The Final Word: Widest wheel/tire combination front/rear...

[bimmerphile]

...with rolled fenders on a NON-M car, with lower rear arches, and "typical" suspension work.


Also, to get this widest fitment, what is the proper offset for the wheels?


Thanks,

Kris

[Stu]

I've run 225/50/15 with the suspension over 2" lower than stock.

There is no definite answer, Kris. It depends on a number of variables, ranging from wheel offset to tire pressure, what KIND of tires (not every 225-tire is really 225mm wide), how many people you have in the car, etc.

But if you want an absolute, 195's will work. :P

[rscheiring]

Quoting Mike Miller:
"You'll want to run 205/55-15 or 205/50-16 tires on 7-inch wide wheels. The 225/50-15 size sometimes works on E30s, but usually not without rolling the fender and quarter panel lips. It's actually a better E30 M3 size -- no clearance problems there due to the flared body. You can also run 17x7.5-inch wheels and 215/45-17 tires but it is difficult to find wheels that will work without spacers. In my opinion, spacers are to be avoided if at all possible -- BMWs have enough problems with wheel balancing and vibrations without adding spacers to the mix. The beauty of 15-inch wheels on an E30 is that you can buy them from the factory in the BBS cross-spoke style. Obviously, no matter what wheel you choose you want the correct offset for an E30, which is about 24mm in 15 and 16-inch sizes. "

[Beej '86 325es]

There was a guy (can't remember his name or website) on the bmwe30.net board who had started a very informative page about this. He had taken all of the different wheel/tire sizes, offsets, vehicle years from other members into account and just started a big chart of what worked. So you might try there.

[brodee]

I'm running 225-45/16 Michelin Pilots on 16X7.5 et18 wheels with Eibach springs and rolled fenders. No rubbing

[Bill 84 318i]

Alex Schipkov. 245 Hoosiers (read: wider than 245).




Dunno the offset, but maybe he'll find this post.

[Jonathan M3]

Heh, that car corners so hard it goes on 2 wheels sometimes. :twisted:

I believe Alex had to do some inner fenderwork as well to fit the hoosiers, didn't he? He also runs very stiff springs IIRC, which helps.

[e30Matt]

I'm going to start a thread.

EDIT: Anyone with working tire size/offset/susp combos, post them in my thread, I'll make a large table for everyone.

[BavarianBimmer]

I've 225/45/16 without fender rolling
no rubbing with 2 persons in the car (standard Mtech suspension)

[E30-323ti]

225/45 16's ET28 heaps of space on '85 E30

Test fitted 245/40 17's ET38 on compact arms, will fit with fender rolling only.

[BavarianBimmer]

225/45 16's ET28 heaps of space on '85 E30

Test fitted 245/40 17's ET38 on compact arms, will fit with fender rolling only.

what's the big diff between pre 87 and 88 E30 ? :?:

[Bill 84 318i]

Test fitted 245/40 17's ET38 on compact arms, will fit with fender rolling only.

There is no way 245's will not clear the strut on an et38 rim.

[M3Driver]

I have 215/40ZR17 on my 91 318iS with H&R Sports, they fit perfectly and don't rub.