» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | 03-05-2011, 04:03 PM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NJ USA Posts: 159 | Your help on which tire/wheel set up Just got a '96 318ti with small a 15" setup. Looking to daily drive & autoX it. It's got the stock suspension now but will change that. Won't be "slamming" to low. I have a freind that is willing to sell me a new cheap set of 4 Bridgestone Potenzas RE960 AS 235 45 R17's. I have no wheels to fit them now but will look around. He also has a set of 4 Racing Dynamics 16X8's, the 5 star ones. I'll have to look around for rubber for those. Any thoughts on which set up would be best for my usage? Thanks in advance. | | | 03-05-2011, 04:21 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: 43609 Posts: 3,425 | Thats a personal preference area, not a "which will be better". Do you want 17s or do you want 16s? Do you like the bridgestone tires and have you found a suitable rim that you like, preferably 17x8 for a 235? Have you looked into tires for a set of 16s? 205/55 or 225/50? __________________ 1995 Hellrot Clubsport 318ti -Gone 1996 Schwartz II Sport 357ti - 5.7L V8 LS1/6 1997 Moregrun Metallic 318ti - Gone 1998 Schwartz II sport 318ti - M50TUB25/5 | | | 03-05-2011, 04:31 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NJ USA Posts: 159 | I'm a total noob as I just got the car a few days ago. I guess I should have asked "will the 17's fit without any rubbing?". I'm assuming the 17's will fill out the wheel well more and thus look better/aggresive. Is there an advantage of having a 16 inch setup over a 17 for autoX or visa versa? Thanks again. | | | 03-05-2011, 04:39 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | It's not will 17s fit, will 235/45 fit? My 235/40/17s fit with no problem on H&R Race Springs. No experience with 45s. For autocross changing wheel size my effect your class. I autocross very little. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org Last edited by 1996 328ti; 03-05-2011 at 05:56 PM. | | | 03-05-2011, 05:54 PM | #5 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | Wheels first, then figure out tire size from there based on offset and wheel width. If you purchase those tires first, you're locked into a 17x8 et38-45 wheel which is pretty much a standard e36 fitment. | | | 03-05-2011, 06:47 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: MD/PA/DC Posts: 1,629 | I like small diameter wheels for DD, also for autox they tend to be lighter, also tires are significantly cheaper. Larger selection of tires for 16s than 15s though. __________________ No more ti. | | | 03-05-2011, 07:26 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: 43609 Posts: 3,425 | I prefer 16s for winter tires, 17s for my beater, and 18s for my track/autox. My 18s are the lightest of the rims i have, weighing in at 21lbs for an 18x10, 23lbs for my 17x8s, and 22lbs for my 16x7s. I also run 205/55/16, 205/40/17, 205/50/17, 225/45/17, 245/40/17, 225/40/18, 245/35/18, and 285/30/18 with offset ranging front ET13-ET51 __________________ 1995 Hellrot Clubsport 318ti -Gone 1996 Schwartz II Sport 357ti - 5.7L V8 LS1/6 1997 Moregrun Metallic 318ti - Gone 1998 Schwartz II sport 318ti - M50TUB25/5 | | | 03-06-2011, 04:26 AM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 1,364 | Larger wheels cost you a little in acceleration and gas mileage. Larger tires are more expensive. Which size wheel and tire looks best on the ti is a matter of personal preference. I have a base 98ti with the stock 15 inch steel wheels and wheelcovers. I took the wheelcovers off, painted the wheels silver with a clear coat, brushed the lug bolts down their natural steel color, and installed BMW oem chrome center caps. Total cost: less than $200. The looks isn't for everyone, but I like it. | | | 03-11-2011, 03:27 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Potomac Falls VA DMV Posts: 1,794 | Quote: Originally Posted by jca Larger wheels cost you a little in acceleration and gas mileage. Larger tires are more expensive. Which size wheel and tire looks best on the ti is a matter of personal preference. I have a base 98ti with the stock 15 inch steel wheels and wheelcovers. I took the wheelcovers off, painted the wheels silver with a clear coat, brushed the lug bolts down their natural steel color, and installed BMW oem chrome center caps. Total cost: less than $200. The looks isn't for everyone, but I like it. | Post some pics Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Im guessing im the youngest member on here with a S52 power'ed Ti at 16 years old! | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |