Putting on Tires with Higher Sidewall? -> 18" Style 197

machine · 04-06-2009, 08:40 PM

I just got a MASSIVE bubble and I will be replacing my stock RFT's with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires from Tirerack.

The recommended sizes are:

225/40-18 --F
255/35-18 --R

Can I get away with a higher sidewall? I was thinking about:

225/45-18 --F
255/40-18 --R

The reason I want a higher sidewall is that it might not bubble as easy and I hoping to get rid of some wheel gap in the front, the back is okay. What do you guys think?

lpphreakx06 · 04-06-2009, 09:35 PM

Are you lowered at all?

machine · 04-06-2009, 09:52 PM

nope, but I have factory sport suspension.

VMRWheels · 04-06-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machine

nope, but I have factory sport suspension.

Your less likely to rub since your are at stock height but it is still possible during compression or full cabin of passengers. Since you are jumping from a 40 to a 45 series, you will be increasing the side wall my 1/2 in and the overall diameter by 1in causing the speedometer and odometer to go off. I would recommend staying within the recommended sizes.

Feel free to PM me if you have any further questions.

-Charles@VMRWheels

machine · 04-06-2009, 10:33 PM

Charles,

Do you think having a bigger sidewall on the front tire will make it look odd?

Currently with a full load of passengers the car rubs over bumps in the rear, the front has a massive wheel gap, so i don't see that being a problem. Will having that extra inch make it front look goofy if I stick with OE suggested in the rear?

Thanks so much

Peter@VMRWheels · 04-06-2009, 11:24 PM

I'm not so sure if having a taller sidewall will reduce bubbles, and if that is your main reason, I would stick with the OEM sizes. Just avoid those potholes

Also, if you get a taller sidewall, your car is going to be higher off the ground. I wouldn't raise the car to fill fendergap. If anything I would lower the car

demosthenes · 04-07-2009, 05:09 AM

I doubt that you'd want to do this...

If you want a bigger sidewall, you could go with 17" 225/45 and 255/40, which is what the E90 328 ZSP comes with. The net effect of doing this would be using 1" smaller wheels with the difference being made up with 1/2" taller sidewalls in the tires.

machine · 04-07-2009, 11:37 AM

I guess I'll stick with OE spec, thanks for the input guys

VMRWheels · 04-07-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machine

I guess I'll stick with OE spec, thanks for the input guys

No problem! Stay safe!

-Charles@VMRWheels
www.vmrwheels.com

meyergru · 06-15-2009, 07:16 AM

Sorry, but I did not see this post earlier. That setup works like a charm, I have it.

Look at my pictures here. Tire brand is Bridgestone RE050A Non-RFT, speedindex Y. The car is a 335i with M-sport suspension, which is standard on the 335i in Germany, about 1 inch lower than normal. The E92 has less space in the wheel wells than E90/E91. So if you are not gonna lower it more than that, it should fit just fine.

Side effects of the larger resulting diameters:

- more exact speedometer reading
- softer ride
- better filled wheel gaps
- higher max speed

04-06-2009, 08:40 PM	#1
machine is also an E46 Fanatic 39 Rep 538 Posts Drives: E70 35D Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	Putting on Tires with Higher Sidewall? -> 18" Style 197 I just got a MASSIVE bubble and I will be replacing my stock RFT's with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires from Tirerack. The recommended sizes are: 225/40-18 --F 255/35-18 --R Can I get away with a higher sidewall? I was thinking about: 225/45-18 --F 255/40-18 --R The reason I want a higher sidewall is that it might not bubble as easy and I hoping to get rid of some wheel gap in the front, the back is okay. What do you guys think?
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04-06-2009, 09:35 PM	#2
lpphreakx06 Professional Moose Racer 316 Rep 7,509 Posts Drives: SG 335i E92 RIP + 2015 SS M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bellevue, Wa iTrader: (25)	Are you lowered at all? __________________ Visit my blog anytime: http://www.sfpayments.com BMW Dream Team PNW Chapter, member #1 \|HP Autowerks \| AR DESIGN \| BMW PERFORMANCE \| STOP TECH \| Volk Racing\| AMS \| ARKYM
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04-06-2009, 09:52 PM	#3
machine is also an E46 Fanatic 39 Rep 538 Posts Drives: E70 35D Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	nope, but I have factory sport suspension.
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04-06-2009, 10:33 PM	#5
machine is also an E46 Fanatic 39 Rep 538 Posts Drives: E70 35D Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	Charles, Do you think having a bigger sidewall on the front tire will make it look odd? Currently with a full load of passengers the car rubs over bumps in the rear, the front has a massive wheel gap, so i don't see that being a problem. Will having that extra inch make it front look goofy if I stick with OE suggested in the rear? Thanks so much
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04-06-2009, 11:24 PM	#6
Peter@VMRWheels BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 93 Rep 685 Posts Drives: P85D Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0)	I'm not so sure if having a taller sidewall will reduce bubbles, and if that is your main reason, I would stick with the OEM sizes. Just avoid those potholes Also, if you get a taller sidewall, your car is going to be higher off the ground. I wouldn't raise the car to fill fendergap. If anything I would lower the car
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04-07-2009, 05:09 AM	#7
demosthenes Major 48 Rep 1,162 Posts Drives: E90 328i 6MT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i sedan [0.00]	I doubt that you'd want to do this... If you want a bigger sidewall, you could go with 17" 225/45 and 255/40, which is what the E90 328 ZSP comes with. The net effect of doing this would be using 1" smaller wheels with the difference being made up with 1/2" taller sidewalls in the tires.
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04-07-2009, 11:37 AM	#8
machine is also an E46 Fanatic 39 Rep 538 Posts Drives: E70 35D Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	I guess I'll stick with OE spec, thanks for the input guys
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06-15-2009, 07:16 AM	#10
meyergru No military grade 58 Rep 619 Posts Drives: E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Munich, Germany iTrader: (0)	Sorry, but I did not see this post earlier. That setup works like a charm, I have it. Look at my pictures here. Tire brand is Bridgestone RE050A Non-RFT, speedindex Y. The car is a 335i with M-sport suspension, which is standard on the 335i in Germany, about 1 inch lower than normal. The E92 has less space in the wheel wells than E90/E91. So if you are not gonna lower it more than that, it should fit just fine. Side effects of the larger resulting diameters: - more exact speedometer reading - softer ride - better filled wheel gaps - higher max speed
	Appreciate 0 Quote