Trying non-RFT on 2006 330xi

e90newguy · 07-16-2013, 11:47 AM

I just picked up a 2006 330xi with about 50k miles on it. It has 225/45-17 run-flat tires (inflated to the recommended pressure) - which I find to have too harsh a ride especially when driving on lousy pavement, and the car rattles my fillings when it bottoms out when I go over any minor pothole faster than about 20Mph. I know the previous owner of the car and know that he is a sedate driver, so I don't think the shocks are worn to the point of needing replacement.

I want to test how the car rides/handles with non run-flats before I seriously consider getting regular tires. I have a like-new set of 225/55-16 regular pneumatic tires mounted on factory BMW rims from my recently deceased 540i that I'd like to try on the 330 for experimentation purposes.

According to Tire Rack,
the 225/45-17 ContiProContact SSR OEM tires have a diameter of 25" diameter and a circumference of 78.54 inches, are 8.9" wide, and that there are 828 revolutions per mile with these tires,
while
the 225/55-16 ContinentalExtremeContact DWS I had on my 540i have a diameter of 25.7" and a circumference of 80.74 inches, are 9.2" wide, and that there are 811 revolutions per mile with these tires

Thus the 16" tires have 1.03" larger circumference, or in percentage terms the 16" are 2.80% larger circumference.

I know that the speedo/odometer will read slightly differently with the regular tires due to the circumference difference but I don't really care. Nor do I care that I don't have a spare [isn't that what AAA is for??

].

I plan on running with the regular tires for maybe 1,000 miles so I can understand how much difference regular tires might make on the 330 on many different road surfaces.

Now my questions before I start anything.....

1) Will the 16" rims from my 540i physically fit on the 330xi's mounting studs?
2) Will I have to use spacers rings behind the wheels to clear brake components?
3) Will the 0.3" extra width of the regular tires create any clearance issues?
4) Is there anything else I should worry about?

Thanks for all opinions.

VMRWheels · 07-16-2013, 12:25 PM

What size are the 5-series wheels? We need a bit more info about the 5-series wheels themselves.

e90newguy · 07-16-2013, 01:00 PM

The stock 540i wheels I want to try on the 330 are these:

Size: 16" x 7", 5 Lug, 120mm Bolt Pattern, 20mm Offset

e90newguy · 07-17-2013, 01:05 PM

The rims currently on the 330 are these:

Size: 17" x 8", 5 Lug, 120mm Bolt Pattern, 47mm Offset

e90newguy · 07-17-2013, 01:09 PM

So the question is, will the 540 rims with a smaller offset and smaller width than the 330 rims fit around the brake hardware and not interfere with running the car while I test out the regular pneumatics?

Digitalize · 07-17-2013, 01:28 PM

The mounting face is further out but the overall wheel won't be out that much, it should be absolutely fine.

Check they're a square set so it works with the xDrive.

e90newguy · 07-17-2013, 02:45 PM

After poking around some more, I found this offset calculator
http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Wheel-Offset-Calculator
which says that if I use the 540 wheels on the 330, the inside edge of the wheel will be 40mm further from the suspension to the suspension and that the outer edge of the wheel will be 14mm further out from the existing track.

Does this seem like it would be ok on the 330?

I guess it's time to try mounting the wheels and see if the clearances work.

07-16-2013, 11:47 AM	#1
e90newguy New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Somewhere in Canada iTrader: (0)	Trying non-RFT on 2006 330xi I just picked up a 2006 330xi with about 50k miles on it. It has 225/45-17 run-flat tires (inflated to the recommended pressure) - which I find to have too harsh a ride especially when driving on lousy pavement, and the car rattles my fillings when it bottoms out when I go over any minor pothole faster than about 20Mph. I know the previous owner of the car and know that he is a sedate driver, so I don't think the shocks are worn to the point of needing replacement. I want to test how the car rides/handles with non run-flats before I seriously consider getting regular tires. I have a like-new set of 225/55-16 regular pneumatic tires mounted on factory BMW rims from my recently deceased 540i that I'd like to try on the 330 for experimentation purposes. According to Tire Rack, the 225/45-17 ContiProContact SSR OEM tires have a diameter of 25" diameter and a circumference of 78.54 inches, are 8.9" wide, and that there are 828 revolutions per mile with these tires, while the 225/55-16 ContinentalExtremeContact DWS I had on my 540i have a diameter of 25.7" and a circumference of 80.74 inches, are 9.2" wide, and that there are 811 revolutions per mile with these tires Thus the 16" tires have 1.03" larger circumference, or in percentage terms the 16" are 2.80% larger circumference. I know that the speedo/odometer will read slightly differently with the regular tires due to the circumference difference but I don't really care. Nor do I care that I don't have a spare [isn't that what AAA is for??]. I plan on running with the regular tires for maybe 1,000 miles so I can understand how much difference regular tires might make on the 330 on many different road surfaces. Now my questions before I start anything..... 1) Will the 16" rims from my 540i physically fit on the 330xi's mounting studs? 2) Will I have to use spacers rings behind the wheels to clear brake components? 3) Will the 0.3" extra width of the regular tires create any clearance issues? 4) Is there anything else I should worry about? Thanks for all opinions.
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07-16-2013, 12:25 PM	#2
VMRWheels BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 2045 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]	What size are the 5-series wheels? We need a bit more info about the 5-series wheels themselves. __________________ VMR\|Wheels \| 714.442.7916 \| sales@velocitymotoring.com \| www.velocitymotoring.com \| facebook \| flickr \| Instagram
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07-16-2013, 01:00 PM	#3
e90newguy New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Somewhere in Canada iTrader: (0)	The stock 540i wheels I want to try on the 330 are these: Size: 16" x 7", 5 Lug, 120mm Bolt Pattern, 20mm Offset Attached Images Last edited by e90newguy; 07-17-2013 at 01:06 PM..
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07-17-2013, 01:05 PM	#4
e90newguy New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Somewhere in Canada iTrader: (0)	The rims currently on the 330 are these: Size: 17" x 8", 5 Lug, 120mm Bolt Pattern, 47mm Offset Attached Images
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07-17-2013, 01:09 PM	#5
e90newguy New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Somewhere in Canada iTrader: (0)	So the question is, will the 540 rims with a smaller offset and smaller width than the 330 rims fit around the brake hardware and not interfere with running the car while I test out the regular pneumatics?
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07-17-2013, 01:28 PM	#6
Digitalize Photographer 413 Rep 2,643 Posts Drives: 320D Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	The mounting face is further out but the overall wheel won't be out that much, it should be absolutely fine. Check they're a square set so it works with the xDrive.
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07-17-2013, 02:45 PM	#7
e90newguy New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Somewhere in Canada iTrader: (0)	After poking around some more, I found this offset calculator http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Wheel-Offset-Calculator which says that if I use the 540 wheels on the 330, the inside edge of the wheel will be 40mm further from the suspension to the suspension and that the outer edge of the wheel will be 14mm further out from the existing track. Does this seem like it would be ok on the 330? I guess it's time to try mounting the wheels and see if the clearances work.
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