540i fattest tire on stock rim

[BaBiLuTH]

Hey, I have a '97 540 non sport (16'' rims)

I am looking to replace the tires on my car. Currently I have 225/55/16. I would like to upgrade the width of my new tires and am wondering if 235 would fit the stock rim. Please shed some light on the this. Thank you.

[Daved]

If they're like the 16" wheels I usually see in the 5ers, I think the tires already stick out from the wheels enough.

[BaBiLuTH]

yea you are right...just from previous experiences on other cars..ive found that USUALLY you can get away with one size fatter..but Im not sure on the bimmers.

[pbonsalb]

The wheels are 16 x 7. 225 is generally considered wide for a 7 for performance purposes. You will find trucks using much wider tires on 7s, but that may be related to the softer sidewall (higher aspect ratio). Stiff sidewalls make it more likely that the tire could roll off the rim in hard cornering if not held in place by an appropriate width.
55s are not stiff, but generally when you go wider, you go down in aspect ratio -- from a 225/55 to a 235/50, for example, to keep the same diameter. I'd probably buy a used set of 17 inch wheels (but beware that with a sport alignment and 17 inch wheels, tire consumption will go up and 17s are more expensive than 16s).

Philip Bradley