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[adr1974]

Guys,

Would really appreciate the insight. I've been asking around on the forums about different ways to eliminate the wheel gap on my 335xi coupe. Some people have recommended dropping the car (with H&R sport springs), but this would kill the ride comfort. Others suggest the KW V3, which looks great, but is probably overkill for my needs. So my questions is: have any of you 328xi/335xi owners who had 17 inch wheels and then put on 18 inch wheels noticed any kind of reduction in the wheel gap? I don't need to get rid of it entirely...just looking to make it a little better.

Again, appreciate the help.

Adam

[DenverJayhawk]

I don't believe the larger wheel size increases the overall daimeter with the tire. I could be wrong, but if you look at tirerack's website with 17 versus 18s, the rim's radius increases with 18 inchers, but the overall wheel diameter doesn't. Probably best thing to do to reduce gap between wheel and fender is new springs.

[adr1974]

Yeah -- my original plan was to add some H&R sports springs, but it seems that everyone who just adds springs (without shocks) ends up complaining about the ride.

[GAM3OVR85]

no it doesn't, no matter how big your wheels are you will have the same gap with less tire.
You can go with KWv3s for the xi but they are quite expensive.....since you have an xi your options a limited!!

GL

[Nikolas]

What are you guys talking about. Bigger wheels with bigger tires won't fill the wheel gap? Of course they will if you don't change the tire profile. If you reduce the profile for a larger wheel then no. The Xi has so much room that I bet you could go with a taller profile on the tire to help fill the gap a little. Again the key is the same diameter on all 4 corners.

[Nikolas]

Originally Posted by DenverJayhawk

I don't believe the larger wheel size increases the overall daimeter with the tire. I could be wrong, but if you look at tirerack's website with 17 versus 18s, the rim's radius increases with 18 inchers, but the overall wheel diameter doesn't. Probably best thing to do to reduce gap between wheel and fender is new springs.

There is no physical way to increase a circle's radius without increasing the diameter. What you are seeing is that they are reducing the profile height of the tire on the larger wheel.

[adr1974]

Alright Nikolas...talk to me. What do you think? 18s? 19s?

[Nikolas]

Originally Posted by adr1974

Alright Nikolas...talk to me. What do you think? 18s? 19s?

I have 17's for the winter, but for summer tires I run 19's with 235/35/19 front and 275/30/19 rear. The overall diameter is slightly larger than the stock setup (17's) by 1/2". I think there is room for more, but it could get tight on the back. I have a sedan. The coupe is more limited. With the 19's I get no rubbing at all. The back looks right the front still has a large gap.

[adr1974]

Awesome -- appreciate it, man!

[mike-y]

yes, you can increase the aspect ratio of the tire. like going from a 225/45/17 to a 225/50/17, and it will give you larger overall diameter.

but just know that when you put on larger diameter tires, you are effectively lowering your final gear ratio, which will hurt acceleration, and cause your speedometer to read lower than your actual speed.

[adr1974]

okay -- sorry to ask the rookie question here. i'm assuming the same applies with bigger wheels, ie, putting on 235/40/19 in the front and 265/35/19 in the rear would have the same effect?

[Vudoo4u2]

Originally Posted by adr1974

okay -- sorry to ask the rookie question here. i'm assuming the same applies with bigger wheels, ie, putting on 235/40/19 in the front and 265/35/19 in the rear would have the same effect?

On your e92 coupe, you cant fit 275/30/19's in the back without rubbing, and likewise, you cant fit 245/35/19 in the front without rubbing...nikolas has an e90 sedan...they have more room in the wheel wells

get some bigger 265's and 235's...like vredesteins or michelin pilot ps2's, those will fit without issue....but they wont really increase the diameter of the wheel/tire combo

that being said..on your coupe, you are SOL unless you plan on rolling the fenders, bigger diameter tires will not fit

[kyleb350]

If you go to a higher profile than your current setup, your speedo will start to be significantly off. Other than rubbing issues, that is the only potential drawback I see.

[aut0sh0cker]

Originally Posted by kyleb350

If you go to a higher profile than your current setup, your speedo will start to be significantly off. Other than rubbing issues, that is the only potential drawback I see.

Well since our speedometer already reads artificially high, wouldnt a larger diameter wheel just make it more accurate??

[TofuTurkey]

Originally Posted by Vudoo4u2

you cant fit 245/35/19 in the front without rubbing...

Sorry, but that's possible, that's what I have now... it takes slightly more effort to steer (more friction due to wider tires), but I'm okay with that. It's not really that much bigger than the stock dimensions, about 1% I think. The main issue to me is the vertical distance between tire and top of wheel well, that doesn't go away with bigger tires...

Originally Posted by aut0sh0cker

Well since our speedometer already reads artificially high, wouldnt a larger diameter wheel just make it more accurate??

Yes I agree. Since the tire sizes can't increase by a great deal, I think the speedometer inaccuracy isn't going to get significantly great...

[adr1974]

Originally Posted by Vudoo4u2

On your e92 coupe, you cant fit 275/30/19's in the back without rubbing, and likewise, you cant fit 245/35/19 in the front without rubbing...nikolas has an e90 sedan...they have more room in the wheel wells

get some bigger 265's and 235's...like vredesteins or michelin pilot ps2's, those will fit without issue....but they wont really increase the diameter of the wheel/tire combo

that being said..on your coupe, you are SOL unless you plan on rolling the fenders, bigger diameter tires will not fit

Maybe 19s are too big, but it seems like there should be some combination of 18s that may not eliminate the wheel gap entirely but perhaps just make it a little less noticeable, no?

The stock 225/45/17 have a diameter of 24.97. If I could fit 235/40/18, the diameter would be 25.40, or 25.72 with the 245/40/18. If these fit, wouldn't that eliminate 3/4" from the wheel gap?

[Sniz]

go with 19's.....from what I have seen, the xi's ride so high that you won't get a good look without lowering it.

[meyergru]

I actually have 225/45 R18 and 255/40 R18, which is one level more than normal. See here.

Acceleration is not hurt, top speed is higher, smoother ride, wheel wells are filled better and tach reading is almost exact. Difference in diameter must not exceed 1%.

[Vudoo4u2]

Originally Posted by TofuTurkey

Sorry, but that's possible, that's what I have now... it takes slightly more effort to steer (more friction due to wider tires), but I'm okay with that. It's not really that much bigger than the stock dimensions, about 1% I think. The main issue to me is the vertical distance between tire and top of wheel well, that doesn't go away with bigger tires...



Yes I agree. Since the tire sizes can't increase by a great deal, I think the speedometer inaccuracy isn't going to get significantly great...

If you get larger tires the vertical distance between tire and top of wheel well DOES decrease...its not like they just get wider, physics says if you try to shove a wider item onto a similar width mounting surface, it will be wider, and taller (doesnt mean its MUCH taller...but taller)

I'll admit, maybe the tire brand you bought fits in a 245 size, its possible...but I would say that its not a guaranteed fitment, and it would suck to buy the tires, put them on, then find out that since the tires you got are pretty meaty, rub...and if youre not willing to roll the fenders, thats a pretty annoying issue to be faced with

[TofuTurkey]

Originally Posted by Vudoo4u2

If you get larger tires the vertical distance between tire and top of wheel well DOES decrease...its not like they just get wider, physics says if you try to shove a wider item onto a similar width mounting surface, it will be wider, and taller (doesnt mean its MUCH taller...but taller)

I'll admit, maybe the tire brand you bought fits in a 245 size, its possible...but I would say that its not a guaranteed fitment, and it would suck to buy the tires, put them on, then find out that since the tires you got are pretty meaty, rub...and if youre not willing to roll the fenders, thats a pretty annoying issue to be faced with

You're right, guess what I meant to say is that even though the gap reduces, it reduces around the whole tire, not "primarily vertically" (does that make sense?), which is what lowering does. I think that lowering, aka vertical gap reduction, is what most people are looking for

And yes, I would also agree that fitment for 245 is not guaranteed, it would also depend on whether the car is lowered or not. It's a risk I took...

[adr1974]

Turkey -- I don't really care so much about lowering per se, just looking to fill up that wheel well a little more. How do you think 225/45/18 in front and 255/40/18 in the rear would do?

[Vudoo4u2]

Originally Posted by TofuTurkey

You're right, guess what I meant to say is that even though the gap reduces, it reduces around the whole tire, not "primarily vertically" (does that make sense?), which is what lowering does. I think that lowering, aka vertical gap reduction, is what most people are looking for

And yes, I would also agree that fitment for 245 is not guaranteed, it would also depend on whether the car is lowered or not. It's a risk I took...