Recommended tires sizes for bored-out E38 M-Parallels?

[DrewZ]

I managed to pick up a set of genuine OEM E38 M-Parallels (18x8 ET13, 18x9.5 ET25) from Craigslist that were already bored out to accommodate E39 hubs. They have tires on them, but they're an off-brand (Fullrun) and 245/40/18 all around. They've performed fine in the limited time I've had them on the car, but I'd prefer to have a more trusted brand of rubber. I'm thinking of going with 245/40/18 in front and 265/35/18 in the rear. (The 245s look kind of silly on a 9.5" wide wheel, IMO . . . ) Anyone have any experience with this setup? Thanks in advance,

[cnsorial]

I'd run stock M5 sizes. I have 245/40/18 in the front and 275/35/18 in the back on my OEM style 65s. Just put on a set of Conti Extreme DW that I got for a bitchin deal and I've been very happy with them. Not quite as good as Michelin rubber but much much less expensive.


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[dannyzabolotny]

Here are the sizes I run on my 540i touring with bored out E38 M-Pars:

Hankook Ventus Evo V2's in the front: 245/40/18

Continental Extremecontact DW in the rear: 275/35/18

The E38 M-Pars are half an inch wider in the rear so running a 265 will look silly. 275-285 seems to be the perfect size.

[edjack]

Rule of thumb is to size the tire so that the wheel width is no less than 90% of the tire cross-section.

So, a 245-40/275-35 setup will probably work, if the wheel well can take it. Are the offsets the same as for the stock wheels?

[JPR10]

I have a 245 on a 8inch e38 mpar -- looks pretty meaty. I rub, but because I'm foolishly low for the time being.

[DrewZ]

Here are the sizes I run on my 540i touring with bored out E38 M-Pars:

Hankook Ventus Evo V2's in the front: 245/40/18

Continental Extremecontact DW in the rear: 275/35/18

I had DWs on my Style 42s, and was real happy with them.

The E38 M-Pars are half an inch wider in the rear so running a 265 will look silly . . .

I guarantee 265 won't look any sillier than the 245s that are currently on the 9.5" rears. My car's a 530i, so I don't need a superwide rear tire to keep from breaking loose under acceleration . . .

[cnsorial]

Depending on your suspension setup, you may be better off running the 265s to avoid rubbing. Or roll your fenders.


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[Jason5driver]

I have a 245 on a 8inch e38 mpar -- looks pretty meaty. I rub, but because I'm foolishly low for the time being.

LOL...
Pictures?

Also, when you roll the fenders, what happens to the fender liner between the fender edge?

[cnsorial]

Well, you could take it out and cut some of the fender liner out to resemble that of the M5 or you could just roll it and the edge of the liner gets folded up with it.

Not too sure honestly since the PO had them rolled, didn't do it myself.


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[dannyzabolotny]

I haven't needed to do anything to my fenders, the 275 on the 9.5" wheel fits just fine. Granted, I have a touring with the stock suspension and self-leveling rear suspension, so it may be a little different from what you have.

[cnsorial]

The tourings have a lot more room in the back than the sedans do. A sedan with sport suspension may risk rubbing on dips


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[Coupenut]

I'm running the same setup as dannzabolotny and cnsorial on my touring. It's the M5 setup. My car has stock suspension without self leveling. No issues.

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[Coupenut]

Also the offset is different between E38 and E39 Mpars.

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[Solo12]

Also remember that actual tire sizes vary between manufacturers. So one person may get slight rubbing because they are using a different tire.

Probably not really applicable here, but fwiw I remember some people swapping in M5 rear fender liners on non M e39s to allow clearance for wider tires. I know the M5 rear liners are different, but how exactly they are different I don't know. Anyway there might be more to consider than just rolling fenders to avoid rubbing on certain setups. But it is probably not an issue unless you are going 275 or above.

I wonder if the rear fender liners on a touring also give more room.

[Jason5driver]

I need rear M5 fender liners.

[jicaino]

Back when I used staggered 18" style 42's I used 245/40 and 275/40. No rub, no fender rolling required. The total diameter was closer to the OE tire size of 227/55 r16 than the 265/35 size was. And man, the rear tires looked sexy as hell.

[Qsilver7]

1999 540iT with Style 37 MPars from an e38. Front wheels are 8"x18" w/13mm offset...rear wheels are 9.5"x18" w/25mm offset. Front tires are 235/40/18...rear tires are 265/35/18. I went with the regular 2003 540iT M-sport tire sizes (instead of the e39 M5 18" tire sizes).

{label from an 03 540i/6 with BMW recommended 18" tire sizes for a non M e39}

[JPR10]

LOL...
Pictures?

Also, when you roll the fenders, what happens to the fender liner between the fender edge?

Will take some pics later... I've rolled my rears but not fully -- I still rub slightly over bumps, or when I have a passenger in the back.

[JPR10]

Maybe not as meaty as I thought -- but they're probably the biggest tires you can put on a wheel that is 8 inches.

[Pelican Parts]

If anyone is looking for an excellent guide to wheel fitment and spacing, please check out the link below. It's a comprehensive guide, but also very easy to understand.

Wheel Fitment & Spacing Guide


-Dmitry

[RyansBMW]

If you plan on rolling your fenders, get the M5 liners installed first. That regular liner plastic is pretty thick and you wont get a good roll with those there. The M5 liner is cut to sit much higher on the fender so it wont interfere with any rolling or shaving you might do.

[JPR10]

If you plan on rolling your fenders, get the M5 liners installed first. That regular liner plastic is pretty thick and you wont get a good roll with those there. The M5 liner is cut to sit much higher on the fender so it wont interfere with any rolling or shaving you might do.

Comment/question about rolling fenders w/ the liners in... Are you able to remove them still afterwards? Or do you need to cut them out?

[f355spider]

Comment/question about rolling fenders w/ the liners in... Are you able to remove them still afterwards? Or do you need to cut them out?

Good question...I have not had the need to remove them yet, but I believe I can still wiggle them out. I did not change out my fender liners, left them stock and had the rears rolled. I am using oem style 66 double spoke wheels, staggered 235/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear with 15mm H&R spacers, and Bilstein B14 PSS kit with about and additional 1/2 to 3/4" drop from oem sport height. Without the fender rolling, I would get occasional contact in the rear if I had a passenger or if running up a hill quickly transitioning from flat to up hill.

The only reason I could conceivably see I would need to remove my fender liner would be to RR the fuel door release...but it still works fine.

[RyansBMW]

Comment/question about rolling fenders w/ the liners in... Are you able to remove them still afterwards? Or do you need to cut them out?

With the stock liners in there? Im not sure. At a minimum, its gonna be really tight depending on how much you rolled the fenders.

I had the M5 liners put in before any work was done. With the M5 liners, the area all around the roll area is already cut out so if you roll before or after they are installed, its not a problem removing them.

Edit: Now that I think about it, you might have to cut the stock liner out if you try to roll the fender with them installed. When removing them, the liners pull pretty much straight down and out. To get it over a rolled lip, you would have to push them up further into the fender first and I dont recall there being much give in that direction.

[mebjr12]

Any Suggestions on Tire Size for E38 M Pars bored out for an E39? Does anyone have any experience with them? I have heard that they are difficult to balance.