I want low and wide. Spacer size?

[BimmerJM325is]

I'm running stock style 30's with 225/50/ZR16 tires.. I'm planning on getting raceland coilovers, maybe even the ultimos. My question is, what wheel spacer size and ride high will fill my wheel gap pretty well and not compromize my ride. I know it will drop 1-4" with the ultimos. I want low and wide:D Your .02 is appriciated. Thanks

[scooper]

for the love of god don't get racelands man. They are crap. Get some billys or konis get either the prokit or hr sports if you want a moderate drop. Your ride and handling will greatly suffer with any drop more than 1.5".

[Moron95M3]

Are you willing to roll fenders?


What you can do, is search for photos of cars you like, and find out with wheel size/offset they're running.

Then do some math and calculate what space would be similar. Remember though, this would only be the wheel specs. So make note of that too.


(say they're running a 17x8 et 15)

you have 16x7, et 46.

Distance from the WMS (wheel mounting surface) to the out side edge of your wheel is as follows:
(7/2)*25.4-46 (in mm) = 42.9


Now look at your desired info (17x8 et 13)
(8/2)*25.4-13 (in mm) = 88.6

In theory here, you'd need a 46mm spacer to get close to the same 'stance'. However, make sure to check tire specs. Maybe that guy was on 215/40/17s (small and narrow to make them fit). you're on 225/50/16.

your tire diam: 2*(225*.50)/25.4 + 16 = 24.86 (inches)
your tire width: 225mm (at widest section)

your desired look:
tire diam: 2*(215*.4)/25.4 + 17 = 23.7"
tire width: 215mm


So you've got to be smart here, your tire (in this example) would be an inch bigger in diameter, and 10mm wider.

You can easily look at the width, and say you'd need to back off the spacer by 5mm (225-215)/2=5mm. (this is making some assumptions - that the widest part of the tire is in the same spot).

so now you're at 46-5=41mm
But your tires are 1" bigger in diameter. Will this be an issue? yes, rears will want to rub more. how much so? If your desired setup is at X rear height, you'll need to go X+.5" height in the rear. ((your tire diam - desired tire diam)/2). (safe way to think about it).

Lastly, I made no mention of rear camber (notice, the rear is the biggest issue here).
Make note of camber, the top of the tire is dictated partially by how much rear camber you have. If the desired is running a lot (-2 or more) then you might need to add that into your calculations. If you got this far, you'll know how to do that.

So, now that I completely confused you...

i'm going to suggest 15mm or 20mm spacer, It'll take your ET46 to a ET31 or ET26. Both will be a nice improvement. No 'poke' but they'll fill the wheel wells pretty well.

I would suggest getting the CO's first though, then using your fingers to feel the gap from tire to fender. I would also roll the fenders, you'll be happy you did. If you were really good, you could even test fit 'spacers' with washers (really easy if you have studs) for mock up only.


Also, I think your tires are going to be a bit big to get what you want. Have to wait and see, but that's my guess.

anyway, best luck, it's a bit of an art...




edit:

here's a pic i found of the same tire/wheel size combo you have on COs

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn306/e36bimmer93/Car%20Unedited/DSC02412.jpg

another

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_FpYOJ1IhDes/SwhC0E2fGjI/AAAAAAAAACU/HzTlS3QZVFI/s800/IMG00022-20091121-1421.jpg

^^To me, looks like you could do 15mm w/o too much rolling (some though).

[BimmerJM325is]

Wow.. Thanks! I'll spend the next week re-reading this, to get a good concept of it! Haha

[low36]

;)

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/554298_10151190115788485_1825717050_n.jpg

[atlantisvip]

I had et 38 on my non M and after a 1.5" drop my wheels were all flush. I'll find a pic

[atlantisvip]

Old setup

[Moron95M3]

I had et 38 on my non M and after a 1.5" drop my wheels were all flush. I'll find a pic


wheel width also matters... E38 18x8 =/= E38 18x6 for flushness.

[atlantisvip]

19x8 fronts 19x9.5 rears.. 235s and 255-30s

[Moron95M3]

exactly^^

so your 'WMS to edge of wheel' distance is: (Front)

(8/2)*25.4-38 (in mm) = 63.6


to get that, OP would need (63.6 - 42.9) = 21mm spacers

[atlantisvip]

What is the offset on DSIIs?

[Moron95M3]

Et 41/46 IIRC? but remember, 17x7.5, 17x8

[atlantisvip]

Considering some 10mm spacers for car in my sig.. Would that be pushing it?

[Moron95M3]

I'm running 15mm spacers on the front of my LTWs. I think LTWs are the same as DSI/DSII/contours.

front is fine, I wouldn't run any in the rear...(yet). Might put on 5mm in the rear.

http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy275/MTU4x4/411650_10151232676847363_672708483_o.jpg

[atlantisvip]

Cool ,thanks for the info. Your car looks sick. I wasn't sure if M and Non M fittings were the same.

[slocar]

^ I also wouldn't put any in the back if it's a staggered set.

I ran 10mm front on my DS2s (7.5 and 8.5 et41 with 235/40 all around ... back was close to rubbing as it was ... the front was good with 10mm ... looked pretty good all around too)

http://imageshack.us/a/img594/7761/img20110726013048small.jpg


http://imageshack.us/a/img841/4088/1003237small.jpg