235/40R18 front- spacers?

[Sven_Mueller]

Hello,

I am planning on running the ZII Dunlops on my stock 7.5 inch wide M- style front wheel. Has anyone of you experience running this combination even with different tire brands but this size?
My question is: do I need to get spacers- I would order them before I get the tires onto my wheels .

Thanks for your feedback.

Sven

PS: In case you are interested this Sunday- Monday is the 24h of the Nuerburgring. You can find the livestream per google. It starts around 1700UTC+1.

[ganseg]

You shouldn't have any rubbing trouble running 235s on the front without spacers. But they will be taller than your rear tires and may trip the stability control.

I don't understand this: "livestream per google. It starts around 1700UTC+1." but i would like to see it...

[Sven_Mueller]

Hi Ganseg,

thanks for the feedback on the tires.

Regarding the 24h race- its over
Mercedes made the 1st, BMW the 2nd. During the night the race was stopped for many hours due to fog.
I meant that you can search the live stream per google, yahoo or other search engines- at the time I wrote this I did not know which URL to use. Every year you can watch the race the full 24hours online.

Sven

[tracer bullet]

Do you know the offset of the wheels? That should let you compare to stock or something like the Arc-8's and see where you stand. Decide from there if you need spacers or not.

Funny just noticed this is an all MN thread so far.

[Sven_Mueller]

Hi Captain,

I do have the 261 wheels which have the ET (Einpresstiefe) 49mm in the front.

And yes, I believe Minnesota people are always willing to help; maybe my posts are not visible outside MN

[tracer bullet]

Cool, I agree w/ ganseng, shouldn't need to do anything at least as far as width goes. My Apex Arc-8's are 8.5" wide with 45mm offsets, and my 235/40 front tires fit on stock M-sport springs with stock alignment, no fender rolling, etc. performed, without any rubbing or other issues at all.

You're 4mm off from that, which can be more than it sounds like, but given that people have been able to go wider than 235 on my wheels would make me think you're OK.

I'd chance it, and order some very thin spacers later if needed. If you do need them I think it would be to solve the occasional rubbing and you'll have time to do it, and you won't run into any issues of not being able to drive home or anything.

[Sven_Mueller]

235/40R18 front and 255/35R18 rear with stock wheels fit without any issues, even without spacers. Tires are Dunlop Direzza Z2 front camber is -1.3 degree, rear is -2.0 degree. Everything else is stock, no rubbing or any issues. At full steering the tire comes close to the front inner liner but is not touching it.

[deboer02]

I have installed on my 2011 135i Tckline coilovers with stiffer springs(450 in front and 700 in the back) and M3 control arms and bushings. The car is much lower than stock now.
I have been going to the track 6 times a year, and my Michelin's PSS are wearing on the front tires on the outside. I know these cars tend to under steer, so I was thinking in getting wider tires.

Do you know if 235 40 18 in the front and 255 35 18 in the rear will rub with the car lowered and stiffer suspension? I am thinking in getting Toyo's R888 for track only. All I want is to have more grip and wear less on my front tires.

[Sven_Mueller]

Hi deboer

1) 235/40R18 front should not rub, even on the track. Considering you have wheels with the stock offset.
2) Regarding under steer: I am not happy as is. The next step is 255/35R18 front in combination with adjustable camber/ caster plates and the M3 control arms. Everybody I talked to confirmed the square tire size and a lot of camber in the front.
With -1.3 degree camber in the front, 235/40R18 f, 255/35R18 r the car is still not balanced and rolls over the outside shoulder; I am even running 45 psi warm tire pressure.
I never wanted to have adjustable camber plates because of possible noise and new front wheels/ tires but I think there is no other option in order to get the car being more balanced.

[dcaron9999]

Originally Posted by Sven_Mueller

1) 235/40R18 front should not rub, even on the track. Considering you have wheels with the stock offset.
2) Regarding under steer: I am not happy as is. The next step is 255/35R18 front in combination with adjustable camber/ caster plates and the M3 control arms. Everybody I talked to confirmed the square tire size and a lot of camber in the front.
With -1.3 degree camber in the front, 235/40R18 f, 255/35R18 r the car is still not balanced and rolls over the outside shoulder; I am even running 45 psi warm tire pressure.
I never wanted to have adjustable camber plates because of possible noise and new front wheels/ tires but I think there is no other option in order to get the car being more balanced.

Hi Sven. Im in the same boat. I track my "dual-purpose" 2011 135i, and getting outside tire wear on 225/40 (F) + 255/35 (R) on brand new RE-11 tires. I asked my alignment shop to add negative camber as much as possible. I asked to break the strut camber pin, and all they could do is -0.6*. They also corrected camber in the back (equalized both sides and lowered to -1.5*), and added toe out to all four wheels. Ive only tried the new alignment on a wet course so far, and it seems to have helped with overall balance of the car. I will have to see if I have reduced tire wear when I hit a dry track.


I start out with 30PSI in the front, as the pressure goes up by 10PSI after a 20-minute session. It only take a couple of hot laps to get to this hot pressure, and this even on a wet track!

Next mods for me are M3 control arms, and camber plate. Still debating between Vorshlag (more adjustment range + more noise transmited to the cabin) and Ground Control Street camber plates (less range, but more docile for dual purpose street/track use).

Like what you are considering, Im also looking into square set up (255/35), but only once my front 225/40 tires are worn out.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by ganseg

You shouldn't have any rubbing trouble running 235s on the front without spacers. But they will be taller than your rear tires and may trip the stability control.

I don't understand this: "livestream per google. It starts around 1700UTC+1." but i would like to see it...

Taller yes, TC tripping, maybe... if OP runs 235 square he's fine but if fronts are 235 and rears are stock, then yea you'll have slip error flashing.

Originally Posted by Sven_Mueller

Hi deboer

1) 235/40R18 front should not rub, even on the track. Considering you have wheels with the stock offset.

Keep in mind, offset/width is not the only cause of rub. Running too tall of tires can cause rub against the fender liner

[dcaron9999]

What is the widest tire that can fit on the stock 2011 135i front wheel, which I think 7.5 inch wide? Im running 225.40 on them now, but thinking about going wider, without changing wheels ideally ...

Found these specs for Style 261 rims ...
Size Use ET Kg
7,5x18 front 49 11,80
8,5x18 back 52 11,23

Edit: Just read the thread again, and noticed that 235 is mentioned as max width up front on stock wheels.

[kobeballer96]

not trying to thread jack but I had the same question but my wheel is 18x8.5 with et40 and I want ti run 235/40/18. front and back wheels are the same specs. I have a 128i so thats plenty for me for a square setup. im on H&R sport springs with m sport struts

[kobeballer96]

anyone?