17'' alloy

[nikos]

why every one uses 215/40/17 and not 205/45/17 which is 1.6% bigger than the 205/55/15? has anybody experience with 215/45/17

[Batch]

why every one uses 215/40/17 and not 205/45/17 which is 1.6% bigger than the 205/55/15? has anybody experience with 215/45/17

At the moment i'm using 17" azev A with 215/45/17 Toyo proxes t1s. I'm fully satisfied, no probz, the only thing i don't quite like is that the tyre looks a bit too phat, the nezt time i'll buy 215/40 or even 215/35, but only to get better look

[nikos]

thank you batch,
what is the hp output your tyres deal with?

to anyboby interested here is a comparisson chart
unfortunally 225/40-17 doesnt exist

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
205/55-15 4.4in 11.9in 23.9in 75.0in 845 0.0%
205/50-16 4.0in 12.0in 24.1in 75.6in 838 0.8%

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
205/55-15 4.4in 11.9in 23.9in 75.0in 845 0.0%
205/45-17 3.6in 12.1in 24.3in 76.2in 831 1.6%

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
205/55-15 4.4in 11.9in 23.9in 75.0in 845 0.0%
225/40-17 3.5in 12.0in 24.1in 75.7in 837 0.9%

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
205/50-16 4.0in 12.0in 24.1in 75.6in 838 0.0%
225/45-16 4.0in 12.0in 24.0in 75.3in 841 -0.4%

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
205/45-17 3.6in 12.1in 24.3in 76.2in 831 0.0%
225/40-17 3.5in 12.0in 24.1in 75.7in 837 -0.7%

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
205/45-17 3.6in 12.1in 24.3in 76.2in 831 0.0%
235/40-17 3.7in 12.2in 24.4in 76.7in 827 0.6%

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
205/55-15 4.4in 11.9in 23.9in 75.0in 845 0.0%
215/40-17 3.4in 11.9in 23.8in 74.7in 848 -0.4%

[Batch]

This far my car was counting as a 320i - so it should produce 125hp, i dunno how much un the wheels. New engine should produce 218hp (maybe more after chipping it).
Anyway i didn't feel the any difference in performance after changing the wheels from 15 to 16 and then to 17"
Now i'm thinking about changing my wheels to 18". The only thing that i have to bring them from UK because here in Latvia 18" on 4 studs are not available

[johnono]

hello Nikos, i have 215 40 17s on my one at the moment, but i am considering a change to 215 45 17s as i would like a little more meat on the wheels if u know what i mean. I am satisfied with the present performance of the tyres i am using now, which are Falken Zeix and have yet to let me spin them

as soon as i need to change them , i will be putting the larger tyres, of course the rolling radius will be incorect but i dont drive too fast anyway

[A1BMW325iSport]

this is how i thought the tyres should be on the e30`s...

205/55/15 for 15" rims

205/45/16 for 16" rims

205/35/17 for 17" rims

am i wrong?

[nikos]

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
205/55-15 4.4in 11.9in 23.9in 75.0in 845 0.0%
205/35-17 2.8in 11.3in 22.6in 71.2in 890 -5.1%

the last one is very small
I plan to change from 15'' to 17'' 205/45, they come half an inch taller and this will benefit the appearence
my only drowback is whether a 205 can cope with 230 hp that propably I gonna get (is under mod. now)

http://www.miata.net/cgi-bin/tirescgi
on this site you can cal. the tyres,

[nikos]

hello johnono,
your car looks very tidy
what make is your rim?

[johnono]

thank you nikos, the wheels are actually quite rare as i have not seen them anywhere else, and they are not marked with any particular brand so i am not sure to be honest but i like them also

although, I may be changing them for a set of alpina copies, as they are 100% not available over here, so i would be the only car in denmark that has them...which would be nice

[Kelson]

You may find my note on this thread useful (then again)

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... pic&t=8777

[dazleeds]

ive got 205x45x16s on mine and so far so good but do need some bushes doing and tracking way out so should be sweeter when all thats done Daz

[nikos]

I have the feeling that going wider is just a trend produced by the insdustry.
your car looks old- fullstop-
my car is under major mod and is almost 2 months in garage .
I am almost convinsed that 205/45-17 will cop with 230 hp output -the m3 with 238 had 205/50-16 -and the arches will look better without lowering the car more than what needed
you have to wait for photos
nikos