2.2i Z3 tyre sizes

J

jbentley11

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Sep 21, 2022
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My Z3 came equipped with 17” wheels with 225/45mm on the front and 245/40 on the rear.

I have subsequently acquired a set of 16” J7 wheels which I am currently refurbishing. From the manual I have a choice of two approved tyre sizes for these wheels:

  • 205/55 R16
  • 225/50 R16
Does anyone have any experience using the 205/55 R16 option, please?
 
Mine has 205 on the front and 225 on the rear. I always thought that was the way it came from the factory
 
Have zed wth 16 225 all around and staggered 17 got to say for comfort the 16 for handling the 17 .
My 2.8 Orinoco came stock with 16 now running staggered 17 feels far more surefooted but thats just my personal opinion.
Stephen.
 
The tyre sizes you quote from the 'manual' (Haynes of BMW Owners Handbook?) are reccommended by BMW for use with winter tyres, fitted to 7J X 16 steel wheels.

Don't panic, as my Golf TDi is fitted with 205-55 x 16 on 7J alloy wheels, and can be thrown around with abandon! My old Mk.2 Golf GTi was fitted with 195 - 55 X 15 7J alloys, and was quite happy to be thrown around at sprint events. You do not say if your new wheels are steel or alloy - with steel wheels, however, there is always the risk of cracks developing - if they are steel keep an eye on them just in case.
 
Is it a 2.2i Sport ? If so I think the staggered 17 s were normal , they were on mine. The sport was a stiffer ride with the sport suspension and 17" wheels. If it's the ordinary 2.2i they came with various wheels. As said, if you want comfort over sporty ride, 16" are fine. I had different wheels etc on my three Z3 s, all different models. 2.8, 1.9 and 2.2 sport.
 
Thank you for your replies. My Z3 is a 2001 standard 2.2i manual. It is currently equipment with style 42 two part 17” wheels – 225/45 on the front and 245/40 on the rear. The ride is hard, but this could be a combination of the current tyres (6-year-old Avon) and the original suspension bushes and ball joints. I am currently addressing the minor corrosion on the underframe and have the rear end striped including the fuel tank. I have just finished grit blasting and painting the rear subframe, trailing arms, sub-frame brackets and roll bar and will be installing original OE/OEM bushings and Bilstein shocks. Later in the year will be addressing the front end.

I picked up a set of style 35 16” (Z star) wheels on eBay for £32.50 primarily to put under the car while I refurb the style 42 two-part wheels. I like the style 35 and think that 16” is probably the better size. In practice I may use the style 42’s in the summer and the style 35 for the rest of the year – easier keep clean and not exposing the polished rim of the style 42’s to the winter environment.

The tyre sizes quoted were taken from the owner’s manual for the 2.2i. For the 7Jx16 wheels 205/55 are shown for both summer and winter tyres. Although RealOEM does not list summer tyres in that size, only winter tyres.

As far as I can see the standard combination from factory was always 225/50R16 with 17” square and staggered set ups being options.

I agree with Mike, the cars I was driving 20 plus years ago were either 195, or 205. On a country lane my Z3 with the current old Avon’s is too planted for my liking. The October 2000 brochure for the E46 compact lists 205/55R16 as the standard size for the 325i (M54B25) which has similar performance to the 2.2i Z3. The same 205/55R16 was standard for the 320i (M54B22) and 325i (M54B25) for 2000 model E46 saloons.

A benefit of the 205/55 over the 225/50 is the cost. For example, using Blackcircles – Michelin Pilot Sport 4 are £683 vs £432 for the 205/55. There is also a much greater choice available in 205/55. The only downside I can envisage is potential less rim protection as 205/55 are also fitted to 6.5J rims.
 
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