225/45 16 tires
- Thread starter E3AV
- Start date
only on rear wheels - maybe. smaller diameter if i remember. the proper size is 225/50-16. check out the FAQ on tires - link is in my signature below
I have 16x7 up front and 16x8 rear (both et11 if I recall) with 225/50s. The wheels are Alpina-style from Maxilite. The only issue I've had was one time turning onto a steep driveway apron I rubbed (and slightly crunched) the passenger front fender. Popped it back very easily, though
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I love the Alpinas.
I’ve heard of others as well that have experienced rubbing with the 225/50 dimension. I’m not interested in getting the recently painted (2 years ago
)front fenders damaged.
Before the restoration I ran with 185/70r14
tires on 14x7 et13 rims. It’s about the same diameter as 225/45r16.
I’ve heard of others as well that have experienced rubbing with the 225/50 dimension. I’m not interested in getting the recently painted (2 years ago
)front fenders damaged.Before the restoration I ran with 185/70r14
tires on 14x7 et13 rims. It’s about the same diameter as 225/45r16.
CSBM5
Well-Known Member
It's been a gazillion years, but I used to run those wheels, all around, with 225/50 on my lowered Bavaria without any rubbing issues. Tires I used back then were Goodyear Gatorback S, Yokohama A008-R, and later for street use Yokohama 501 (for what any of this is worth!).
DaveBeddows
Member
I'm running 225/50's front; 245/45's rear on 16" rims. 7" front 8" rear.
The 8" rear rims will also handle 225/50
The 245 tend to wear on the inside rear. The 225's not as much.
E3 model
I have caught my left fender lip on the 225's up front when turning almost full lock and hitting a bump. Usually turning into a parking lot where you have to drive over the sidewalk lip. The fender lip I catch is a genuine BMW replacement fender changed when the car was restored. I notice the factory original fender on the other side has a rolled lip so it has never caught tread. Apparently La Jolla has a camber adjustment kit that helps prevent this but I have learned to avoid larger bumps when at full lock which only occures when at very slow speed. I have heard of others that have rubbed. Usually Si's with chrome beauty trim.
Eventually I am thinking of Coupe King rims for my other Bavaria which my father bought brand new and has never been restored. I think before I would run with them I would try to mount them on a hoist without the springs so I could visually test the clearance under full lock with the suspension compressed. I would cry if I caught a fender lip on that car. It is original paint that still looks like it was just delivered from the factory. The car was my dad's summer touring car. It only travelled a few thousand miles each year on the highway and spent the rest of the time under a car cover. Even when he parked it while travelling he would cover it so the sun didn't heat he paint.
Fun fact - The original clutches had a service bulletin due to poor material for the 1973 Bavaria. Because dad never drove his in the city, his original clutch didn't fail until the 1990's. (Low mileage car driven primarily long distances in top gear) BMW honoured the recall out of good will even though they didn't have to 17 years into the car's life. Helps that the dealer owner always thought he might be able to buy the car from dad one day and the fact dad had friends at what was known then as BMW Mobile Tradition.
The 8" rear rims will also handle 225/50
The 245 tend to wear on the inside rear. The 225's not as much.
E3 model
I have caught my left fender lip on the 225's up front when turning almost full lock and hitting a bump. Usually turning into a parking lot where you have to drive over the sidewalk lip. The fender lip I catch is a genuine BMW replacement fender changed when the car was restored. I notice the factory original fender on the other side has a rolled lip so it has never caught tread. Apparently La Jolla has a camber adjustment kit that helps prevent this but I have learned to avoid larger bumps when at full lock which only occures when at very slow speed. I have heard of others that have rubbed. Usually Si's with chrome beauty trim.
Eventually I am thinking of Coupe King rims for my other Bavaria which my father bought brand new and has never been restored. I think before I would run with them I would try to mount them on a hoist without the springs so I could visually test the clearance under full lock with the suspension compressed. I would cry if I caught a fender lip on that car. It is original paint that still looks like it was just delivered from the factory. The car was my dad's summer touring car. It only travelled a few thousand miles each year on the highway and spent the rest of the time under a car cover. Even when he parked it while travelling he would cover it so the sun didn't heat he paint.
Fun fact - The original clutches had a service bulletin due to poor material for the 1973 Bavaria. Because dad never drove his in the city, his original clutch didn't fail until the 1990's. (Low mileage car driven primarily long distances in top gear) BMW honoured the recall out of good will even though they didn't have to 17 years into the car's life. Helps that the dealer owner always thought he might be able to buy the car from dad one day and the fact dad had friends at what was known then as BMW Mobile Tradition.
its a whole lot different when you are using something wider than a 205/55-16. i know the e3 is a little different, but NOT a lot different. on the coupe, its roll the fenders AND use laJolla camber plates
on clutches for a 73 - i bought my 73 in 1985 with 160k miles (original clutch) and i drove it another 160k over 10 years and never replaced the clutch. my point, some were very good. if you leave the clutch pedal pushed in at stop lights, might not last that long.
on clutches for a 73 - i bought my 73 in 1985 with 160k miles (original clutch) and i drove it another 160k over 10 years and never replaced the clutch. my point, some were very good. if you leave the clutch pedal pushed in at stop lights, might not last that long.
DaveBeddows
Member
Also depends on when the 73 you purchaced was manufactured. It was a service bulletin to cover a renage of parts supplied with poor material. Could have only effected a certain range of VIN's or production months. Dad took delivery in May on a special orderd car. So it is likely his came off the assembly line in early 73.
CSBM5
Well-Known Member
The follow-on posts reminded me that I had already added a lot of extra negative camber up front before I ever switched to 8x16 ET11 225/50 all around.Thanks for sharing
Looks like what I did to mine, although my paint isn't nearly as nice. I took a wood block and mallet and put it back in place- if you squint, it's mint!
Both front fenders on my car are original bmw replacement. The lips on the fenders are quite narrow 7-8 mm and angled upwards like 45 degrees or something. It almost looks like they have been rolled some by the factory. I think it would be difficult to fit those chrome wheel arch trim pieces on them.
It’s hard to decide which tires to get.
The 225/50 would look the best I think, but I don’t like taking the risk of getting the fenders damaged. I’ve seen people putting 205/55 on 8inch rims and I’m not a fan of the stretched look. But if it’s the best solution then that is what I’m going to do.
that's why on the e9 and e24 we use a 'staggered' setup with 7" fronts and 8" rears.
Yes. That would be ideal.
My goal is to get those 8 inch wheels to work up front. Why? Because I think the rial mesh wheels and specially the 16x8 size are the best looking wheels for the E3. It’s been å goal since I started the restoration 7 years ago to get my hands on a set.
There are 7 inch versions of the mesh as well as 9inch as you all probably know. The 7inch have an offset ET23 and would probably need spacers to make it look ok and not to rub the struts with 205/55 tires. And the rim itself looks a lot more boring I think. I like the large portion of the angled lip the 8inch have. It’s even larger than on the 9inch if you compare them.
My goal is to get those 8 inch wheels to work up front. Why? Because I think the rial mesh wheels and specially the 16x8 size are the best looking wheels for the E3. It’s been å goal since I started the restoration 7 years ago to get my hands on a set.
There are 7 inch versions of the mesh as well as 9inch as you all probably know. The 7inch have an offset ET23 and would probably need spacers to make it look ok and not to rub the struts with 205/55 tires. And the rim itself looks a lot more boring I think. I like the large portion of the angled lip the 8inch have. It’s even larger than on the 9inch if you compare them.
CSBM5
Well-Known Member
No, I've not seen that picture before, but it looks great! Back in 1985 I was sent one 8x16 Rial to test fit since nobody was using it up front back then, and the tire place I ordered it from thought I was crazy. I was focused on track performance and wanted them all around with 225/50-16 track tires, so they sent one to test fit and by accident it was silver like the above pic instead of gold/silver. I almost decided to go with silver all around but they offered to return ship it for free. Here are a couple more pics from back in 1988 after they had been on the car for three years and with the vaunted A-008R mounted:
CSBM5
Well-Known Member
It does appear that they might be smaller, 225/45 perhaps, but also sidewall design differences could be visually misleading too.