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scottn2retro
07-02-2003, 05:11 PM
Hi Gary -

The car in question is a '95 e36 M3 using 245/40x17 tires (Goodyear racing tires with an effective width of 255) on 17x8 wheels with 32 or 33 mm offset (will try to get an exact number). The car has rolled fenders on all 4 corners.

If I got some 17x8.5 wheels, what would be the right offset?

TIA
Scott
Gary@Tirerack
07-03-2003, 05:45 AM
We know of no offset that would make this clear the suspension. I can tell you that the 8.5" rear fitments we sell are 40+ mm offsets, but in your case we do not know if that will clear the suspension. Suggest checking with other track guys to see if anyone has heard of running this extreme of a setup and what they're using.
scottn2retro
07-03-2003, 07:26 AM
Thanks Gary. The current owner was going to 1) verify what the actual offsets are on the 8" wheels and 2) check an 'offset chart' to see what he thought, but in any event, I guess we're probably talking about custom wheels for 8.5"

Another related question: For street tires, he's been using 235/40x17 Goodyear Eagles (on those 17x8 33mm offset wheels). If I get another set of 17x8 street wheels, could I go with any offset between 41mm (stock) and 33mm or would the appearance really suffer if I used a stock offset?
scottn2retro
08-05-2003, 01:06 PM
We know of no offset that would make this clear the suspension. I can tell you that the 8.5" rear fitments we sell are 40+ mm offsets, but in your case we do not know if that will clear the suspension. Suggest checking with other track guys to see if anyone has heard of running this extreme of a setup and what they're using.

You're right - was at the track with the car this past weekend and even with the 8" wheels, they are rubbing on occassion on the inside and the outside - Best to just stick with the 8's for now.

But I could use an opinion on the street wheels. Alex said the race tires are over an inch wider than the street tires, so I guess theoretically I could go with anything between 33 and 41 - would 37 be a good compromise? Do any BMWs use that (or something close) as a stock offset in a 17 inch wheel?
Gary@Tirerack
08-05-2003, 01:40 PM
35-40mm is pretty normal to use in the aftermarket. Unsure about Factory BMW wheels.
scottn2retro
08-05-2003, 01:57 PM
35-40mm is pretty normal to use in the aftermarket. Unsure about Factory BMW wheels.

I guess it would help if I gave you more to go on. Let me re-phrase it this way:

What offsets do you guys have for BBS 17x8's that are in that 35-40mm range?