E38 Rim and Tire Thread

[tominizer]

I hope this may be helpful here and it hasn't been covered already. If so, my bad.

I know with a few of the other BMW's I have and the forums I visit, they all have a main thread that talks to rims and tires that everyone runs, their experiences, and especially discussions on wheels from other cars or brands that fit. Its was especially helpful with our E46 as we were able to get some interesting X5 rims on it. So I thought I would get this started up as it's spring and it may help someone (I hope).


I believe these are the fitments:

Tires:

235/55 r17
245/50 r17

235/50 r18 (F)
285/40 r18 (R)
245/45 r18
255/45 r18

245/40 r19 (F)
285/35 r19 (R)
255/40 r19


Rims:

center bore - 72.6mm
thread size - M12x1.5

17x8 et20

18x8 et20
18x8.5 et20
18x9 et20
18x9.5 et17

19x8 et20
19x8.5 et18
19x9 et20
19x10 et19



Here's one thread I found buried here:
What-are-the-perfect-wheels-sizes-for-an-E38

[rslifkin]

That is definitely not a correct list of stock E38 fitments, as E38s never came with 19s or a tire wider than a 255.

[tominizer]

I believe those were listed as alternates. I will edit to remove "OEM" and just state "fitments".

[TheAngryBear]

Don’t forget 235/60R16



2001 750iL DD74441
Stock

RIP: 2003 540iA Sport GS56111
H&R front springs, Ultimate Cup Holder, Euro Dash & Armrest, Grom, BavSound Stage1

[georgebest]

Don’t forget 235/60R16

They are the best ride and worst look, I'm using them

[acspecialists]

Timm has a masterful write up on his website. Even though I have 20x9 in the front and 20x10 in the rear the tires are square based on his guide.

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E31/Timms_b..._tyre_page.htm

[Qsilver7]

With a bit of info and a good wheel/tire size calculator...its not that hard to find a wheel/tire combo for the e38...regardless if the wheels/tires are the original recommendation...or the newer larger 20"-up wheels/tires (if that's your thing).

The list below shows the wheel offset range of old and new BMWs up to the begining of some of the F & G chassis (sorry, I haven't had the gumption yet to dig deep into the newest F & G chassis models). BTW, the newer G chassis BMWs are starting to go with a different wheel bolt pattern...so trying to mount those wheels is going to be a bit trickier.

With the info from the BMW wheel size chart...you can get an idea of wheel offset range that can help determine if you'll need wheel spacers...or go with a narrower tire. Then if you pair the info in the chart below with a good wheel/tire size calculator (like www.willtheyfit.com )...you can find out how much "poke" or "inset" you'll get when you compare the original/recommendatation vs what you want to move up or down to.

I have a personal revelation...in that I had a set of e38 MPars (style 37) that had been stored in my shed since 2012. I needed a set of wheels for dedicated winter tires for my f06 650ix. I wasn't finding the wheels I wanted for snow tires and Dec 2018 was coming to a fast close. So I got to calculating (using the wheel/tire site:www.willtheyfit.com)...and discovered that even though the 6GC had 20" staggered wheels with a 33mm front & 44mm rear wheel offset...that they would not stick out beyond the fenders if I mounted them with 245/45/18 (F) & 255/45/18 (R) dedicated winter tires. The last thing I needed to check was if they e38 MPars would fit over the brake calipers on the front axle...so a quick fitment test proved that they did.

So I ended up mounting the e38 MPars (yes, even with the front MPar's 13mm wheel offset) on the f06 650ix and even installed TPMS sensors...and they've worked excellently over this past winter (see pic below). Although I wasn't expecting them to work...doing the homework proved that they were actually doable. They may not win a beauty contest...but the idea was function over form...I needed winter wheels/tires...and the old MPars did the job...best of all...they were already bought and paid for.

[740iSport303]

On my m-sport I've used the following combinations on staggared m-pars without issue at all. My favorite look is option 2 below.

Stock
Front. 235/50/18
Rear. 255/45/18

Option1
Front 245/45/18
Rear 275/40/18

Option 2
Front 255/45/18
Rear 285/40/18

[rslifkin]

I'm currently running the following for summer and they fit with plenty of room to spare: Front is 255/45 on 18x9 M Parallels (E39 rears), rear is 275/40 on 18x9.5 M Parallels (stock E38 rears). The 275s would easily fit up front, 285s or 295s might even fit with rolled fenders and not coilovers. The rear will easily swallow a 295 with room to spare.

[gaspump]

I'm running a 285\35\19 on a 10.5 wheel on the rear. On a lift, there's very little space for anything bigger\wider.

[tominizer]

Thanks to all of you that are posting your sizes. Can you also mention if you are running a stock suspension OR if not, what you are running. Thanks !!

[rslifkin]

Good point on the suspension. I'm on stock sport springs with Bilstein HDs. Those with coilovers will almost definitely have a bit less tire clearance, at least up front, as the coilovers are wider than the stock struts at the spot where interference would happen.

[Am3n]

I was running 19x10 w/ 255/35 Fronts and 19x11w/ 295/35 rears while lowered on H&R stage 2. Never had an issue with rubbing and I'm fairly certain I could have gone bigger.

[tominizer]

Am3n..... do you have any pictures !?!? How much did the H&R stage 2 lower the car? I like the sound of 295/35 on the back, especially if that doesn't rub. on those 19x11 rears, what offset ?


I'm going to be playing with a set of BMW X5 19" shortly. It's been done with a 40mm spacer that first bolts up to the hub. Then the wheel bolts up to the spacer itself. Anyways, I know it's not for the purist, BUT I liked the look a lot. So it will be done and the M-Parallels will be stored away and used for winters when the car is put away. I haven't decided on suspension yet but leaning towards BC-Racing coilovers.

BMW X5 E53 Style 132
19x9 et 48
19x10 et 45
center bore = 72.6mm

Picture is of what inspired me to walk down this path as are the others pictures that I found after seeing this one.

[DIEGOBMW]

I'm running 275/30/19 in the front and 305/30/19 in the rear. Suspension lowered with springs 1.25" all the way around with absolutely no rubbing. I know the tires are shorter than stock but I got a heck of a deal on them so I couldn't pass on them. Oh, and I am running style 95s.

[Am3n]

Am3n..... do you have any pictures !?!? How much did the H&R stage 2 lower the car? I like the sound of 295/35 on the back, especially if that doesn't rub. on those 19x11 rears, what offset ?


I'm going to be playing with a set of BMW X5 19" shortly. It's been done with a 40mm spacer that first bolts up to the hub. Then the wheel bolts up to the spacer itself. Anyways, I know it's not for the purist, BUT I liked the look a lot. So it will be done and the M-Parallels will be stored away and used for winters when the car is put away. I haven't decided on suspension yet but leaning towards BC-Racing coilovers.

BMW X5 E53 Style 132
19x9 et 48
19x10 et 45
center bore = 72.6mm

Picture is of what inspired me to walk down this path as are the others pictures that I found after seeing this one.

I don't remember what the offset is, they were HRE's and unfortunately they never list the offset info on there. The stage 2 H&R springs left it at a perfect height to where it did not bottom out nor rub. I could have gone with a more low profile tire to make it look a bit better but I wasn't ready to give up the comfort just yet.
socal7s13.jpg
socal7s02.jpg

[tominizer]

DIEGOBMW - any pictures of your setup ?

AM3N - that looks very good. That turned out right...... I like it.

[Am3n]

Just in case anyone is interested, gonna be selling some Radenergie R5 20x9.5 & 20x10.5 w/ tires. Mainly looking for a local sale in So Cal.

[DIEGOBMW]

Sorry, it's dirty because it rained here this morning, Here's some quick shots:
IMG_20190517_145114.jpgIMG_20190517_145124.jpgIMG_20190517_145114.jpgIMG_20190517_145130.jpgIMG_20190517_145135.jpg

[tominizer]

@DIEGOBMW...... nice!! That's some wide rubber too. I like that.

[dillalade]

Don’t forget 235/60R16



2001 750iL DD74441
Stock

RIP: 2003 540iA Sport GS56111
H&R front springs, Ultimate Cup Holder, Euro Dash & Armrest, Grom, BavSound Stage1

They are the best ride and worst look, I'm using them

Best Rim IMO.

I have these gorgeous Style 5 rims, managed to buy the car with them, the dealer had a set and replaced the MPars which he originally had on them (went against MPars as everyone and there Gran seem to run those.)

Currently my wheels are apparently Winter Tyres and my mechanic said they are not good to run in Summer for obvious reasons.

However I'm a little confused in what tyre size I can adopt with the 16" Style 5's.

Currently they have 225/60R16, few questions below, stock size is 235, so I'm unsure how he's the dealer got 225s on them, if you can help:

I would like I to go with a wider tyre if I can, and maybe lower profile (advised or not)?


Am I able to go with 235/60R16? Or any other size options?

Do I need spacers. If I went with 235 widths, advised?

Which is the best summer tyre for ride quality and low sound?

From my primitive search I found these: https://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-detail...FYKxoCiDPw_wcB

If anyone can please advise?
Is there anything I'm missing or not considering?

Thanks all

Sent from my Phone 2 using Tapatalk
750iL 2000

[Timm]

Here's a list for the E38:



More info here:

https://www.meeknet.co.uk/e31/Timms_..._tyre_page.htm

[Qsilver7]

...Currently my wheels are apparently Winter Tyres and my mechanic said they are not good to run in Summer for obvious reasons. ... Currently they have 225/60R16, few questions below, stock size is 235, so I'm unsure how he's the dealer got 225s on them...

The reason for the 225/60/16 tires is probably because they are (as you wrote) winter tires. Many owners go with a thinner/taller tire for driving in deep snow conditions. I did...I have a set of e38 16" Style 5 wheels with a set of Nokian Hakka 7 (225/60/16) tires stacked in my garage as I type this reply. I ran this size on my 97 e38 every winter from around 2008. Prior to the Nokian Hakka (mounted in 2017) I ran Michelin X-Ice xi2 225/60/16 tires.

A narrow tire helps "cut" through deep snow and allow the tire to contact the driving surface vs a wider tire that will tend to want to stay atop the snow. If you run your winter tire size through a simple tire size calculator (you can easily find them by using a google search)...you'll see that your 225/60/16 tires are within 3% (+/-) the recommended 16" tire sizes Timm posted above from BMW (which is allowable).

[rslifkin]

Wider vs narrower in the winter is a mixed bag. Narrower is better in slush or fresh, soft snow where you want to cut through it. But on packed snow or ice (or cold dry pavement), wider is better, as those surfaces benefit from the wider contact patch to get more bite (being that you can't dig through them to find more grip underneath).

Personally, I run 235/50R18s on stock 18x8 front M pars for winter. That setup works pretty well overall.

[L.AschiE38]

I’ve been looking at some Apex Racing ARC-8 wheels for my 750, they’re 18x9.5 et22. Would I have issues there?