ESM-012SL 17" Wheels with 215/45/17s on '90 325is

[E30is90]

Same, I do not like them at all. Maybe if they were darker, and the car was lower.

I live just outside NYC and travel through its streets regularly. If you've ever had the pleasure to drive NY-Metro area roads, you'd see the terrible condition these streets are in. These roads want to tear wheels and suspension to shreds. The local BMW dealers don't even recommend the M series vehicles for use on these streets. It's like driving through the craters of the moon. Don't get me wrong, I'd love the look of a real low standing vehicle, but I don't think NYC roads would allow you to without asking for a world of hurt.

[brandonj1]

Woudnt low profile tires be bad for the NYC roads then? id be afraid to hit a little pot hole running 17s with such a small sidewall.

[z31maniac]

I like the wheels, and the car is super clean. WHich is surprising, because I always hated these wheels seeing pictures of them, but on the car I think they are great.

However, it needs proper sized tires (215/40/17), some spacers and a drop and your car would look AMAZING.

[xwill112x]

drop it. the roads are terrible here as well. no excuse.

[E30is90]

Woudnt low profile tires be bad for the NYC roads then? id be afraid to hit a little pot hole running 17s with such a small sidewall.

I had thought that going with the 45 sidewall, it would be just enough for these crap roads. Riding on it for some time now, it seems to be just enough. But, I'm sorry to say that going with the 215/45 is causing the ever-so slightest rub in the back of the front wheel-wells when cutting the wheel all the way over (for say parallel parking). To me, any rubbing is too much rubbing. It's not hitting the fender lining, it's just a bit of the inner painted surface set back from the liner. It could likely be knocked back a touch, but I'm not sure I want to mess around with it.

I like the wheels, and the car is super clean. WHich is surprising, because I always hated these wheels seeing pictures of them, but on the car I think they are great.

However, it needs proper sized tires (215/40/17), some spacers and a drop and your car would look AMAZING.

Thanks for the comments. Based on the above, I think I may be forced to go with 205/45. Here's where I'm stuck on my decision. The 215/45s fit perfectly in the rear. The tire dealer said they'd exchange the fronts or the rears as well (as a set). Since the rims are 7.5", I think it really wants the 215 tire, but I just don't want to go down to a 40 sidewall. So, I asked if they thought it would create a problem if I left the 215/45s in the rear and put 205/45s in the front. The rolling diameter would only by 10mm shorter in the front (1.6%). Well within the "don't exceed 3%" range. And, according to the Bentley manual BMW does NOT recommend rotating tires from front to rear, due to differences in tread wear locations (outer in the front, center in the rear). So, that would not be a prob. Any suggestions on doing an ever so slight staggered fit? I do like the look of the 215/45s in the back and I think it gives me just a little more of a footprint to improve traction in a slick road. These wheels are with a 20ET, so the 215's don't encroach on the suspension. They are just about flush in the rear, but do stick out about .2" in the front. I'm actually not crazy about that look. Moving to the 205 in the front would lose .2" and flush things up. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

drop it. the roads are terrible here as well. no excuse.

If and when I move down to 205/45s on the fronts (and backs?), I would love to consider a small drop, but I definitely need to figure out the tire size change and solve the current rub and slight protrusion in the fronts. I don't want to introduce any new problems!

Thanks!!
Adam

[N2MYE30]

^^^I think 205s up front would work well. To bring it down abit, you could get some drophats. If you still have rubbing, maybe a small fender roll. Props for doing something different...and original owner. :up:

[E30is90]

^^^I think 205s up front would work well. To bring it down abit, you could get some drophats. If you still have rubbing, maybe a small fender roll. Props for doing something different...and original owner. :up:

Thanks, that's the direction I'm leaning towards. Keep the 215/45s in the rear and place the 205/45s on the front. With the 20ET of the wheels, this should provide a flush look of tire package with the fender (on the fronts & rears) and eliminate the slight rub on the inside of the front wheel-well under a full turn of the wheel.

[xwill112x]

they make fender rollers for a reasonn, just sayinn

[E30is90]

they make fender rollers for a reasonn, just sayinn

It's not hitting the inside lip of the fender, its rubbing on the rear part of the wheel-well (set back just past the plastic liner). I don't see how rolling my fender would fix this kind of a rub? Only limiting the full turn of the wheel (when cutting the wheel all the way over) would fix this rub. Do you see it differently??

[xwill112x]

5 mm spacer up front

[E30is90]

5 mm spacer up front

That might do the trick. It's ever so slightly touches with the wheels cut over all the way. The only downside here is that it pushes my wheel package out even further than it already is. I'm about 5 or 6mm past flush with my fender as is. Another 5mm would have me sticking out over .4". I was hoping in fact to go the other way (flush things up a bit). If I did go out another 5mm, I'd definitely have to roll the fenders if I ever wanted to consider a drop. I still think a 205/45 is going to be my best bet for the fronts.

[E30is90]

Roundel Center Caps Installed

[E30darkknight]

your car looks so much like mine, roll the fenders and just use a hammer and hit in the rear part of the front fender well. That will solve you rubbing issues. you can drop it a little with some H&R sport springs, that will have your rear tire slight tucked and your front about an inch cap. you'll be fine with that set up, i speaking from personal experience

[Jonny Cash]

drop it. the roads are terrible here as well. no excuse.

No, its not even a comparison. So bad infact I wouldnt even drive an e30 to commute to the city without at least a 65 sidewall. You guys dont have snow plows that rip giant holes into the streets, that have been band-aided over for over 200 years at least. thats the difference.

[E30is90]

your car looks so much like mine, roll the fenders and just use a hammer and hit in the rear part of the front fender well. That will solve you rubbing issues. you can drop it a little with some H&R sport springs, that will have your rear tire slight tucked and your front about an inch cap. you'll be fine with that set up, i speaking from personal experience

I still have the 215/45s all around. The tire place said they would be happy to exchange the fronts or all around to 205/45. I was leaning towards doing just the fronts, but was trying to figure why it was just rubbing on the front left (driver side). Upon close inspection, I saw that my sway bar link was disconnected. It was hanging there with no nut on the sway bar bracket. I don't know how long it was disconnected. I have a feeling it was when I had a shop replace my front left control arm this past year. I'm wondering if the sway bar link being disconnected is letting the wheel camber out (when doing a full turn to the left) just an extra bit to allow the rubbing to take place. I'm trying to get the link back in place, but the bolt that holds the link to the bracket is completely rusted on. BP Blaster, hitting it, pulling on it is just not working. I'll likely bring it to the guy who installed the control arm and have him fix what he did.

No, its not even a comparison. So bad infact I wouldnt even drive an e30 to commute to the city without at least a 65 sidewall. You guys dont have snow plows that rip giant holes into the streets, that have been band-aided over for over 200 years at least. thats the difference.

You're right, 65s would be a safer bet. I don't commute into the City, I just drive cross town on occasion getting from LI to Jersey or doing some work at the NY area airports. I think as long as I don't go down below a 45 sidewall and drive carefully, I should be okay.