Wheel Fitment 101

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...ars/GotLip.jpg

I frequently will use this to aide in determining offset....

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...heeloffset.gif

II. Here is also a wheel offset calculator.....
http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp

Also another very good resource provided by Eli.....
http://www.willtheyfit.com/

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...fitmentpic.jpg

III. Now that we know the above......say I am going to go from the rim I have now.....to a stock style 135. Lets just talk about the rears.
CURRENT: Enkei's are 18X8 with an ET +42 offset.

FUTURE: Style 135's are 18X8.5 (rear) with a ET +50 offset...

IV. Plugging the above values into the calculator in II, above.....it yields the following information:
Inner Clearance: >>>>>>> 14mm's less than my Enkei's from the inside of the wheel to the strut housing.

Outer Position: >>>>>>>>Retract by 2mm's (position of the outside edge of the wheel)

***So....what the above numbers are telling me (in IV, above) are.

I may need spacers, if I do not currently have 14mm's from the edge of the wheel to my strut brace.

Additionally...my tire will still be recessed 2mm's more inside of my wheel well. Close fitment can somewhat be taken care of through the use of a stretched tire, or by adjusting my camber.

EDIT: I will be updating this thread with any good info I find on wheel fitment. Please feel free to add any of the tools, you guys use, to ensure proper stock, or slammed fitment.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...ghtSpecs-1.jpg

awesome link thanks Dane

Here is a little diddle...http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y29...set-image2.jpg

you guys think i can get away with 18x9.5 et 25 all around. fronts i'm worried about.

If you're ready to mess with ride height, suspension stiffness, camber, tire stretch and fender mods, yes you can make it fit.

rears i'm not worried about. fenders are already rolled. if need be i can probably pull them a bit. tires would probably be 225/40/18. i have coilovers so if i rub bring it up a notch. really wondering about the fronts. if not i can always go say 18x8 et13 or so.

I've seen a couple cars with 9.5" up front and it looks mean. I say do it if you can.

yeah i just need to get more research into the fronts. i dont want the wheel rubbing against the strut.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mimalmo

I've seen a couple cars with 9.5" up front and it looks mean. I say do it if you can.

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I had 15mm spacers up front...and I loved the way it looked. Lowered, and I can haz no spacers no moar....:(

I know nothing about spacers so someone fill me in. I want as wide of a stance as possible with no rubbing or fender modification. Currently I'm on 135's, stock ride height, stock tire sizes. I may upgrade to a H&R sport cupkit sometime next year. What kind of spacers do I need?

15mm's will look good with 255's. Anything bigger...imho...will stick out too far...and will look weird. I got some pics of what 245's look like with 15mm spacers. Just imagine that...but about 5mm wider on the outside edge...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by danewilson77

15mm's will look good with 255's. Anything bigger...imho...will stick out too far...and will look weird. I got some pics of what 245's look like with 15mm spacers. Just imagine that...but about 5mm wider on the outside edge...

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15mm's for the 255's in the back and the same for the 225's in the front?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by adb1028

I know nothing about spacers so someone fill me in. I want as wide of a stance as possible with no rubbing or fender modification. Currently I'm on 135's, stock ride height, stock tire sizes. I may upgrade to a H&R sport cupkit sometime next year. What kind of spacers do I need?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by adb1028

15mm's for the 255's in the back and the same for the 225's in the front?

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15mm will not work in the back for 255. I had 255 Star Specs with 12mm at stock ride height with 135s and it rubbed a lot. They are closer to 265 width, but I would run 10mm, max 12mm if you want to push it on a normal 255. What is the brand/model of your tires? If you're okay with rolling your fenders, that's another story.




I think there may be some interest in this info about weight saving for wheels, so I'll post it here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zhp43867

Wrong. I ran my car with DS2s and crappy light-ish tires (~43.5lb each corner) and my fuel mileage improved 2.5mpg and the car was much snapier. The fact that I did not have to get into it with the gas pedal so much every time I stopped I'm sure helped the fuel mileage.

Typically, what you're saying is true, but BMW wheels in general (especially zhp wheels) are piggy heavy; let me lay down some numbers.

OEM ZHP Wheel Weight:

Rear= 28.5lbs x 2
Front= 27.8lbs x 2

Wheel weight= 112.6lbs

Tire Weights (Star Spec)

225/40/18= 25lbs
255/35/28= 27lbs

Tire weight= 104lbs

Total weight= 215.6lbs
Each front wheel= 52.8lbs
Each rear wheel= 55.5lbs

A lightweight setup

Apex ARC-8 18x9" Square= 18lbs each
Wheel weight = 72lbs

Continental DW/Michelin PS2 235/40/18= 22lbs each
Tire Weight= 88lbs

Total lightweight setup= 160lbs
Each wheel/tire= 40lbs

That is a savings of 54.6lbs, or the equivalent of 546lbs off of the car by the most extreme rotational weight calculations.

Lightest setup:

Kosei K1/Apex ARC-8 17x8.5"= 16lbs each
Wheel weight= 64lbs

Michelin PS2 245/40/17= 22lbs each
Tire weight= 88lbs
Each wheel/tire= 38lbs

Total weight = 154lbs

Savings of 61.6lbs, or the equivalent of 616lbs off the car.
I read in a couple places that 100lbs off the car can be a 10th off your 0-60, so potentially this could be up to six tenths off (obviously not), but take that for what you will.

I will add that this cheap setup costs ~$1200 less shipping on tire rack, which is very tempting to me.

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I've started a sprung vs. unsprung weight conversation -- just so we don't take this thread into two different directions.

Unsprung vs. sprung weight discussion.

Dane told me to put it here leave me alone. :shifty

Haha. No worries.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zhp43867

Dane told me to put it here leave me alone. :shifty

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Lol.....

Thanks Dane. I did the math by hand and came up with the same thing as the calculations so I should be good. Now I just need to measure the interior to make sure I am not going to rub on the mounts or something.

No.....to make sure your not going to rub on your coilovers/struts/shocks. You can see where your stock tire prolly has at least an inch of clearance in there.........

If the offset moves your tire out.....typically.....you would be fine on the inside....unless you go with a drastically wider rim....

If the offset moves it in....thats where you might need a spacer to kick it out a bit.

Yeah, these are wider rims and have a slightly smaller offset so according to calculations it will come in about 6mm and out about 20mm. It should be perfect, I will most likely have to roll the fenders when I get come coilovers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mimalmo

I've seen a couple cars with 9.5" up front and it looks mean. I say do it if you can.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Smilez

yeah i just need to get more research into the fronts. i dont want the wheel rubbing against the strut.

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Just thought id chime in here.... 18 x 9.5 et 40 squared , with 5mm spacer up front. 255/35/18s all around

I dont rub up front AT ALL. as long as your running et 35 or lower, you wont rub the struts with an 18 x 9.5...

You need to be more concerned with rubbing your front fenders pushing out 10mm more than i am. but you should easily clear that with a 225. you might not be able to go as low as youd like though. i say go for it!!! just take the time to make them fit right.
:applause2

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/...756a499f_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5253/...a845a1c5_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/...39772989_z.jpg

Looks great Sk8! Thanks for the data.

Droid! Srs Legitness!

Very nice, need rear shots too.

Very aggressive. Like.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SkrApUNB

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5253/...a845a1c5_z.jpg

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Daaaamn :jawdrop :rockon
Are you lowered at all?




Great thread btw!

Ok I got majorly distracted by SkrApUNB's pics. I do have a question. So, far I'm really impressed with ECS's products, and a few people in this thread have recommended their spacers. I'm thinking I need a 25mm on the rear, and maybe a 10, 12.5 or 15mm up front. (My set up is 18x8 et 47, square)

These are the spacers I'm used to seeing, a #mm spacer w/ normal lugs just #mm longer that stock.
http://c1552172.cdn.cloudfiles.racks...14705_x600.jpg

Do these work just as well? They are the only 25mm spacer ECS has. These are H&R brand and to install: spacers bolt to the hub and the wheels bolt to the spacers using your stock lug bolts.
http://c1552172.cdn.cloudfiles.racks...27486_x600.jpg

I don't think I would want my wheels bolted to the spacers. I have 15's from ecs sitting in my garage...with lugs....hehe.

Droid! Srs Legitness!

That's what I'm thinking. But on the other hand, isn't H&R reputable? Those spacers are supposed to be for "racing". Would they put out a product that would fail?

Interested in selling the 15mm spacers? I'm not sure if they'd fit though. I'm lowered about 1.5" on the Eibach pro-kit springs. But the tires are stretched a little (225's). Thoughts?

Edit: This is the best pic I've got.
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/DSCN1582.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryans323i

That's what I'm thinking. But on the other hand, isn't H&R reputable? Those spacers are supposed to be for "racing". Would they put out a product that would fail?

Interested in selling the 15mm spacers? I'm not sure if they'd fit though. I'm lowered about 1.5" on the Eibach pro-kit springs. But the tires are stretched a little (225's). Thoughts?

Edit: This is the best pic I've got.
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/DSCN1582.jpg

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Do you have 15mm of clearance?

Droid! Srs Legitness!

I have 5mm spacers from Macht Schnell, no vibrations, not failure. nothing. Spacers are safe if installed correctly. Personally i thin H&R is a decent Brand, however i dont think id want my wheels bolted to the spacers alone. id rather have an EXT lug. look into the Macht Schnell Spacers... i was recommended them and i have not had an issue with them at all. heres a link for you Ryan http://www.europeanautosource.com/in...ath=67_315_326 no 25mm but they do have a 20mm

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jjcools

Very nice, need rear shots too.

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the only one i have at the moment.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/...8f234b58_z.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryans323i

Daaaamn :jawdrop :rockon
Are you lowered at all?
Great thread btw!

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I am lowered on Megan Racaing Springs... Stock Non Sport Struts for now. Soon to jump to something that will help lower the front a bit. looking to go about an inch or so lower in the front. I love my rear. just need to roll my fenders and get some spacers thrown on there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by danewilson77

Do you have 15mm of clearance?

Droid! Srs Legitness!

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That is the question. I'm going to do some rough measuring once the car's put back together. 15mm=.590...inches, so I'm thinking yeah.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SkrApUNB

I am lowered on Megan Racaing Springs... Stock Non Sport Struts for now. Soon to jump to something that will help lower the front a bit. looking to go about an inch or so lower in the front. I love my rear. just need to roll my fenders and get some spacers thrown on there.

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Thanks for the link. I think the H&R's are a no go. I can see how you'd want the front to sit a little low, but IMO you have an excellent stance as is. Are you worried about the front rubbing after you go lower? I definitely don't think the rears need to come out at all, but I'm interested to see the final product.

Sounds great.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...9_185406-1.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...8_211922-1.jpg

You have a PM.

Well, it looks like I've got a 1-5/16 wheel gap in the rear. So that calls for a 30mm (1-3/16") spacer. Isn't that huge!?!

I've done some reading on the H&R DRA series spacers (you bolt the spacer to the hub and the wheel to the spacer) and it seems that's a lot safer than using a 25mm+ extended lug bolt. Here's a link to H&R's wheel spacers website, http://www.trakplus.com/ for more information and application guides. Just wanted to share that bit of information here.

That doesn't sound right because 30mm is huge. Not saying you are wrong but rarely do I see spacers that large on an E46.

What are the specs on your wheels?
Diameter
Width
Offset

What tires and tire sizes are you using?

I think anything more than 15-20 and I would look for new wheels with lower offsets...

I'm running M3 fronts (style 67). 18x8 et47 w/ 225/40/18.

I would see if you can test fit a 15mm or 20mm locally before ordering.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryans323i

I'm running M3 fronts (style 67). 18x8 et47 w/ 225/40/18.

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Are you measuring to the inner lip (non rolled portion) of fender or extreme outer edge. That size spacer, as mentioned, would be ludicrous.

Droid! Srs Legitness!