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E39 Tyre Sizes

26K views 0 replies 1 participant last post by  BeelZibub 
#1 ·
As this keeps cropping up time and time again and there still seems to be some confusion about what size tyres you can fit to an e39 without causing problems maybe the mods would like to pin this post, in which I will list all of the trye recommendations from BMW themselves - argue if you will.

The following are from my 1998 e39 manual (for all models not just my 523)

Summer and winter settings is going to be something that you will or won't bother with (mostly will be down to world location) but are generally the same as the summer tyres but using a Q/T or H speed rating instead of V or W. I will also give a break down of what size tyres are recommended for what size rims at the end.


520i, 523i, 525td/525tds

205/65/15 front and rear.
or
225/60/15 front and rear
or
225/55/16 front and rear
or
235/45/17 front and rear
or
235/45/17 front & 255/40/17 rear


528i

225/60/15 front and rear
or
225/55/16 front and rear
or
235/45/17 front and rear
or
235/45/17 front & 255/40/17 rear

535i, 540i

225/55/16 front and rear
or
235/45/17 front and rear
or
235/45/17 front & 255/40/17 rear

Also on the sticker on the center column (drivers side - this is placed on all euro cars but I couldn't vouch for the US models ) Mine states that 235/40/18 and 265/35/18 Are a recommended substitute if you require a set of 18's.


Recommended tyre/rim combo's

TYRE RIM
205/65/15 = 6.5Jx15 or 7Jx15

225/60/15 = 7Jx15

225/55/16 = 7Jx16

235/45/17 = 8Jx17

255/40/17 = 9Jx17

Using any other tyre size from those above may result in poor tyre wear, non accurate speedo-mileometer-service intervals etc. etc. BUT some people would argue that you can go +/- 10% of the rolling radius and still be alright (although many wouldn't).

A very good site for tyre info is here and you will discover a world of information about tyres. About halfway down is a tyre size calculator that allows you input your stock tyre size and the size you wish to change to, the result given is the difference in rolling radius, and the difference this will make at 70mph. I haven't tried it but all of the tyre sizes above should either work out as an exact replacement or be within +/- a couple of percent.

Hope this helps end some confusion

BLZ :devil
 
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