E30 Wheels, offsets, tire sizes, ASK HERE - Page 84

E30325 · 10-06-2012, 10:55 AM

Thanks for the heads up. Pm'ed

Hal900x · 10-10-2012, 07:12 PM

That...is one popular thread. New guy you can be new here. New to forums, new to BMW, new to cars, etc.

I ordered some 8" wheels with a +25 offset for my '90 325i. What kind of effect is that going to have on the geometry/handling of the car?

L8 Apexr · 10-10-2012, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hal900x

That...is one popular thread. New guy you can be new here. New to forums, new to BMW, new to cars, etc.

I ordered some 8" wheels with a +25 offset for my '90 325i. What kind of effect is that going to have on the geometry/handling of the car?

Nothing but good things.

**Mystikal** · 10-11-2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E30325

Mystikal,
Thanks for doing this. Awesome job

I'm having a custom set of BBS RS's put together. And need advice on what the offsets should be set at for fronts and rears.

Car - 1991 e30 325i 4 bolt
Suspension - full ground control coilovers
Wheel sizes I want - 16x9 rears with a 3" lip, 16x8 fronts with a 2" lip

What offset is going to get me flush without spacers?
Thanks in advance.

F 16x8 +10 195/45 or 205/45
R 16x9 +15 205/45 or 215/45

Only need a fender roll if you use the 215/45 rears. If you want super-flush drop the offsets by 5mm and use the 195/205 tires.

**Mystikal** · 10-11-2012, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hal900x

That...is one popular thread. New guy you can be new here. New to forums, new to BMW, new to cars, etc.

I ordered some 8" wheels with a +25 offset for my '90 325i. What kind of effect is that going to have on the geometry/handling of the car?

Unless they're 17" or larger you'll need small spacers to clear the front struts. 3-5mm is enough.

The tire choice for your new wheels is the important part. The tire size and model will dictate how the car will feel. What I'm saying is, don't cheap out on tires.

SubDad · 10-21-2012, 05:59 PM

I've got an 1986 E30. It's all stock, unlowered and I'd prefer to keep it that way even though there's a huge fender gap at the back; looks like a pickup truck.

Car currently sits on bottlecaps (ET 33) front and rear with 195-70s on the front and 195-65s on the back.
Come spring I'll be wanting to fit tires on the 14x6.5 basketweaves (ET30) I spend the day cleaning up. I've spent some time on a tire size comparator site using the facts in the first post of this thread as the basis.

I think there's enough clearance on the front shock towers to fit 215-60s, can you confirm?

I think the radius would be close enough to stock that I wouldn't lose what little power the M20B20 has to offer and the larger width will ... look cooler without being too non-stock?

Would I have camber issues?

Do I worry too much?

**Mystikal** · 10-22-2012, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SubDad

I've got an 1986 E30. It's all stock, unlowered and I'd prefer to keep it that way even though there's a huge fender gap at the back; looks like a pickup truck.

Car currently sits on bottlecaps (ET 33) front and rear with 195-70s on the front and 195-65s on the back.
Come spring I'll be wanting to fit tires on the 14x6.5 basketweaves (ET30) I spend the day cleaning up. I've spent some time on a tire size comparator site using the facts in the first post of this thread as the basis.

I think there's enough clearance on the front shock towers to fit 215-60s, can you confirm?

I think the radius would be close enough to stock that I wouldn't lose what little power the M20B20 has to offer and the larger width will ... look cooler without being too non-stock?

Would I have camber issues?

Do I worry too much?

It should just clear the front struts without spacers and won't threaten contacting anywhere else. The problem is finding decent 215/60 tires today.

Hal900x · 10-22-2012, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mystikal

Unless they're 17" or larger you'll need small spacers to clear the front struts. 3-5mm is enough.

The tire choice for your new wheels is the important part. The tire size and model will dictate how the car will feel. What I'm saying is, don't cheap out on tires.

Well, after testing fitting yesterday it looks like they are clearing without spacers...by several human hairs. That was with the wheel jacked up, ofc. But I'm thinking I might get away with it, so long as the tire is kept flush or narrower. 205/50/15 perhaps? Was checking these out based on a recommendation from a NASA guy for his street car.

http://www.bigbrandtire.com/tires/DUNLOP/265024207

Too cheap? Too big?

SubDad · 10-22-2012, 06:55 PM

Thanks for your help 2 posts up, Mystikal.

Aside from 215/60 is there a better choice using the 14" basketweaves that would fill the wells better?

Anybody think that 215/60s would look stupid?
Should I keep it stock-stock with 195/60?

I really don't want to lower the car. I'm preserving it as a baseline comparison for those of you with lowered, supercharged, lightened, modified super-fast E30s.
Don't thank me, it's my service to the community.

supernaught · 10-22-2012, 07:57 PM

Stock height, why not go with some 215/70/14 Wranglers?

SubDad · 10-22-2012, 08:31 PM

Unfortunately, the 70 series would suck all the torque out of my M20B20 and while I could wade across spring time fields it'd be at about 4 kph, with a grinding noise coming from my struts and clutch smoke boiling out the sunroof.

I'm starting to see why the guy I bought the 14" rims from replaced them with 15". They certainly looked good on his Touring, lucky guy.

GeMc · 10-23-2012, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hal900x

Well, after test fitting yesterday it looks like they are clearing without spacers...by several human hairs. That was with the wheel jacked up, ofc. But I'm thinking I might get away with it, so long as the tire is kept flush or narrower. 205/50/15 perhaps?

I was going to say... my old 18" x 8" ET25 wheels fit no problem without spacers on my E30 struts (threaded with coilovers).

**Mystikal** · 10-26-2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hal900x

Well, after testing fitting yesterday it looks like they are clearing without spacers...by several human hairs. That was with the wheel jacked up, ofc. But I'm thinking I might get away with it, so long as the tire is kept flush or narrower. 205/50/15 perhaps? Was checking these out based on a recommendation from a NASA guy for his street car.

http://www.bigbrandtire.com/tires/DUNLOP/265024207

Too cheap? Too big?

Buy a pair of universal 3mm 4x100 spacers for your fronts. You'll need that bit more clearance once the tires are on.

DZ101s are okay for dry weather, you'll probably like them in socal.

**Mystikal** · 10-26-2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SubDad

Thanks for your help 2 posts up, Mystikal.

Aside from 215/60 is there a better choice using the 14" basketweaves that would fill the wells better?

Anybody think that 215/60s would look stupid?
Should I keep it stock-stock with 195/60?

I really don't want to lower the car. I'm preserving it as a baseline comparison for those of you with lowered, supercharged, lightened, modified super-fast E30s.
Don't thank me, it's my service to the community.

Keep it stockish, run 195/60 or 195/65 or 205/60.

**Mystikal** · 10-26-2012, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeMc

I was going to say... my old 18" x 8" ET25 wheels fit no problem without spacers on my E30 struts (threaded with coilovers).

The E30 strut has a slight inclination towards the inner body of the car as it goes up. That's why 17" and larger wheels will clear at 8" +25 while 16" and smaller will just touch.