e46 M3 Tire Sizing Thread

[K-Dawg]

BMW M seemed to think 225/40/19 and 255/35/19 are a good fit... 🙄

[sev]

im having super decision paralysis. Stock m3 and i just ordered the ZCP wheels with the 8" front and 9.5" rear. I'm reading 235/35/19 and 265/30/19 are the way to go here? My rig is mostly street driven and may see occasional use. I really want to avoid any rubbing on the front or on the rear. I just want it to fit and not worry about rubbing and im not too crazily concerned about understeer. Most I ever do these days is carve canyons. Maaaaaybe an occasional track day. Will this size just work? Thinking about indy 500s

edit: nvm, I think I answered my own question. The tire widths on Tire rack are extremely helpful in figuring this out

[BlueBimmers]

Great thread. I'm wanting to go 235/265 on comp wheels but the rears are limiting my tire choices. Might force me to 245/275.

[Thoglan]

Can you share the size tire you opted for where you didn’t have any clearance issues? Thanks!

I'm not a good example because when I ordered my PS4S's 265/35 was not available. I went with 255/40 and have clearance issues as a result of the additional height of the sidewall. 265/35 will fit fine, someone on here will be running that exact setup as it's quite common.

[narudnad]

I have ohlins with 9.5et22 and they will clear the strut no problem. I run a 10mm spacer in the rear to make it look a bit more balanced with the front.

Can you share the size tire you opted for where you didn’t have any clearance issues? Thanks!

[narudnad]

Tbonem3 Thoglan you guys rock, thanks for insight and clarification!!

[Thoglan]

I can’t remember if the perch is or isn’t atm. I have ohlins on right now. 265/35 was my plan.

I have the option to go with 18x10 +25, there just not in my preferred color.

I have ohlins with 9.5et22 and they will clear the strut no problem. I run a 10mm spacer in the rear to make it look a bit more balanced with the front.

[Tbonem3]

Maybe try searching "ohlins" and "perch" and or "tire" "rubbing" Lots of ppl have ohlins now, but I can't quite remember what they've posted in regards to inner tire rubbing.

I wouldn't run a 10" front wheel unless it's a full track car with aero.

[narudnad]

No, I'm saying the 10" is more likely to rub on the inside than 9.5". The 9.5, despite being narrower than 10" is about as difficult to fit within the fender. But at least it's much less likely to rub the strut.

There's more to it than that - tire choice, strut brand, spring length - is your perch above the tire or not?

I can’t remember if the perch is or isn’t atm. I have ohlins on right now. 265/35 was my plan.

I have the option to go with 18x10 +25, there just not in my preferred color.

[Tbonem3]

So your saying with the 9.5+22 I will have inner coilover rubbing? Therefore needing a spacer up front? What about rears?

No, I'm saying the 10" is more likely to rub on the inside than 9.5". The 9.5, despite being narrower than 10" is about as difficult to fit within the fender. But at least it's much less likely to rub the strut.

There's more to it than that - tire choice, strut brand, spring length - is your perch above the tire or not?

[narudnad]

I’ve got a line on some wheels that I have been looking for in the color I want lol. So just trying to determine how much work I will need to do to make them fit before I send the $$$. Thanks for all your help!!

[narudnad]

9.5 to 10" is a half inch or 12.7mm. So on both sides of the wheel, the 10" with stick 6mm farther out. With 25 offset, the whole wheel will come in 3mm more than the et22 wheel. The final result will be that the 10" wheel sticks out 3mm more than the 9.5" wheel, but the inside will also be 9mm farther in.

A 10" wheel is harder to fit more due to the inside than outside. If you can fit the 9.5et22 up front, because you have camber plates, you can fit the 10" . The bigger issue will be innner rubbing on suspension.

So your saying with the 9.5+22 I will have inner coilover rubbing? Therefore needing a spacer up front? What about rears?

[Tbonem3]

9.5 to 10" is a half inch or 12.7mm. So on both sides of the wheel, the 10" with stick 6mm farther out. With 25 offset, the whole wheel will come in 3mm more than the et22 wheel. The final result will be that the 10" wheel sticks out 3mm more than the 9.5" wheel, but the inside will also be 9mm farther in.

A 10" wheel is harder to fit more due to the inside than outside. If you can fit the 9.5et22 up front, because you have camber plates, you can fit the 10" . The bigger issue will be innner rubbing on suspension.

[narudnad]

Depends what you mean by no problem. 18x9.5 et22 with 265/35 is a very common size. It is very aggressive on the front though. Requires at least 3 degrees of negative camber, which is pretty compromised for a street car.

Thanks for quick reply! By “no issues” I meant like the need for spacers and or rolling/cutting fenders etc. My car is not daily driven and experiences the occasional track day or canyon most of the time. I always have a hard time understanding these wheel specs lol but is x9.5 +22 any more or less aggressive than a x10 +25?

[Thoglan]

Can someone advise if 18x9.5 +22 fit on our cars without any issues? And if so, what tire size you may recommend? TIA!!

Depends what you mean by no problem. 18x9.5 et22 with 265/35 is a very common size. It is very aggressive on the front though. Requires at least 3 degrees of negative camber, which is pretty compromised for a street car.