I want new shoes for the ride in the spring!!!!

[adrean8j]

Hey fellas(and the few girls...uh ladies or whatever). I am not really a newbie but I figured this was the best place to post it since all the smart guys actually read these to help people out....so here goes:

I want to buy some new rims and tires for the spring/summer 2004. I have a 523i w/M sport package(pic below!!!). My current sizes are 235/40 ZR17 front and 255/40 ZR17 back. I want to get 18's (from what I have read and heard that is the biggest I should go without having to change shocks and springs and such). Ok now the question what are the exact sizes I should get rims and tires in???? and what the heck does 8,5 or 7,5 mean?

 

[MrElussive]

Those are the widths of the rims. For tire size for 18" rims, you should probably go with 245/45-18 tires in the rear, and 225/45-18 tires in the front. TireRack recommends an aspect ratio of .40 for all four tires, but I feel that might be just a bit too little sidewall height, which will give you problems with potholes and stuff. As fro wheel width, go for 8.5" width, that fits 225 and 245 series tires perfectly.
That's my personal opinion, somebody else throw in their advice as well.

 

[Wadula]

45 in the front is my choice too, but 40 in the back is fine.

for the rest i agree with the speaker before!

 

[adrean8j]

Ok that makes sense soooooo.... I should go with 225/45 ZR18 8.5(F) and 245/45 ZR18 8.5(B)? Isnt that a narrower tire in the back than I already have? I mean I guess I am trying to understand why I cant keep 255/45 in the back......

 

[manuel]

actually the 245 is one size wider than your current tires...the only difference is that if you get a xxx/45/18 and xxx/45/18 you will have tires with a smaller sidewall...

 

[adrean8j]

Ahhh I see.....I stand corrected oh wise one . Thanks alot gentleman its been a pleasure.

 

[manuel]

im the coolest...thought id throw that in.