Good tire size for lowered car on 15's?

ESchmitz · Post by **ESchmitz** » Apr 05, 2011 8:01 PM

Hey all. Just picked up some 15x7 et20 Style 29's today. The tires are shot and not to mention way too big for my car. By the time these wheels are installed my 535i will be lowered by 1.25 inches from stock with Bilstein Sports and H&R sport springs. I'm looking at 205 or 215 width tires, what aspect ratio should I be looking for so the tires don't rub? Thanks for helping a tire noob out!

Erik

Post by **Jeremy** » Apr 05, 2011 8:58 PM

205/60R15 or 225/55R15 are very close to stock. The 205 width is better for many reasons though.

ESchmitz · Post by **ESchmitz** » Apr 05, 2011 9:14 PM

Will they rub? It doesn't bother me if they're close to stock or not. I'm only concerned with the potential for rubbing, anything else is secondary. Thanks for the info.

Erik

Post by **Jeremy** » Apr 05, 2011 9:41 PM

205/60R15 will not rub with those wheels.

Coldswede · Post by **Coldswede** » Apr 05, 2011 11:14 PM

I've used, abused and loved these, for over 2 years now:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... &tab=Sizes

My car is lowered a bit more than yours on 15" one piece style 5's. They have been driven on thousand mile trips, autocrossed and tracked. Pretty damn great tires, especially for the price, great in the rain too.

Plenty of clearance

ESchmitz · Post by **ESchmitz** » Apr 05, 2011 11:31 PM

Coldswede wrote:I've used, abused and loved these, for over 2 years now:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... &tab=Sizes

My car is lowered a bit more than yours on 15" one piece style 5's. They have been driven on thousand mile trips, autocrossed and tracked. Pretty damn great tires, especially for the price, great in the rain too.

Plenty of clearance

Woah, awesome deal! Thanks for the link, I'll be getting those for sure!

Erik

firefirefire90 · Post by **firefirefire90** » Apr 06, 2011 3:10 AM

how are 205's better than 225's?

C.R. Krieger · Post by **C.R. Krieger** » Apr 06, 2011 9:45 AM

firefirefire90 wrote:how are 205's better than 225's?

Less weight (better acceleration & braking). Less chance of interference with bodywork. Suspension was designed for that size. Tires are cheaper to buy and feel better to drive.

skip535i · Post by **skip535i** » Apr 06, 2011 9:48 AM

C.R. Krieger wrote:
firefirefire90 wrote:how are 205's better than 225's?
Less weight (better acceleration & braking). Less chance of interference with bodywork. Suspension was designed for that size. Tires are cheaper to buy and feel better to drive.

Nicely said!

Also, to the OP, another vote here for the Sumitomo tires!

firefirefire90 · Post by **firefirefire90** » Apr 07, 2011 2:12 AM

C.R. Krieger wrote:
firefirefire90 wrote:how are 205's better than 225's?
Less weight (better acceleration & braking). Less chance of interference with bodywork. Suspension was designed for that size. Tires are cheaper to buy and feel better to drive.

not trying to go off topic, but I have the E32 BBK and i feel my brakes "out-brake" my tires. I know these are bigger brakes than on my old E36, and I had 225's all around.. Just curiosity!

C.R. Krieger · Post by **C.R. Krieger** » Apr 07, 2011 9:37 AM

firefirefire90 wrote:
C.R. Krieger wrote:
firefirefire90 wrote:how are 205's better than 225's?
Less weight (better acceleration & braking). Less chance of interference with bodywork. Suspension was designed for that size. Tires are cheaper to buy and feel better to drive.
not trying to go off topic, but I have the E32 BBK and i feel my brakes "out-brake" my tires.

That's only true if you're locking them up - and your ABS would prevent that, if it's working. Even so, when you analyze tire performance by footprint shape, a narrower tire has a technical (if negligible) advantage in braking because its footprint shape is relatively longer in line with the braking force.

MyE28.com

MyE28.com

Good tire size for lowered car on 15's?

Good tire size for lowered car on 15's?