performance tire options for 15" wheels

[phil42]

I bought a '97 318ti used, and it came with 15" steel wheels and fairly bad OEM tires on those wheels, so I used those steels wheels to mount snow tires on (major improvement!), and I bought a set of 15" BMW alloy wheels from a friend who had them on his 323i, and they even came with ContiTouring CH95 tires mounted on them, in the 205/60 15" size. These tires are OK, but certainly nothing special, and since I have seperate winter tires/wheels, I'm looking to put some higher performance summer tires on my 15" alloy wheels. The wheels have 15x7J stamped on them, so apparently they are 7" wide wheels, which I think is certainly wide enough for something like a 225/50 or 225/55 size tire. My question is, does that size make any sense, or should I stick with the 205/60 size?

I have heard that the 318ti sport and/or M editions have some type of steering lock on them to prevent their wider wheels/tires from turning in the whole way and rubbing on the wheel wells, suspension pieces, etc., but I don't have anything like that on mine, so I don't know how large a tire I can get by with without having it rub on things, and I was wondering if anyone had any experiences with these sizes in general.

Thanks!

[mooseheadm5]

225s on 7" wide wheels is pushing it, and IMO not worth it, as your car doesn't make huge power. 215s are possible, but once again, probably unnecessary. I run 205s on my E30 that makes about 190hp and they are just fine. Just step up and buy better 205s rather than cheaper 215/225s. I have run Conti Extreme Contacts on my E30, and loved them (somewhat noisy on concrete, though.) I ran Kumho ASXs and HATED them. 2nd set of Kumhos that I have loathed. Never again. A friend of mine swears by Hankook tires for his 525iT- a free replacement road hazard warranty is included in the price, apparenty. Don't be fooled, wider tires are not necessarily better tires. Too-wide tires on a rim get distorted contact areas that can actually reduce traction.
-Paul

[DustenT]

I run 225/45/15s on 15x7 rims for autocross.

[Mallard]

215 50 15s, thats what we ran on the e30s

toyo T1-R

cant go wrong with them.... even if you try :P

[momorugger]

I run 225 50 16's. haven't had any problems at all. no rubbing. nothing.

[momorugger]

oops, sorry, reread thread, and it's for 15" wheels. my bad

[Roundel]

2momorugger - BTW - What offset are your tires - I mean ET parameter. If your rims are OEM - please, tell me the style number. I'm really interested in 16" rims for summer and choose appropriate tire sizes and rims(offset dependence investigation).

Thanks.