235/40R18 Fitment on Front vs 225/40R18

Watwood · 12-20-2012, 10:25 AM

I know stock front tires are 225/40R18 and the OEM's tire sidewals were nice and vertical, aka, continuously the same width as the outside of the wheel. When I put Continental DW tires on a couple of years ago in the stock sizes, the rears looked nice, but the front tires rounded off toward the top, as in the 225mm width from Continental wasn't quite as wide as the 225 width from the stock run flats. It's minor, but it has bugged the heck out of me.

Two questions:

Has anyone tried running Continental DW 235/40R18 tires on the front and do they rub when turning the wheel?

Does any one know for certain whether or not Continental's 225/40R18 tires are any wider these days?

nrrm1127 · 12-20-2012, 10:50 AM

You should be fine with a 10mm wider tire. I'm running 245/50/18 on my winter setup for my X3 on a 225 wheel and don't have any issues. If you have any questions just call Tire Rack. Their guys are pretty knowledgeable.

3002 tii · 12-20-2012, 11:07 AM

235 is fine but keep in mind your fronts will be 1/3" higher than rear. changing the width will also change the height if you're not paying attention to the sidewall.

EYE4SPEED · 12-20-2012, 11:23 AM

I ran a square 245 setup. Full lock you will have some issues, should be fine with 235.

Watwood · 12-20-2012, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSC_OFF

235 is fine but keep in mind your fronts will be 1/3" higher than rear. changing the width will also change the height if you're not paying attention to the sidewall.

Yeah, I was asking more in relation to the tire diameter being too large and rubbing the wheel wells when the wheel is turned. I was less worried about the increase in width.

This is a sports package 07 335i if I didn't mention that earlier, lol.

12-20-2012, 02:47 PM

I run 245/40/18 DWS tires on 18x8.5" ET35 wheels up front with no issues. This guy is running 225/45/18 and is lowered pretty good with no issues either:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=607854

To answer your question, I doubt that the DW models are any "wider" now than they used to be. What you need to do is keep the stock tire size but go with a tire that's known to either have more of a square shoulder or one that typically runs wide compared to other brand/model tires of the same size (like the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, for instance, etc.)

As mentioned, you don't want to mess with sidewall height too much from front to back. Just find a tire in the stock size that you feel is "better looking."

VMRWheels · 12-20-2012, 03:50 PM

235/40/18 will fit no problem. It'll give you more of a square shoulder you're looking for.

12-20-2012, 10:25 AM	#1
Watwood Private 13 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	235/40R18 Fitment on Front vs 225/40R18 I know stock front tires are 225/40R18 and the OEM's tire sidewals were nice and vertical, aka, continuously the same width as the outside of the wheel. When I put Continental DW tires on a couple of years ago in the stock sizes, the rears looked nice, but the front tires rounded off toward the top, as in the 225mm width from Continental wasn't quite as wide as the 225 width from the stock run flats. It's minor, but it has bugged the heck out of me. Two questions: Has anyone tried running Continental DW 235/40R18 tires on the front and do they rub when turning the wheel? Does any one know for certain whether or not Continental's 225/40R18 tires are any wider these days?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

12-20-2012, 10:50 AM	#2
nrrm1127 Lieutenant 140 Rep 473 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 328i SG/SB Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Rochelle, NY iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 E90 328i [0.00]	You should be fine with a 10mm wider tire. I'm running 245/50/18 on my winter setup for my X3 on a 225 wheel and don't have any issues. If you have any questions just call Tire Rack. Their guys are pretty knowledgeable. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-20-2012, 11:07 AM	#3
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2286 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.24]	235 is fine but keep in mind your fronts will be 1/3" higher than rear. changing the width will also change the height if you're not paying attention to the sidewall. __________________ Follow for latest mods
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-20-2012, 11:23 AM	#4
EYE4SPEED Ex-Diesel Driver 63 Rep 2,000 Posts Drives: Audi SQ5 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: West Coast... of Michigan iTrader: (22)	I ran a square 245 setup. Full lock you will have some issues, should be fine with 235. __________________ FS: HRE Center Caps http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...post13972317l]
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-20-2012, 02:47 PM	#6
FCobra94 Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	I run 245/40/18 DWS tires on 18x8.5" ET35 wheels up front with no issues. This guy is running 225/45/18 and is lowered pretty good with no issues either: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=607854 To answer your question, I doubt that the DW models are any "wider" now than they used to be. What you need to do is keep the stock tire size but go with a tire that's known to either have more of a square shoulder or one that typically runs wide compared to other brand/model tires of the same size (like the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, for instance, etc.) As mentioned, you don't want to mess with sidewall height too much from front to back. Just find a tire in the stock size that you feel is "better looking."
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-20-2012, 03:50 PM	#7
VMRWheels BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 2042 Rep 25,989 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2013 BMW M3 [10.00] 2015 BMW M4 [0.00] 2013 BMW F30 [0.00] 2014 BMW F22 [0.00] 2013 BMW F06 [0.00]	235/40/18 will fit no problem. It'll give you more of a square shoulder you're looking for. __________________ VMR\|Wheels \| 714.442.7916 \| sales@velocitymotoring.com \| www.velocitymotoring.com \| facebook \| flickr \| Instagram
	Appreciate 0 Quote