17" Tire Size on E34 (???'s)

[Beez540]

For those of you with 17's on your E34, what size/profile of tire do you recommend?

I just aquired a set of 17x8 Racing Dynamics RGS chrome...supposed to be the real ones, I'll verify when they arrive. But I don't think the knock off companies make a 17x8 RGS wheel in chrome for the E34.


Either way, they're currently wrapped in 215/45s... that seemed a bit narrow to me, but I'm new to the scene.

opinions?


Thanks

-B :)

[Patrick]

I'm running 235/45 Yoko AVS Db's on my 17X8 t-stars -I like them and they seem to work great.
Check Bruno's site for more info on wheel/tire specs: http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/upgrade/wheels_upgrade.htm

[Beez540]

I'm running 235/45 Yoko AVS Db's on my 17X8 t-stars -I like them and they seem to work great.
Check Bruno's site for more info on wheel/tire specs: http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/upgrade/wheels_upgrade.htm

that sounds like an appropriate size to me... anyone do a staggered set up... 255 in back 235 in front?

[e34it]

I run 235/45/17...very nice :)

[zmuff]

I do a staggered setup on mine. 235/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear. I like the look although I've heard this setup produces more understeer than some folks like. But you have to push pretty hard to get there. I'm not sure if you can run this setup with all four wheels the same size though. Anyone?

[pmlmotorsports]

umm Beez, I think you may be in a bad situation here. If your rims came mounted with 215/45-17 tires they were either mounted to a 3 series BMW or the previous owner of these wheels is an absolute ASS. A 215/45-17 tire doesn't have the load bearing capabilities for a car as heavy as an E34 so I am very concerned you may have a wheel with the wrong offset. If I were you, I'd check the offset by contacting the previous owner and make sure it is for the big body cars (+15). If the offset is +38 you are not going to be able to use them without spacers AND THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT. The offset is casted into the back of the rim usually in the form ET+38 or P+38 or E+38, with or without the + sign. Hope this helps..........and NO, you do not want to run anything less than a 235/45-17 front tire PERIOD, and to run a staggered set-up, you need staggered rim widths. Yours are all the same, 8" wide.

[dternst]

For those of you with 17's on your E34, what size/profile of tire do you recommend?

I just aquired a set of 17x8 Racing Dynamics RGS chrome...supposed to be the real ones, I'll verify when they arrive. But I don't think the knock off companies make a 17x8 RGS wheel in chrome for the E34.


Either way, they're currently wrapped in 215/45s... that seemed a bit narrow to me, but I'm new to the scene.

opinions?


Thanks

-B :)

Toyo Proxies TS-1, 235/45/17 in the front on 17 x 8s and 255/40/17 in the rear on 17 x 9s.

http://members.roadfly.com/dternst/wheel_and_tires.JPG

[DallasBill]

I run Potenza RE950 235/45-17 on all 4 corners. Love 'em!

[Hector]

they feel great so far.

[dternst]

After reading your reply, I realized I hit the 4 instead of the 5. The actual rear tire size is 255/40/17.

David

[Elekta]

I thought the T-stars were all the same size. If so, why would you stagger them? Do different rules apply to tourings?

[dternst]

I thought the T-stars were all the same size. If so, why would you stagger them? Do different rules apply to tourings?

The M-System II "Throwing Star" Wheels (http://bimmer.roadfly.org/e31/messages/archive/msgsy2001w05/12223.html)

The wheels were standard equipment on the E34 M5, E31, and E32. The wheels were provided in both the 8 x 17 and 9 x 17 wheels sizes. Checkout the part number charts at the end if the link.

I've had this article since discovering the T-Star wheels shortly after purchasing my 530i, almost 2 years ago. Great article for anyone thinking about purchasing the T-Star Wheels. This is definitely a link that needs to be in everyones archieve.

BTW, I purchased, by mistake the 8-Series wheels (10mm and 19mm offset) instead of the 5-Series wheels (20mm and 20mm offset) with no issues.

David

[Beez540]

umm Beez, I think you may be in a bad situation here. If your rims came mounted with 215/45-17 tires they were either mounted to a 3 series BMW or the previous owner of these wheels is an absolute ASS. A 215/45-17 tire doesn't have the load bearing capabilities for a car as heavy as an E34 so I am very concerned you may have a wheel with the wrong offset. If I were you, I'd check the offset by contacting the previous owner and make sure it is for the big body cars (+15). If the offset is +38 you are not going to be able to use them without spacers AND THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT. The offset is casted into the back of the rim usually in the form ET+38 or P+38 or E+38, with or without the + sign. Hope this helps..........and NO, you do not want to run anything less than a 235/45-17 front tire PERIOD, and to run a staggered set-up, you need staggered rim widths. Yours are all the same, 8" wide.

Thanks for the heads up... I didn't figure on running that tire profile... I think he was running them with spacers to fit his E36 M3. Should be compatible.

Here's where you can buy them new:
http://www.hmsmotorsport.com/store.php?m=33&sub=1279&method=cat&thisPage=1&PHPSESSID=21fcc7699142a716acc3f2215229a774#561

Wheel part #: el*124*10*17*805-c
RGS Alloy Wheels - Chrome

[DueyT]

Beez, you're probably best off with 235/45-17's all around, given that your wheels are all 8" wide. As mentioned, you should only put 255/40-17 (265/35-17 for the brave) on 9" wheels. I run 235/255 on 8"/9" and like the balance. Understeer is only a problem if I have the ASC+T turned on and don't let the big V8 breathe properly! :D

Cheers,
Duey

[Paul in NZ]

235/.45/17 potenza gIII here.when i got my car it has 255/40/17s all round no issues,with an aftermarket 8x17 20 mm offset wheel with 74 mm id with some rings=sometimes shimmy

[pmlmotorsports]

no prob......lol

[Keith]

Toyo Proxies TS-1, 235/45/17 in the front on 17 x 8s and 255/40/17 in the rear on 17 x 9s.

http://members.roadfly.com/dternst/wheel_and_tires.JPG

Me too, I love these T1-S's, I'm running 245/45/17's all around on M-Kontour wheels.

[SharkmanBMW]

that sounds like an appropriate size to me... anyone do a staggered set up... 255 in back 235 in front?


I run 255/40 rear and 235/24 front.... handles sweeet!
I love the staggered effect!

[scott540]

that sounds like an appropriate size to me... anyone do a staggered set up... 255 in back 235 in front?

255/40 on back on 10 inch wheels. 235/45 on front on 8.5 wheels

[Ted K]

Toyo Proxies TS-1, 235/45/17 in the front on 17 x 8s and 255/40/17 in the rear on 17 x 9s.

http://members.roadfly.com/dternst/wheel_and_tires.JPG
I'll take these if you want to get rid of them.

[BobbyB]

I'm running 215/45's Sumitomo HTRZs all around on my Breytons. They seem fine to me

Anything wider will rub against my strut bar :D

[pmlmotorsports]

215/45 is wayyyyyyyyyyyyy to small, you must have the high offset (3 series) wheel for "anything larger to be rubbing the strut." If you get a chance, remove one of the wheels and look at the part# or look for the markings describing the offset previously mentioned in this post. I am quite sure you have the wrong offset wheel. If so, go get some 10mm or 15mm H&R hubcentric spacers and extended lug bolts, mount the right sized tires, and then you can really enjoy your E34.

[BobbyB]

215/45 is wayyyyyyyyyyyyy to small, you must have the high offset (3 series) wheel for "anything larger to be rubbing the strut." If you get a chance, remove one of the wheels and look at the part# or look for the markings describing the offset previously mentioned in this post. I am quite sure you have the wrong offset wheel. If so, go get some 10mm or 15mm H&R hubcentric spacers and extended lug bolts, mount the right sized tires, and then you can really enjoy your E34.


I know the offset is different no worries though, ive already got the rogue engineering 15mm spacers, i only needed them in the front, they even reduced some previous vibration...i love my E34!