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[nordique14]

17x8.5 ET40 LTW5 wheels only 16lbs each.

235/40/17 Nitto NT01 tires. I haven't had a chance to test them at the autox. First chance is Sep 21. I will report back them.

Though I should snap some pics before they get coved in brake dust.

[d3syd]

After getting used to 18" wheels, these 17s look a bit too small.

[larryn]

I think it's the wheel arch gap. I have the same wheels in 17x9 for autocross as well (not street use), and once you minimize the gap, they look good, IMO. Pardon my grimace as I concentrate, but here's my car with them on:

[Terp1]

Very nice. Did you trim the tab on the inner wheel well? It's a toss up between these and the new OZ's that come out in a couple months, so I look forward to your insight.

[larryn]

Yes, I had a tabectomy.. it's mostly there, but it's been doctored.

[Terp1]

Was it painful?

[nordique14]

Originally Posted by d3syd

After getting used to 18" wheels, these 17s look a bit too small.

It is the the tires in this case as the 235/40-17 are a smaller diameter than the stock rubber. Plus the NT01 tires are a rounded shoulder unlike the relative square shoulder on the stockers. That makes the wheels look smaller. They could literally be donuts (mmm...donuts) as long as I can go faster with them. :wink:

[WAY]

How strong are these wheels for full on track/race use? And Nordique, why did you choose to go 235 and not 245 square set up? Will 245 actually fit with this setup?

[larryn]

Wayne, they are very strong, and are used mostly by racers. My 17x9 versions are 16.4lbs each. Nordiques are 16.1lbs each.

Fitting tires are tough to make a blanket statement on, since tires differ greatly (shoulder design, plus actual width). Also, having camber plates up front & coilovers means that you can fit a much bigger tires.

I'm running 245's Star Specs all around, which are exactly the same width as the Advan Neova 255's that they replaced. I do have -1.6 deg camber and 5mm spacers up front. I also rolled over the lip on the inside of the fneder, and got rid of a piece of that %$&# tab on the indide of the fender.

[nordique14]

Originally Posted by WAY

How strong are these wheels for full on track/race use? And Nordique, why did you choose to go 235 and not 245 square set up? Will 245 actually fit with this setup?

Like Larry said, these are strong wheels. From what I recall, they meet TUV standards and are used by more than a few BMW club racers.

Not knowing what I could fit, I went conservative and went with the 235/40. The 245/45 (the next size for the Nitto NT01) is 1" bigger in diameter in addition to the 10mm wide increase. If you check out your stock front wheels you will find they are already pretty close to the struts. These wheels are 2mm closer. So basically I bought tires I was almost sure would fit instead of tires I was kind of sure I could get to fit. I didn't want to be stuck with mounted tires I couldn't use.

[MINI135i]

Originally Posted by larryn

I think it's the wheel arch gap. I have the same wheels in 17x9 for autocross as well (not street use), and once you minimize the gap, they look good, IMO. Pardon my grimace as I concentrate, but here's my car with them on:

Larry, you don't by chance have a static, non compressed view of your 17x9's/Dunlops on the car with your current suspension set up?

I would like to see the wheel gap and overall presence on the car. I have been a little concerned about 17's looking too small on the 135i. 17's would be ideal for cost and weight, however.

Thanks.

[larryn]

Rainy, dirty car, but here you go, from a little while ago. (cop lives there. he's not scoping me out)

[WAY]

That looks really nice Larry. Where can I buy them from? Also, if I went for a 18 inch that weighs say 2 lb more, it would weigh less than the 17's once you take into account that 18inch tyres would be lighter due to it having less rubber (lower profile)...

[mistermojorizin]

Originally Posted by nordique14

It is the the tires in this case as the 235/40-17 are a smaller diameter than the stock rubber. Plus the NT01 tires are a rounded shoulder unlike the relative square shoulder on the stockers. That makes the wheels look smaller. They could literally be donuts (mmm...donuts) as long as I can go faster with them. :wink:

i like these rims a lot. what size/brand tire would i need to make it look good on the street without having this big gap, and without having to drop the car or roll the fenders? (i'm ok with stock gap).

could I run 245/45-17's all around?

[mistermojorizin]

i calculated this and i think there will be a 3.5% front and 3.6% rear increase in diameter over stock and there will be 4mm less clearence on the front strut side, and the fronts will stick out 22mm more and the rears will stick out 12mm more.

Does this sound right?

[nordique14]

Originally Posted by mistermojorizin

i calculated this and i think there will be a 3.5% front and 3.6% rear increase in diameter over stock and there will be 4mm less clearence on the front strut side, and the fronts will stick out 22mm more and the rears will stick out 12mm more.

Does this sound right?

to match the stock size, you need to run 245/40 on a 17" rim. The reason there is a large gap is due not so much to the small diameter tires but to the fact that I put the wheels on the car and rolled it into the driveway. The suspension had not settled when I took the pics. I will have those wheels back on the car in a couple of weeks and will snap some new pics.

[mistermojorizin]

that would be great. did you mod your suspension? why does it need to settle if its just new wheels?

but does anyone know if the 245/40/17 would rub anywhere without spacers or rolling?