Noob wheel spacer question - I've measured but can't figure out

[cirrusblue]

Hello all, pardon for those knowledgable about wheel spacers, but I just got some 15 inch wheel for my e30, and running 205/55.r15 tires - pretty basic tire.

I've been trying to figure out how folks run spacers where their back tires or even fronts for that matter seem to expand beyond the fender line. I measure my gap and I don't have much if I have any, but I see folks have wheels really flush or poking out.

I suppose they must roll their fenders and know something I don't.

At this point, I'm thinking I'll give up doing anything - but I dont know how these guys run such a wide setup. Any knowlege apprec. Thanks.

- CB

[agent]

Are you trying to achieve "poke" or avoid it?

You said you "got some 15 inch wheel for [your] e30" but you left off the two other crucial measurements for anyone to be able to help you: the wheel width and the wheel offset.

Read up on offset and backspacing here: https://www.google.com/search?q=whee...nd+backspacing

Then once you're familiar with the terminology and how to apply it, you can play with different measurements here to see what might work for what you're trying to do: http://rimsntires.com/specspro.jsp

[cirrusblue]

Hello. Sry about that.

I have Yoko S Drive - 205/55R15
The rims are Kopi Alpina Reps - 20mm offset

The car is a 87 325 - stock rotors, etc.

H&R OE Sport springs, Koni Sport shocks - a little low but not a ton.

[cirrusblue]

this is it.

I want what's going to be the best handling.

[HooptE30]

Agent posted some useful info that you should familiarize yourself with. Additionally, a car may achieve getting more poke/flush with the fenders with stretched tires. Instead of having sidewalls that go straight up from the lip of your wheel, stretched tires sidewalls are stretched across the barrel of the tire and thus making the sidewalls angled more towards the center of the wheel. Also, e30's have a tendency of increasing wheel camber with lowering, well the back at least.

I want what's going to be the best handling.

The best handling for grip racing would be the largest contact patch you could have on your tire. However, if you were drifting with a "low power" car you would want less contact in the back so it would be easier to break your back end free when entering turns. Moreover, suspention is a much larger factor in handling than tires in both scenarios. I would familiarize yourself with agents above stated threads and read up about wheel camber and how wheel poke is achieved if you're still confused.

[cirrusblue]

ok, I'll read up on the posts. thank you. I do not drift. This is basically about grip and being planted.

[agent]

The best way to stay planted is with a properly sorted suspension and sticky tires. However, the most important element in the equation is always the driver. The car's capabilities will stay well beyond yours until you have completed a significant number of driving events and schools.

[cirrusblue]

I've had the entire suspension refreshed, H&R sways H&R springs, koni, all subframe bushings, reinforced mounts, control arms and everything parts been replaced, inspected, or enhanced.

I can go to a diff. area to post this - but since you're recommending - what do you think is the most useful driving school to start with?

[agent]

Lots of guys start off doing Autocross. I'm one of them. It's cheap, and it's a good way to get familiar with your car and what it will (and won't) do.

After that, or whenever your budget allows, I'd recommend doing some HPDEs with the BMW CCA. If the ones in your region are like the ones here, you'll get a mix of classroom and track instruction.

Track days are fun if you just want to do laps by yourself, and there are plenty of good groups who offer them (Chin, Just Track It, Jzilla, MVP, etc.). For me though, having someone in the passenger seat telling me what I'm doing correctly versus what I could do better/differently is the most helpful.