[sabin]

Hey everyone
I was just interested to know what would be the biggest difference recommended between front and rear tyre size.

Currently I have the standard set up of Front 225/40 and rear 255/35. But If I wanted to go for a wider tyre in the back such as 275, would this be too large compared to the front?

Thanks

[abeardo83]

Are you changing your wheels too? Tyres will only fit up to a certain width of wheel. If you want to safely go to 275, you'll need to find out what's the min / max width your wheels can be.

I don't understand why people go for wider tyres... you'd have thought BMW developed their cars with a size in mind?? I know the m3 has wider tyres, but then it's track is also wider...

[sabin]

Originally Posted by abeardo83

Are you changing your wheels too? Tyres will only fit up to a certain width of wheel. If you want to safely go to 275, you'll need to find out what's the min / max width your wheels can be.

I don't understand why people go for wider tyres... you'd have thought BMW developed their cars with a size in mind?? I know the m3 has wider tyres, but then it's track is also wider...

Yes I'm planning on going from 18 to 19 inch. Current mv3s are 8 and 8.5 (ET 34 and 37), new ones im looking at are 8.5 and 9.5, ET 38 and 40

[shadow191]

If your car isn't AWD, it doesn't matter too much. But a large difference between rear tire width and front results in more understeer. A 225 and 275 isn't going to break anything but it's not ideal. I ran those exact sizes on a previous car (Lexus IS350) for a while and it worked fine, but I didn't really like the way it handled when pushed. That may have been due more to the 225 front though. On my 335, I run 245/295 and don't have any complaints. It's about the same width differential as what you want to run.

Only thing to keep in mind is that if you run 225/275 on 8.5 and 9.5" wheels, it will look strange. A 225 will be slightly stretched on an 8.5" rim while a 275 will be pretty square on a 9.5" wheel so the profiles will not match.

[Digitalize]

If you're not pushing the car you'll never notice, but you're introducing more rear grip and thus adding more understeer. It's supposedly one reason they're staggered to begin with, understeer is safer.

[sabin]

Ah I see. Thanks, that's really helpful, well I will have to change the tyres anyway as I'm increasing my alloy size. so I may as well buy wider tyres for the front.

My fenders haven't had any work done to them so would 245/35/19 rub? If so ill probably go for 235

[Digitalize]

Depends how low you are and what clearance you have.

From memory 235 and 265 are actually cheaper in 19.

[sabin]

Originally Posted by Digitalize

Depends how low you are and what clearance you have.

From memory 235 and 265 are actually cheaper in 19.

Sorry for the noob question how can you tell the clearance?

I'm on stock m sport suspension and not lowered, current front tyre profile is 40 and rear is 35

[sabin]

Originally Posted by sabin

Sorry for the noob question how can you tell the clearance?

So after a quick Google search I literally just measure it.. Now i know lol

[Digitalize]

If you have standard wheels and height it should be fine, it's when you start changing offsets and widths as well as height that you have to start working things out.

OEM there's loads of room from memory.

[sabin]

Originally Posted by Digitalize

If you have standard wheels and height it should be fine, it's when you start changing offsets and widths as well as height that you have to start working things out.

OEM there's loads of room from memory.

Okay I guess I will try 245 front and 275 rear!

[Digitalize]

Worth asking in the relevant forum but you should be fine.