e46 M3 Tire Sizing Thread

[Paulo337]

You can use this site to get all the details.

Why not run the factory tire size?

Have a set of continental extreme contact with less than 500 miles on them for free if they fit with no issues that’d be grwat

[oceansize]

How can I find out or know what the right size to match for the circumference will be for the front?

You can use this site to get all the details.

Why not run the factory tire size?

[Paulo337]

255/40 for a 9.5 is within spec, but you could run into DSC issues as the circumference between front and rear will be off by 3.7%.

I'm assuming 225/40/19 in the front.

Edit: I wouldn't run a 255/40 on an 8 inch wide wheel.

How can I find out or know what the right size to match for the circumference will be for the front?

[oceansize]

I have 19” style 67 19x8 front and 19x9.5 rear

255/40 for a 9.5 is within spec, but you could run into DSC issues as the circumference between front and rear will be off by 3.7%.

I'm assuming 225/40/19 in the front.

Edit: I wouldn't run a 255/40 on an 8 inch wide wheel.

[Paulo337]

I don't see why they wouldn't fit, you're just gaining ride height not inset or poke. 255/40 is the stock rear tire size so you can use the stock tire size in the front which would be 225/45/19

If you had a set of four rear (18x9) style 67s then 255/40 square would work.

I have 19” style 67 19x8 front and 19x9.5 rear

[oceansize]

I have a few questions, would 255/40/19 fit in the rear with no issues? If so what size would I put in the front to match?and lastly would a squared setup of 255/40 work? Thanks

I don't see why they wouldn't fit, you're just gaining ride height not inset or poke. 255/40 is the stock rear tire size so you can use the stock tire size in the front which would be 225/45/19

If you had a set of four rear (18x9) style 67s then 255/40 square would work.

[Paulo337]

I have a few questions, would 255/40/19 fit in the rear with no issues? If so what size would I put in the front to match?and lastly would a squared setup of 255/40 work? Thanks

[liam821]

Hey guys, I bought a set of 219M wheels that are in fantastic condition. With the sizes of:
Fronts 18x8.5 ET29
Rears 18x9.5 ET23

I know I can fit 235/40/18 with 265/35/18, but would 245/40/18 with 275/35/18 fit with OEM suspension? I don't plan on lowering it anytime soon, might keep it the OEM suspension forever to be frank it's my summer/weekend car. I just got some OEM Sach struts with the OEM springs for the rears and the supporting parts last year.

I am just asking as I know the offset with 219M isn't ideal/is a bit more aggressive, especially the fronts.

Yeah, that should clear with 275s - but suspension and other things can get in the way. So measure twice, buy once.

[stoplician]

Hey guys, I bought a set of 219M wheels that are in fantastic condition. With the sizes of:
Fronts 18x8.5 ET29
Rears 18x9.5 ET23

I know I can fit 235/40/18 with 265/35/18, but would 245/40/18 with 275/35/18 fit with OEM suspension? I don't plan on lowering it anytime soon, might keep it the OEM suspension forever to be frank it's my summer/weekend car. I just got some OEM Sach struts with the OEM springs for the rears and the supporting parts last year.

I am just asking as I know the offset with 219M isn't ideal/is a bit more aggressive, especially the fronts.

[liam821]

Hello All! I recently rejoined the M3 ownership club, adding an E46 to my garage. It came with some CSL wheels, not sure if OEM or replicas but the tire sizes on the car now are a bit confusing as mounted.

275/30/19 in the front, 275/35/19 in the rear. I don't know the exact wheel sizes but this seems out of spec to me. Should I be putting the current fronts on the rear and getting 245/35/19 up front? Thoughts? Any help would be much appreciated!

Welcome! And congratulations. I'm going to assume it's running a square setup, that's why it has such a large tire in the front. So in a square setup, the front and rear wheels are the same. They look OEM from the pictures, but it can be hard to know for sure unless you inspect them closer.

There is nothing wrong with a square setup, that's what I run in my car, but it will tramline a bunch, and the front steering can be twitchy. Really, it's personal preference and driving style. If you want a more OEM driving experience, swap out the front wheels for a set of "front" sized ZCP/CSL wheels and a smaller 245 tire. I'm sure you'll have a line of people willing to trade you straight up.

[Jshowers72]

Hello All! I recently rejoined the M3 ownership club, adding an E46 to my garage. It came with some CSL wheels, not sure if OEM or replicas but the tire sizes on the car now are a bit confusing as mounted.

275/30/19 in the front, 275/35/19 in the rear. I don't know the exact wheel sizes but this seems out of spec to me. Should I be putting the current fronts on the rear and getting 245/35/19 up front? Thoughts? Any help would be much appreciated!

[liam821]

Also interested in hearing people's experience with this setup and whether their car is lowered.

You have to have the right suspension in the front for them to fit correctly. If you run a 6" spring, it's a high chance the lower spring perch will be right where the rim wants to be with a 10" wide rim. I had this problem, but swapped to a 5" spring, which raised the perch enough so everything fits nicely now.

[jsuen]

Hey all-

Has anyone run 275/40R18; all around, on E46 M3?

Offset will be standard setup for squared wheels - ET35 with spacers in the rear.

I did run 275/40R18 in the rear at one point and found them to be a tad too tall but never done them up front.

Also interested in hearing people's experience with this setup and whether their car is lowered.

[01 Carbonragtop]

It never ceases to amaze me as how fatty these rear rims and tires can be on these cars

[bavarian3]

Interesting point on the rolling diameter. Has anyone experienced any real world effects of this?

Although I'm changing these, I noticed my car came with 225/45 front 245/40 rear on stock 18's.

Based on this it the front would be taller than the rear. I haven't noticed any negative performance from dsc. It is an Mk20 if that matters.