Wid8xest E36 Tire Sizes for 18x8.5 ET35 & 18x9.5 ET40

[takem2church]

Hoping some of the wheel experts can chime in for a fitment question. I have a E36 M3 that is pretty slammed with the rear fenders rolled. I had a set of 225's stretched on M Pars last year and with my supercharger they just spun through the gears. I want something with more meat this year, and have gone with a set of wheels with the specs 18x8.5 ET35 & 18x9.5 ET40. I am not completely certain what tire sizes would fit without rubbing, but I was thinking 225/40/18 up front and 255/35/18 in the rear. I would love some opinions on this setup! :buttrock

[cool2seat]

I'm running some 18x9.5 ET38s in the rear with a light fender roll. I've got the car on H&R race springs so it was pretty low. The tires I've got on right now are 245/40/18, and they rub a good amount. you can't get a pencil between the tire and the fender lip when it's parked, and all the lettering is gone, and whenever I hit a bump, turn @ speed, or if someone else is in the car it rubs. as for the fronts I'm running 18x8.5 ET38 with 225/40/18 and no problems. My next set will either be 245/35/18s or 235/40/18s if I can stretch them. Hope my experiance gives you some insight.

[Bimmerman535i]

OP, call me crazy, but you knew you had too much power for your tires, yet rather than decide on a tire width and then a wheel, you went for a wheel width and diameter that makes any wide sticky tire fitment impossible with your ride height (non-slammed cars can clear 285/30/18 on 18x10s all around fwiw).

Seems to me like you went about it backwards. But to answer your question, at silly slammed ride height, you aren't going to be able to fit much more than a 245/40/18, and that apparently rubs horribly(cool2seat's post). Honestly, you're not going to get good fitment with an et40 9.5" wide wheel at ultra low ride height.

Raise your ride height and you might be able to run 255/35/18s.

[swolcat]

first off, you should never run a 40 series with 18s on an e36, depending on your camber up front, you should be able to get 245/35 and in the rear you might need a spacer for strut clearance. with some fender work in the rear, you COULD squeeze a 265/35. I got 255/40/17 on a 17x9et26 out back -2* camber and pulled fenders

[Mike36]

first off, you should never run a 40 series with 18s on an e36

Why not??

Correct tire size for 18x8 or 18x8.5 should be 225/40/18.

To OP, I've seen people run 255/35/18 on 9, 9.5, 10 on the rear but 245/35/18 would also be suitable. Check Bimmer Man, he was running 255/35/18 on 18x10 et 40 and it seemed to fit perfectly.

[FABEL]

265-35s on 17x9 with -1.8 camber. mild roll; no pull. :stickoutt

http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff366/MylesCTaylor/fade%202%20black/IMG_5262.jpg

[PrinceE30]

first off, you should never run a 40 series with 18s on an e36

This makes no sense. I run both 255/40/17 and 265/40/17 on my autocross car. You have to be REALLY fastidious about offset and camber, but it'll work. You also can't run any crazy slammed ride height. The 255s work well on the street. The 265s do not.