E30 Wheels, offsets, tire sizes, ASK HERE - Page 66

Ant_e30 · 03-08-2011, 02:37 AM

Not trying to be argumentative here (damn, first post, dont want to get on the wrong foot!) but i am a little confused in regard to why you so strongly say 16x8 +/-0 wheels are entirely inappropriate on E30s, and yet you will say to people that 16x9 +15 with 3-5mm spacer is okay. Using the Wheel Offset Calculator, the difference between 16x8 +/-0 and 16x9 +10 (effective w 5mm spacer) is actually +3mm further out for the 9" rim. But you do not tell people it won't fit?

I ask this because i've just bought myself an E30 and really want so aggressive wheel fitment. That said, I dislike the look where the front wheel is poking more than the rear. ideally i want maybe a 5mm-ish of rim poke on stretched tyres. I am looking at running coilovers all round (GC or KW probably) and have been eyeing off the likes of Kerscher Carmonas. I really do not want to run a 3-5mm Slip On, and i feel anything thicker will push the rim out too far. As such i am (sadly..lol) considering the 7.5 +20 up front with a 20-25mm spacer and then the 9" +15 up back. Sound reasonable?

Also when you say fitment up front, what type of camber are you allowing for? I assume aftermarket camber tops and maybe 2-3 degrees?

cheers!

**Mystikal** · 03-08-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant_e30

Not trying to be argumentative here (damn, first post, dont want to get on the wrong foot!) but i am a little confused in regard to why you so strongly say 16x8 +/-0 wheels are entirely inappropriate on E30s, and yet you will say to people that 16x9 +15 with 3-5mm spacer is okay. Using the Wheel Offset Calculator, the difference between 16x8 +/-0 and 16x9 +10 (effective w 5mm spacer) is actually +3mm further out for the 9" rim. But you do not tell people it won't fit?

I ask this because i've just bought myself an E30 and really want so aggressive wheel fitment. That said, I dislike the look where the front wheel is poking more than the rear. ideally i want maybe a 5mm-ish of rim poke on stretched tyres. I am looking at running coilovers all round (GC or KW probably) and have been eyeing off the likes of Kerscher Carmonas. I really do not want to run a 3-5mm Slip On, and i feel anything thicker will push the rim out too far. As such i am (sadly..lol) considering the 7.5 +20 up front with a 20-25mm spacer and then the 9" +15 up back. Sound reasonable?

Also when you say fitment up front, what type of camber are you allowing for? I assume aftermarket camber tops and maybe 2-3 degrees?

cheers!

You have to consider where the center of the rim sits in relation to the fender. Let's make things equal. A 16x8 +0 wheel and a 16x9 +13 (just for argument's sake). The 16x9 setup will visually and physically fit better. Why? The tire is still centered at the +13 point. That fact will pull the tire more into the wheel well than a similarly stretched tire on the 16x8. It's not necessarily about where the wheel ends, but how the geometry delta affects the shape of the tire.

Your staggered setup sounds like a good choice. All of my fitment recommendations assume stock upper mounts unless the question mentioned adjustable mounts or I do in my reply.

Ant_e30 · 03-09-2011, 08:08 AM

Ah fair enough, that makes some sense. i generally think that width and offset can be interchanged, so to speak, but extra width is better simply for further stretch. but i guess the dynamics of it isn't something i entirely considered before. thanks for the input on that!

Ant_e30 · 03-15-2011, 04:04 AM

my hunt continues..i've found some very good condition 4x114.3 BBS RS 16x7 with 5" backspace (i calculate that to be around +25 offset?) locally and am considering buying them, having them redrilled and getting some new outer lips (look to have 1" lips currently). They're sitting around $410AU (about $400US) for the set but i would be able to go up to $500AU for them i guess.

the only issue is from the research i've done i'd look to widen them by adding larger outer lips, and my options seem to be to add 1.5" (for a 2.5" lip) which will yield 8.5" captive width with an offset of +6, or add 2" (for a 3" lip) which will yield 9" captive width with an offset of +/- 0.

I will have adjustable camber tops but I don't think the 9" +/- 0 will work up front so 8.5 +6 should be okay. But then the 9" +/- 0 up back will still be a squeeze and then may look out of proportion to the front. Really i do not want to run slip on spacers at all, only bolt-ons if anything...

Anyone have any thoughts? Jay? :]

**Mystikal** · 03-16-2011, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant_e30

my hunt continues..i've found some very good condition 4x114.3 BBS RS 16x7 with 5" backspace (i calculate that to be around +25 offset?) locally and am considering buying them, having them redrilled and getting some new outer lips (look to have 1" lips currently). They're sitting around $410AU (about $400US) for the set but i would be able to go up to $500AU for them i guess.

the only issue is from the research i've done i'd look to widen them by adding larger outer lips, and my options seem to be to add 1.5" (for a 2.5" lip) which will yield 8.5" captive width with an offset of +6, or add 2" (for a 3" lip) which will yield 9" captive width with an offset of +/- 0.

I will have adjustable camber tops but I don't think the 9" +/- 0 will work up front so 8.5 +6 should be okay. But then the 9" +/- 0 up back will still be a squeeze and then may look out of proportion to the front. Really i do not want to run slip on spacers at all, only bolt-ons if anything...

Anyone have any thoughts? Jay? :]

+25 is correct, as are your widened offsets. I like the 8.5" front 9" rear idea, should work well (they will look almost dead-even front-rear). 205/45/16s are a good idea. No spacers needed.

Chris916 · 03-25-2011, 09:37 PM

Hey,
Been searching around for the answer to this but just cant seem to find it.
What size spacer will i need to fit 245/50-16 on 16x9 et15. I understand i may have to do some fender modifications but it shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks

**Mystikal** · 03-28-2011, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris916

Hey,
Been searching around for the answer to this but just cant seem to find it.
What size spacer will i need to fit 245/50-16 on 16x9 et15. I understand i may have to do some fender modifications but it shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks

Fender modification is an understatement.

10mm should be enough to clear the struts in front. Shouldn't need anything in the back.

Chris916 · 03-28-2011, 11:08 PM

^Awesome! thanks. will most likely run 10mm all around then to keep it even. fenders will be cut up and flared

voluted · 04-04-2011, 03:25 AM

Currently have a set of wheels on the car with the following stats:
17x7. et40 with 215-40's.

I was wondering what spacers I should be using to get the tire as flush as possible without having to do any fender modification. I am currently lowered about 1.6" in the front and 1.4" in the rear. I was thinking 20mm all around or 15mm front and 20mm rear.

**Mystikal** · 04-04-2011, 12:43 PM

^ Perfect setup, 15/20.

voluted · 04-06-2011, 02:36 PM

Just put the stud kit and spacers on today and the wheel fit is spot on. It may just be my imagination, but the car seems to understeer a lot less now (yay). No rubbing either. Thanks for the input Jay!

**Mystikal** · 04-06-2011, 04:01 PM

That was quick. Congrats, glad I could help you out.

voluted · 04-08-2011, 03:20 PM

I ordered the spacers from NovusTech in Cambridge (via eBay) when I saw your post. Their delivery was really fast! I already had a set of 80mm studs with the nuts sitting at home.

scincarov · 04-12-2011, 05:36 PM

Hi I'm looking to get some of those xxr eBay rims but they r 16"x8 with 0 offset will they fit and what type of tires will I need pleas help
E30 1987 325I

scincarov · 04-12-2011, 05:37 PM

HElp HELP