Wheel and tire size selection specified in the owner's manual for a 96-99 Sedan

[Franky goes]

Hi,

I just purchased an M3 from out of province and need to get an inspection to plate it. The tires are too worn as is. They are the std staggered F225/45r17 & R245/40r17.

The car did not come with the owner's manual so I'm looking for all the tires and wheels options that are recommended by the manufacturer in that manual. If someone that has the manual for the 96-99 M3 could take a picture of that page and post it below that would be awesome ?

For winter, Tire Rack proposes a 205/55R16 package so it probably is an option from the manual but I would like to be sure.

Thank you !

[Braymond141]

If you would like a hard copy;

https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-M3...or%27s_Manual/

Because the brakes are larger, I believe there are very few (if any?) 16" wheel options. If there are, they were discovered by owners, but I'm also being lazy and not pulling out my manual to answer this. Normally BMW will post applicable wheels in the ETK (so they can sell alternate sets when customers would ask). For the E36 M3, only 17" wheels are listed; http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part...6-BMW-M3&mg=36

[scooper]

The 17 sizes are correct for m3 stock. The snow size is 225/45/17 paired with 17x7.5s

[bluptgm3]

The 17 sizes are correct for m3 stock. The snow size is 225/45/17 paired with 17x7.5s

Yes 1996+M3 was fit with 7.5 X 17 and 8.5 X 17 wheels, both ET41.

There was a variant of the Contour wheel offered in 7 X 17 in ET 41 (36112227295) for use as wheels for winter tires

I don’t believe there is a factory 16” wheel that fits over the front calipers.
There are some 16” aftermarket wheels that I have heard do fit, however I do not know which ones.

That said, I’m running 225/45R17 snow tires on 7.5X17 ET:41 wheels on two E36’s.

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[RRSperry]

Yeah, you probably aren't going to find 16" wheels that fit.

If you are needing a snow tire, (highly recommended if you are actually going to drive in snow) pretty sure that you really shouldn't go with more than a 225 on a 7.5" wheel. Wider isn't better in a snow tire.

There are plenty of people that use small wheels (7.5) in winter and change to much bigger wheels and tires in spring..

[blckstrm]

Yeah, you probably aren't going to find 16" wheels that fit.

If you are needing a snow tire, (highly recommended if you are actually going to drive in snow) pretty sure that you really shouldn't go with more than a 225 on a 7.5" wheel. Wider isn't better in a snow tire.

There are plenty of people that use small wheels (7.5) in winter and change to much bigger wheels and tires in spring..

I would add that OEMs are going larger and larger, which leads tire makers to follow them - and makes smaller sizes harder to come by and reduces options for the smaller sizes they DO make.

You'll have far better luck over time with 17s than trying to make a 16 work.

[bmw328m52]

Never seen a 16" wheel clear the front brakes on an e36 m3. Offset would have to be pretty low..

[Dan of Montana]

Yeah, the 16" stuff is just not a real option. I've seen one or two wheels that fit, and they looked horrible.

I run the M-Contours 17x7.5 (225/45-17 tires), 17x8.5 (245/40-17) staggered setup for the summer, and a 17x7.5 square setup with 225/45 tires all around for winter.

[TostitoBandito]

Yeah just run stock tire sizes if you have the OEM size wheels (17x7.5 ET41 front, 17x8.5 ET41 rear). The 225/40-17 and 245/40-17 sizes are still common and relatively inexpensive. If you want to buy aftermarket wheels and go to a square setup instead of staggered, a 17x8.5 or 17x9 with a 40+ offset should fit a 245/40 all around without much fuss.

[Grey Phox]

Yeah, you probably aren't going to find 16" wheels that fit.

If you are needing a snow tire, (highly recommended if you are actually going to drive in snow) pretty sure that you really shouldn't go with more than a 225 on a 7.5" wheel. Wider isn't better in a snow tire.

There are plenty of people that use small wheels (7.5) in winter and change to much bigger wheels and tires in spring..

I would add that OEMs are going larger and larger, which leads tire makers to follow them - and makes smaller sizes harder to come by and reduces options for the smaller sizes they DO make.

You'll have far better luck over time with 17s than trying to make a 16 work.

They exist. Ive had them for the past 7 years. Yes they're ugly but they are my winter set so I really didn't care. Mille Miglia (probably spelled that incorrectly) Spyders. Tire size is 205/55-16

[Franky goes]

Thank you very much for all the feedback. You guys are pretty spot on !
Here are pictures of the owner's manual that was provided by a friend.
thumbnail_IMG_20181130_122513.jpg

It looks like there is a mistake showing an option for 245/40r17 for both front and back on staggered wheels ??
The consensus is pretty much 225 in front with 245 in rear on staggered wheels...

He kept everything and I'm attaching the winter recommendation that came with US cars:
IMG_20181130_122043.jpg

It does specify a square 215 setup on 7 inch wheels .

This is my table to summarize all options for both season as I understand it:
thumbnail_IMG_20181130_144956.jpg

Thanks to does who contributed.

[bluptgm3]

Thank you very much for all the feedback. You guys are pretty spot on !
Here are pictures of the owner's manual that was provided by a friend.
thumbnail_IMG_20181130_122513.jpg

It looks like there is a mistake showing an option for 245/40r17 for both front and back on staggered wheels ??
The consensus is pretty much 225 in front with 245 in rear on staggered wheels...

He kept everything and I'm attaching the winter recommendation that came with US cars:
IMG_20181130_122043.jpg

It does specify a square 215 setup on 7 inch wheels .

This is my table to summarize all options for both season as I understand it:
thumbnail_IMG_20181130_144956.jpg

Thanks to does who contributed.

LOL!!! Need a slightly more clear image.

FWIW - The 1995 LWT was fit with 235/40-17 tires all around on 7.5 X 17 and 8.5 X 17 ET:41 Style 24s

…too wide for 7.5” and too narrow for 8.5”, though that was the size of my RA1s back in the day.


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[bluptgm3]

Thank you very much for all the feedback. You guys are pretty spot on !
Here are pictures of the owner's manual that was provided by a friend.
thumbnail_IMG_20181130_122513.jpg

It looks like there is a mistake showing an option for 245/40r17 for both front and back on staggered wheels ??

LOL!!! I can guaranty that 245/40-17s on 8.5 X 17 ET:ET41 will rub and ride hard on the strut of an 1996+ E36M3


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[bluptgm3]

If you would like a hard copy;

https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-M3...or%27s_Manual/

Because the brakes are larger, I believe there are very few (if any?) 16" wheel options. If there are, they were discovered by owners, but I'm also being lazy and not pulling out my manual to answer this. Normally BMW will post applicable wheels in the ETK (so they can sell alternate sets when customers would ask). For the E36 M3, only 17" wheels are listed; http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part...6-BMW-M3&mg=36

And oddly there are some different 17s listed for the non “M” E36 -
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=36_2180


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[RRSperry]

Those would be them... Probably onobtainium new or used now...

Pretty sure you don't want 9" wide snow tire wheels..

What you want is a 7.5" Et40 5x120 wheel and a 225-45 snow tire.

If you don't want new wheels and are looing for just tires. the stock 225 front, and 245 rear is acceptable, but....


My car never sees winter, but has (4) 17x8 Et38 BBS Rg-r's and wears 245-40-17 tires. They don't ever rub. (H&R OE Sport Springs, Koni)

[cmoody]

Mine wears 225/45R17 General Altimax Arctic 12s on 17x7.5 M-Contours for the winter out here in CO/WY. These plus the LSD work great in snow, slush, ice, or warmer, dry end-of-season conditions. There were many options in this size when I went and purchased them last year, but I had a positive experience with the previous iteration and decided to try these out. I highly recommend them.

[bmw328m52]

I've always had good luck with square 225's in the winter. For summer, staggered 225/245 or even square 245's.