Wheels and Tires
All M3 trim levels receive a staggered wheel setup. The base model receives forged 18″ wheels (aka 219M’s) that measure 8.5″ wide with a 29mm offset in the front and 9.5″ wide with a 25mm offset in the rear. With tires, the fronts weigh in at about 48 lbs. The rear at 52 lbs.
Optional 19″ (220M’s) wheels are not forged. They measure 8.5″ wide with a 29mm offset in the front and 9.5″ wide with a 25mm offset in the rear, and come wrapped in 245/35 front and 265/35 rear tires. With tires, the fronts weigh in at about 52 lbs and the rear at 56 lbs.
The Competition Package includes great looking 19″ wheels (359M’s). They are 9″ wide in the front and 10″ wide in the rear. Unfortunately, they are cast instead of forged and there have been instances reported of them cracking. That’s a major bummer considering how good they look!
Aftermarket Solutions
Wheel Studs
Rather than studs and nuts, BMW uses wheel bolts. This makes changing wheels a bit more of a chore. Aftermarket to the rescue! There are plenty of companies offering wheel stud conversions in a range of lengths and stud designs to make wheel swaps a breeze.
Wheels
In order to put the most rubber to the ground, you’ll need a wheel with the proper hub bore, bolt pattern, width and offset. The most common wheel upgrade is to a 9.5″ or 10″ front wheel with a 10″ or 11″ rear wheel.
Apex and Volk are popular due to their strength, low weight and clearance for big brake kits.
Tires
Tire selection is personal preference, but the most common width when upgrading wheels are 275 front and 295 rear. It is possible to squeeze more up front and back, but may mean choosing a tire that isn’t in the recommended height range. For example, a 285 or 295 tire may physically fit under the front fender, unless the tire is shorter than the factory tire, it may rub on suspension components.
The Good and Bad
Pros | Cons |
Base Model w/Forged Wheels | Heavy Forged Wheel |
18″ Tire Selection | Reports of 19″ 359M Wheels Bending |
18″ Wheels Clear a Few BBKs | Limited 19″ Tire Selection |
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