Wheel/tire choices for E36 track car

[acheron29]

Hi all, I’ve done as much research as I can on what wheels/tires make the most sense for my car, but still don’t have a solid answer. I have an 1992 325is with DTM front flares and significant but unknown brand rear flares. Trying to find a balance between a wheel/tire combo that’s good for GTS racing, fills out the fenders, but doesn’t break the bank. I’ve come down to about three options:

1. Run the standard 17x9 Arc-8 wheel ET-42 (square setup) with 255/40-17 tires, but with 25mm hub adapters to fill out the fenders (good: standard wheel size, economical tires. Bad: hub adapters)
2. 17x10 et25 with 275/35-17 tires. (Good: no hub adapters required. Bad: non-standard size tire)
3. 18x10 et22 with 265 width tires, or something similar (good: makes most use of flares. Bad: more expensive tires)

Anyone have thoughts on the best path to take or a different one altogether? Thanks in advance!

[John in Houston]

1. 17x9 et42 - out of all of the options, this is going to be the easiest to make work with a small adapter up front (think it's 18 or 20mm). With 245x40 R7s, I also ran a 3mm spacer in the rear to keep the tire off the inner fender.

2. 17x10 et 25 - I'm currently running these on my GTS2 car with HardMotorsport flares. You'll still need a front spacer depending on tire size and damper / spring setup. I think I'm running a 15mm with 245x40 R7s

3. 18x10 et 22 - pretty much going to be the same as the 17x10, just 3mm outboard. Smaller spacer in front.

[propcar]

genuine question, why would one run the ARC8 or any wheel at 17x9 at high offset of +42 and run a huge spacer, rather than run the same wheel at a lower offset of 17x9 +35 or 17x9.5 +35 that can run 245 or 255 width tires, maybe still need a spacer, but much smaller and only in the front.

[MINIz guy]

genuine question, why would one run the ARC8 or any wheel at 17x9 at high offset of +42 and run a huge spacer, rather than run the same wheel at a lower offset of 17x9 +35 or 17x9.5 +35 that can run 245 or 255 width tires, maybe still need a spacer, but much smaller and only in the front.

Ease of rotating the tires to the back, for those with stock body. Not as applicable for those running flares.

[dirtdiggler]

genuine question, why would one run the ARC8 or any wheel at 17x9 at high offset of +42 and run a huge spacer, rather than run the same wheel at a lower offset of 17x9 +35 or 17x9.5 +35 that can run 245 or 255 width tires, maybe still need a spacer, but much smaller and only in the front.

Im with you on this one and I still can't figure it out, I use to run Apex wheels 17x9 +42 with 255 f&r but hated running a big spacer in the front. So I sold them and am now running 17x9 +35 with a 255 f&r and I only need a 5mm spacer inn the front.

Wish there were more custom wheel options

[propcar]

Ease of rotating the tires to the back, for those with stock body. Not as applicable for those running flares.

Sorry if I didn't explain it clearly. I meant 17x9 or 17x9.5 at the lower offset options in a square configuration. I know the rear fenders need a roll and front may require a small spacer + some camber (most doing that anyways). But I personally would consider it a better option than running a bigger spacer on the higher offset option. Also, the concave wheel profile on the low offsets looks great.

Im with you on this one and I still can't figure it out, I use to run Apex wheels 17x9 +42 with 255 f&r but hated running a big spacer in the front. So I sold them and am now running 17x9 +35 with a 255 f&r and I only need a 5mm spacer inn the front.

Wish there were more custom wheel options

Well there are customs out there but you pay alot more for them. We have alot of options on our cars and I think it's fairly safe to run small spacers. But to get a custom wheel/offset, you're either looking at modular wheels $$ or custom drilled to order monoblocks at an offset that you'd ideally want, also $$.