WTB: BBS RK 18x8.5 in E36 M3 fitment

[99M3]

Anyone has a set of this wheel for sale ? Where's the best place to buy wheel ? Tirerack.com seems to be a popular choice. Do they usually have the best prices ?

I should be able to put 235/40/18 on this, right ?

-Luke

[BMLRacer]

I'd be willing to discuss selling mine. They are perfect with brand new 225/35/18 Bridgestone S-03's.


235/40's will work, but you do run the risk of rubbing

Brian

[99M3]

Brian: I sent you a PM a while back.

It seems that something is wrong with my PM. My Inbox is all cleared up.

[Khoalty]

Why are you running on 225/35/18, you are suppose to be running 225/40/18 to keep the same diameter as stock. With the 35 series your diameter is 24.2 instead of the stock size 25 inches.

So when you are running your car at 60 mph, you are actually going only 58 mph.

With 225/40/18 the diameter is 25.1 so the diameter is much closer and the speedometer is only off by .3 mph which isn't a big deal at all.

khoa

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by Khoalty
Why are you running on 225/35/18, you are suppose to be running 225/40/18 to keep the same diameter as stock. With the 35 series your diameter is 24.2 instead of the stock size 25 inches.

So when you are running your car at 60 mph, you are actually going only 58 mph.

With 225/40/18 the diameter is 25.1 so the diameter is much closer and the speedometer is only off by .3 mph which isn't a big deal at all.

khoa

No the stock diameter is NOT 25"...it's 24.4" on the M3 and 24.6" on the 318/325's. So a 225/35 is MUCH closer to the stock diameter than is a 225/40 tire.

Plus, S-03's run bigger anyway, so a 225/35 S-03 is most likely the same diameter as a stock M3 235/40 17. Just FYI.

[essejM3]

BMLRacer are you still selling you wheels? I might be interested email me at essej874@cs.com

[Khoalty]

Originally posted by quick318is


No the stock diameter is NOT 25"...it's 24.4" on the M3 and 24.6" on the 318/325's. So a 225/35 is MUCH closer to the stock diameter than is a 225/40 tire.

Plus, S-03's run bigger anyway, so a 225/35 S-03 is most likely the same diameter as a stock M3 235/40 17. Just FYI.

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

You can check it at that site.

SO3s run wider not bigger either. I have been through Bridgestone RE730s, Kumho 712, Yokohama AVS Sports, Pirelli P7000 Supersuck, Dunlop P9000, Pirelli P Zeros, and the SO3s also. All of these tires lasted me about 6 months tops, I just been apexing from home to school everyday. I drive about 500 miles a week or so.

When I had 15" rims, I had 225/55/15, which is a setup that only michelin had. If you go up each rim size, the ratio goes down, so 16's would be 225/50/16, 17's would be 225/45/17, 18 would be 225/40/18, if you are running 225/40/17 there is a big problem. from 17 to 18 jump 10 is alot.

Also the person has a 99 m3, those didn't come with 235/40/17 it came in the staggered setup where it was 225/45/17 in the front and 245/40/17 in the rear.

From what tire rack tells, it says the same size as the one I posted.

I am not trying to argue but my point still stands that I am correct.

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by Khoalty
I am not trying to argue but my point still stands that I am correct.

If you only look at the calculated diameter based on width/profile/rim then you are correct. However Brian consults for Bridgestone and has all of the tech info with the actual tire diameters which do vary quite a bit from the calculations. Most notable in this case is that a 225/40/18 S-03 is actually LARGER in diameter than a 235/40/18 S-03. Yes the 225/35/18 S-03 is smaller in diameter than the original 225/45/17 and 245/40/17 tires on his '98 M3/4, but the actual difference in height is less than the .5" calculated.

[MikekiM]

In case you're still looking for a source for these, PM me, or email me mkim@opto22.com

[BMLRacer]

I would still be interested in selling the wheels and tires. Please PM me again. My box may have been full as well.

I chose the 225/35/18 after lots and lots of discussion with our engineers. The 225/35/18 is 24.3" in overall diameter. The 235/40/17 (OE size for non stagered M3) is 24.5" OD. That makes a difference of -.2" OD. BTW, a 235/35/18 MXX3 is also 24.3 OD. We looked at all the sizes of the S-03 and came to the conclusion that this was the best size for the car. The S-03 is a very big tire when compared to the stock Michelin MXX3, as my 225 is only a hair narrower than a 235/35/18 MXX3.

Brian

[Justin(OKC)]

Man, I wish I had known you were willing to sell your wheels Brian. I would have bought them. I like the RKII's that I have but they just aren't as perfect as they could have been. Shoot me a PM with what you want for your wheels and tires. I may just have to sell what I've got and go with yours