[marco_polo]

By the way, is ET42 the ideal offset for a 18x8.5 with 245 tire? I don't care having it further out so it's OK on that aspect, but is it certain to clear the strut on a lowered car on H&R??

@marco_polo ?

I have a special offer with free shipping that I should pull the trigger by tonight and it would be an expensive mistake to make ...

I'd be more comfortable at ET40 myself, when you're that close to the strut it makes a big difference how chunky the rim protection on the tyre wall is?

 

[mlcman]

I'd be more comfortable at ET40 myself, when you're that close to the strut it makes a big difference how chunky the rim protection on the tyre wall is?

Oh my, this car is so limited in wheel/tire options it's unbelievable.

So as I had written before, my 18x8.0 ET30 with 225/40 was rubbing on hard suspension dive, hence I moved to 18x8.0 ET34 after which works OK.

Because of that, a 18x8.5 ET40 with 245/35 scares me as I will end up bringing the outer sidewall exactly where the 225 ET30 was which was giving me those issues so I find it hard to trust it. However a 245/35 is 4mm smaller diameter so while at the same position, the smaller diameter might help avoid rubbing? Is that it? How is it possible not to rub otherwise when my 225/40 8.0 ET30 were rubbing all the time over bumps?

 

[Bimmert]

ET40 is the proven recipe on both RWD and xDrive models, I am not in any position to approve anything, merely sharing the experiences of my own setups. On standard springs ET40 works great with 245/35 and 235/40.

A 245/35 at ET40 is 1mm further in and 4mm lower than the 225/40 at ET30.

If a 255/35 9J ET50 can indeed be mounted up front then there should be plenty of room however for 245/35 at ET42, I can however not find any validation from other sources than the Danish guys that this actually should work.

 

[mlcman]

ET40 is the proven recipe on both RWD and xDrive models, I am not in any position to approve anything, merely sharing the experiences of my own setups. On standard springs ET40 works great with 245/35 and 235/40.

A 245/35 at ET40 is 1mm further in and 4mm lower than the 225/40 at ET30.

If a 255/35 9J ET50 can indeed be mounted up front then there should be plenty of room however for 245/35 at ET42, I can however not find any validation from other sources than the Danish guys that this actually should work.

Maybe the aggressive lowering of H&R is the culprit here then? Because I can assure you the 225/40 with ET30 which is was rubbing a lot and it wasn't pleasant...

I had one reply on FB that 8.5 ET42 with 245/35 works fine as long as you don't have M4 LCAs, which I don't, but I did not mention the lowering...


BTW. why the 245/35 ET40 is 1mm further away? They should be exactly at the same point no? 10mm extra tire per side, center moved 10mm closer to strut so 10-10 = 0 tire difference at the outer side, all the extra tire is towards the strut.

 

[marco_polo]

AC Schnitzer fit 8.5" ET43 rims, but they don't use 245mm front tyres. So ET42 should also just fit, but maybe select tyres without any/much rim protector? Or split the difference at ET41?

 

[mlcman]

AC Schnitzer fit 8.5" ET43 rims, but they don't use 245mm front tyres. So ET42 should also just fit, but maybe select tyres without any/much rim protector? Or split the difference at ET41?

I'm afraid it's either ET42 or completely different rims which I don't have as an alternative as most are out of stock currently.

They will come with Asymmetric 6 already mounted as I need a full summer set which look quite rounded at the corners from what I have seen but you can never be 100% sure before fitting...

Worse case is i guess to resort to 3mm thin shims/spacers to push them out just enough to clear the struts but not foul the fenders?

 

[mlcman]

AC Schnitzer fit 8.5" ET43 rims, but they don't use 245mm front tyres. So ET42 should also just fit, but maybe select tyres without any/much rim protector? Or split the difference at ET41?

OK good news, they will be a custom order apparently so I can choose the offset. Shall I give it one more mm to avoid any possible spacers need and go ET41?

My only worry is tire rubbing with 245/35 when moving lower than ET42... because my 225/40 were rubbing on ET30 so I have a hard time understanding how 245/35 at the front don't rub on the popular ET40, could it be due to the smaller overall diameter of the 245/35 compared to 225/40 that provides extra inner fender clearance??

 

[marco_polo]

OK good news, they will be a custom order apparently so I can choose the offset. Shall I give it one more mm to avoid any possible spacers need and go ET41?

My only worry is tire rubbing with 245/35 when moving lower than ET42... because my 225/40 were rubbing on ET30 so I have a hard time understanding how 245/35 at the front don't rub on the popular ET40, could it be due to the smaller overall diameter of the 245/35 compared to 225/40 that provides extra inner fender clearance??

As you say, you're only gaining 4mm radial clearance vs your old ET30 setup, or nothing at all if you compare worn 225/40 with new 245/35. ET41 or ET42 would be safer on the bodywork side.

Why do you have no choice in tyres? If you did, you could go with the Continental Premuim Contact 6, with very little rim protection. Goodyear are famous for thick, meaty rim protection bars, which is not what you need.

 

[mlcman]

As you say, you're only gaining 4mm radial clearance vs your old ET30 setup, or nothing at all if you compare worn 225/40 with new 245/35. ET41 or ET42 would be safer on the bodywork side.

Why do you have no choice in tyres?

Currently I run 18x8.0 ET34 on tall 225/40 tires and its perfect, need no more poke.

Plan was to go square for summer with the obvious 245/35, what other choices are there for a square setup though? 255 needs wide rims and it's a super tight fit at the front so thought of playing it safer.

It's funny that after all my search I still don't have a clear answer to the question:

What is the lowest ET that will work at the front with 245/35 on a 18x8.5J wheel, without any rubbing and without strut fouling?

 

[marco_polo]

What is the lowest ET that will work at the front with 245/35 on a 18x8.5J wheel, without any rubbing and without strut fouling?

Depends on the tyres, and how thick the rim protector is? 245's vary wildly in width, and sidewall thickness. It's usually the rim protector that will hit the strut, not the tread.

AC Schnitzer manage to squeeze 8.5" ET43 rims on, but they might be especially machined with a narrower inboard bead seat / flange, for example? Not all alloys have the exact same cross sectional form/dimensions/flange lengths.

 

[mlcman]

Depends on the tyres, and how thick the rim protector is? 245's vary wildly in width, and sidewall thickness. It's usually the rim protector that will hit the strut, not the tread.

AC Schnitzer manage to squeeze 8.5" ET43 rims on, but they might be especially machined with a narrower inboard bead seat / flange, for example? Not all alloys have the exact same cross sectional form/dimensions/flange lengths.

I appreciate it, which is why I say it's such an unprecedently tough choice I never came across any of my previous cars!

The shop tells me I can change the ET but only have about this evening to make up my mind as they are queued for machining already.

So shall I leave it at 42 or go ET41? At this point, and even though 42 is safer as you can go out with spacers later if needed, as opposed to machining a ready wheel (never going to happen), I'm convinced the 8mm smaller wheel diameter will eliminate any rubbing and thus inclined to try that extra mm of ET41...

 

[marco_polo]

If you're stuck with the Goodyears and their super-chunky sidewalls, I would be going ET41 (and cutting any moulding nubs/hairs off).

 

[Bimmert]

Attached the inside and outside sidewalls of the Asy6 245/35 on OZ 8J rims.

Its beefy on both sides but the outside is slightly thicker.

 

[mlcman]

If you're stuck with the Goodyears and their super-chunky sidewalls, I would be going ET41 (and cutting any moulding nubs/hairs off).

I went with ET41, order is updated! 😬😬 Wish me luck!

Haven't yet ordered tires as I found the wheels in another shop for a lower price which allows me to buy separately from my more expensive (but preferred) local tire shop.

Still I was very much settled for Asymmetric 6, their performance in dry and wet, response, noise, wear, price are exactly where I want them. Are you saying I should reconsider? But I don't want to go PS5 again, and Contis are quite more expensive. Maybe I can order just two at first to make a test fit?

 

[marco_polo]

Maybe I can order just two at first to make a test fit?

Sounds like a plan, they'll definitely fit on the rear.

 

[DrGadget]

I'm currently at a dead end regarding which wheels to pick for my summer set and ordering is due in order to have them here by April. Requirement is to go with a 18x8.5 wide wheel as I don't feel 245 on 8J would work well at the front axle in terms of response and steering feel. OR a 18x9.0 with a 255 tire (tight fit but supposedly working on lowered xDrive).

The designs I am after resemble the 763M, but I'm not considering cheap replicas due to questionable/random quality so...

Leggera HLT: Not coming in wider than 8.0 for 18" (WHY OZ???)

Bola FLC: No stock of GLOSS BLACK 18x8.5 in the foreseeable future (WHY BOLA??? It's so many months it's out of stock but still...)

Bola B19: No 18x8.5 in foreseeable stock, only 18x8.0 (as above)


What other similar design wheels that come in 18x8.5 Gloss Black would people suggest? I guess at this point only more expensive models (ie. over 400EUR/wheel) would be in stock/available?


I don't want to end up going for Protrack ONEs in 18x9.0 and 255 but I might just have to do that.

BOLA FLE are the ants pants. Fabulous. Front: ET40; Rear: ET45. Here in Hyper Black.

 

[mlcman]

BOLA FLE are the ants pants. Fabulous. Front: ET40; Rear: ET45. Here in Hyper Black.

I went for FLC but still a great looking wheel I agree. So you run ET40 with 245/35 at the front?

Also, do the BMW center caps fit the BOLA center bores directly? Definitely want to have BMW badges on, I hate aftermarket wheel caps

 

[Bimmert]

Btw, you might wanna get a set of arch guards with the AS6 as they pickup anything, thought somebody threw a bucket of pebbles against the side of the car the first time I drove on an unpaved carpark haha.

 

[mlcman]

Btw, you might wanna get a set of arch guards with the AS6 as they pickup anything, thought somebody threw a bucket of pebbles against the side of the car the first time I drove on an unpaved carpark haha.

Crap, my work's parking is like that. Paved for the main part of the road but the vertical parking spots that you end at, are only covered in small gravel (whyyyyy...)

 

[Bimmert]

I've put the OZ summer wheels on this morning and did a quick check to see how much wiggle room there is between the wheel and strut with the springs settled in after a short drive.

The method was rather quick and dirty with a stack of post-it notes. A 10mm stack could be moved freely between the wheel and strut, 11mm had some resistance and 12mm was a no go.

Based on these crude measurements a 255 at ET50 would definitely not fit on my car as it is 15mm closer to the strut than the 245 at ET40. Maybe it could just fit with ET45 but highly likely only with some arch rolling.

I assume lowering the car frees up some space towards the strut at the cost of loosing space in the arches.