Widest tires for E30?

[Nick325is]

I used to run 235/40/17s all around with mildly rolled fenders with no rubbing issues. This was on an et20 7.5inch wide wheel.

[VinniE30]

The OP wants to know how wide you can go with unmodified fenders.
That depends on wheel offset and ride height, along other things.

But all the responses about what you can run on modded fenders are pointless.. you can run any size tire you want depending on how much you mod the fenders. Hell you could probably run over 300 if you made the fender flares go straight out and had low enough offset to prevent rubbing on the other side of the tire.

[brian52555]

Running 225/50 Toyo RA-1s on D-Force 15inch wheels with stock fenders, no problem. Only clearance issues I have are when i turn my steering to full lock, then I *think* I'm rubbing the frame. Not 100% sure.

Pretty damn low on coilovers as I'm always scraping my skid plate, but not tucking mad stance y0 like some of the ricers on this site.

[MR 325]

I had no idea rolling fenders was now considered modifying them.

Wanting wide tires and not being willing to at least roll your fenders really makes no sense.

[nando]

I had no idea rolling fenders was now considered modifying them.

Wanting wide tires and not being willing to at least roll your fenders really makes no sense.

agreed

225/45-15 or 225/50-15 is common knowledge fitment for "stock" fenders, but I wouldn't consider rolling the innner lips to fit a 235 "modified".

[Teaguer]

I've had a friend run 235/40 fronts & 255/40 rears on a early body.
Wheels were 17x8.5 with et41 as he was on e36 and z3m 5-lug.

[apostate]

I've had a friend run 235/40 fronts & 255/40 rears on a early body.
Wheels were 17x8.5 with et41 as he was on e36 and z3m 5-lug.

Wow, the rear were too close to the trailing arms and front were too close to the spring struts.
Did he run them wheels with spacers? 10 mm?

[Jaxx_]

235's are very possible all around, I have 225/50/15 right now and they fit fine with a bunch more room left.

i ran 225/45/16 without issues and now that I have 225/50/16 i rub just a little bit. need like 5mm spacer just to sort it out. 7.5J

[kamotors]

225/50 rubs in the rear for me, I have like 1 finger of room with pulled fenders but under certain circumstances the tire flexes and gets a bit chewed up.

[apostate]

Please, post useful posts, show-offs are understandable but not useful. ;-)

[Teaguer]

Wow, the rear were too close to the trailing arms and front were too close to the spring struts.
Did he run them wheels with spacers? 10 mm?

No spacers. Suspension was e36 5-lug so the higher offset wheels are needed.

[apostate]

5-lug does compensate for such an offset? i doubt.

[Teaguer]

Immediately after posting my last reply I looked up the set-up.
I was mistaken about the front...he was actually running e36 front struts with 12-15mm spacers to accommodate e36 m3 brakes while the rear was the ZM3 set-up.

[apostate]

My calculations show that for the rear (presuming that 9J wheels are used) the ET should be around 30 for the tire to clear. Considering too that rolling fenders is mot a modification. Tires 255/40/17 should fit.

For the front, if 8J wheels are used the ET should be around 20 or even 15 in order that a 235/45(40)/17 tire can clear.

I've got a set of 5x130 Porsche wheels here (front 8J, rear 9J) with big ETs and I am considering what adapters I have to fabricate to use those wheels. The adapters will position the wheels at the right ET to fit the tires clear. But calculations are one thing, and experience - quite another.

The fabrication of the adapters is not cheap and I don't want to end up spending money on parts with wrong dimensions.

[apostate]

No one tried this?
I can't believe in Great America no pioneers.