Handling question

[lowhiming]

Hey guys. I just recently upgraded my tires from 225/45/16 to 245/45/16. I am noticing now that when at freeway speeds(70+), my car sometimes drifts from side to side as if there was a real strong wind hitting the car and moving it. I know this isnt the case but do you know what could cause this? Could it improper tire pressure? It never did this when I had the 225's on.

thx,

Michael
'91 325i

[Sean]

Wider tires cause that. The more grip you have on the road, the more likely the car is to grab hold of the ruts.

My dads M3 does it and yet our stock Eta shows no signs of it.

It's your tires that are cuasing it. Just imagine how bad it is on R-Compounds... :twisted:

[Mystikal]

I want to know how in hell you got 245/45/16's on a late-model E30.

[Brew]

I had a similar feeling when I switched from my 205 winter tires back to my 225 es100s.
You'll be used to it in a few days.

And I'm also interested in how you got 245's on you car. Do you happen to know the width and offset of the wheels? Are you running 245's front and back?

[lowhiming]

Thanks for the responses. The 245's are monsters out back :twisted: . I looks pretty savage. I have 16x7(front-205/50) and 16x8(rear-245/45) Alpina wheels. The offset I believe is ET20. I believe this is the reason I can stuff the 245's in the back. I am on H&R springs and under hard cornering am getting some fender rub so I think I am going to get my fenders rolled up slightly. Other than that though everything is fine.

regards,

Michael
'91 325i

[Brew]

Understeer much?

If I were you, I would get some 225's up front. I'd like to see some pictures, though. Sounds like a nice looking car.

[randomtask37]

sounds like a sweet setup. i would love to see pictures.

[Mystikal]

I have 16x7(front-205/50) and 16x8(rear-245/45) Alpina wheels. The offset I believe is ET20.

Wow, most people have rubbing with ET20 wheels with 225 rubber, hard to imagine how you're pulling off 245.

[Brew]

I have 16x7(front-205/50) and 16x8(rear-245/45) Alpina wheels. The offset I believe is ET20.

Wow, most people have rubbing with ET20 wheels with 225 rubber, hard to imagine how you're pulling off 245.

They would most likely be an issue up front, but there is a lot more clearance in the rear fenders.

[Mystikal]

They would most likely be an issue up front, but there is a lot more clearance in the rear fenders.

Most people have rubbing exclusively in the rear with equally sized rubber.

[Rob]

especially with the lower rear fenders

[Brew]

I guess with that low of an offset, you would run into fender clearance issues, so you guys are right. I'm guessing that the rears have a higher offset, because there is ample space under there.

[lowhiming]

I guess with that low of an offset, you would run into fender clearance issues, so you guys are right. I'm guessing that the rears have a higher offset, because there is ample space under there.

Hey guys. I just opened up the Alpina cap and I was wrong. The offset on the rim is ET28. I guess I was way off. I will try to upload some pics tonight.

[lowhiming]

Here are the pics:

[Ryan Stewart]

Get 225s up front next time. I am running the same wheels with 245 in back and 225 up front. The front fits fine but I also had to clear the fender lip and if I really slam into it on a turn it actually touches the inside just a hair (enough to scuff the undercoat).

The ET28 wheels are about perfect for most E30s but were actually designed for 225 rubber stock.

Guys just go to props and copy the link, its a servlet so his pics wont show up any other way.

Here is how mine looks with the same rear rubber but 225s up front.

http://photos.imageevent.com/rstewart/body/websize/tires.jpg

You can see how little room there is.

As for the feeling its called tremmeling. Some tires are worse than others because of how they grab into ruts in the road. Its just the way it is.