tires and wheels fitting options - OZ Alpina 15x7 ET12

[Eimis Savickas]

Hello all,

 

I know there's been plenty discussions on this, but a lot of different mixed feelings.

I've got myself OZ Alpina 15x7 et12 rims. Will have to fit them somehow without the flares.

Trying to decide what tire options i have. My '02 is in the body shop being worked on, metal work and painting.

So I do have an option to ask those guys to roll or trim or do whatever is necessary to fit those wheels.

 

Any suggestions would really help. Can I install 185x50x15 for the fronts and 195 or 205x50x15 for the rears?

How much of a trimming/rolling would have to be done in any of the options? 

 

If it rubs on big dips or sharp turns I don't mind, this will not be a daily driver for me.

 

Again, thanks for all the help and suggestions!

 

[M3M3]

Not going to happen without flares.

[Rustpile]

I have a pair of et12 7x14 wheels somewhere. Ill take a picture, so you can see for yourself. It does not fit. Not even a Little.

[Eimis Savickas]

How did he do it here Im wondering then?

Edited January 31, 2016 by Eimis Savickas

[chargin]

You will have to aggressively trim the inside of the fenders and still most likely rub the fronts on big dips
The Rota R20's are perfect but have NO lip, so they don't look as aggressive

 

I reused my 15x195x50 from my 15x6x23 Rota R20's, works as well as could be expected. Running a 185 might help a little bit i expect the difference in rubbing will not be noticeable

 

[chargin]

For a real "Driver" your going to rub. The 7's look really great though compared to the 6's.

Everyday I drive it somebody has to talk to me about the car.

 

6" vs 7"

 

 

 

and a "Tuner" -  6"

 

Edited January 31, 2016 by chargin

[M3M3]

Notice how high the ride height is on that car. And how the tires actually stick out beyond the fender lips. ....

Any bump or load in the car and the tires are into metal.

[chargin]

The car is riding on 1-1/2 inch drop Springs.

Yes it will rub but it takes a substantial dip in the road to get the fronts to touch and the rears never touch

The perfect solution would be to run steel Rabbit flares or possibly Turbo flares. I honestly don't drive it very long on any one given day but usually in a whole day of driving I will get it to touch possibly once or not at all depending on the roads I'm on.

That being said I'm never taking it up and pushing it hard in the canyons I'm sure if I was doing that it would be rubbing more often

But I will drive it up to Legends of the Autobahn next summer at Laguna Seca

It's not for everyone, but for a fun town driver it has been working without cutting

[danco_]

Talk to bluebmw on this forum. He's done it with success. 

[bluebmw]

Talk to bluebmw on this forum. He's done it with success. 

 

I have been summoned!

 

It's possible to run 15x7 et12 all around with stock fender lips, but you'll have to leave your car at stock height and you'll still get rubbing. I do not advise anyone to do this. It will look and drive poorly. If the car is already in the body shop, now is the perfect time to roll the fender lips both front and rear. 

 

Front:

NOT advised to run 15x7 et12, or even 15x6 et12, without fender rolling. With the right tires and rolled fenders, it is feasible to do 15x6 and 15x7 is pushing it.

 

Rear:

It's possible to run 15x7 et12 in the rear without rolling, but the fitment will be very tight even with somewhat stretched tires. I'd recommend rolling the lips for more tire options and safety.

 

I'm running 15x6 in the front (with rolled fenders) and 15x7 in the rear (with untouched fenders) of my lowered car and I have zero rubbing issues.

[Gordon]

Your OZ wheels are for an E21 offset. I had a set of Alpina repros with the same offset on my former tii and I had the same rubbing issue with 195/50-15 tires so I sold them and went with Rota RB's with the correct offset.  I agree that the OZ wheels look awesome but the rubbing issues on dips and curves is not worth the headache. Keep looking for a set of 15X7 wheels with the correct offset (ET25).

 

G-Man

Edited February 7, 2016 by Gordon

[Lee]

One other aspect I would like to bring up.

 

"Any suggestions would really help. Can I install 185x50x15 for the fronts and 195 or 205x50x15 for the rears?"

 

The topic is wider tires at the rear than at the front. My question is why?

If one's car oversteers, then using more rear contact patch allows to reduce the oversteer.

If the car understeers, fitting wider rear tires will make the problem worst. The car will handle like a pig.

Therefore your choice of tires is limited to 195.50.15 at front and rear. That will fit, but with wheels having the proper offset. Something close to 25mm. Not 12. ;-)

 

e21 wheels on a 2002 has been a problem for...40 years ;-) People still don't get it. ;-)

 

 

[Eimis Savickas]

Thank you all for the input! Im pretty new to the 2002 community but already loving it!

[cda951]

Check my car out. I have the same wheels with 205/50R15 tires and off-the-shelf H&R lowering springs and no spacers, and there is no way in hell they would work without the flares I have . . . 

 

And the steering is really stiff because of the reduced offset/increased positive scrub radius . . . . . but it looks really cool and handles surprisingly well! I am working on a permanent solution (likely E3 control arms [which would require different offset wheels] and/or coilovers and camber plates, already have ball joint spacers), but I already have another car (Porsche 951) with which I have completely altered the front suspension geometry (though it is now fantastic), and I don't really feel like dealing with another at the moment . . . .

 

Edited February 1, 2016 by cda951

[Anthony]

you will have to machine the mounting side of the wheels to change the offset. You can only take 3 or 4 mm IIRC safely and you also have to deal with clearance to the caliper.