E36 wheel and tire options

Subject: E36 wheel and tire options
From: Chetan_Marfatia@domain.elided (Chetan Marfatia)
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 16:29:56 -0400

Chris,

Regarding your questions about 17" rims and lowering your '93 325is, I can tell 
you the following.  I own a '94 325is which I modified by installing Eibach 
lowering springs, Bilstein Sport Shocks and Eibach Sway Bars.  The car is 
lowered approx. 1" all around.  On the street I have been running my standard 
225/55-15 tires with no problems of rubbing.  The above noted modifications were
made mainly for track use.  I run 225/50-16 BFG R1's and have never had a 
rubbing problem.  I will tell you though that the clearance with the R1's is 
extremely tight (less than 1/2").  BMW states that you can run 235/40-17's on 
the car without a problem.  If you can get measurements on the difference 
between a 225/50-16 setup vs. 235/40-17 (maybe somebody on the digest knows) and
the difference in size is minor, then I think you should be OK with the 17's.

Hope this helps.

Chet.