How to identify staggered wheels

lowrydr310 · 08-26-2020, 08:22 PM

Is there an easy way to quickly identify which wheels are wider or narrower on a staggered wheel setup?

I recently acquired a 330i with sport package that has type 162 wheels (Front: 18x8 225/40 R18, Rear: 18x8.5 255/35 R18). While the tires are correctly positioned on the car, I suspect that whatever shop the previous owner used mounted them on the wrong wheels. My front tires are 225/40R18 and it looks like the tread is narrower than the wheel with the sidewalls stretched out to fit the rim. My rear tires are just the opposite, 255/35R18 overhanging the lip of the rim quite a bit. I suspect that the 8.5" wide wheels are up front and the 8" wide wheels are in the back. Is there a quick way to identify this? I looked for markings but couldn't find anything.

Foghorn · 08-26-2020, 08:44 PM

The size markings are on the inside of the spokes, you’d have to remove the the wheel to verify.

You can use a measuring tape on the inside lip of the wheel, there’s more clearance around the bottom of the wheel between the spokes to get a measuring tape in there, measure from the inside to a reference point on the front and compare the wheel widths of the front and back wheels and you’ll see which are wider.

lowrydr310 · 08-27-2020, 03:47 PM

I just took the wheels off and confirmed my suspicion. Sure enough the 8" wheels were in the back and the 8 1/2" were up front. This ain't no Audi RS3! (wider front wheels)

I had them swapped and rebalanced, looks way better. What a weird screw up by the previous tire shop. Somebody wasn't paying attention.

Foghorn · 08-30-2020, 10:52 PM

Glad you got it all sorted out. Somebody at the tire shop wasn’t paying attention indeed.

08-26-2020, 08:22 PM	#1
lowrydr310 Robot 1691 Rep 2,192 Posts Drives: 2006 330i, 2007 E93 335i Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Souhtrne Califniora iTrader: (0)	How to identify staggered wheels Is there an easy way to quickly identify which wheels are wider or narrower on a staggered wheel setup? I recently acquired a 330i with sport package that has type 162 wheels (Front: 18x8 225/40 R18, Rear: 18x8.5 255/35 R18). While the tires are correctly positioned on the car, I suspect that whatever shop the previous owner used mounted them on the wrong wheels. My front tires are 225/40R18 and it looks like the tread is narrower than the wheel with the sidewalls stretched out to fit the rim. My rear tires are just the opposite, 255/35R18 overhanging the lip of the rim quite a bit. I suspect that the 8.5" wide wheels are up front and the 8" wide wheels are in the back. Is there a quick way to identify this? I looked for markings but couldn't find anything.
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08-26-2020, 08:44 PM	#2
Foghorn Private First Class 305 Rep 166 Posts Drives: 2007 335XI Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Montreal, Quebec iTrader: (0)	The size markings are on the inside of the spokes, you’d have to remove the the wheel to verify. You can use a measuring tape on the inside lip of the wheel, there’s more clearance around the bottom of the wheel between the spokes to get a measuring tape in there, measure from the inside to a reference point on the front and compare the wheel widths of the front and back wheels and you’ll see which are wider.
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08-27-2020, 03:47 PM	#3
lowrydr310 Robot 1691 Rep 2,192 Posts Drives: 2006 330i, 2007 E93 335i Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Souhtrne Califniora iTrader: (0)	I just took the wheels off and confirmed my suspicion. Sure enough the 8" wheels were in the back and the 8 1/2" were up front. This ain't no Audi RS3! (wider front wheels) I had them swapped and rebalanced, looks way better. What a weird screw up by the previous tire shop. Somebody wasn't paying attention.
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08-30-2020, 10:52 PM	#4
Foghorn Private First Class 305 Rep 166 Posts Drives: 2007 335XI Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Montreal, Quebec iTrader: (0)	Glad you got it all sorted out. Somebody at the tire shop wasn’t paying attention indeed.
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