Widest Wheel for 17" Staggered LTW Wheels

[NY98M3]

Looking for the widest tire size that is acceptable for a staggered set of 17" LTW wheels

Fronts 17x7.5
Rears 17x8.5

I believe I can fit 255/40/17 for the rears (no rolling). What about the fronts? Can I fit a 235/40/17??

[pDubs]

Yes you can run that. People run 255/40s all the time on 8.5" wheels.

The 1995 M3s came with 17x7.5 wheels and 235/40r17 all around.

The 235/40r17 will be about a half inch less overall diameter but it is still within 3% of OEM so you're good.

235/40r17 are tough to find tire sizes in though. I would keep your eye out for 2 8.5" LTWs to run squared all around and either a 245/40 or 255/40 all around.

[NY98M3]

thanks for the response!

Anyone else??

[pDubs]

Again. The widest you should run on a 7.5 is 235/40. Technically a 235/40 should only be run on a wheel 8-9.5" wide but the OEM wheels (17x7.5) on 1995s came with 235/40s all around.

245/40 are recommended only on 8-9.5". Those should definitely not be used on the front 7.5s.


The widest you should run on an 8.5 is 255/40. The wheel width range from that tire size is 8.5-10".

A 265/40 should only be used on wheels 9-10.5". Some people stretch tires a little bit and run a little more narrow. I think a slight, slight stretch is better than running too much tire.


The final answer is (for e36 m3s) the widest you should run on a 17x7.5 is a 235/40r17.
The widest you should run on a 17x8.5 is a 255/40r17.

There are people who have run 265/40s on the 17x8.5s but you will have too much bulge.