Which Wheel fitment would be a better fit....

**redlinealley** · 02-12-2018, 07:41 PM

I'm considering buying a set of wheels/tires. I was looking at 18x10.5 ET22 & 18x8.5 ET35... Tire size 285/35, 235/40..

I was told the 18x10 ET25 w/ 275x35 would fit better on the Z3M.

I would like feedback on your thoughts.....

**Pelican Parts** · 02-12-2018, 07:46 PM

Take a look at the link below, it's a great guide on wheel fitment and spacing - it should give you the info you need to make sure you choose the correct size wheel/tire.

Wheel Fitment & Spacing Guide

**rf900rkw** · 02-12-2018, 08:23 PM

11" ET 19 with 315s fill the stock fenders well. I have 10" with 275s on the other car, ET 25 with a 15mm spacer for an effective ET 10, and I could go out more without looking stupid.

Sig pic is the 10s before spacer.

**BeltFed** · 02-13-2018, 08:57 AM

I also have the 18x10 ET 25 rears and wish I went wider with a lower offset.. Spacers will be a must with the 18x10s

**redlinealley** · 02-13-2018, 09:20 AM

Apex told me I wouldn't need spacers. So why would you suggest spacers?

**s8ilver** · 02-13-2018, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by redlinealley

I'm considering buying a set of wheels/tires. I was looking at 18x10.5 ET22 & 18x8.5 ET35... Tire size 285/35, 235/40..

I have those exact sizes on mine, and love the look. The front 235s on 8.5" wheels are ever so slightly stretched, but that may come down to tire manufacturer too. An 8" would have fit a 235 tire better. I'm running Continental DW and the APEX PS-7s.

Same setup here:

https://www.apexraceparts.com/blog/p...mw-z3-m-coupe/

When I got the tires mounted, I thought there was no way those were going under my car. She swallowed them right up.

20151230_172426.jpg 20160624_125715.jpg 20160625_134435.jpg 20160625_134448.jpg

This was the only photo I could find showing the front, but you can see the slight stretch (possibly).

20160709_092013.jpg

**Harvey Mushman** · 02-13-2018, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by s8ilver

I have those exact sizes on mine, and love the look.

Love your ride height--which H&R springs and Bilstein struts are you running?

**s8ilver** · 02-13-2018, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by Harvey Mushman

Love your ride height--which H&R springs and Bilstein struts are you running?

1 set - H&R Sport Springs (29520)
1 - Bilstein Left Front Sport strut (VE3-4404 / 35-044048)
1 - Bilstein Right Front Sport strut (VE3-4405 / 35-044055)
1 pair - Bilstein Rear Sport Shocks (BE5-2730 / 24-027304)

1.3" drop according to Turner, but I think they base that on standard Z3 ride height.

I'm in the minority that actually likes the ride of the Bilsteins. Maybe it's my roads, but I don't find them overly harsh. My Z3 Coupe came on M springs with Bilstein HDs, and that works fine for my DD'ing needs. The Roadster is just the fun car though, and I drive it just to drive it.

**redlinealley** · 02-13-2018, 12:08 PM

Apex has a group buy going on for the FL-5 and SM-10. THANKS for the pics and feedback. I'm also running the Continentals now and like them. I wanted the PS-7, but there discontinued and no longer making them. So I'm probably going with the FL-5 deep lip

**s8ilver** · 02-13-2018, 12:23 PM

I'm a Continental-for-life guy. I'm running the Control Contact Sport A/S on my Coupe and she handled the last dump just fine. In fact, I went out in the snow on purpose when I didn't have to. I was wanting to try out my snow socks, but looks like they'll go yet another year new in the box. If I ever get a set of snow tires (haven't in about 18 years of RWD driving), I'll hope for snow every day!

20180210_155346.jpg

**rf900rkw** · 02-13-2018, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by redlinealley

Apex told me I wouldn't need spacers. So why would you suggest spacers?

to put it diplomatically, Apex has no clue what fits our cars. None.

**Harvey Mushman** · 02-13-2018, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by s8ilver

1 set - H&R Sport Springs (29520)
1 - Bilstein Left Front Sport strut (VE3-4404 / 35-044048)
1 - Bilstein Right Front Sport strut (VE3-4405 / 35-044055)
1 pair - Bilstein Rear Sport Shocks (BE5-2730 / 24-027304)

1.3" drop according to Turner, but I think they base that on standard Z3 ride height.

I'm in the minority that actually likes the ride of the Bilsteins. Maybe it's my roads, but I don't find them overly harsh. My Z3 Coupe came on M springs with Bilstein HDs, and that works fine for my DD'ing needs. The Roadster is just the fun car though, and I drive it just to drive it.

I also really like a Bilstein/H&R set-up, and have run that on all my previous E36 builds. This is my first Roadster, but I assumed it'd be the same. I've been very pleased with the ride quality.

My biggest issue is ride height, however. I'm running the exact same components as you are, but the car didn't drop as much as yours. Maybe I need to drive it a bit more, but I've never had a suspension take longer than a few days to "break in".

OP: sorry for the thread-jack

**PhilPhil** · 02-13-2018, 03:20 PM

Front: 18x8 +35 Tire: 235/40
Rear: 18x10.5 +11 Tire: 285/35

No spacers. OEM ride height. Instead of dropping it, I chose to just fill up the space with more tire because.

Also, here's a dualie version I 'shopped up, because more tire is more tire.

P9250294b.jpg P9250292b.jpg Z3MDualie.jpg

**s8ilver** · 02-13-2018, 03:41 PM

I did replace spring pads too, and maybe I went with something a bit thinner.

These are the part numbers I pulled from my log.

31 33 2 227 902/31 33 1 124 322

33 53 1 136 385/33 53 1 093 935

**ECSTuning** · 02-13-2018, 04:12 PM

Phil I love the dualie Z3M look, I think you're on to something.

redlinealley as they guys said, the wheel specs you're looking at should be fine, aggressive but still under the fenders/quarters.