PLEASE READ BEFORE POST: The ultimate wheel/tire fitment thread.

[Jim@tirerack]

Maybe a small 3 to 5mm spacer but you would have to check the fender lip clearance.

[SpasticDwarf]

Jim,
I'm pretty much ready to pull the trigger on some Yokohama S-Drives in 195/40/17 or possibly 195/45/17.
Are there any current deals or specials going on?

[thelox16]

hello, i have an 02 330ci and the car is lowered. i want to put some 18s and wanted to find out if 18x8 with a 38mm fit without problems, and also if 225 45 18 size tires fit on them. i bought the car lowered so i don't know what kind of springs are on them. Thanks.

[Jim@tirerack]

You would want to run a 225/40R18 not the 45 Series. Other than that they will fit.
If I can help let me know.

[MTHRAR]

Jim,

I have looked everywhere, but can't seem to find a clear answer. I have a 98 M3 sedan and am getting 18x8.5 rims all around and am going to run a 235/40/18 tire on H&R sport springs, so only a moderate lowering, I am just wondering if I will run into any rubbing issues. Thank you in advance.

[SpasticDwarf]

Jim,

I have looked everywhere, but can't seem to find a clear answer. I have a 98 M3 sedan and am getting 18x8.5 rims all around and am going to run a 235/40/18 tire on H&R sport springs, so only a moderate lowering, I am just wondering if I will run into any rubbing issues. Thank you in advance.

Offset is important here. They should fit fine with those tires, especially if they're wheels made for the e36. et 38 seems to be a crowd favorite for 8.5".

[nderwater]

I need new rubber for my '99 M3 which rides the stock, staggered 17" contour rims. I drive the car about 50 miles a week and will be using it for autocross and hpde, so I've pretty much decided on a set of Dunlop Star Spec's. The car is new to me, so I'm not sure what tire sizes are optimal for my car.

I've heard that these tires run wide for their sizes, but I don't want to mess with spacers or roll my fenders - I just want sticky rubber under the car. Stock sizes are 225/45Z-17 on a 7.5" rim in front and 245/40Z-17 on a 8.5" rim in back. Alternate sizes I'm also considering are 235/45-17 or 235/40-17 in front and 255/40-17 in the rear. What would you recommend as the best sizes for my needs?

[tspool]

Guys, how about e39 m5 wheels fitting on e36 m3? It's 18x8.5 front and 18x10 rear, ET18 front/rear. Major fender work? Thanks.

[Jim@tirerack]

The E39M5 wheels will stick out of the wheel well. You would have to pull your fenders out to make those work.

[Jim@tirerack]

nderwater,

I would say you can go with the 225/45R17 front and 255/40R17 in the rear. The 235/40R17 is going to be short for the front with the 255/40R17 rear. The 235/45R is going to be about 1/2" taller than the stock tire.
If I can help with the tires let me know.

[dreeves]

Jim,
I have some 15x8 ET20 Kosei K1s I bought from the tire rack for an E30 M3. Maybe a stupid question, but do these have any chance of fitting on an E36 sedan?

[Jim@tirerack]

Not without the fenders being pulled out. The 8" wide wheel and the 20mm offset is going to push the wheel out of the wheel well.

[ceniack]

quick question.

i have 18x8 wheels that are +40 offset. I have been running 10mm spacers in the front and 15mm spacers in the rear running falken st115s (which i hear run narrow) that are 225/40/18 without any issues.

I am wanting to go wide with the tires so my question is, what is the widest tire i can put on without having to mod the fenders. i am okay with removing the spacers, or even buying some narrower spacers if i have to.

also, what brands tend to run narrower and wider than others.

thanks in advance

[TopasBlau46]

I currently have 225/45 R17 Pirelli Pzeros on my 2001 E46 325ci w/ sports package. I want to upgrade to 18" wheels and tires, what's the most common or effective wheel and tire size for 18" for my model?

[Jim@tirerack]

Ceniak,

With the 18X8 wheel the widest tire you can go with is a 245/35R18. If I can help with the tires let me know.

[Jim@tirerack]

I would say that the best handling would be with a 18X8 or 8.5 all the way around with a 225/40R18 on all four corners. If I can help with the package let me know.

[thelox16]

what is the factory wheel size and offset for an 02 330ci, is it 17x7.5 and 17x8??

also, for 18" wheels, what is the widest size for the tire that would fit without rubbing, and also the offset.

Thanks.

[Jim@tirerack]

The factory wheels on the sport package is 17X7.5 and 17X8.5 ET47. The widest tires I would recommend would be 225/40R18 and 255/35R18 rear.
If I can help let me know.

[thelox16]

The factory wheels on the sport package is 17X7.5 and 17X8.5 ET47. The widest tires I would recommend would be 225/40R18 and 255/35R18 rear.
If I can help let me know.

would a 20mm offset fit without problems?

[Jim@tirerack]

A 20mm offset will not fit on a 3Series. They would stick out of the wheel well.

[lawfultoad]

I just bought 4 205/50VR17 Dunlop SP Sport Signature from tirerack. I was going to get some wheels as well, but all of the wheels I was looking at for my car (2003 330xi) had a recommended tire size different from the oem tire size of the car. i.e. recommended tire size of 225/45-17

What is the impact of putting 205/50VR17's onto a wheel that recommends 225/45-17? How much does this matter?

Thanks!

[ceniack]

Ceniak,

With the 18X8 wheel the widest tire you can go with is a 245/35R18. If I can help with the tires let me know.

any idea how the spacers/offsets would effect the clearance with a 235 and/or a 245?

i am also lowered on blistein sport shocks and H&R race springs.

[Jim@tirerack]

lawfultoad,

As long as the wheels are between 17X5.5 and 17X7.5 you will be fine.

[Evel Knievel]

Hey guys - A friend of mine is selling a set of MV3's off his e90 M sport, I thought they would be a straight swap onto my car (e46 coupe) but according to bmautosport.com minor arch rolling will be needed for the rears, but heard other people say they will go straight on...the car is currently on stock suspension.

The fronts are 8Jx18 ET34 and 8.5Jx18 ET37 at the rear. Alloys in question - http://www.bmautosport.co.uk/detail.php?siteid=899

Thanks guys.

[TopasBlau46]

I would say that the best handling would be with a 18X8 or 8.5 all the way around with a 225/40R18 on all four corners. If I can help with the package let me know.

I'm looking at wheels first, I've found staggered setups that are from the ZHP (I think), Style 135 (Star double spoke), running 225/40 R18, 8x18 for the front (what does the "8" in 8x18 mean), and 255/35 R18 (8.5x18) for the rears.

Will this fit or rub?