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Thread: What size spacers for 8.5 square ltw?

  1. #1
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    What size spacers for 8.5 square ltw?

    I want to run 245/40 like the factory all around on an e36 m. I'm looking to fill the wheel gap and wondering what size spacers should be used front and back. I don't have the wheels just yet, but want to use spacers on my current set up, and don't want to have to buy new ones later.

    Pics would help too

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    What is your current setup? Suspension wise...

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    Bilsteinxeibach

  4. #4
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    Backs should be fine. I think 5-10mm spacer up front will work. You can get away with 235/40 with no spacer.

  5. #5
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    This is me on 12mm front 15mm rear. 17x8.5 ET41 with 245/40R17s. A bit of fender rolling in the rear.


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    Thanks heelandtoe, just the kind of info I was looking for. But are the DS2 the same offset as the ltw? Was the rear fender roll necessary? Could you have went with a larger spacer in the rear and what suspension are you on?

  7. #7
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    245/40 on my rear 17x8.5, et38. No fender roll...

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    Just for some info i fit a 255/40/17 on a 17" x 8.5" Stock LTW wheel on the front of my car with stock suspension.

    No spacer and i had about an 1/8" of clearance next to the strut.

    The tire was a Nitto NT-01.

    With a 12mm spacer added they looked perfect from the front.... aggressive though

  9. #9
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    RRSperry is offline Senior Moment Member BMW E36 M3 Expert
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    245's were never a factory set up. In fact the only square setup from BMW was on the 95 that came with 7.5" DS1's and 235-40-17 tires.

    If you got option wheels you got 7.5 frront, 8.5 rear, and a 7.5 spare. 225's were on the 7.5's and 245's on the 8.5's

    The Ltw used 235-40-17 on a set of staggared ltws. 7.5 in front and 8.5 in the rear.

    Just saying.
    No matter where you go, there you are...

  10. #10
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    Yeah, I just want to run 245/40/17 on 8.5 on all fours. Wondering what's the widest spacer I can use without any rubbing, and without doing any fender work.

    Wondering why this person used 225 on the rear? Would 245 cause rubbing issues?
    Last edited by chynk; 01-03-2013 at 07:33 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  11. #11
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    look through my 'what wheels fit my M3' in my sig. Might help. Not LTW specific, but use the offsets and check it out.

    I'm pretty low in the rear of my M3 with 255/40s on 8.5ltws. No spacer really needed. And I had to roll the rears. (fronts are 7.5s and I'm running 15mm up there. Need 8.5s)
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  12. #12
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    My $0.02 is it depends on the tire. I run square LTW wheels with 245/40/17 tires. I've had 245 tires that require no spacers up front and I've had 245 tires that needed 10mm spacers up front and still occasionally rubbed. Generally I run 10mm spacers with TMS hub extenders. 12mm spacers are an easier (and cheaper) fit.

    No spacers needed in the back.
    '98 M3/4/5

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    With 245/40 Dunlop Direzza's on my 8.5" square LTW setup, I needed a 5mm spacer up front to clear my AST 4100's. Nothing needed in the rear. I will be buying larger spacers all around eventually though as it's a bit sunken in with -3* of camber


  14. #14
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    Hm? I know a rear spacer isn't required to run them, but I just want to fill in the wheel gap between tire and fender. So from what I've gathered, to achieve the look I want, I should run 10-12mm up front and 15mm in the rear?

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by chynk View Post
    Thanks heelandtoe, just the kind of info I was looking for. But are the DS2 the same offset as the ltw? Was the rear fender roll necessary? Could you have went with a larger spacer in the rear and what suspension are you on?
    LTW wheels are the same offset as DSIIs.

    The rear fender rolling was necessary for sure. It would rub something nasty without a roll. My camber at the time of the photo was -1.8*. The more camber you run, the more tire and spacer you can fit in the back, but if you are looking for a more flush look you must roll the rear fenders.

    Quote Originally Posted by chynk View Post
    Hm? I know a rear spacer isn't required to run them, but I just want to fill in the wheel gap between tire and fender. So from what I've gathered, to achieve the look I want, I should run 10-12mm up front and 15mm in the rear?
    Assuming you want 8.5" LTWs all around then I think to achieve the look you want you are correct: 10-12mm up front and 15mm in the rear. Make sure if you buy a 10mm spacer it is hubcentric.

  16. #16
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    Hm, I'm probably gonna go with a 12mm up front, no troubles with tire rub up there yeah? I don't have too much negative camber out back, should I just go for 12mm in the rear as well?

  17. #17
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    you're going to have rubbing with a 12-15mm rear spacer...but if you're okay with rolling fenders you can do it.

    Why not get wheels/tires on first, then worry about spacers?

    My 255/40s with no spacers tuck exactly how I'd ever want them.
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  18. #18
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    For the record, I was able to achieve a "square" look while running staggered LTWs, standard tire sizes by using a 12mm spacer upfront
    46488720495_b5884c126d_o.jpg

  19. #19
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    Yeah, I recommend a 12mm spacer up front for up to 255 tires. I leave mine on all the time, even when I'm running the stock 17x7.5 wheels with 225's in the winter. It makes the wheels sit much closer to flush, and on the fatter wheels/tires it gives you the strut clearance you need while still not hitting the fender (at least until you go wider than 245-255).
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  20. #20
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    12mm spacers up front with 245/40-17 RS-4s on 17x8.5 Contours/DSII/LTWs (ET41) worked just fine for me with no rubbing on the track or street. I was running >2deg camber, though.
    '97 M3/2/5 Lux, AW/Modena, ~225k, many mods and lots of grip
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