E36 M3 Coupe tyre sizes

[ClassicB]

Ok it is time to replace front tyres on my car, i currently have 235-40-17 on the front and 245-40-17 on the rear. Car was purchased like this.

When i called for prices this morning i was told front should be 225-45-17 and rear was correct.

My rears are new, just need fronts.

What setup do you guys run with the same car run?

 

[Fordkoppie]

Actually the 2dr ones came with 235/40/17 all round which is stupid, since the front wheels are 7.5J and the rears 8.5J.
This causes the rear tires to appear stretched.
I fitted 225/45/17 in front and 245/40/17 in the rear on my ex M3 (the same setup that the 4dr 3.2 had).
Result - looked fantastic, and the speedo was deadly accurate, whereas with the std sizes it over read by 5 km thorugh the whole range.

 

[Technician]

Actually the 2dr ones came with 235/40/17 all round which is stupid, since the front wheels are 7.5J and the rears 8.5J.
This causes the rear tires to appear stretched.
I fitted 225/45/17 in front and 245/40/17 in the rear on my ex M3 (the same setup that the 4dr 3.2 had).
Result - looked fantastic, and the speedo was deadly accurate, whereas with the std sizes it over read by 5 km thorugh the whole range.

My car is 235/40/17 all round- always thought the back should be bigger?
yet my back tyres dont look as "stretched " as other E36's i've seen.
:dunno:

 

[ClassicB]

Yup narrows and wides should have a proper staggered setup.
245-40-17, seems to fit the rear perfectly! Was just concerned my fronts were wrong, but seems fordkoppie answered me. Will get 225-45-17 up front.

 

[msm]

When I had my M3 coupe, I also found it strange that the mags were staggered but not the tyres.

Can't recall details (as I read about this a long time ago), but the coupe was spec'ed to have 235 all around as BMW wanted to intentionally decrease understeer and improve the overall balance.

Can't argue much with that logic when they received this:

Although, just to add, a more modern 225 tyre should have better grip than the older 235 tyres that originally came out with the car. Hence, you should be able to fit 225 in front without any issues. It's a more common size anyway (and easier to source)

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yet my back tyres dont look as "stretched " as other E36's i've seen.
:dunno:

Different tyre brands have slightly different appearances - hence some appear stretched and some look normal. The OEM Conti's Sport Contact (IIRC), back in the day looked normal, but some others in the same size looked stretched.

 

[Fordkoppie]

Well i have done dime a dozen laps on the dynamic handling circuit @ gerotec with my setup (which was sport contact 3s) and the balance was superb. one could induce any type of steer, depending on your entry speed, throttle opening etc... whatever mood you were in the car would follow suit:excited:

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This just makes me long for my old M3 again.
Damn you e39 M5 that screwed up my mind!!

 

[328ii]

Well i have done dime a dozen laps on the dynamic handling circuit @ gerotec with my setup (which was sport contact 3s) and the balance was superb. one could induce any type of steer, depending on your entry speed, throttle opening etc... whatever mood you were in the car would follow suit:excited:

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This just makes me long for my old M3 again.
Damn you e39 M5 that screwed up my mind!!

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What experience have you had with
235x40x17 at the rear &
225x45x17 on the front..?

8?>

 

[Fordkoppie]

Well i have done dime a dozen laps on the dynamic handling circuit @ gerotec with my setup (which was sport contact 3s) and the balance was superb. one could induce any type of steer, depending on your entry speed, throttle opening etc... whatever mood you were in the car would follow suit:excited:

---

This just makes me long for my old M3 again.
Damn you e39 M5 that screwed up my mind!!

---

What experience have you had with
235x40x17 at the rear &
225x45x17 on the front..?

8?>

---

Never tried that.:dunno: Fitted all 4 simultaneously.
That would also look silly, since the front will then have a higher sidewall and look bigger

 

[calypso]

Prior to 1995 it was 235 all the way around. The produced very balanced steering that didnt understeer much. There was so little understeer that the e36 M3 set the record for the most crashed car in the 6 months of ownership. This was later revised to 225 front and 245 back to induce some understeer so the americans would stop killing themselves.

I run 235 front and 245 back.

 

[Chavoos]

Use 225/45 in front and 245/40 , best setup for M3 , got it on mine. Awesome handling

 

[ClassicB]

I went with 235/40/17 up front and 245/40/17 at the back, like Calypso. I wasnt too keen on 225/45/17 up front, because i didnt like the profile.

 

[Shahaad]

when i replaced back tyres the guy at the shop(who had previously owned a E36 M3) recommended the 245/40/17 - rear and 235/40/17 - front, which is widely recommended.

however when i purchased the car it had 235/40/17 all round and from personal choice i much preferred how the wheel and tyre looked with this set up (esp on the rear).

Therefore i stuck with the 235/40/17 all round and must admit that i have not encounted any problems with regards to handling.

Personally i have not come across many that run the 225/40/17 on the front.

hope that sheds some light :mmm: or none at all