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BMW 3-Series Tires and Wheels
273 messages, Last post on Jun 16, 2011 at 8:53 PM
You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Tires, Sedan, Wagon
#156 of 273 Re: Summer Tire Size for 330 coupe [ronaries10] by fedlawman
Apr 01, 2008 (9:42 pm)
Replying to: ronaries10 (Apr 01, 2008 9:11 pm)
Tire Rack is a great place to start. If you want to find 16" wheels for the E46, just plug in a 1999 323i - 16's were standard for it. Tire Rack will also tell you the bolt pattern and offset needed for your car. As long as the bolt pattern (5-120) and offset (42mm) match, then the wheels will work. Wheels - 16" Kosei K1Racing (affordable and lightweight)
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initial- - PartNumber=KR700S&wheelMake=Kosei&wheelModel=K1+Racing&wheelFinish=Silver+Painte- - d&showRear=no&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=323i&autoYear=2000&autoModClar=&filterSize=- - 16&filterFinish=All&filterSpecial=false&filterBrand=All&filterNew=All&sort=Brand- -
As for tires, I wouldn't invest in "competition tires" until you have mastered the basics of car control and are ready for the next level of grip. I'd go for a good set of grippy, forgiving, and inexpensive summer street tires. Unfortunately my old favorite, the Yokohama ES100, is no longer available in your size. Too bad. Here's what I'd choose instead:
Kumho Ecsta MX
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Ecsta+MX&partnu- - m=25WR6EMX&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=4
Hankook Ventus R-S2
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Hankook&tireModel=Ventus+R-S2&v- - ehicleSearch=false&partnum=25WR6Z212&fromCompare1=yes&place=3
Or right now, I see the Bridgestone Potenza RE050 is on special right now...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+R- - E050A+Pole+Position&partnum=25WR6RE050APP&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&p- - lace=5
- kominsky (Apr 02, 2008 12:04 pm)
Replies to this message:
#157 of 273 Re: Summer Tire Size for 330 coupe [fedlawman] by kominsky
Apr 02, 2008 (12:04 pm)
Replying to: fedlawman (Apr 01, 2008 9:42 pm)
Fed, That won't work... the 323i had smaller rotors than the 330's, 328's, and I think even the 325's. If you go to tirerack and put in the 330, only one sixteen inch wheel shows up. If you put in the 323, there are 9 choices.
When I got my 330Ci, I wanted to go with a 16" winter setup. At that time, there was also only one 16" wheel that would fit over the rotors (ATA brand if I remember correctly). It was different from the one that's currently there so there may be other choices available elsewhere.
- fedlawman (Apr 02, 2008 4:08 pm)
Replies to this message:
#158 of 273 Re: Summer Tire Size for 330 coupe [ronaries10] by kominsky
Apr 02, 2008 (12:12 pm)
Replying to: ronaries10 (Apr 01, 2008 9:11 pm)
If you decide to go with 17's, I would probably try to find a set of the 7-spoke BMW wheels that came on the sport-pack 323's and 325's. They're 8" wide and will support either 225's or 235's on all corners. There was a guy who used to hang around these boards (braveheart1) who did a lot of track work and swore by his 235 setup.
#159 of 273 Re: Summer Tire Size for 330 coupe [kominsky] by fedlawman
Apr 02, 2008 (4:08 pm)
Replying to: kominsky (Apr 02, 2008 12:04 pm)
You're right, I didn't even think about the rotors being bigger on the later E46's. BTW, the rotors would have been "ATE", not "ATA." Other than that grievous error, you're completely correct.
- kominsky (Apr 02, 2008 9:57 pm)
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#160 of 273 Re: Summer Tire Size for 330 coupe [fedlawman] by kominsky
Apr 02, 2008 (9:57 pm)
Replying to: fedlawman (Apr 02, 2008 4:08 pm)
Grieve no more... I was talking about the brand of the 16" wheels that fit over the rotors... but I think I got it wrong anyway... ASA, not ATA, was the brand, I believe.
#161 of 273 Re: Summer Tire Size for 330 coupe [kominsky] by ronaries10
Apr 11, 2008 (5:51 pm)
Replying to: kominsky (Apr 02, 2008 12:12 pm)
My apologies for being away from the boards (its tax time of year!) And thanks for the generous responses and opinions to my questions about the wheel size and tire for summer sport driving.
It sounds like finding the right size 16" wheel is a challenge ... I do have 17" x 7 now - what would be the adv/disadv of using the 7" width vs the 17x8" widths ?
And what size tire would fit the wheels?
One fellow told me that 17s would be great with 225s ... but I don't know what wheel width he was considering....
I hate the idea of going to a tire store and buying what they want to sell me vs what I determine I need! But I need to define those needs better!
Comments/ help????
- roadburner (Apr 11, 2008 7:36 pm)
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#162 of 273 Re: Summer Tire Size for 330 coupe [ronaries10] by roadburner
Apr 11, 2008 (7:36 pm)
Replying to: ronaries10 (Apr 11, 2008 5:51 pm)
I hate the idea of going to a tire store and buying what they want to sell me vs what I determine I need! But I need to define those needs better! Comments/ help????
I strongly suggest calling Tire Rack and speaking with one of their sales advisors. I'd be willing to bet that fewer than one in twenty tire store salespeople know anything about selecting the right tire for a true performance car. I've used Tire Rack exclusively since 1992 with zero complaints.
Call 'em.
- kominsky (Apr 14, 2008 1:30 pm)
- ronaries10 (Apr 21, 2008 8:29 am)
Replies to this message:
#163 of 273 Re: Summer Tire Size for 330 coupe [roadburner] by kominsky
Apr 14, 2008 (1:30 pm)
Replying to: roadburner (Apr 11, 2008 7:36 pm)
I agree... call Tire Rack! They're extremely helpful and will be able to tell you your options.
#164 of 273 Re: Summer Wheel Size for 330 coupe [roadburner] by ronaries10
Apr 21, 2008 (8:29 am)
Replying to: roadburner (Apr 11, 2008 7:36 pm)
Thanks for the endorsements. I will talk to Tire Rack. It appears that the recommended wheel sizes for my 330ci are 8 x 8.5, with a less expensive but recommended alternative as 7 x 8.5 [not staggered, same sizes all around]... my stock wheels are 7 x 7.0. the larger wheels would be for summer driving schools and around town use.
Anybody have experience with these?
#165 of 273 how much difference do snow tires make? by kathyc2
May 28, 2008 (5:05 pm)
Love my 2002 325 manual convertible. I've had it for 2 years, and haven't driven it much in snow- live in Northern IN. My son will be needing the Gran Prix I've been driving in the winter. Will snow tires make it similar to getting around in snow as my front wheel car?I'd really rather not add a 3rd vehicle. My division doesn't always get plowed out early, and I would be need to drive thru a few inches of snow on a semi-regular basis. Any one out there who has experience doing this? Suggestions?
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