can the 18x8.5 be mounted on the front hub?

IraXI · 09-21-2006, 11:08 PM

I am getting the sport package on my 335I with the 18x8 and 18x8.5. I plan to use these wheels with a set of snow tires. However I dont want to go with tires to wide in the rear so here is my plan.. if it works.... I am going to order 4 225/40/18s for all 4 corners BUT I want to put the 8.5 in the front and the 8 in the back. The reason for this is so the fronts stretch over the wheel more and apprear to be smaller than the rears. Thier is nothing worse than having wheels look bigger in the front than in the rear. So will this work? Any consequences to this?

ahnh77 · 09-21-2006, 11:16 PM

are the wheelwells going to be okay?...why don't you try mounting your rear wheels front....turn the wheels (turn you steering wheel) completely...and see how close the tires get to the wheelwells....

if it's too close..you will end up with nice little triangle cut outs in the wheelwells...

don't ask why i know..i was in college...and had front wheel drive b5...i thought wider upfront would give me more traction...it did...but ended up with nice triangles in the wheel well...well..it exposed the b5 intercooler..so oh well....MORE AIR to cool the intercooler~!...hahaha....

carlosng · 09-21-2006, 11:17 PM

kind of weird

ahnh77 · 09-21-2006, 11:28 PM

agreed...and the original tire size for the rear are 255/35-18...i dont' know if you can 225 on them...i know you can go wider...but i don't think you can go narrower (is that a word?)...especially that much

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlosng

kind of weird

fueledbymetal · 09-22-2006, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahnh77

and the original tire size for the rear are 255/35-18...i dont' know if you can 225 on them...

Exactly - you should get the tires the good engineers at BMW have matched to your suspension. Going less than 255 width in the rear will reduce your grip & therefore increase the possibility of oversteer.

inTgr8r · 09-22-2006, 07:21 AM

Doen't make any sense to me....
Just get some aftermarket wheels for the snows.

mkoesel · 09-22-2006, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IraXI

I am getting the sport package on my 335I with the 18x8 and 18x8.5. I plan to use these wheels with a set of snow tires. However I dont want to go with tires to wide in the rear so here is my plan.. if it works.... I am going to order 4 225/40/18s for all 4 corners BUT I want to put the 8.5 in the front and the 8 in the back. The reason for this is so the fronts stretch over the wheel more and apprear to be smaller than the rears. Thier is nothing worse than having wheels look bigger in the front than in the rear. So will this work? Any consequences to this?

First, I don't understand why you'd want to put 225's on both the 8 inch and the 8.5 inch rim. I think people are honestly getting too carried away with the "not going too wide with snow tires". I mean we are talking about 30mm. That's about an inch. Yes, that will make some difference, but from experience, I can tell you that 255s will be great in the snow. I've driven my M3 with them like that for two winters and its fine. It honestly feels as controled in the snow as my wife's 325xi with all seasons (not sure the size - they are on the stock tires from the 325xi sport package).

Second, the idea that the wider rims will actually look better in front seems misguided to me. Why? Because look at the rear wheel well - its wider than in the front. As it is, I think the E9X would look better with wider wheels out back (i.e closer to the outside of the car). If you put an even narrower tire in back, and then also a wider one in front you are going to end up looking like a FWD Civic drag racing car. I.e - f-ing ridiculous. IMHO.

IraXI · 09-22-2006, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkoesel

If you put an even narrower tire in back, and then also a wider one in front you are going to end up looking like a FWD Civic drag racing car. I.e - f-ing ridiculous. IMHO.

See this is where your idea is flipped with mine... Lets say I get 225/40 all around which will work on a rim up to 9 inches wide. Now if I mount them on both a 8 inch wheel and a 8.5 inch wheel the 8 inch will not be as stretched and theirfore look bigger. The 8.5 the tire has to be stretched out over the wheel more and the sidewalls will the thinner. So If I mount it the normal way with the 8inch in the front and the 8.5 in the rear then it will look exactly how you described.. bigger in the front. But if I reverse it and put the 8.5 up front then the tire in the front will appear to be smaller becuase it wont be as bulky as the rears with the 8 inch. Follow me?

Ghunger · 09-22-2006, 09:43 AM

I doubt you'll "fool" anyone with your plan and I think it's going to look silly. You think this wierd set up will actually look better than stock?

I think it's more likely that people who don't know much about cars are gonna think your wheels look wierd, and people who do know about cars are going to know your wheels are wierd. The wheel offsets are also going to make them look wierd.

mkoesel · 09-22-2006, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IraXI

See this is where your idea is flipped with mine...

...

Follow me?

I understand what you are saying, I just don't think its going to give you the look you want. The fact that you have narrower wheels in back is going to be much more apparent than any sidewall differences you might see from stretching the tire only a half inch wider on the 8.5" wheel vs. the 8" wheel.

Plus, I still think just putting 255's on the car will be fine, which makes the rest of the issues moot. If you really don't want 255's then go with 245's or 240's or something.

SD330i · 09-22-2006, 06:35 PM

This will not work due to the fact that the wheels have different offsets. let me be more specific as saying it will not "work" as this is a little misguided. Of course you can run your car like that, but will it look right? and the the answer is no. 225 on a 8.5 inch tire will be strentch depending on tire manufacturer and the fact that they have different offsets will also come into play. Seems completely rediculous that you just dont buy snow tires that fit, really what is the cost difference since you are buying the tires any way?

ward · 09-22-2006, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fueledbymetal

Exactly - you should get the tires the good engineers at BMW have matched to your suspension. Going less than 255 width in the rear will reduce your grip & therefore increase the possibility of oversteer.

sounds fun!

09-21-2006, 11:08 PM	#1
IraXI First Lieutenant 56 Rep 351 Posts Drives: 07 335I Coupe Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mass iTrader: (0)	can the 18x8.5 be mounted on the front hub? I am getting the sport package on my 335I with the 18x8 and 18x8.5. I plan to use these wheels with a set of snow tires. However I dont want to go with tires to wide in the rear so here is my plan.. if it works.... I am going to order 4 225/40/18s for all 4 corners BUT I want to put the 8.5 in the front and the 8 in the back. The reason for this is so the fronts stretch over the wheel more and apprear to be smaller than the rears. Thier is nothing worse than having wheels look bigger in the front than in the rear. So will this work? Any consequences to this? __________________ IraXI's My Space
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

09-21-2006, 11:16 PM	#2
ahnh77 chichen 6 Rep 233 Posts Drives: e90 325xi Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: san francisco (south beach), ca iTrader: (0)	are the wheelwells going to be okay?...why don't you try mounting your rear wheels front....turn the wheels (turn you steering wheel) completely...and see how close the tires get to the wheelwells.... if it's too close..you will end up with nice little triangle cut outs in the wheelwells... don't ask why i know..i was in college...and had front wheel drive b5...i thought wider upfront would give me more traction...it did...but ended up with nice triangles in the wheel well...well..it exposed the b5 intercooler..so oh well....MORE AIR to cool the intercooler~!...hahaha....
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-21-2006, 11:17 PM	#3
carlosng CARLUVKRIS 1 Rep 42 Posts Drives: 2019 M240I m PERFORMANCE Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330I [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	kind of weird __________________ 2006 330I H & R sport /rear lip spoiler/19" wheels 235f265r :rocks: :
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-22-2006, 07:21 AM	#6
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2432 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	Doen't make any sense to me.... Just get some aftermarket wheels for the snows.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-22-2006, 09:43 AM	#9
Ghunger Major 52 Rep 1,024 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	I doubt you'll "fool" anyone with your plan and I think it's going to look silly. You think this wierd set up will actually look better than stock? I think it's more likely that people who don't know much about cars are gonna think your wheels look wierd, and people who do know about cars are going to know your wheels are wierd. The wheel offsets are also going to make them look wierd. __________________ 330i Monaco Blue, Terra /w aluminum trim, SP, PP, CA, PDC, Nav, Folding Seats, Sat Prep European Delivery Blog Picture Gallery
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-22-2006, 06:35 PM	#11
SD330i Private First Class 6 Rep 153 Posts Drives: Silver 330i Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	This will not work due to the fact that the wheels have different offsets. let me be more specific as saying it will not "work" as this is a little misguided. Of course you can run your car like that, but will it look right? and the the answer is no. 225 on a 8.5 inch tire will be strentch depending on tire manufacturer and the fact that they have different offsets will also come into play. Seems completely rediculous that you just dont buy snow tires that fit, really what is the cost difference since you are buying the tires any way? __________________ 06 330i // Silver // Step // Prem // Sport // IDrive // OEM rear lip // LLumar Tint 35%(f), 20%(r) // HRE 448R-silver // 19x8.5(f) & 19x9.5(r) // Goodyear F1s, 235(f) & 265(R)
	Appreciate 0 Quote