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Thread: Tire / wheel combo

  1. #1
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    Question E36 tire / wheel combo

    I know, discussed to hell already. I got tired of searching, it's as simple as that. (Where is that APEX or Vorshlag wheel fitment thread?)

    E36 M3 Coupe.

    Wondering what it takes to fit the following:
    - 255/40-17 Toyo RRs on Apex 17x8.5 ET 40 rims.
    AND/OR
    - same tire on Apex 17x9.5 ET 35 rims. (Or is there a better 9.5" rim for this setup?)

    Fender roll?
    Fender pull?
    Spacers?
    Last edited by aeronaut; 03-06-2018 at 03:47 PM. Reason: fixed title

  2. #2
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    You will need a fender roll, and a fender pull, all around, and 12-15mm spacers for either wheels. The faster (for lap times) setup will be the 9.5" wheel w/ 255. I ran the x9 +42 w/ that same tire, probably the better setup... still needed everything I mentioned.

    How much camber you have will determine just how serious that fender pull needs to be.

  3. #3
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    So you think the 17x9 is a slightly better wheel for the 255 RR than the 17x9.5 ?

    Thanks for the detailed response by the way, exactly what I was hoping for, and pretty much what I expected as far as fitment issues.

    I run about -3.5 camber up front, and about -2.5 in rear.

  4. #4
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    I know that the x9 will fit easier inside the wheel well with that tire. It is better for fitment, definitely.

    Those camber settings will be pretty good, making the need for a pull very minimal.

    -2.5 front, -2.0 rear. Front was fine once it went to -3.5... but had already been rolled and pulled some. Rear had no issues at all, but rear was already rolled, and the +42 offset makes things really easy back there.



  5. #5
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    Excellent, thanks!!!!

  6. #6
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    You need at least -2 camber in the back.
    et42 is perfect for the rear (Rolled). You need spacers in the front. The lower the car the thicker the spacer.
    At a front ride height between 4 and 5 inches will require a 20mm spacer.
    I run BFGR1s 245/40 on 17x9 Apex wheels.

  7. #7
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    Since you said you searched, here's my reference for HPDE car. (I know, i know. Not on topic but for the person that searches and doesn't find what they're looking for.)
    245 hoohoo's and BFG R1 no chance fitting on my car without some elbow grease, and would prob still rub.
    235 BFG R1 even rubbed in the rear!
    1. 245/620/17 Pirelli DH 17x9
    2. 245/40/17 Hankook Z214 17x9
    3. 235/40/17 Nitto NT01 17x9

    When the tires got tired, I would stick them on some old IFG A5 17x8 wheels for backup where by that point the 1" difference in wheel width was a non-factor. I think.

  8. #8
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    I’ve been running 255/R17 RE71Rs and NT-01s on ARC-8 17x9 et42 with 12mm spacers up front, rolled fenders, 2.6° F 1.0° R.

  9. #9
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    i run 255/40 NT01s on both 17x9 ARC-8s and 17x8.5 K1s with no front fender modifications at all. It's a coupe with 10mm spacers, -3.5deg camber.

    In the back they rub the fenders even after a minor fender roll. I need to get more aggressive with the roller i guess.

  10. #10
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    Thanks, great feeback!

  11. #11
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    Serious pulling in the back if lower than stock for most 255/40/17 if you want no rubbing.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
    Serious pulling in the back if lower than stock for most 255/40/17 if you want no rubbing.
    Thanks, and interesting. Maybe I'll just go with flares. Ug. Can't figure out what to do with this car! Full on track car, or get something else and revert to DD.

  13. #13
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    I think flares are best for 255 or wider. I have a set of unused Hard V1 rear flares that I would sell if picked up in Concord NH. I am going to square 17x10 ET25 with 275/40 so I need the wider V2 rear flares with that offset and also need front flares so I have to buy a new full set.

  14. #14
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    I'm CONSIDERING just going to flares at all corners also. I'd love to get 4 wide NT01s on all 4 corners and get the same grip level as with 235 RRs, with of course the option to run RRs. My only pause is I kinda don't like the look of flares on silver cars. I think they look fine on most all other colors! lol

  15. #15
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    I assume you would paint them on anything other than a black car.

  16. #16
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    Another off topic anecdote ... The larger the tire the less wear, but more weight.

  17. #17
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    On this line of thought...pretty interesting quantitative results on tire width vs lap times.
    Cliff notes, 255sq vs 225sq, the 255's were 0.85sec faster on a ~1:40 track.

    Lots of subjective comments in the video too
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgz0qF3CuNA

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by aeronaut View Post
    On this line of thought...pretty interesting quantitative results on tire width vs lap times.
    Cliff notes, 255sq vs 225sq, the 255's were 0.85sec faster on a ~1:40 track.

    Lots of subjective comments in the video too
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgz0qF3CuNA
    That really doesn't seem like much considering that the type of rubber can have a much higher effect on times.

    A 911 at my last event was claiming a 7 second improvement switching from NT01s to hoosiers on a sub 2 min lap. I couldn't believe it was that big of a spread tbh.

    Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

  19. #19
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    Update: took careful measurements of current setup with 235/40 17 Toyo RRs, and no way 255's would fit without flares.
    Details:
    Had about made myself comfortable to do a fender roll/pull to get 255 RRs on there. But thought I'd better measure what I had. Removed rear spring, measured when bind would happen, and noticed that bind seemed to be happening lightly and infrequently. Pushed tire up into wheel well the appropriate amount, and see this:
    IMG_20180709_163108.resized.jpg

    That lower part (red arrow) is the plastic bumper. At that point, it's about 3/8" thick. A 255 RR is 1.4" wider than a 235 RR. Meaning the 255 outer edge would be 0.7" further out than the 235. Meaning the front edge of the bumper would have to be cut back an inch or so, not just thinned.

    I'll need flares to run RR 255's.

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