How Wide is Too Wide?

"Collin" (coliin) 11/11/2013 at 12:05 • Filed to: Tires, Wider is Better, Grounded to the Ground

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Recently when walking into the parking lot after work, I noticed just how wide my rear tires are. Even with a truck parked on either side, the 255s just looked absolutely massive. The less I think about how much new ones cost, the happier I am.

Later, I had a conversation with a new FRS owner who was talking about how ridiculously fun his car was to drive due in part to the little Prius tires it came with. I absolutely love my E39, and I fly through the North Georgia mountains on a pretty regular basis, but at the same time, I sometimes just want to hoon it in the rain without having to really drop the hammer like a true douchebag.

So where do you stand? How wide is just right? How wide is too wide?

TheOnelectronic > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:07

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Love those tires. They've handled Blizzards and switchbacks with equal poise.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:09

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As an FR-S owner with skinny prius tires, they are fun but completely useless while autocrossing. Plus the like to lose grip when you don't want wan to. It is really annoying.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:11

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Too wide is when you can't break traction even when dumping the clutch at full throttle in second gear I'd say. 255's ain't that wide on a E39. I have 215's on my civic (previous owner bought them, not me) and THAT is a tad much..

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:11

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I had 275s on all 4 corners on my Mustang. If you have room, I think it's just right.

Victorious Secret > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:12

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No such thing as too much tire.

If the wells can handle it and you don't cause excessive rubbing, go as wide as you can.

I think I can push to 245 and I just might.

Collin > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 11/11/2013 at 12:16

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I think you also have to take into account what the car was intended to do. The 540i was made to be a gentleman's sporting sedan and as such was meant to be composed the entire time you're driving it. Driving tail out isn't very gentlemanly.

Collin > TheOnelectronic 11/11/2013 at 12:17

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Prius tires?

horspowr1001 > TheOnelectronic 11/11/2013 at 12:19

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I can't wait to see how the new Pilot Sport A/S 3's handle :D

Collin > Victorious Secret 11/11/2013 at 12:19

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This gentleman would be inclined to agree.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:19

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Sure, but I'm talking about when you just happen to accidentally slip your foot of the clutch and then you kinda happen to put your right foot hard on the "go forwards" thingamabob...

Even gentlemen makes mistakes yeah? ;)

horspowr1001 > TheOnelectronic 11/11/2013 at 12:19

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I can't wait to see how the new Pilot Sport A/S 3's handle :D

Victorious Secret > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:20

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Does he even have wheel wells?

Nope. Not even close.

Collin > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 11/11/2013 at 12:21

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Of course, but BMW wanted to make sure that even when gentlemen make "mistakes," their sedan would remain composed and civilized.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:23

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Personally I love wide wheels. I think the 315's on the X5 M look so awesome

TheOnelectronic > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:24

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Nah, the Pilot Sport A/S Plus

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:24

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Fair enough, but as for your question.. 255's on an E39 are not wide enough to be chavish, 275's might be, and 295' are way over the top.

Collin > Victorious Secret 11/11/2013 at 12:28

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With enough of a lift, does having a wheel well even matter?

Collin > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 11/11/2013 at 12:31

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If I ever decide to supercharge it (when it's no longer my DD), 275s would probably be a good choice.

Collin > E30Joe drives a Subaru 11/11/2013 at 12:32

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The X5 M isn't fit for polite society...but in the most awesome way possible.

Collin > YSI-what can brown do for you 11/11/2013 at 12:33

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Is it to the point where you have to be careful not to drift all left turns in the rain?

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:34

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But a supercharged 540 could no longer be seen as a gentlemans car my friend... Such a vehicle would rather be more like the car Robert Downing Jr would drive, and as such even 295's would be quite appropriate.

Collin > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 11/11/2013 at 12:38

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You have a point. Sometimes you just have to take off your merino wool driving sweater and matching leather driving gloves so you can admit to yourself that you're no longer the gentleman you thought you were...because MOAR POWERRRR!!!

gbbts > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:40

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Mr. Harris will be happy to show you a few things.

But talking seriously. You have to find the best balance between traction, size and driving style.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:41

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Not really, but on certain roads, the tires just don't want to grip. It isn't like I am trying. I am maybe at 2500 rpms and even then the tires are just like "Nope"

Collin > TheOnelectronic 11/11/2013 at 12:41

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Well that makes more sense.

Collin > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 11/11/2013 at 12:44

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I'm not quite up to 300 hp, so I think 255s are perfect for what I have right now, but if a supercharger were to find its way under my hood...hmmm...

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:44

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The way I see it is as follows; as long as I treat the ladies with respect and kindness, and I'm never condescending towards anyone about race, religion or sex, I'll always be a gentleman and a.. no, perhaps not a scholar, but always a gentleman. And that should give me the opportunity to drive cars that could be seen as a bit chavish :)

Milky > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:46

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Another 255 owner here, and I'd say as wide as the wheel wells allowed. I'd go wider if I had the money for rims/tires since they are still currently inboard an inch or so.

Collin > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 11/11/2013 at 12:52

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I have my eye on a Jaguar XF Supercharged in a couple years. It's so gentlemanly, no one would notice the 470 hp V8 until it's too late.

Collin > Milky 11/11/2013 at 12:55

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I don't see too many Crossfires still on the road. How's it holding up?

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Collin 11/11/2013 at 12:57

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Gentlemanly tire shredders prefer the M5 or 550i.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Collin 11/11/2013 at 13:06

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Fair point guv' fair point.

parkingking > YSI-what can brown do for you 11/11/2013 at 13:10

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Now that it's colder up north (below the 40F recommended minimum for summer tires), the Michelin Primacy HP tires on my FR-S like to lose grip suddenly and quietly. It's not worse than normal (in fact, more fun), but (like driving in the wet) more care is required.

thebigbossyboss > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 11/11/2013 at 13:24

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Got 225's on my cavalier.

Milky > Collin 11/11/2013 at 13:27

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Besides the broken ashtray and the HVAC fan that doesn't want to run a quarter of the time ($300 dollar fix) she is minty .... Love the thing.

I'm sure we have some of the same problems owning out of warranty "German" cars lol.

Fed(oo=[][]=oo)uken > Collin 11/11/2013 at 13:28

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I have 215s on 7.5x16 wheels on my '87 535i, and while I had to roll the fenders to get them to fit, I think they're perfect. Sooo much more grip than the stock 190s. It is a little harder to get the back loose, but for carving it's tits. They're also not so wide as to look cartoonish.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > thebigbossyboss 11/11/2013 at 13:31

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An oppo with a cavalier? That's awesome :) Which generation?

Fed(oo=[][]=oo)uken > E30Joe drives a Subaru 11/11/2013 at 13:33

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I'll just leave this here.. (because I need to leave it somewhere !)

(BMW engineer) Hey guys, why haven't we put the engine from the V12 LMR in an SUV yet?

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Fed(oo=[][]=oo)uken 11/11/2013 at 13:40

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Why haven't the put the V12 in the back seat is what you meant... Right?

Anon > Collin 11/11/2013 at 14:19

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My Mini has massive tires for what it is. Especially for a 110 HP hatchback.

BKRM3 > Collin 11/11/2013 at 14:26

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I think the X5 sport package has 315s on the back. They make my 265 AD08 square track setup for the M look foolish.

thebigbossyboss > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 11/11/2013 at 14:33

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2nd gen.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > thebigbossyboss 11/11/2013 at 14:40

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Isn't that a third gen? I always thought the 88-94 was the second gen... this one.

Anywho, that must look BAD ASS as F%¤& on 225's :)

His Stigness > horspowr1001 11/11/2013 at 16:14

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They should be pretty bad ass since they're essentially Super Sports for all seasons. I've got Super Sports and love them. And the nice thing about the new A/S 3's is they won't have the chunking problem on the shoulders like the A/S Plus's do.

His Stigness > Collin 11/11/2013 at 16:18

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The wider the tire the better in my opinion. I've got 255's on my Mercedes and if I could go wider I would. While drifting is fun grip is even more fun. The more grip the better because then I'm confident the back end won't kick out on me. I also have Super Sports and since they're summer tires they tend to slip easier in the rain, thus satisfying my hooning urges.

horspowr1001 > His Stigness 11/11/2013 at 18:47

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Shit. Wish I had read that before I bought a set of A/S+ from Tire Rack in May...

thebigbossyboss > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 11/11/2013 at 18:54

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Oh man your right, it is a third gen. ANyways yeah on 225's the thing has amazing grip.

His Stigness > horspowr1001 11/11/2013 at 18:58

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They weren't out then so be at peace with your purchase.

I hoon, therefore I am > Collin 11/15/2013 at 19:36

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Nova has 305s in the back, which will be replaced with 315s when I've completely shredded them. But I have no issue breaking traction, even with drag radials.

E24 has 225s, which seem a tad small, especially in the back. Though I have to get the revs up much more than with the 205s and 14" wheels before...

guest111113 > Collin 11/17/2013 at 21:55

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I personally enjoy having the rear end of my car step out a lot. So I actually went down a size from stock in the rear. I went from 245s to 235s on my '98 M3 and its a lot of fun. + this size was also cheaper