255's ...rolling needed?

[Moron95M3]

Did a lot of searching, if you guys remember I even started the 'what wheels/tires fit my E36' threads.

Anyway, did some reading, see Joenationwide was running 17x9s with 255's and had a roll in the rear.


I'm putting on 255/40/17's RE11's on 17x8s (yes it's narrow, but no it is not 'too' narrow).

Wheels are ET35...I'm thinking I might rub in the rear a bit. Right now I have 235/45 star specs in the rear and they rub on bumps occasionally. The 255's should be smaller in Diameter, but obviously wider :/ MAybe I'll band the inner fender in and see how that goes?

Thanks all! Just trying to be slightly more competitive in STU this year (LOL)

[Level8drummer]

Here you go bud:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1593389

I'm running H&R race springs which are pretty low. For track use the rear fenders had to be rolled and pulled just a little. My wheel offsets were 40.

And 255's fit great on a 17x8. No problems there.

Level8Drummer

[scooper]

you might get some rubbing but it's probably only on the rear bumper cover. not a big deal.

[Moron95M3]

thanks guys. I've been through a bit of the rubbing on my beater 325 (ET15 225/45s) so I guess I'll just slap em on and see how bad it is :)

[99MPower]

And 255's fit great on a 17x8. No problems there.

You're kidding right?

Will they work, sure. You can almost get anything remotely close to work.

Is it ideal, no. You are pinching one of, if not thee, best HP street tire there is. You think pinching by an 1" is "great"?

[Sozo]

I've run a 255/40/17 on my 17x8 et40 rear. They rubbed. Needed to roll fender. was all good after that. Then again that was before my suspension refresh...no 255's since.

[Level8drummer]

You're kidding right?

Will they work, sure. You can almost get anything remotely close to work.

Is it ideal, no. You are pinching one of, if not thee, best HP street tire there is. You think pinching by an 1" is "great"?

Wait, are you sure you're not kidding?

I run 17x8.5's with 255/40R17's. The fitment is great. I don't think that an extra 1/2 of an inch is going to make much of a difference on a 40 profile tire.

My E34 has 245/45R17's on 17x8's. No problems there either.

Level8Drummer

[99MPower]

im referring to the feel of the tire and how "right" it is.

Do pinched/stretched tires work fine, YEP. Do people do it every day, YEP.

Is it right on a high performance tire that you want to get the best performance out of, NO.

Are you familiar with the GRM Miata tire testing they did at Tire Rack with multiple sizes of tires on the same rim size and their results? Check it out

[TC Kline Racing]

im referring to the feel of the tire and how "right" it is.

Do pinched/stretched tires work fine, YEP. Do people do it every day, YEP.

Is it right on a high performance tire that you want to get the best performance out of, NO.

Are you familiar with the GRM Miata tire testing they did at Tire Rack with multiple sizes of tires on the same rim size and their results? Check it out


I'm gonna have to side with Calvin here, I've run 245/40/17 on OEM wheels for Stock Class in autocross and the fronts felt 'squishy' for sure. Again, they will work, but 245's may have worked better for an autocross application.....and yes, you will need to roll the rears :D

[Moron95M3]

Thanks guys.

I would like to find some x9's - but for now this is what I have. (Either these or 17x7's in the basement LOL).

Also - I'm on HR springs in the rear...not much of a drop beyond stock - so I'll see how bad it is and roll as needed. I have a roller if need be :)

[bennyfizzle]

I am a firm believer in 235/40s on anything from 7.5-9".

Seriously I've tried everything from 215/45s up to 255/40s and I keep coming back to 235/40s. YMMV.

[Level8drummer]

im referring to the feel of the tire and how "right" it is.

Do pinched/stretched tires work fine, YEP. Do people do it every day, YEP.

Is it right on a high performance tire that you want to get the best performance out of, NO.

Are you familiar with the GRM Miata tire testing they did at Tire Rack with multiple sizes of tires on the same rim size and their results? Check it out

I see where you're coming from, but I think you're splitting hairs.

A good friend of mine who's an instructor tried lots of different sized tires on his wheels on his Z3M track car. He ended going back to the larger tires I think. Let me email him and see what he found.

Level8Drummer

[99MPower]

I see where you're coming from, but I think you're splitting hairs.

A good friend of mine who's an instructor tried lots of different sized tires on his wheels on his Z3M track car. He ended going back to the larger tires I think. Let me email him and see what he found.

Level8Drummer

I dont know if u just dont know, or what, but what do you think I've done? Just cuz my sig doesnt say driving instructor for a long list of clubs, doesnt mean I dont know what's going on. Not sure what your "good friend who is an instructor" comment was for.

If anything, you want a SLIGHT stretch, to minimize extra tire/sidewall for stability under braking/corner/transitions

[Level8drummer]

I dont know if u just dont know, or what, but what do you think I've done? Just cuz my sig doesnt say driving instructor for a long list of clubs, doesnt mean I dont know what's going on. Not sure what your "good friend who is an instructor" comment was for.

If anything, you want a SLIGHT stretch, to minimize extra tire/sidewall for stability under braking/corner/transitions

Why are you personally offended because I don't agree with you?

Act like an adult man. This guy's talking about fender rolling, not your personal opinion on tire sizing.

I'm a driving instructor. That's what I do when I'm not at my day job. So it's in my sig. Why do you care?

Level8Drummer

[99MPower]

Why are you personally offended because I don't agree with you?

Act like an adult man. This guy's talking about fender rolling, not your personal opinion on tire sizing.

I'm a driving instructor. That's what I do when I'm not at my day job. So it's in my sig. Why do you care?

Level8Drummer

I'm not. You post information like its the truth. I post behind you all the time to correct information. If u posted right info, I wouldnt post at all.

I've been talking to the OP about his fender rolling via text as he is a friend in the area.

anything else you want to know about my life story? :redspot

[mountainmanE36]

I run a 18x9 with a 255-35-18 in the rear and a 35 offset. I had to roll the lip in and smooth the inner finder liner, it was not bad at all. Oh and my car is lowered on H&R sport springs

[Level8drummer]

I'm not. You post information like its the truth. I post behind you all the time to correct information. If u posted right info, I wouldnt post at all.

I've been talking to the OP about his fender rolling via text as he is a friend in the area.

anything else you want to know about my life story?

I post what I have found to be true. Sorry you disagree, but what you type is no more valid that what I type. Opinions are opinions. Experiences are experiences.

You're splitting hairs between wheel / tire sizing. Some say there is an advantage to run a wider tire on the same size wheel, some say there isn't. There are lots of different opinions on the subject.

And I didn't ask you about your life story, frankly I don't care about the course of events that turned you into such an (edited). I'd rather not know. ;)

Level8Drummer

[99MPower]

I post what I have found to be true. Sorry you disagree, but what you type is no more valid that what I type. Opinions are opinions. Experiences are experiences.

You're splitting hairs between wheel / tire sizing. Some say there is an advantage to run a wider tire on the same size wheel, some say there isn't. There are lots of different opinions on the subject.

And I didn't ask you about your life story, frankly I don't care about the course of events that turned you into such an arrogant jerk. I'd rather not know. ;)

Level8Drummer

tisk tisk... :eyecrazy


Why are you personally offended because I don't agree with you?

Act like an adult man. This guy's talking about fender rolling, not your personal opinion on tire sizing.

I'm a driving instructor. That's what I do when I'm not at my day job. So it's in my sig. Why do you care?

Level8Drummer

also, the comment was in reference to you having to ask someone else for their advice. Are you posting your OWN experiences, or just second hand hersay from an "instructor friend who went back to bigger tires"?

[Level8drummer]

tisk tisk... :eyecrazy



also, the comment was in reference to you having to ask someone else for their advice. Are you posting your OWN experiences, or just second hand hersay from an "instructor friend who went back to bigger tires"?


People who don't know everything sometimes ask others for advice.

I have experimented with different tire sizes on the same wheels on my E34 chassis. I learned that 245/45R17's were grippier than 235/45R17's on a 17x8 BBS RX.

Level8Drummer

[Badgtho is back]

Wait, are you sure you're not kidding?

I run 17x8.5's with 255/40R17's. The fitment is great. I don't think that an extra 1/2 of an inch is going to make much of a difference on a 40 profile tire.

My E34 has 245/45R17's on 17x8's. No problems there either.

Level8Drummer

Level8 Oh man And you're an instructor? Man. This is embarrassing.

Now i know why everyone is so slow!

[Level8drummer]

Now i know why everyone is so slow!

Speak for yourself. My students don't complain ;) You should go straight to the source and ask them.

Level8Drummer

[Moron95M3]

sounds like there's a race brewing. LOL I should not be fueling this fire.

[breakfast]

255 on an 8.5" rim is within spec.

[M3Alpine99]

You're kidding right?

Will they work, sure. You can almost get anything remotely close to work.

Is it ideal, no. You are pinching one of, if not thee, best HP street tire there is. You think pinching by an 1" is "great"?

You are splitting hairs... Hankook on their site says the 255 is good from 8.5" to 10" wheel widths. 9" is probably 'best' but this is a DRIVING SCHOOL bro. Simmer down. I ran a 245 Z214 R-Comp(which measured out to 255) for years on my 8.5" contours. The RS3 hardly feels 'squishy' mounted on a 8.5" wheel.

And we all know that a swapped E30 is going to win the HPDE championship anyways so why bother with a silly E36?

Your replies are humorous considering you call him a know it all but then post your replies and believe they are the gospel.



Level8 Oh man And you're an instructor? Man. This is embarrassing.

Now i know why everyone is so slow!


I can only speak from my personal experience but I knew Alex from us both instructing for Teen Street Survival and local BMW Social events. I was randomly paired up with him this last event at the March CCA event at Road Atlanta. I have been to Road Atlanta for 10+ weekend events. I have a good amount of time there. I am a Solo/A student with BMWCCA.

A new line through one was shown to me via Alex. Some different corner attacks were also lined up. By the 3rd session on Saturday I was having to upshift in 3 different spots now... wonder why that is? Because I was going faster and carrying more speed. I can tell you I picked up time from him teaching and it felt great. It sure is fun pulling E92 M3s in an E30 up Turn 1 at Road Atlanta ;)

YMMV but you don't know him so knocking him isn't really necessary is it?





This sub forum is humorous. Maybe I should come back and start replying here again. I had forgotten it had gone so far down hill.

[bennyfizzle]

Hey all you tire engineers ITT:

Tire manufacturers provide a range of wheel widths that are 'safe' for every size of their tires. There's no way of knowing (without thousands of hours of testing) what tire size, in which model, of which brand will be "best" for a particular width of wheel on a particular car with a particular suspension, simply because every tire brand/model, and wheel manufacturer will have slightly different sizes, and different characteristics depending on a multitude of factors.

Ergo, we're not trying to eek every hundredth out of lap times here, people. Get a dope set of wheels, put a proper sized (if that's your thing ;)), good tire on it, and go drive your cars.

Or get some better wheels, stretch some crappy tires on them, and look better. Whatever.

[Moron95M3]

LOL all this...

shouldn't have posted what size rim it's on :( btw they're on and fit fine so far and don't look too bad. We'll see how it goes sunday at the autoX

[bennyfizzle]

Track forum is ^^^thataway if you want to argue tire sizes when it comes to the track!

[M3Alpine99]

Hey all you tire engineers ITT:

Tire manufacturers provide a range of wheel widths that are 'safe' for every size of their tires. There's no way of knowing (without thousands of hours of testing) what tire size, in which model, of which brand will be "best" for a particular width of wheel on a particular car with a particular suspension, simply because every tire brand/model, and wheel manufacturer will have slightly different sizes, and different characteristics depending on a multitude of factors.

Ergo, we're not trying to eek every hundredth out of lap times here, people. Get a dope set of wheels, put a proper sized (if that's your thing ;)), good tire on it, and go drive your cars.

Or get some better wheels, stretch some crappy tires on them, and look better. Whatever.

Exactly. Just because a 225 Dunlop Star Specs works best on a 7" wide wheel doesn't mean a 225 Hankook alsow orks best on a 7" wide wheel. Why is that? I wonder why... well they are probably not both a true 225 width tire. Ever looked at a Star Spec or RS3 and similar? They are 5-10mm wider than they say.

Same for all the R-Comps and Slicks. My 225.45.15 slicks say 225 but they are 235s...

Guys are splitting hairs and sound like 16 year old girls in H.S. arguing.

[camdinans3]

but but but someones wrong on the internet!!!

[Level8drummer]

Agreed, This tire size argument is splitting hairs.

Thanks for the complements M3Alpine99, and +1 to what you have stated.

Level8Drummer

[99MPower]

which girl does that make you Halston? the one hosting the party, or the one attending it?

[MauiM3Mania]

Girls, keep it civil. Personal attacks, baiting, etc don't fly here. That's all I'm saying.

[Level8drummer]

which girl does that make you Halston? the one hosting the party, or the one attending it?

The kind who runs E36 M3 times in his E30.

Level8Drummer

[99MPower]

The kind who runs E36 M3 times in his E30.

Level8Drummer

you mean the one with the s52 motor in it and weighs 600lbs less?

[Level8drummer]

you mean the one with the s52 motor in it and weighs 600lbs less?

He's an excellent driver. What can I say?

And no, that's not his setup.

Level8Drummer

[99MPower]

He's an excellent driver. What can I say?

And no, that's not his setup.

Level8Drummer

I never said anything about his driving

m52... does it matter in a ltw e30.. lol

[Level8drummer]

I never said anything about his driving

m52... does it matter in a ltw e30.. lol

But anyone who knows anything about performance driving knows that the car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen. I think a wise man once said that...

Sometimes I wonder which people on bimmerforums spend more time talking about performance driving, and which people spend more time participating in performance driving.

Disclaimer: I'm not directing that statement at anyone who may be easily offended.

Level8Drummer