Wheels & Tyres for a turbo

[dlacey]

All,

 

With the factory metalwork and arches, whats the max tyres/wheels that will fit?

 

The turbo I have came with 7.5 inch x13 Superlite Alloys with 185/70/13 tyres...the tyres too narrow for that rim I think. I know the original factory wheel/tyre configuration, but I'm asking what BMW imagined could fit under there?

 

dave

[Einspritz]

Well, I have used tow different sets; one set of 6.5" x 14" BBS basketweaves with IIRC 205-55-14 for the track and one set of 6.5"x 15" w/ 195-50-15 for the front and 7"x15" w/ 205-5-15 rear. Weds, gold center and polished barrels.

 

If you need the offset I can get that for you for at least the BBS', the others I would have to measure.

 

I do not like the wider rears  as it upsets the geometry in hard cornering and am seeking to find a set of barrels for the rear to match the fronts. I haven't contacted the distributor of Weds as of yet.

 

Of course I still have the original rims and Michelin XWX tires. Interestingly enough, the rims are not the same as any repainted rim. They are not glossy.

 

Ted

[dlacey]

Thanks, any restriction on turning circle with 6.5inch?

[Einspritz]

None that have made any difference to me. I am sure that the turning radius will change depending on the backset and the distance of the tire to the wheel well at full lock. But that will be determined by the distance to the strut.

 

I guess you could go the spacer route if you want a wider rim and don't want to hit the strut.

 

Though with the wider tires, you want to be rolling when you crank the wheel. Once going no difference in steering "heaviness" for me.

 

On the track I used to swap out the OE steering wheel and use my Momo 13" for the events which makes the steering heavier.

 

If you have or intend to have the CR steering box, that will make it even more hard, but I never installed mine. I always wanted to for track use, but probably not so good for around town.

[Preyupy]

The biggest problem with tire clearance on a 2002 with Turbo Flairs is the tire to the back side of the wheel well (the foot wells are on the other side) and the bottom of the front body panel right behind the spoiler.  This distance becomes a problem when the tire gets taller or the outer edge of the tire is moved further out from the strut and usually only at full lock turning.  Steering effort goes up quickly as the tire gets wider, and it goes up even quicker when you move the center of the tire further away from the ball joint at the bottom of the strut. 

 

There is very limited availability in 13" tires any longer and if you want to keep with the correct rolling diameter (or at least close) you are kind of stuck with a 205/60/13.  Toyo still makes the RA1 but this is a DOT rated race tire and is very soft and will not last very long.  There are others out there like the Federal and maybe even Sumitomo but the options are going away very fast.  I have a set of Original Minilights that I run for daily driving with Sumitomo 205/60/13 that are very nice, they are not a serious performance tire but they are quiet and work well in the rain and very inexpensive at the time.  I have a set of correct Michelin 185/70VR13 tires on my original wheels I use for shows.  These don't work any better than the Sumitomo's and are 4X the price although the steering effort is noticeably lighter both because of the tire width and the different wheel offset. 

 

There used to be 215/60/13 and 225/50/13 tires available that would have worked great on our cars but other than Hoosier A6 race tires I don't think any of them are available any longer. 

[dlacey]

Thanks guys, I will likely try to get a 205/60r13...

[Einspritz]

Try Here:

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/pirelli-cinturato/cn36.html

 

or blunt is putting together a buy:

 

I think the problem is the U.S. not necessarily the size.

 

[dlacey]

In Malaysia the only tyre available is the 175/70r13 (yes 175)... So I will need to import something from Japan.