17/18 x 8.5 what would be the best offset to fill guards on e36?

[treggo 0]

Hey guys, new to BMW's and this forum.

I am looking at selling my current car and replacing it with an e36 325i or 328i. I will want to lower it on coilovers and put new wheels on, in either 17 or 18 inch. What would be the best offset to run a 225/40 tire, fill the guards nicely and not rub on inner suspension components? I am not afraid to roll the guards in necessary and plan on using as a daily driver.

Cheers, Matt

[thorburn 121]

Have a look at the favourite e36 thread. Find what you like. Cut and paste to car

et40-25ish is my guess at the range you can fit without too much camber and gaurd molesting

http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index....t=0&start=0

[treggo 0]

I really like this cars stance...

[cliffdunedin 8]

Wouldn't it generally depend on the width of tyre as opposed to the offset!?

I have 18x9's at 40 offset all around on 225/40/18 and they fit fine in the guards - mind you with a tiny amount of rub when fronts are on full lock.

[pjay 8]

I feel safe with 205's on the rear as it is now, why would 225's feel really loose? I'm not sure anyone drives a car to its limits daily on public roads.

If you want to fill your guards with 17x8's and 225 tyres, try go anywhere between ET15 - 25. I'm running ET24 at the moment with 17x8's and have had 225/45, 215/45, 205/45 and 205/40's. The 225's rubbed on the inner guard up front but the rear was fine. With the 205's I can space them out about 20mm with a bit of guard work. I do have the car pretty low though and have a small amount of camber up front and rear.

I couldn't say anything for 18's as I've never run them.

[treggo 0]

"Wouldn't it generally depend on the width of tyre as opposed to the offset!?

I have 18x9's at 40 offset all around on 225/40/18 and they fit fine in the guards - mind you with a tiny amount of rub when fronts are on full lock."

Got any pictures mate?

Edited July 18, 2010 by treggo

[cliffdunedin 8]

Of what mate?

[thorburn 121]

I have 18x9's at 40 offset all around on 225/40/18 and they fit fine in the guards

Guessing he wants a photo of this

[treggo 0]

I am hoping something like 225/40 all around with around 30 offset does this sound at all right? i may decide to go wider on the back though

[pjay 8]

My 528 came with 235's fitted all round on staggered rims (8 front & 9 rears) and felt like total crap - fitted the correct 255/40's to the rear and the car became sharp and responsive rather than loose and vague.

Call me young and inexperienced, but I don't see how nothing but wider tyres on the rear make your car quote "sharp and responsive rather than loose and vague."

To Treggo:

17x8, ET24. 215/45's on rear and 205/45's on front. As you can see, the guards still have more space and would look much better with the wheels spaced a bit. This is a form>function stance though, I wouldn't think I would win any races like this.

And this pic was taken with 205/40's on the front with a couple degrees of neg camber. See, plenty of space!

[treggo 0]

Damn those sit very nice indeed

[cliffdunedin 8]

Guessing he wants a photo of this

I know but on full lock, the width from behind, my rims!? etc etc

[treggo 0]

Sorry mate just of the wheel mounted to show fitment.

[kiwi328i 118]

Hey guys, new to BMW's and this forum.

I am looking at selling my current car and replacing it with an e36 325i or 328i. I will want to lower it on coilovers and put new wheels on, in either 17 or 18 inch. What would be the best offset to run a 225/40 tire, fill the guards nicely and not rub on inner suspension components? I am not afraid to roll the guards in necessary and plan on using as a daily driver.

Cheers, Matt

You have a zillion options to answer that question. I suggest having a look at the many fine E36's on this site and then others first. Have a look at the offsets of the rims, then the width and profiles of the tyres, what rubs, what doesnt with what suspension set ups, very few std ones on here.

Depending on what you do, will dictate 'filling the guards nicely'. On this site alone, you will have a plethora of different ways where members have 'filled the guards'.

I dont know why you have chosen 225/40, but on an 18" (I am assuming) rim, you shouldnt have too many problems, and your range of offsets will be pretty good, but this is also partly dependant on the width of the rims. Put it this way, if you wanted to put 265/30's on a 9.5" rim, then you would have to be pretty much to the millimetre.

But to hazard a guess, and being conservative, offsets of around et32 to et38 on a 18x8" rim, with 225/40's all round should look alright. BUt as I said, have a look at the cars and make sure you take their suspension set ups into account.

Good luck. I would say everyone here with an E36 has tried to answer this very question...and just look at the very different responses.

[BM WORLD 1286]

have MK Motorpsort 17" by 8.5" with et38

235/40-17" tyres front and back . no problems with rubbing etc

[treggo 0]

You have a zillion options to answer that question. I suggest having a look at the many fine E36's on this site and then others first. Have a look at the offsets of the rims, then the width and profiles of the tyres, what rubs, what doesnt with what suspension set ups, very few std ones on here.

Depending on what you do, will dictate 'filling the guards nicely'. On this site alone, you will have a plethora of different ways where members have 'filled the guards'.

I dont know why you have chosen 225/40, but on an 18" (I am assuming) rim, you shouldnt have too many problems, and your range of offsets will be pretty good, but this is also partly dependant on the width of the rims. Put it this way, if you wanted to put 265/30's on a 9.5" rim, then you would have to be pretty much to the millimetre.

But to hazard a guess, and being conservative, offsets of around et32 to et38 on a 18x8" rim, with 225/40's all round should look alright. BUt as I said, have a look at the cars and make sure you take their suspension set ups into account.

Good luck. I would say everyone here with an E36 has tried to answer this very question...and just look at the very different responses.

Cheers, the reason for this post was because I had a look as many setups as I could, and not everyone has their specific offsets and widths listed. This made it hard to determine what is a 7.5/8.5 etc. This has already helped me considerably in making an informed decision on wheels sizing, and the different examples and setups suggested show I have a few options.

Brent that 328 of yours is stunning

[bmpower 3]

I have 17x8.5 et38 Hamann wheels with 225x45x17 front and 245x40x17 rear. Have also run 18x8 et36 i think with 235x40x18 all round with no issues. Pics below of current Hamann setup.

[bmpower 3]

Pics with 18x8 235x40x18. Sorry for the bad pics - can't find my others!!

[Ben 0]

These are some wheels Ive had if its is any help

19x8.5 front 215/35

19x9.5 rear 245/35

17x8.5 ET15 205/40

17x8 ET38 235/45

0x0 ET0

Im not too sure on the offset of the 19s cause it wasnt stamped on the

wheel but at a guess id say they were around ET40ish.

The widest tyre I had on 19x9.5 was a 275/30, it would only rub if

I had a full car load or big bumps in the road but I have rolled my guards.

[DrphTa 5]

The widest tyre I had on 19x9.5 was a 275/30, it would only rub if

I had a full car load or big bumps in the road but I have rolled my guards.

Intense! Any guard work, Flared? Rolled ?