E28...wheel options?

Question

I just picked up this ancient 1982 528e, for nothing. it has these little 14" wheels and tires on it. the car handles and stops pretty good, but i feel like the little tires are holding it back. i just want to step up to 16, 17 inch wheels maybe. at least some 15's would be better

my friend has a set of e34 wheels i think they are 15inch. will the hub size and backspacing match up to my car? i also have a set of 18inch m5 wheels that fit, but i need some kind of hubcentric ring to center them on the hub. also i dont know what size tire i could use on an 18" rim in order to fit in the wheelwells without hitting.

again, i got the car for free and the body is not in the best shape (although there isnt any rust) i dont want to really spend a ton of money here i just was wondering what other people have done and whats possible, while using factory bmw wheels preferably. this is because i work at a dealership and i have access to used rims and tires, etc..

Floyd Rogers · Accepted Answer

"bbeyer via "  wroteAfter searching the archive, it seems like the E34 15" wheels with 205/65R15tires should fit just fine.  Shock/spring clearance was mentioned as a reasonnot to go much wider.FloydR

John Burns · Answer

My personal preference would be 205/55/16s.

Richard Sexton · Answer

Any 15" wheel from a pre 89 5, 6 or 7 series will fit. Others will not.

16 ar ok but the suspension really isn't designed to give you a reasonable balance between ride and performance above that and frankly 16 is a stretch. YMMV.

I have 16" and 225/50-16 on my E24.

SharkmanBMW · Answer

I had the M option e28, 1086 I think... 15" BBS wheels... Looked great, affordable tires and certainly back then, they were NOT made for anything bigger than 15.

16 would be ok if you don't mind a harsher ride.

But GOOD tires are more important than size... stiff sidewall... V rated or better... S***ty tires will just give you a s***ty ride!

Jeff Strickland · Answer

If you post the tire size you have, and the rim size you want to go to, I can calculate the tire size that will be an equivelent overall diameter. In short, you can get a tire that is the same outside diameter, and avoid the issues you are concerned about.

You have a few considerations, diameter, width, offset (or backspacing), and bolt pattern.

Yvan · Answer

Nedavno Jeff Strickland pise:| If you post the tire size you have, and the rim size you want to go| to, I can calculate the tire size that will be an equivelent overall| diameter.Or OP can go here for a tire size calculator:

bbeyer via CarKB.com · Answer

thanks for the info guys, i think that i will go with the e34 wheels that areoffered to me. the tire size, i think, is 205 -50R15. Yvan wrote:

Jeff Strickland · Answer

Where do you want to end up?

John Burns · Answer

That should be 205/60/15.

Kevin Rhodes · Answer

If you are replacing TRX wheels, 215/60-15 are even closer.Kevin Rhodes'86 535i, 15" e34 BBS crossspokes on the old girl, two sets of TRX wheels and tires in the garage

E28...wheel options?

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