wheel knowledge request

[adamud]

I am going admit that I am mentally wheel challenged. I've never really learned much about sizes and all the numbers that are associated with them ex: 205/50/17. I get the first number and the last, but thats not what I'm trying to get at.

I found this set of wheels the other day http://kansascity.craigslist.org/pts/488570106.html
I just emailed the guy about them today. I was wondering if they would fit without having to roll my fenders? I currently have 225/50/16 so it almost seems that these would fit, but as I said, I am mentally wheel challenged.

[steve318ti]

I would be concern of the quality of the tires. There are been sitting for 5 years. The rubber may be crack or extreamly hard that will broke soon after get warm out.
The rims are nice and the price fair. My advise get new tires after. Run flat tires to compensate the rims size.

[adamud]

The rubber isn't that much of an issue to me. Its more if they will fit properly without having to touch the fenders.

[col.hapablap]

those rims are 17x7 and unless i'm mistaken the offset should be the same... you shouldn't rub without rolling the fenders w/ 205s. and i'd definitely get rid of those tires for 225/45/17. not sure if 7.5 is required. i don't think so though.

[adamud]

Originally Posted by col.hapablap

those rims are 17x7 and unless i'm mistaken the offset should be the same... you shouldn't rub without rolling the fenders w/ 205s. and i'd definitely get rid of those tires for 225/45/17. not sure if 7.5 is required. i don't think so though.

Its good to see you made it back!

So if i changed the tires to 225/(45<- is that the height off the rim?) I would still be able to drive without rolling. I forget what was on your car.

[col.hapablap]

haha thanks... still in ia or back in ks?

225 = width of tire in milimeters
45 = height of sidewall, which is a percentage (45%) of the tire width

225/45/17 is very close in diameter to our original 225/50/16. you will have MUCH less traction with 205s.

btw, i checked on bmwwheels.com for the rim width, 7".

[aceyx]

Definitely get new shoes for that, might be able to knock off $20 or more if you have a tire recycling fee in KS.

Tire Rack has a good explanation of what tire sizes mean. There are plenty of tire size calculators too, where you enter what you're running now, the new rim size, and it'll pump out what size tire you can run.

[adamud]

Thanks for the help guys. I think I'm going to go ahead and get these since it seems that 225/45 will fit without rubbing or rolling.