[TheCoolX3]

Thinking about doing spacers. I am only running 245s up front so I was thinking 20mm for front then in the rear I have 275s and I want to run 25mm or 30mm, any suggestions?

[Riick]

Wheel spacers will dramatically shorten the life of your wheel bearings, better off getting rims in the correct backspacing.

Spacers act like a lever on the bearings by mounting the wheel out further multiplying the forces they recieve. Getting correct offset rims still mounts the rim on the hub the same location as OEM and they do not lever multiplying the forces even if the offset is different.

Ask your dealer how much it is to replace all 4 wheel bearings... cheaper to buy the correct rims

[scostu]

Originally Posted by Riick

I run the Firestone Indy 500 on my X3 M-Sport in OEM 19in size. They're rebranded Bridgestone Potenza RE003. They're a really good tire! Wish they said Bridgestone on the side instead of that cheezy for USA market "Indy 500", but whatever... those in the "know" know they are not some ghetto Firestone tire but they're an actual high performance Potenza RE with a huge cult following in Australia.

You using the 245/45/19 square set up?

[oVeRdOsE.]

Originally Posted by TheCoolX3

Thinking about doing spacers. I am only running 245s up front so I was thinking 20mm for front then in the rear I have 275s and I want to run 25mm or 30mm, any suggestions?

keep it equal, for high speed stability.

all about wheel track and track gauge.

It's a calculation that we made back in university in physics, for the forumla SAE club.
basically, the V -shape make the inner friction forces in a way to keep the car on the track, when car change directions.

(in most cases, rwd cars got wider wheel track, while fwd got wider front. (ie s2000 VS civic)


That was, back in the days, a covered subject with all those F&F civics with equal lenght axles and ditchs....

more info in that book : https://www.amazon.com/Tune-Win-scie...words=Tune-Win


Does it will change something on a X3 with 10mm overall difference ? probably not, but I would stay equal anyway.


This had been said, next summer I'll run some style 132 with 275 back, 245 front oe specs.

In that color :

[Riick]

Originally Posted by scostu

You using the 245/45/19 square set up?

You damn right. I'll run staggered on BMW before and they understeer like a bitch. Square from now on.

[subieworx]

Originally Posted by Riick

Wheel spacers will dramatically shorten the life of your wheel bearings, better off getting rims in the correct backspacing.

Spacers act like a lever on the bearings by mounting the wheel out further multiplying the forces they recieve. Getting correct offset rims still mounts the rim on the hub the same location as OEM and they do not lever multiplying the forces even if the offset is different.

Ask your dealer how much it is to replace all 4 wheel bearings... cheaper to buy the correct rims

Theoretically yes, but in my experience with BMW bearings it won't do anything. I have street driven BMW's with spacers for years as well as raced BMW's with spacers and have rarely ever had a wheel bearing issue.

This with use of spacers on over 15 bmw's and 15 years.

[Riick]

Just pointing out the risk is there, and that people need to know that spacers do shorten the lifespan of wheel bearings.

[Victoracer]

Originally Posted by Riick

Just pointing out the risk is there, and that people need to know that spacers do shorten the lifespan of wheel bearings.

If someone is considering spacers, it should definitely be a hubcentric model. Otherwise pass

[sbbii-atx]

This is a very timely thread for me! Just picked up a 2011 X3 3.5i M Sport and one of the first decisions is what to do about tires. I've been kind of leaning toward the Firestones based on reviews, but just came across a brand new set of Michelin Latitude Tour HP runflats. They're 255/50 (from an X5 and I can pick them up fpr $600 which certainly got my attention!

I know they're bigger than the stock 245/45's I have now but that doesn't bother me as long as they'll fit. I'll be moving to the Durango,CO area later this year and our cabin is about 20 miles away from the nearest paved road...

Any input greatly appreciated!

BB

[x3sm]

Originally Posted by sbbii-atx

This is a very timely thread for me! Just picked up a 2011 X3 3.5i M Sport and one of the first decisions is what to do about tires. I've been kind of leaning toward the Firestones based on reviews, but just came across a brand new set of Michelin Latitude Tour HP runflats. They're 255/50 (from an X5 and I can pick them up fpr $600 which certainly got my attention!

I know they're bigger than the stock 245/45's I have now but that doesn't bother me as long as they'll fit. I'll be moving to the Durango,CO area later this year and our cabin is about 20 miles away from the nearest paved road...

Any input greatly appreciated!

BB

If your wheels are 18 inches with 245/45 your overall diameter is 677.7mm, with 255/50 overall diameter is 712.2mm, which is 35mm bigger or 1 1/2 inch roughly. I'm going to say that they will rub on full lock.

[335iAP]

Originally Posted by x3sm

If your wheels are 18 inches with 245/45 your overall diameter is 677.7mm, with 255/50 overall diameter is 712.2mm, which is 35mm bigger or 1 1/2 inch roughly. I'm going to say that they will rub on full lock.

They'll rub. I ran X5 size on my X4 for a little while and they rubbed on full lock and past about 70-80% in reverse. Even after trimming the wheel liner back a bit, it was very annoying and I got rid of them.

[sbbii-atx]

Yeah - I did some additional research and figured out the same thing. Thanks very much for the replies!!

I finally settled on:

Yokohama ADVAN Sport A/S 275/40-19 all the way around. I also picked up 4 20mm spacers I'm going to try out.

Also investing in an emergency tire repair kit & a membership to AAA, which still ends up being a lot less than any decent runflats I looked at

[scostu]

Originally Posted by sbbii-atx

Yeah - I did some additional research and figured out the same thing. Thanks very much for the replies!!

I finally settled on:

Yokohama ADVAN Sport A/S 275/40-19 all the way around. I also picked up 4 20mm spacers I'm going to try out.

Also investing in an emergency tire repair kit & a membership to AAA, which still ends up being a lot less than any decent runflats I looked at

Keep us updated..... I’m getting new tires in the next month and might go your route.

[spucktacular]

Greetings!

I did a modest upsize of my stock tires from 245 > 255/45/19. A little wider, a little fatter sidewall thickness, but all within OEM specs and blessed by my local BMW service rep. My X4 has the M sport suspension, non adjustable. Not having ordered the dynamic dampers, I was desperate to improve the ride quality as the OEM goodyear LS2 runflats are dreadful over crappy roads. I also have winter tires on 18" rims for half the year, so the summer time seemed even harsher in comparison.

I got the best, all around balanced tires I could find.. the Pirelli P7, or as rated by the community. I'm happy to say I couldn't hope for a better balance of ride quality, traction and road feel.

[Teutonic]

Originally Posted by Riick

You damn right. I'll run staggered on BMW before and they understeer like a bitch. Square from now on.

Hi,

I was following up your discussion in regards with the wheels.
I am conisering buying a new first generation X4 and don't like the staggered setup from many apsects.

How is your setup look like? Will it void the warranty?
and do the rear looks awkward with narrower tires than what the factory installed.
Not the last, do you have a picture?

thank you kindly!

[agondokusumo]

Would 275/45 r19 all around work in the X3 F25 without spacers?