[Brennan]

currently have 225s all round on non staggered MV3s, was wondering would i run into any problems if i put a slightly wider 235 tyre on the wheels, i was thinking a wider tyre would help the handling better and help make the car feel a bit more planted as there is a wider contact to the road

Please tell me if im talking crap lol

[htrac92]

if the size of mv3 is 8.5j then 235 should be fine. it will just not have the stretched look

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by htrac92

if the size of mv3 is 8.5j then 235 should be fine. it will just not have the stretched look

Non staggered sets will be 8J (as standard front MV3s are) they come with 225s on.

Staggered rears are 8.5J and they have 255 on.

It is an issue IMO that the rear 255 are too wide for an 8.5J and look a little 'bloated' on the 18s.

19s are 8j and 9j but still use 225 and 255 resp thus giving a better 'stretched' look on the back.

[zltm089]

235 should be fine....on the 8j wheel...

i would like to go for larger tyres for the rears but my wheel is 8.5j so maximum i can go is 255.

[BanziBarn]

So do smaller engined M-sports come with non staggered wheels?

I was telling someone the other day about the LCI having a wider rear track making the car fill the arches more than on pre-lci (defo noticeable on my 330) but the example I was looking at while I was explaining was a 320d and it's didn't seem to show what I was trying to convey.

[zltm089]

i think that powerful rear wheel drive cars, need larger tyres at the rear for better handling and grip...

not so much important on less powerful cars...

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by zltm089

235 should be fine....on the 8j wheel...

i would like to go for larger tyres for the rears but my wheel is 8.5j so maximum i can go is 255.

About time you got rimmed up Kev, you know you want to

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by BanziBarn

So do smaller engined M-sports come with non staggered wheels?

I was telling someone the other day about the LCI having a wider rear track making the car fill the arches more than on pre-lci (defo noticeable on my 330) but the example I was looking at while I was explaining was a 320d and it's didn't seem to show what I was trying to convey.

No, all M sports have staggered wheels. Its all about looks not performance.

Same sizes for 318d to 335i.

If someone (OP) has non staggered MV3, then they are either pattern wheels, or they have front wheels on the rear too. Either way its not original.

[Bungle009]

M Sports are all staggered.

17" have 225/45/17 fronts, amd 255/40/17 rears.

[Brennan]

to clear up any confusion, they are replica MV3 wheels

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

About time you got rimmed up Kev, you know you want to

saving up Ian!!!!.....

getting wheels is a nightmare!.... need to find wheels that provide the perfect fitment ( no psacers or rolling arches etc) , wheels which won't crack etc and that look good!....

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by AZZ

currently have 225s all round on non staggered MV3s, was wondering would i run into any problems if i put a slightly wider 235 tyre on the wheels, i was thinking a wider tyre would help the handling better and help make the car feel a bit more planted as there is a wider contact to the road

Please tell me if im talking crap lol

You would be better to go 245 and drop a ratio, this would keep the size and rolling radius the same.
So if you're running 225.45.18 go 245.40.18.


However, the E90 is known to very slightly understeer compared with 3 series of past, and by going with the same width front and rear you cancel this out pretty much. I would stick with what you have.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by AZZ

currently have 225s all round on non staggered MV3s, was wondering would i run into any problems if i put a slightly wider 235 tyre on the wheels, i was thinking a wider tyre would help the handling better and help make the car feel a bit more planted as there is a wider contact to the road

Please tell me if im talking crap lol

Depends what you want from a tyre and how you feel handling is defined. A wider tyre, on the same rim, can soften the feel and allow a bit more lateral movement, so in reality a less precise chassis.

gIzzE makes a good point about understeer, this is something I've noticed on my car. The summer wheels are staggered, 225/255 sections, winters 225 section, (also 17") are same on all corners. The winter tyres give the chassis a more balanced and neutral feel.

HighlandPete

[ALF_E90]

Originally Posted by doughboy

No, all M sports have staggered wheels. Its all about looks not performance.

Same sizes for 318d to 335i.

Which just goes to show these M-Sport or S-Line packages are all about looks not dynamics. By all means buy them if you want the looks (they do look good), but if you think someone has judged what tyre size is perfect for your car, think again, especially if it is a 4-pot version. Cars generally handle and especially ride better on the smaller wheels/narrower tyres of the ones on offer.

225's all round for me gave less understeer, more feeling of being in touch with the road surface, more confidence in extreme wet conditions (where a narrower tyre is better), much cheaper replacement tyres (especially if using premiums) and more accessible oversteer on demand. I appreciate the latter is not everyone's cup of tea but anyone would notice the rest. Now I am pushing a bit more I can report that Conti SC3's are very benign around the limits of grip, too...

One more thing - personally I would not fit a tyre size to my car that was not on the plate as an official size for that model - not with insurance companies being what they are these days...