X7.5 and 17X8.5)?
A slight tilt?
What happens with mis matched tires?
When I stop, I don't stop as quick or???

[EpDarks]

Having mismatched rear tires is hard on your differential (even if they are the same size, they really are NOT the same size).

Your handling will be completely off and unpredictable with 4 different tires.

The single 8.5 rear wheel is going to weigh a bit more than the others and may pull your car in that direction.

What I would do is simply buy another 7.5" wheel and 4 new tires, sell the 8.5" and at least you have a matching set. 7.5" Countours should be easy to find.

[imperialboy]

Having mismatched rear tires is hard on your differential (even if they are the same size, they really are NOT the same size).

Your handling will be completely off and unpredictable with 4 different tires.

The single 8.5 rear wheel is going to weigh a bit more than the others and may pull your car in that direction.

What I would do is simply buy another 7.5" wheel and 4 new tires, sell the 8.5" and at least you have a matching set. 7.5" Countours should be easy to find.

What do you mean hard on my diff? As in, in a long run, it will break down?
I am just going to use it for maybe a few hundred miles until I find time to do an alignment and slap my old rims back on. And also, I won't be driving it hard at all due to mismatched tires.

I lowered the car on Dinan springs and the fronts are having lots of camber and toe so the inner thread is dying faster. I just slapped on new bilstein shocks and new tires and the rears seem to not have any camber at all, that is why I am assuming it is my struts...
Would it be due to the stock old struts which need replacing? Cause they are really movable (up and down).
Would replacing new struts help with less camber?
I can get an alignment for the toe.

[easymoney]

I had exactly the same set up you have when I bought my car in Texas few years ago. I drove it from Dallas to here and drove it around here for about another month until I noticed it. No problem at all and I didn't notice any unusual feelings but like what others have mentioned get another 7 1/2 or 8 1/2. I bought another 8 1/2 now I have an extra 7 1/2 if you need one. I had it refinished professionally lip polished (no clear) ypu can have "cheap". Let me know.

[EpDarks]

I can't say w/ 100% certainty that it will be hard on the E36 diff, but I've heard many stories of diffs being damaged from mismatched tire sizes. Your tires are the same size # wise but every tire is a bit different. You will most likely be fine in the short term.

Re: Camber. I guess new struts would help raise the car which could decrease camber, but in general struts and camber do not have a relationship. Are you talking about the rears or the fronts? I know there are camber kids available for the front.