Skizz

I've done a search for the specific questions I'm asking and did not come up with a clear pic. Hopefully this hasn't been beaten to death in a thread I didn't find.


I have an 09 E63 with the OEM P30 wheels. 8.5 front wheel with 245/40/18 stock tire size; 9.5 rear wheel with 265/35/18 stock tire size. I'm gonna keep the wheels as I am one of the few that actually like them. I don't, however, like the Conti DWS's I have on them now and am going to switch to PSS.


I would like to bump up in tread width with the new tires on both fronts and rears, to 255/40 front and 275/35 rears. Has anyone done this, and if so, any issues? I know the sidewall height will change some with the wider tread width as a consequence of aspect ratio and don't want to have rubbing/other issues. While I'm asking, has anyone gone bolder, to 265's on fronts and 285's on rear, or any combo of the above noted sizes? Please keep in mind that this will be with OEM P30 18's.


As always, I'm very appreciative of any input. Thanks.

bierry

Don't have your exact wheels but in terms of tire widths, I have run 275/35/18 on 18x9.5 et35 front and 285/35/18 on 18x9.5 et45 rear (and the 275 18/9.5/et35 on rear) on my 55 without rubbing at any ride height. I have an ELM so easily validated clearance through the entire suspension travel. Hope this helps

Skizz

Cool. Thanks for the input. By any chance did you run 255/40 or 265/40 on 8.5 width? When you ran the 285 on the 9.5 rear wheel, did the sidewalls bulge more than you liked, or were there any negative handling characteristics from the extra sidewall rubber? Hope that makes sense.


Again, thanks for the input.

bierry

I never had 8.5 width wheel but believe most tire mfgs assign 8.5 as the benchmark wheel width for 255 and 9.5 for 275 tires - see tirerack. The 275/35 actually looked slightly stretched on the 9.5 and in fact exposes the rim, while the 285/35 looked just right and does not bulge from either the width or the taller sidewall. As a reference, the E63 biturbos come with 285/30 on 9.5 rims. Personally didn't run /30 rear because I had 275/35 up front, which was the thinnest sidewall I was comfortable using.

Handling vs the OE wheels, tires and sizes was markedly improved but I have no 30 series tires experience to contrast. Hope this helps.

e500slr

Of course you can, I've seen 265/285 setup on stock wheels.

equitiesguy

My CLS55 has the European 18" stock wheels, which are the same as yours : 8.5" wide front, 9.5" wide on rears.

I run 255/40/18 on the front, and run 285/40/18 on the rears with no clearance issues, and no tire width issues. My 7 series BMW had 255/40/18s on the 8.5" wide wheels for years as well.

Also, no real reason to drop down to 35 in the rear. Car will certainly ride better with the 40 series and handle the same.

ryanhere

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

Tire Width 10.1 "

Skizz

Great feedback and info. Many thanks for sharing your insights. Now all that's left is to blow the cash.


Again, many thanks. I appreciate your input.

trabots

I have 265s and 295s on the stock 2006 E55 18in wheels. No rubbing, plenty of curb protection. Looks better too with old style tire bulge.