[inder_s1]

Hi Guys,

I want to upgrade alloys and tyres for my BMW 316i.

At present it's on
Rims: 15"
Tyres: 195/65 Michelin Tubeless

I found out I can use 17" Alloys and 245/45 would be best for it from car bible site.

I want to know which tyre type and what tread pattern should I use. Any help is appreciated.

Cheers

[GTO]

I want to know which tyre type and what tread pattern should I use. Any help is appreciated.

Michelin PP2's. Tried + Tested. Superb quality rubber.

[itzzme]

Originally Posted by inder_s1

Hi Guys,

I want to upgrade alloys and tyres for my BMW 316i.

At present it's on
Rims: 15"
Tyres: 195/65 Michelin Tubeless

I found out I can use 17" Alloys and 245/45 would be best for it from car bible site.

I want to know which tyre type and what tread pattern should I use. Any help is appreciated.

Cheers

I think 225/45 R17 will be beter inch-up.

[inder_s1]

Thank You for the input guys...

Was checking Michelin webiste for India.

The aval tyre sizes which I feel will be good after your suggestions are :

225/45-R17
235/45-R17

Any idea on the alloy wheels front. Which brand is better lenso or acura or imported ones ?

Cheers

[iraghava]

I would recommend you not go above 215/45 R17 or at the most 225/45 R17 for you car. Reasons being:

1. It's only got a 1.6litre engine, fitting too wide tyres like the 245's will slow her down.
2. Your FE will also drop along with the Ride Comfort.
3. 245's I'm pretty certain will also foul with the bodywork of your car.

P.S. I just checked, the 245's will also be beyond the OD difference tolerance limit so I would rule them out even if they fit.

[Akshay1234]

with ishaan. i dont think you should go more than 225. though IMO 205 would be enough.

[inder_s1]

I have decided on 225/45 courtesy your inputs guys!
Thank You.

Any idea on which brand 17" Rims should I go for??

Cheers

[Mpower]

What year is your 316?
I have 225 front and 245 rear on 17s.

[Akshay1234]

since its a bmw why not ac schnitzer or hamann?

[inder_s1]

Mpower

1. Did such combi 225 front and 245 rear slow the car down?
2. Did it affect the ride comfort?
3. My car is '95, what abt yours?

Akshay1234

Thanks for the suggestions. I need to check if AC Schnitzer or Hamann are available in B'lore.

[Harbir]

My 330i had 225/45-17s front and 245/40-17s in the back. For handling and steering response, this was as good a combination as 225/45-17s in both front and back, but it worked very well for putting down impressive torque of the engine in tight corners.

The tire combination you are considering for an E36 316i is a bit ridiculous (no offence). Consider that the 321hp M3 version of your car had only 235/40-17s. What are you looking to gain with the enormous tyres given the modest power of your car?

This tire size with its matching wheel size will greatly increase the "unsprung" mass of your car, causing your ride and handling to deteriorate. The greater mass also translates into increased inertia, which your modest engine will face when accelerating the car, which means your car will lose acceleration and the throttle will become more sluggish. And thats just due to the added weight.

The excess width of the tires with the low profile will lead to crisper steering, better braking feel, and more grip in corners, but as your car's springs and dampers are tuned in expectation of a certain degree of softness from the tire sidewall, you will suffer ride quality deterioration and the car's handling will change. You will have more grip but less "communicativeness" from the contact patches. But the increased grip may for you offset that if you are not a driver who likes how a car comes alive as it approaches its traction limits in turns.

My advice is that this not an optimal tyre choice. It may be better than what you have now, but it is most certainly NOT the best you can do for your car.

If it was my car, with its modest 102hp, at the most I would it with 205/50-16s, but more likely with 195/55-16s.

[Harbir]

Originally Posted by Harbir

My 330i had 225/45-17s front and 245/40-17s in the back. For handling and steering response, this was as good a combination as 225/45-17s in both front and back,

I am sorry, an error on my part reversed the meaning of what I was trying to say.

The above should have read:

"My 330i had 225/45-17s front and 245/40-17s in the back. For handling and steering response, this was NOT as good a combination as 225/45-17s in both front and back..."

[GTO]

I would recommend you not go above 215/45 R17 or at the most 225/45 R17 for you car. Reasons being:

1. It's only got a 1.6litre engine, fitting too wide tyres like the 245's will slow her down.

Agreed. 245 will surely be overkill for a 316. 205 or 215 should be just perfect.

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by inder_s1

Mpower

1. Did such combi 225 front and 245 rear slow the car down?
2. Did it affect the ride comfort?
3. My car is '95, what abt yours?

Akshay1234

Thanks for the suggestions. I need to check if AC Schnitzer or Hamann are available in B'lore.

Mines a 97 M3. The 95s had 235s all around. Going to 245 in the rear adds some understeer.

Originally Posted by Harbir

I am sorry, an error on my part reversed the meaning of what I was trying to say.

The above should have read:

"My 330i had 225/45-17s front and 245/40-17s in the back. For handling and steering response, this was NOT as good a combination as 225/45-17s in both front and back..."

Was it an E46? The one's I've seen with sport package had 255/18s in the back. Not sure about the short lived E90 330i.

[Harbir]

yes it was. there was the regular sport package with 17s, 245 in the back. then there was the performance package, aka the ZHP, starting with the '03 model, that had 18s, 255s in the back.