Has anyone actually swapped 16" or 17" wheels for 18" on 330i w/pp
- Thread starter jfh
- Start date
The problem with the 'should fit' is that we really mean it 'should fit'.. ![[:)]](/images/smilies/smile.png "Smile [:)]")
One manufacturer's 225/40/18 tire doesn't always match someone else's 225/40/18 tire, and that is part of the 'should fit' problem. It doesn't matter if you have the sports package with good suspension, or not (ala sedan owners), the sports package (or PP, same difference) 'drop' is insufficent enough to worry about wheel rub more than any other 3 series.
So, you're back to the real questions:
What offset do you want/need on your new wheels, and what are you riding on already? (You could have 2 different wheels, both 18" x 8.5" wide with the same 245/40/18 profile tires, one might fit, another might not, depending on the offset of the wheel. IE: how much further does the wheel 'extend' from where it hits the axle)
and..
What wheels do you really want on there? Do you want the same size all around, or staggered? (This impacts your tire size, and 'what fits' under there)
and..
Do you plan to do any suspension changes in the future that might drop it further?
You can fit some huge tires under a BMW, and even bigger ones with a fender roll, or widebody kit.
In GENERAL - 225-245's will fit front, and 255-265's in the rear, on a non-dropped BMW. The variance is depending on the brand tire, and if it's a 'squared' or 'round' tire. Add a drop to the mix, you might be rolling fenders to keep those same size tires happy under there (and then again, maybe not).
I guess I coulda summed this all up and said 'there's no easy answer to your question' but thought some info to express this might be better..
One manufacturer's 225/40/18 tire doesn't always match someone else's 225/40/18 tire, and that is part of the 'should fit' problem. It doesn't matter if you have the sports package with good suspension, or not (ala sedan owners), the sports package (or PP, same difference) 'drop' is insufficent enough to worry about wheel rub more than any other 3 series.So, you're back to the real questions:
What offset do you want/need on your new wheels, and what are you riding on already? (You could have 2 different wheels, both 18" x 8.5" wide with the same 245/40/18 profile tires, one might fit, another might not, depending on the offset of the wheel. IE: how much further does the wheel 'extend' from where it hits the axle)
and..
What wheels do you really want on there? Do you want the same size all around, or staggered? (This impacts your tire size, and 'what fits' under there)
and..
Do you plan to do any suspension changes in the future that might drop it further?
You can fit some huge tires under a BMW, and even bigger ones with a fender roll, or widebody kit.
In GENERAL - 225-245's will fit front, and 255-265's in the rear, on a non-dropped BMW. The variance is depending on the brand tire, and if it's a 'squared' or 'round' tire. Add a drop to the mix, you might be rolling fenders to keep those same size tires happy under there (and then again, maybe not).
I guess I coulda summed this all up and said 'there's no easy answer to your question' but thought some info to express this might be better..
crap, way too many things to think about.
I was worried about the wheel fitting over the brakes because I am under the impression
the performance package has larger brakes than the standard 330i. I don't know if they are the same as the sports package and/or the M3.
This is why I am hoping someone will say - yes I have the 2004 330i w/pp and I put xxxx/yyy and they are great.
And...all this for my wife's car, which she won't even take out of the gargage if there is snow forecast in the next 3 days.
BTW - thanks for the info
I was worried about the wheel fitting over the brakes because I am under the impression
the performance package has larger brakes than the standard 330i. I don't know if they are the same as the sports package and/or the M3.
This is why I am hoping someone will say - yes I have the 2004 330i w/pp and I put xxxx/yyy and they are great.
And...all this for my wife's car, which she won't even take out of the gargage if there is snow forecast in the next 3 days.
BTW - thanks for the info
Hope I didn't dissuade you, generally when folks ask what they can fit in the wheel well, it's because they want to cram the biggest thing they can in there. ![[;)]](/images/smilies/wink.png "Wink [;)]")
The size of the brakes should not be a factor at all unless you put a Brembo BBK or some other type of BBK on there. The SP, PP, or even ZHP don't change the brakes in any sort of way. 330 brakes are 330 brakes.. Now, 325 brakes compared to a 330, or a M3 compared to a 330, then you may have size difference. But again, not enough to impact your wheel selection at all. (Shop on!)![[thumb]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_thumb.gif "Thumbs Up [thumb]")
What's running (tires/wheel size) on your wife's car now? I can say with confidence that you can put 18x8 wheels on with 225/40/18 profile tires, and never worry about rubbing, even if you did ever upgrade the suspension.
The size of the brakes should not be a factor at all unless you put a Brembo BBK or some other type of BBK on there. The SP, PP, or even ZHP don't change the brakes in any sort of way. 330 brakes are 330 brakes.. Now, 325 brakes compared to a 330, or a M3 compared to a 330, then you may have size difference. But again, not enough to impact your wheel selection at all. (Shop on!)
What's running (tires/wheel size) on your wife's car now? I can say with confidence that you can put 18x8 wheels on with 225/40/18 profile tires, and never worry about rubbing, even if you did ever upgrade the suspension.
If you have a 330 I am under the impression that the rotors are too large to accept a 16 in. rim but it should take a 17. Simply go to a vendor and try the rims on the hub to make sure it fits. BTW go -1, buy skinnier tires when buying winters (ie. 205 instead of standard 225 width) to improve grip. I know it sounds counter intuitive but thats the way to do it, you have more weight per square inch on the snow.
not to diss you HH, but "high perf all season.." hmmmm there's an oxymoron if there ever was one..
actually i went through this last year, and (even tho i still dont' have the rims, i'll pick em up this year..) 330s have bigger calipers as forementioned in the tread by Section_8, and only 17 inchers and up will fit. (perf package, or zhp as it is otherwise known did not get brake upgrades, so all 330s share the same brakes)
there is one exception however: italia type 5 rims sold at tirerack.com will fit the 330s. i believe they are the only 16 to be able to do so. they are teh older M sytle rims, and i can't get over the looks yet.. so hard to find other good looking rims besides the ones that come /w the zhp..
anyway, if you are price conscious, there's a pretty big price diff btw 16 and 17 inch snows, esp in the lower profiles of around 45 to 50.. you'd easily save $100+ per set of 4 by goign to 16s..
actually i went through this last year, and (even tho i still dont' have the rims, i'll pick em up this year..) 330s have bigger calipers as forementioned in the tread by Section_8, and only 17 inchers and up will fit. (perf package, or zhp as it is otherwise known did not get brake upgrades, so all 330s share the same brakes)
there is one exception however: italia type 5 rims sold at tirerack.com will fit the 330s. i believe they are the only 16 to be able to do so. they are teh older M sytle rims, and i can't get over the looks yet.. so hard to find other good looking rims besides the ones that come /w the zhp..
anyway, if you are price conscious, there's a pretty big price diff btw 16 and 17 inch snows, esp in the lower profiles of around 45 to 50.. you'd easily save $100+ per set of 4 by goign to 16s..
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