[benjd]

Recently brought a 320ed with 17" wheels fitted

At them moment i have;

8J 205/50R17 rears and 8.5J 225/45ZR17 on the fronts (which i am assuming are the wrong way round!?)

Just been to the local tyre fitting to get some order 225/50/17 fitted, as i thought that was the factory size and was recommended best to go for.

But fitters are not happy and have said i have different sized wheels, 8j and 8.5j and were not happy fitting the 225/50R17 tyres as they are different to what i have fitted.

So, 320ed, 17" wheels, two are 8j and two are 8.5J - what are my best tyre options please?? Fitters suggest new 16" wheels... not the option i want to go for!!

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by benjd

Recently brought a 320ed with 17" wheels fitted

At them moment i have;

8J 205/50R17 rears and 8.5J 225/45ZR17 on the fronts (which i am assuming are the wrong way round!?)

Just been to the local tyre fitting to get some order 225/50/17 fitted, as i thought that was the factory size and was recommended best to go for.

But fitters are not happy and have said i have different sized wheels, 8j and 8.5j and were not happy fitting the 225/50R17 tyres as they are different to what i have fitted.

So, 320ed, 17" wheels, two are 8j and two are 8.5J - what are my best tyre options please?? Fitters suggest new 16" wheels... not the option i want to go for!!

You have staggered wheels fitted to your BMW; it's normal unless the car has been spec'd with a straight set of wheels (ie 18x8 all round, rather than 18x8 fronts and 18x8.5 rears)

As an example these are Style 395s: https://www.auto-treff.com/wcf/index...4-styling-395/

They're 17x7.5 front, 17x8.5 rear - so tyres needed are 225/50 fronts and 255/45 on the rears

You can choose to run those and replace the tyres with the same sizes; or buy another set of wheels that are the same size all round, and run the same sized tyres all round

[alohasurftoad]

225/50/17 front +
255/45/17 rear

[benjd]

Originally Posted by alohasurftoad

225/50/17 front +
255/45/17 rear

Thanks alohasurftoad, I've been looking and am very limited to non run flats that match for those sizes.
Think my only option is conti sports 5. But, as suggested those sizes are clearly the best match for the 17" wheels.


If I swapped to 225/45/17 on the front Michelin pilot sport 4 are then an option front and rear (they're not available in 225/50/17). Would the smaller size fronts cause handling to be worse, interfere with traction control, abs etc??

Just a bit frustrated with the choice of tyres here in the UK.

Thanks again

[alohasurftoad]

Originally Posted by benjd

If I swapped to 225/45/17 on the front Michelin pilot sport 4 are then an option front and rear (they're not available in 225/50/17). Would the smaller size fronts cause handling to be worse, interfere with traction control, abs etc??

OEM diameter = 26", 225/45/17=25"
with 225/45/17, handling and acceleration from a dig would be better, however your speedo will read way higher than actual and you will accrue more mileage than actual. visually you will increase the wheel gap 0.5"=13mm and total vehicle height will be 13mm lower as well. i wouldn't go this size

i recommend
235/50/17(26.3") or
245/45/17(25.7") however, since min rim width for 245/45/17 is 7.5", it is slightly pinched which results in sidewalls that are a slightly bulged. this is still within spec, though.

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by benjd

Thanks alohasurftoad, I've been looking and am very limited to non run flats that match for those sizes.
Think my only option is conti sports 5. But, as suggested those sizes are clearly the best match for the 17" wheels.


If I swapped to 225/45/17 on the front Michelin pilot sport 4 are then an option front and rear (they're not available in 225/50/17). Would the smaller size fronts cause handling to be worse, interfere with traction control, abs etc??

Just a bit frustrated with the choice of tyres here in the UK.

Thanks again

Use the tyre calc on willtheyfit.com to suss out what you can/can't fit - you need to stay within the 2.5% +/- on a RWD car

On an xDrive BMW; you're best to leave the tyres to the OEM sizes to stop any issues with the xDrive system

Check the likes of Camskill, MyTyres, Tyreleader, Asda Tyres, Blackcircles etc for tyres and prices

But as you said; you may struggle to get the sizes you want/need, more so in RFTs

This is why a lot of folk bin the RFTs and run normal tyres and have a decent tyre repair kit and inflator in the boot... Might be worth while thinking about; or maybe fit a set of 18" alloys like the 397s (same size all round) and 400Ms which are generally 18x8 and 18x8.5 - so a staggered set again

You don't have to run RFTs; changing them to non RFTs will not affect your insurance FYI

I run 397s as my winters for my F31 with 235/45/18 Goodyear all season tyres and they're superb