E46 stretch tire help please

[kicker1_solo]

My summer beater is a 00 323i wagon and I'm running 18"x9 M3 wheels in the rear with 245/4018 tires and 18x8 with 225/45/18s up front. I believe the fronts are ET47 and the rears are ET26.



The back rubs quite a bit when I corner hard or hit bumps, the front hasn't had any rubbage. My near future interest is stretched tires on the rear. And down the road I'd like to run spacers up front (12mmish) and then stretch those as well.

I'm hoping there's a few people on here that knows some about the fitment on an E46. I'd like to be able to keep these M wheels without rubbing while I'm driving. I'm not too concerned about having passengers with me, my back seat has been empty for over a year and I'm okay with that. So what size tire should I run to make the majority of the rubbing go away? And I may also lower the rear a little bit, and dump the front, but that's next year's plans.



As you can see, I've got quite the rub ring all the way around the tire



Thanks in advance guys.

[jeremy5000]

Aspect ratios are too high, you'd want something with a lower profile... As for width though I have no idea.

[kicker1_solo]

Oh, okay, glad we got that all fingered out

[kicker1_solo]

Bump...

[selah777]

Just run like a 225/35. But really you dont appear to be rubbing that bad

[Bremsen]

Fenders rolled? I'd say run a 225 width rear and 215 front, you can stay with the 40 series.
I'm running 18x8.5/18x10 et35/40. I've run the following:
225/40F 235/40R
215/40F 235/40R
225/40F 245/40R (current)

Previous owner was running 215/225 (little too stretched for my taste).

Factory sport suspension, fenders rolled. I'm getting a very slight rub on the rear now on hard cornering, but I'm pretty sure its just the bumper clip. I'm sure I'll have to do some modifying once it gets dropped and I might go back to the 215/235 setup.

[kicker1_solo]

Fenders aren't rolled.

Thanks man.

[a3 german]

one option is 225 40 all round, or 225 40 at rear, and 215 40 at front...

but you just could have stretch if your wheels were wider...8" in front seems very thin IMO...unless you want go to 205 at front and 215 at rear wheels....

IMO (again lol) the problem is not the tyres, but the wheels. if they were 8,5/9,5 with the correct ET, you wouldn't have problems...

[euro e28]

i don't know if this will help you but i was running a square set-up (18x9.5) all around on 215/35R18's and had no rubbing issues anywhere on stock, untouched, unmolested fenders/rear quarters. i dont like to roll my fenders/rear quarters only because i always crack/chip my paint.

[evilstar]

need to cut your fenders or roll them at least. start by getting all the junk out from inside the rear fender lip. if you roll them be sure to use a heat gun so you dont crack your paint.

It is my opinion that the easyiest best choice is cutting the fender slightly then removing the rest of the gunk then rolling it last.

I'm running 245/35/19 on oem m3 rears 19x9.5 et 23 on my e46 sedan with very little rubbing. a 235 on a 9.5 would make it even better. I have considered that route but like fatter tires. a friend is running 265s on his sedan.

also your biggest rubbing issue will be in the rear where the bumper meets the fender and you cant roll. only option is grinding. feel free to pm me if you have more questions.

[fuxxo]

hi guys.. I have E46 touring, and will be running new wheels next season, they will be 18x9,5 ET35 on the rear and with the 225/40 tyre (to fit the stock size, and have great stretch), did anybody run this setup? how big spacer I can run with these?
and the last, but important thing, how do I get rid of the freakin plastic where fender meets the bumper.. (plastic on bumper) is there any clip, or can I just cut it off? :-D I dont want that my bumper will stick out.
thanks

[evilstar]

hi guys.. I have E46 touring, and will be running new wheels next season, they will be 18x9,5 ET35 on the rear and with the 225/40 tyre (to fit the stock size, and have great stretch), did anybody run this setup? how big spacer I can run with these?
and the last, but important thing, how do I get rid of the freakin plastic where fender meets the bumper.. (plastic on bumper) is there any clip, or can I just cut it off? :-D I dont want that my bumper will stick out.
thanks

with that tire size and et you should be fine. if anything id be worried on rubbin on the inside of the wheel well not the fender. lol Best thing for spacer decesion is a test fit beforfe purchase. Also it really depens on how low you are more than anything else.

for that plastic piece i just let my tire take care of it. lol

[fuxxo]

evilstar: from inside? why? :-O I will have spacers.. but you're right, test fit will be the best..
and really, the tire? :-D I had there on 8,5J rim original 255/35 tyre and it rubbed all the time :-D but I think it didnt help.. :-/ but okay, its good to know, that its not a big problem :-) thanks