Fitment / rubbing question

[bmw0806]

Hey guys I'm new to the forum. I have a fitment question for e46 330i sedan with sport suspension on h & r race springs. It's not a zhp but I can't find answers. Currently I'm running the stock 17" mtech wheels with 225/50/17 blizzaks on all 4 corners with no rubbing issue what so ever. I have a square set of 18" x 8 et32 that I would like to mount I purchased the wheels with 225/45/18 - 245/40/18 tires and they rubbed. My question is what size tires can I run without rubbing or having to roll fenders. I'm thinking of going with pilot sport3- 235/40/18? Will these work? What do you guys recommend?

[danewilson77]

How bad are you rubbing? Slightly? I assume the et32 isn't helping you. 235's may work depending how bad the rub is.

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[bmw0806]

At a stand still the car sits higher than with the 17"s- I'm honestly not sure where or how bad they are rubbing. As soon as I pulled out of the tire shop I heard the tears rubbing and had them put the 17"s back on.

[bmw0806]

I have pics with the 18"a on but not sure how to post them

[bmw0806]

I've been playing with the wheel dimensions on a plus size tire calculator online. Can I use the 17" wheel/ tire dimensions vs the 18" wheels tire dimensions to determine if they will rub? Will 225/40/18 rub without issue? I really would like a wider tire than a 225 though. Suggestions?

[LivesNearCostco]

Are they rubbing front, rear or both? Rubbing on fender lip or inner fender liner above the lip? Those tire sizes are about 11mm larger in diameter front and about 9mm larger in diameter rear than stock tire sizes, plus your offset is more aggressive than stock. You could get lower aspect ratio tires like 225/40/18 or 245/35/18 or 255/35/18.

Are you lowered at all or at stock height?

Edit, I see you're on H&R race springs. They are reputed to be pretty low. Going to stock ZHP tire sizes (225/40/18 or 255/35/18) might not help given that you are lowered and using more aggressive offsets. You may need some combination of taller springs, higher offset wheels, roller fender lips (if it's rubbing there), and proper diameter tires (about 25" diameter) to stop the rubbing. Doing one of those four might solve your problem. Doing 2/4 (raise, roll, higher offset wheels, or smaller diameter tires) will almost certainly eliminate the rubbing. You can probably go wider than 225 if you get lower aspect ratio tires or make one of the other changes.

[bmw0806]

With a driver and front passenger the 225/45/18 fronts rubbed only while turning. With the 245/40/18 rears I rubbed on the inner fender lip and the clip where the bumper attaches to the fender. I mean people are running much crazier / more aggressive setups than this- I don't understand why I'm having so much issue.

[ELCID86]

Post the pictures my "go advanced" at the lower right and then use the upload/attachment icon. Or use tapatalk app on your phone.

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Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

[LivesNearCostco]

Where are the fronts rubbing, on the outside (fender lip) or on the inside? When I ran 255/40/17 on the front (17x8.5" wheel with ET40 offet), it rubbed on the inside at full lock, not the outside. Answer should have been 12mm spacer, though I got a 5mm spacer and that reduced (but did not eliminate) rubbing. Once I switched to 245/40/17 the rubbing on the inside went away (with 5mm spacer).

And my 255/40/17 on ET40 in rear rubbed on the outside on the liner, above the fender lip, but only in hard turns when the car was lowered about 1.5" below stock height . I raised it to about 1" below stock height and rubbing went away. Later I got stiffer rear springs so I could go lower and not rub in hard turns.

For both front and rear, if you're rubbing only on the outside, I forgot to mention increasing negative camber might fix it. This is fairly easy in the rear if you haven't done it already. In front you can knock out strut hat alignment pin to get an extra half degree, but for more than that you'll need camber plates.

[bmw0806]

1423314235


I thought I had more pics but I guess I deleted them- these are with the 225/45/18 - 245/40/18 Yokohamas mounted. I gotta be honest I'm not 100% sure where they rubbed up front - the rears rubbed on the clip that attached the bumper to the 1/4 panel and on the outside wheel well lip - inner edge. I guess rolling the rear fenders would help? I'm hearing mixed answers as to wether 235/40/18 all around will rub or not - I was also told by tirerack that 225/40/18 would be a garaunteed fit all around and not rub however I really would like to run something wider than 225

[bmw0806]

So I purchased the car and the springs were already installed. While I had the wheels off I looked at the springs and they are part #29484 online they show they are a F- 2" R- 1.4" it also says they are for non sport suspension and my car is infact a 330 sport package. I appreciate the help- hopefully you guys can help get me squared away.

[danewilson77]

We have the best fitment guys on the forums here. They'll help.

If your rubbing on the clip...cut it off. Find out where you're rubbing up front and report back.

Also...just tell me th he specs on the setup your rubbing with.

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[bmw0806]

So the pics I posted are square 18 x 8 et32 wrapped in 225/45/18front and 245/40/18 rear- those tires rubbed and are a little meaty looking for my liking. So tirerack told me I can run 225/40/18 all around with a garaunteed fitment. However I really wanted to go a little wider and I found a deal on a set of pilot3 235/40/18 but I don't want to buy them and get stuck with them rubbing. I currently have the stock 17" wrapped in blizzaks on the car- I don't drive but 5-10miles a week tops so I can make due with the blizzaks until I figure this out.

[danewilson77]

Just so you know, it's not the tires that are killing you. It's the et32.

What's easier to try and change? The tires or the rims. The tires, but it's only going to buy you a little bit of room.

These are the specs for Pilot Sport PS2:

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/nicee46056/MPS2at225.png (http://s1015.photobucket.com/user/nicee46/media/nicee46056/MPS2at225.png.html)

These are the specs for Pilot Sport 3:

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/nicee46056/MPS3at235.png (http://s1015.photobucket.com/user/nicee46/media/nicee46056/MPS3at235.png.html)

You can see where the section width is about .6" wider on the 235. You can look at these section widths for various tires, to see if you can help you cause.

[bmw0806]

Don't people run these offsets all the time?

[bmw0806]

@danewilson77 - if I roll my fenders you think this will solve my issue? Also the reason i would like to run a 235/40/18 as opposed to a 225/40/18 is due to the terrible roads by me-on a 8" wheel won't the 235/40/18 fit beefier and offer me a little more protection? How are accomplishing so much "tuck" in your sig?

[danewilson77]

My BBS's are ET45 (in sig). This allows me to roll on 245's, and yes...the 40 sidewall does make the ride better, but gets a lil squishy when mashing it in the corners, though being lowered mitigates this somewhat.

It's all give and take imho.

Just roll your fenders, and cut the bumber bolt off. This will free up ~0.5".

[bmw0806]

Am I right to think the 235/40 will offer me more rim protection than the 225/40? Won't the 225 be a slight stretch - less protection - where as the 235/40 will fill the rim more and offer more wheel protection?

[Avetiso]

ET32 is a bit aggressive. Agree; that's the issue.

The 235 will offer more wheel protection, but if the wheel is too wide for either it won't make a difference.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

[bmw0806]

So I was considering buying a new set of wheels instead of messing with these. I contacted vmr and they recommend 18 x 8.5" et 35 wrapped in 235/40/18 - will I have the same issue running those? Won't a 8.5" et35 wheel sit the same as my current 8" et 32?

[danewilson77]

Yes. Did you tell them you were lowered?

Bottom line: Cut the bolt. Roll the fenders.

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[bmw0806]

I sure did- I roll fenders and cut bolt next week- thanks for the help

[danewilson77]

Ok great. I have a feeling that's going to help you out a lot.

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[bmw0806]

I'll keep ya posted- thanks Dane

[bmw0806]

Car is at the shop getting fenders rolled. I just stumbled into a good deal on zhp wheels- if I run these on my car Ina 225/40 - 255/35 setup would I have issue rubbing or with clearance being that I'm lowered?

[danewilson77]

Car is at the shop getting fenders rolled. I just stumbled into a good deal on zhp wheels- if I run these on my car Ina 225/40 - 255/35 setup would I have issue rubbing or with clearance being that I'm lowered?

Are th hey real (18's) or aftermarket?

What's the offset?

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[bmw0806]

143021430314304

[bmw0806]

Back of rim

[bmw0806]

Stamped BMW

[bmw0806]

They have some rash but the seller says they are straight with no bends or cracks

[danewilson77]

Are they all 8.5's? Hard to read on phone.

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[bmw0806]

Fronts are 8 rear 8.5

[danewilson77]

Right. So, stock sizes and offsets.

How much are you lowered?

[bmw0806]

I have a sport package- with h & r springs- the specs for the springs say f-2" and r 1.4". It probably is a bit lowering seeing as I have a sport package and these springs were meant for non-sport package cars.

[danewilson77]

I do not have 135's (nor have I ever had 135's), but I think these are a bit of a tough fit, appreciably lowered.