E30 15" tire sizes, yes I searched, please offer advice ASAP!!!

E30 owners... COMBINE!

I need some help here, and advice ASAP/today! I have to decide something on tires quickly due to budgetary/trade logistics concerns. Sorry for the long read, but my circumstances have changed and I need advice quick.

Car: 1990 325I Suspension: Bilstein/HR Race Use: /foothills/twisties, maybe one trip to Deal's Gap next year. *NO trackdays, NO HPDEs. Max one AutoX next year (family expanding, 2013 should add a couple more local AXs but I'll need new tires by then anyway.)

Size: 15x7 or 15x8 TRM C1s / K1s. No spacers but rolling is OK. I am also concerned about suspension clearance...

I've read Cheap Skates, plus Tire Test part 1 and part 2.

miatanet's tire calculator states 205/55-15 or 225/50-15 as factory diameter according to BFC.

I'm not finding the tons of street options that I keep hearing exist in these sizes. Tire rack has the Kumho Ecsta AST in 225/50-15, but that's pretty much it, ~$275, and a 400 treadwear.

205/55-15 has a few more options, the Fuzion ZRi, Kumho ASX, S-Drives, DZ101s in the $300-$350 range, with lower treadware compounds.

I'd like to run something similar to a Star Spec (I've run them before and liked them) and I hear great things about the Hankook RS3s, which are only available in 225/45 in the 15-inch size. Star Specs appear to be even more limited, at 205/50 in the 15. Both have ~<200 tw and are in the $400-$500 range, but both are a tad shorter than stock.

So, given the above, I don't see the vast options that I have been reading about. I have shopped tire rack, local distributors and discount tire recently with success so I don't have any issues shopping around.

Does anybody have an E30 street tire recommendation for me? All things being equal, I prefer the look of a wider tire, so a 225 or a wide-running 205 would be my top choices on the 8" wheel. However, if there is some tire-availibility OR real handling advantage, I'll consider all recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

--J.

as someone who currently runs 14" wheels on his e30's that sounds like a LOT of options.....

205 width is fine for an e30 unless you are doing something radical on track. the car is light and doesnt need a 225 width unless you just want it for the looks.

since you have run star specs before and liked them i would suggest you go with them. that should be fine for the driving you are suggesting.

I have no leads on tires but can confirm the running of 205/50/15 in front on 15x7 and 225-50-15 in back on 15x8, Konig rims. The tires are Potenza S-03's (since discontinued.)
I bought the set used with great tread. I hate to think of replacing them.
Standard ride height.

225/50R15 is pretty rare. I just got some Kumho V710s in that size for my E36 325i. The only tires still available in my stock 225/55R15 size is Hoosier Wets. 205/55 & 225/50 sidewalls are a little tall for great handling, so most UHP tires tend to be 205/50 or 225/45.

Ultimate dry grip would be the 195/50R15 Toyo R1R. The R1R is also really good in the wet. Yes, it is a small diameter. There is also a 195/55R15 size, but I don't know if that is just as magical--the 205/50R15 and 225/45R15 sizes evidently are not (there is also a 245/35R17 R1R which might possibly fit an E30)

Next would be the 225/45R15 R-S3. These need a little more heat to grip well, and aren't the best in the wet.

I'd probably get the 205/50R15 Star Specs. Those are better than the R-S3 in the cold and wet and will wear better than the R1Rs.

Another option would be going with 16" wheels and 205/50R16s. The Continental ExtremeContact DW and Star Spec are available in that size. I had some Kumho SPTs in that size that were really good street tires. I also had 225/45R16 RS-2s, but that size has also disappeared.

There are tons of 225/50R16s if you don't mind something slightly larger diameter:

205/50R16 Kumho Ecsta SPTs on left, 225/50R16 Kumho Ecsta XSes on right.

The 245/35/17 fits, the problem is finding a 17x8 for an E30. Especially a lightweight one. Easiest route is an E36 wheel + $400 set of adapters.

Best route is E30 M3 suspension, but were talking a huge chunk of coin for that.

OP, 15x7 205/55 and call it a day. The extra sidewall will be more comfortable since it's a DD vs a track-oriented car.

There seems to be a few 4x100 17x9 rims now. I was pondering them for my Saturn.

I've been pretty happy with my 205/55/15 Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 as a 3 season tire. (Could that name get any longer?)

Great advice, and thanks for the quick replies.

jrw1621, I really want to run a square setup. Other than rotation woes, I hear staggered makes these push like a mofo. Even if that's not the case, I still prefer squared. Your car looks great btw.

HStockSolo, duly noted, it looks like 205/50 or 225/45 are a viable option. Thanks very much for the breakdown. Re:16's... I'm coming from the land of endless HP (Evo) so I'm trying to keep unsprung weight to a minimum. Every other car I've owned, smaller has been better. (16's on my Cooper S, 17's on my Evo, etc, etc.) Maybe the E30 is not as sensitive to this, but my possibly out-of-date thinking tells me that 15's should be the ticket for improved performance with the same contact patch. I'll check into 16's anyway.

z31maniac, I forgot to mention that while I will occasionally drive this to work, I have a stock/beater MKIV Jetta for DD duty. Also, my E30 is on a $2012 budget. haha. (not that I'm bringing it out for that.) If it WERE more track-oriented (or just gutted/half cage/weekend blaster) how would that change your recommendation?

Overall good replies and you guys did a good job of answering my questions about availability. Sounds to me that what I see for sale online is basically all thats out there, but I should be in good shape if I have to drop down aspect ratio a size.

Thanks for all the help, I'll let you know how it goes.

--J.

the slightly smaller 205/50/15 or 225/45/15 works great on e30s.

Yeah, I've heard it improves the gearing and does well on the 325i.

I experienced an unexpected delay getting over there today, so it looks like I'll have a couple more days to consider my choices and do some further research. Input still welcome, and I'll keep everyone in the loop with how it works out.

IIRC, I ran the 205/55-15 Star Specs on my 15X7.5 Ronals. Great set up. Great grip, and the tire had just a tad bit of stretch. Not 'stanced' stretch. The good kind that gives you sharp turn in, and good communication.

In reply to J308:
It may seem small but to me it is a big point...
In your title you give out the preemptive strike that you have searched first. I just wanted to note to you that we here at GRM pride ourselves on not being that kind of place that tells a new guy to SEARCH FIRST. Quite the opposite. We will happily discuss topics at length, multiple times. That is not to say that if the question was solved in the past that someone will not provide a link directly to the previous answer but this will not be provided with any disparaging remarks.
Welcome to GRM.

HStockSolo wrote: There seems to be a few 4x100 17x9 rims now. I was pondering them for my Saturn.

That's why I threw in the "lightweight" caveat. The extra rubber wouldn't be worth the nearly 10lb per wheel weight penalty, or the extra weight of the tires themselves vs a 205/50 or 225/45/15.

The only choice is the Apex wheel from ApexRacing, it's a BBS clone an comes in around 17lbs I think. Those XXR's and Rota's will be 20+ in those sizes.

But you can buy the Konig Flatout in 15x8 ET 20, 12.4lbs at $109 each vs $250 each for the Apex wheel.

Like 2002maniac said, I wouldn't be worried about the slightly smaller OD.

The Team Dynamic Pro Race 1.2 in that link is just under 20lbs. It doesn't seem too bad when the lightest BMW's factory forged 17x8.5" are 21lbs.

I'm in the same boat,my dohc swapped E30 runs on 16's (205-50's)but the options for sizes(225-45's would make me happy but not many choices) are pretty much as limited as 15's.I too only use the car for the street and backroad giggles so choice is skewed towards dry grip but with eye towards not dying if caught in the rain.I'm currently running yoko S.drives and they work very well,not expensive,quiet,wear well,and decent grip rain or shine. I think after next year I'll move to 17's to get more size and brand options,I'd like to run 235-40's on the rear and 225's up front a staggered set of 8's and 9's.With my gearing and power level a slightly taller tire isn't going to hurt much,might help my short ass 1st gear actually.

HunterJP, if they made such a size, I don't see it now. Which is definitely my point. It seems like I always hear that there are so many more choices in certain sizes, and I'm never able to find them. I have recurring nightmares that I'm going to find a tire I love only to have the size discontinued out from under me.

jrw1621, thank you. That attitude is certainly a welcome change from the Evo, Mini, BMW, Honda (don't get me started) and VW boards, where you have to preface every post with "SEARCHED!". The worst of which is the Official VR6 vs. 1.8T thread at the 'tex MKIV forum that everyone gets pointed to, that they left open for two whole weeks back in 2005(!). I guess I'm still a little shellshocked from my time in the trenches. That said, I'd rather read than discuss, so I do try to search for veteran advice.

z31maniac, don't worry about me researching 17's. I've had Volk TE37s and Advan RGIIs on my last three cars, Holy bachelor-wallet, Batman! The responsible family-man now likes to have some cash savings with his weight savings, so Kosei or TRM in 15" makes a lot of budgetary sense over uber-rare 17" Hartge one-offs.

kevlarcorolla, this is exactly what I mean. Backroad blasting, not dying in the rain. The E30 is going to be my "motorcycle" if you will. It won't be a garage queen, just a challenge-money track-rat with no budget for entry-fees, tires/pads or club memberships. I've usually considered the GRM-test tires, RT-615s, S-Drives, Star Specs, etc, but not needing to be competitive allows me a little leeway towards bang for buck performance tires.

My plan is pretty simple: 225/45-15 RS-3's on TRM C1's. Seems to be the default E30 STX set-up. Personally, I would prefer a taller tire for more top-end in 2nd gear, but what can you do...

^Konig Flatout is just as cheap and lighter by 2.5lbs per wheel, if that matters to you.

Only place I've seen them is eBay and www.good-win-racing.com, so that may be why they aren't as popular.

kevlarcorolla wrote: I'm in the same boat,my dohc swapped E30 runs on 16's (205-50's)but the options for sizes(225-45's would make me happy but not many choices) are pretty much as limited as 15's.I too only use the car for the street and backroad giggles so choice is skewed towards dry grip but with eye towards not dying if caught in the rain.I'm currently running yoko S.drives and they work very well,not expensive,quiet,wear well,and decent grip rain or shine. I think after next year I'll move to 17's to get more size and brand options,I'd like to run 235-40's on the rear and 225's up front a staggered set of 8's and 9's.With my gearing and power level a slightly taller tire isn't going to hurt much,might help my short ass 1st gear actually.

No one makes a 225/40/17, so you'd have to go 215/235 staggered.

Not sure why you'd want to run stagger on an E30 anyway. 17x8 ET25 + 235/40 and call it a day.

In reply to z31maniac:

I'll keep them in mind. Although the C1's are $10 less and if purchased together with the tires, they'll mount and balance them for fee, thus saving a few more $$.

In reply to z31maniac: Lightness matters... But if I'm not mistaken the TRM C1's have the correct E30 centerbore and thus don't need hubcentric rings / spacers.

The 15x8 and RS-3s might be an option for me too, but I've seen reports of them rubbing the front suspension.

I'd want a 235 on a 9" wheel,running a 9 up front isn't going to happen easily without looing like I'm into the gay poke thing.

^Look up MR 325 on R3vlimited, he's running 17x9 and 235 and not going stance/poke.

It's all about offset and a nice roll.

J308 wrote: In reply to z31maniac: Lightness matters... But if I'm not mistaken the TRM C1's have the correct E30 centerbore and thus don't need hubcentric rings / spacers. The 15x8 and RS-3s might be an option for me too, but I've seen reports of them rubbing the front suspension.

Hubrings don't scare me, and the Konig's are the proper offset.

When I ran my SSR's on my E30 they were on Spacers WITH hubrings in the wheels.

IanF, yes, you save a small sum. Also of note, the TRM wheels don't really do well with BBKs if you ever decide to go that route.

z31maniac wrote: Hubrings don't scare me, and the Konig's are the proper offset.

looks like they'd need a 5mm spacer to clear the front strut. Probably 10mm if running 225 hoosiers. et20 is what I figured to be ideal when we were having the first lot of custom 15x8 rota slipstreams made.

^Oops, thinking of the WideOpen that's 20.

205/50/15 Star Specs.

Enjoy.