Wanted : 18" wheels and tyre specs for E46 318 CI

Hi,

Can anyone tell me specs for wheels and tyres for a 318 CI? Im looking on ebay for second hand ones but seems hard to find non-m wheels that dont have wider rears. Or do they fit?

For example - im looking at one set

Front tyres - 225/40 ZR 18 92W
Rear tyres - 255/35 ZR 18 94W XL

Originally Posted by darrenkellum

Hi,

Can anyone tell me specs for wheels and tyres for a 318 CI? Im looking on ebay for second hand ones but seems hard to find non-m wheels that dont have wider rears. Or do they fit?

For example - im looking at one set

Front tyres - 225/40 ZR 18 92W
Rear tyres - 255/35 ZR 18 94W XL

Hi Darren,

Be careful with the 255s if you have a non M Tech body (the car that is, not you ). The wheel arch, I have been told, is not big enough for the 255s.

I consulted a dealer local to me in Whitley Bay, near Newcastle upon Tyne, called Foxhunters (Tel: 0191 251 4849 http://www.foxhunterstyresandalloys.com/), and got good advice.

I got 4 x 18" MV4s (replicas) plus 4 x 225/40 Nexen tyres (from Foxhunters). That cost me £590 including fitting. My budget didn't stretch to more expensive tyres, but they turned out to be fine.

I don't know if they deliver, but you could give them a ring. They are very helpful.

Regards,

Brian

Thanks for the info! May well give them a call.

Anyone else using M wheels with wider rear on a non-m? I'm wondering if just putting thinner tyres on will make them fit?

255/35/18 fit absolutely fine on a non M, that's the standard tyre size from the factory on the sport MV's (1 & 2).

The only thing you have to be wary of is rim offset, the wider the rim, the higher the offset needs to be. I'm currently driving on 10j rears with a 43 offset on 265 width tyres and there's no rubbing, and the rears are dumped on coilovers.

It wasn't so much the fit, but if the car dived on the springs, there may not be enough clearance. That's what I was told. Not wanting to have any problems, I just went with the 225s. I have to say that they still look fine and have transformed the vehicle (check my pictures in my garage). They will look better when I lower the vehicle.

Regards,

Brian

As said before, Non M cars leave the factory on 255 rears when a sport or sport wheels have been spec'd. Unless you have the wrong offset, the tyre will not catch on the inner arch in any way.

Thanks again for the info,

so if I am correct 225/40 18s all round will work fine as well. Just got to keep an eye on the offset.

correct