Maybe dumb? Wide tires and auto car washes?

GFarra · 03-15-2007, 07:31 AM

I'm looking into a few different wheels for my 335 coupe. I don't use auto cash washes that often in the good weather....but I thought it would be wise to know.....generally what is the widest wheel/tire that can go through an auto car wash?

George

montreal_bimmer · 03-15-2007, 08:21 AM

pretty wide, but you shouldn't go through an auto car wash that has those wheel guide thingys on the ground, even if your wheel fits in, you risk scratching the sidewall.

a few years ago, a buddy of mine bought brand new 18's for his car, got them installed, and decided to get a car wash since he had new wheels and his car was a little dirty, went threough the car wash, came out, bothe wheels on he driver side were completely scratched, i felt so bad for the guy.

kevE90 · 03-15-2007, 08:49 AM

18s? good to know. Curious what the safe limit is for low profiles. Like the OP, I don't use auto car washes but would be nice to know for the winters were I really need to get that salt off. Maybe on that one warm day of winter, maybe because of road kill, any reason.

nin1616 · 03-15-2007, 06:28 PM

I have 19X9.5 wheels and have had no problems with scratches when going through the auto car washes. (I get lazy sometimes and don't wash the car myself)

sblument · 03-15-2007, 08:13 PM

I got scratches on my OEM wheels going through an automatic car wash. Now I only do hand washes when I've got them on.

liquid · 03-15-2007, 09:04 PM

i went in one with my girlsfriends car (salora with 16" rims) and felt it rub. luckly it was just the tire. i would tkae my car in one. however the other night a found a car wash with no tire guides. needles to say i will use that one.

uhaulball · 03-15-2007, 09:15 PM

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46901

i went to two different touchless carwash places.

1 said my wheels wouldnt fit in their rails, the other said it was fine. i took a gamble and i listened to the guy, and i didnt get any scratches. ive been there twice since then.

montreal_bimmer · 03-15-2007, 09:22 PM

if you look around, there are the ones with ni tire guides....

better be safe than sorry

MIKEYMIKE · 03-17-2007, 02:43 PM

It also depends on your offsets....not just tire/rim widths.

uhaulball · 03-17-2007, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIKEYMIKE

It also depends on your offsets....not just tire/rim widths.

i have 19x10 et24. in other words, its at the brink of rubbing. the only people i am aware that has lower offset than me is those running 19x10 et20 BBS CH. and the carwash i went do didnt scratch my wheels, and they had tire guides.

tirana · 03-17-2007, 03:30 PM

Go to a coin-op car wash (where you spray your car with wands) or a railless car wash (where you drive in and the jets move around the stationary car). Other types of car wash can and do cause damage to rims. Of course, the best way is to clean it yourself (or have a professional do it).

03-15-2007, 07:31 AM	#1
GFarra Enlisted Member 9 Rep 37 Posts Drives: 2007 e92 335 in Space Grey Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northern NJ iTrader: (0)	Maybe dumb? Wide tires and auto car washes? I'm looking into a few different wheels for my 335 coupe. I don't use auto cash washes that often in the good weather....but I thought it would be wise to know.....generally what is the widest wheel/tire that can go through an auto car wash? George __________________ 335 Coupe, Space Grey, Black Dakota with Dark Walnut Trim, Sport, Cold Weather, Premium, & Step-tronic
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03-15-2007, 08:21 AM	#2
montreal_bimmer OEMconcept 174 Rep 5,593 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada \| USA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2006 325i [10.00]	pretty wide, but you shouldn't go through an auto car wash that has those wheel guide thingys on the ground, even if your wheel fits in, you risk scratching the sidewall. a few years ago, a buddy of mine bought brand new 18's for his car, got them installed, and decided to get a car wash since he had new wheels and his car was a little dirty, went threough the car wash, came out, bothe wheels on he driver side were completely scratched, i felt so bad for the guy.
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03-15-2007, 08:49 AM	#3
kevE90 Lieutenant 21 Rep 574 Posts Drives: F8x Join Date: May 2006 Location: queens, ny iTrader: (0)	18s? good to know. Curious what the safe limit is for low profiles. Like the OP, I don't use auto car washes but would be nice to know for the winters were I really need to get that salt off. Maybe on that one warm day of winter, maybe because of road kill, any reason.
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03-15-2007, 06:28 PM	#4
nin1616 Second Lieutenant 23 Rep 236 Posts Drives: 2009 30i Z4 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, Socal iTrader: (1)	I have 19X9.5 wheels and have had no problems with scratches when going through the auto car washes. (I get lazy sometimes and don't wash the car myself) __________________ 2007 e92 335i Alpine white/black leather/aluminum trim Mods:aluminum pedals, 35% tint, carbon fiber roundels, painted side bumper reflectors, Hoen Xenon Match Angel Eye bulbs, 19' Axis Penta Wheels, Eibach Pro kit
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03-15-2007, 08:13 PM	#5
sblument Lieutenant 13 Rep 427 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Champaign, IL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I got scratches on my OEM wheels going through an automatic car wash. Now I only do hand washes when I've got them on. __________________ 2006 330i, SP, PP, fold down rear seats, sparkling graphite, black leather, metallic trim.
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03-15-2007, 09:04 PM	#6
liquid Lieutenant 67 Rep 583 Posts Drives: graphite 328i E92 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South FL iTrader: (1)	i went in one with my girlsfriends car (salora with 16" rims) and felt it rub. luckly it was just the tire. i would tkae my car in one. however the other night a found a car wash with no tire guides. needles to say i will use that one.
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03-15-2007, 09:15 PM	#7
uhaulball Brigadier General 195 Rep 4,163 Posts Drives: e90 330xi Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (11)	http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46901 i went to two different touchless carwash places. 1 said my wheels wouldnt fit in their rails, the other said it was fine. i took a gamble and i listened to the guy, and i didnt get any scratches. ive been there twice since then. __________________ '06 bsm e90 330xi : 18" VMR CSL : KW V3 : GruppeM Rep Intake : UUC/Corsa Catback : Hartge Lip : ACS Roof Spoiler OEM CF Trunk Spoiler : CF Emblems. Pillars. Mirror. Grille : LUXER12 led plate : V1 Hardwired : OG.longtran e90post sticker! circa 2005
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03-15-2007, 09:22 PM	#8
montreal_bimmer OEMconcept 174 Rep 5,593 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada \| USA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2006 325i [10.00]	if you look around, there are the ones with ni tire guides.... better be safe than sorry
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03-17-2007, 02:43 PM	#9
MIKEYMIKE Lieutenant Colonel 63 Rep 1,516 Posts Drives: 330i 6mt Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: SoCal iTrader: (3)	It also depends on your offsets....not just tire/rim widths.
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03-17-2007, 03:30 PM	#11
tirana Lieutenant 15 Rep 575 Posts Drives: M2 6MT + F25 35i AT Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (2)	Go to a coin-op car wash (where you spray your car with wands) or a railless car wash (where you drive in and the jets move around the stationary car). Other types of car wash can and do cause damage to rims. Of course, the best way is to clean it yourself (or have a professional do it).
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