Tires For Staggered 17's

[93 325i]

I have searched the forum and found a bunch of conflicting tire size recommendations. Tire Rack suggests 225-45-17 for the front and 245-40-17 for the rear. Seems odd to me....I wish I could find a pic of a nice set-up, but haven't found anything useful. Keeping in mind I am at stock height can anyone get me a pic of a nice set-up? Or at least give me a good suggestion? Thanks!

[jshearer]

i believe you can run 235 in front and 245 in back that is the maximum. I am going with 235 all around so that i can rotate my tires.

[93 325i]

235-40 or 235-45 17's??? What a pain this has been... I actually have 2 brand new 215-45-17's from my old bimmer and think these will go on front regardless, but the back is what im trying to figure. Should I go with a 40 or 45 17??

[Silverstreak]

I have 235/45/17 infront and 255/40/17 in rear

The rears should only be 245 but I already had the tires. They rub slightly over bumps but I'm going to get teh fenders rolled and it shouldn't be a problem.

In conclusion the fronts max is 235/40/17 and the rears max 245/45/17

[BaLAnCe17]

go 225 all the way around. it is what BMW suggests., but it is possible to fit 245 in the back. i have 225 and they are sweet, knowing i can rotate them later

[B3M2W5i]

what does staggared mean?

[CiscoKid]

narrower width in the front, and wider in the back

it is 225 in the front and 245 in the back of an M3

I would just get the staggered tires and not rotate them. It will seem cheaper, becuase you will not have to buy a whole set at once. Since the rear wear faster, you will go through about two sets of rear for every one set of front/

[jllphan]

Silverstreak gives good advice. Keep in mind with a staggared tire, you need to take tire height into consideration as well. A staggared tire combo will give you predictable oversteer that can be manipulated with throttle when pushing the car hard. If you don't do that kinda thing, go with the same size tire in the front and rear. A 235/40 would be a good choice in that case.

The following staggered combinations will work in terms of tire height:

225/45R17-Front 255/40R17-Rear (best combo= only a difference of 2.00 revolutions per mile)
215/45R17-Front 245/40R17-Rear (good combo= only a difference of 3.42 revolutions per mile)
215/45R17-Front 235/40R17-Rear (difference of 7.62 revolutions per mile)

[vincentwashere]

id go with 235s all around maybe 225 in front.

[93 325i]

Sweet, thanks for all the help guys..Since I already have 2 brand new 215/45ZR 17's these will go on front. For the rears im goin with what the stock M3's had: 245/40ZR 17. As soon as this friggin snow stops i'll post up some pics..

later