Swapping 18" wheels for 17" (winter) wheels?

Swapping 18" wheels for 17" (winter) wheels?

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Willy Orwonty

Original Poster:

20 posts

97 months

Monday 13th March 2023
quotequote all
Hi all !!

I've just bought a 2018 218d Coupe M-Sport and wondering about buying a set of winter wheels & tyres (I live in not so sunny Scotland).


There is a set of wheels being sold locally but I'm unsure if its possible to just swap these wheels over with the current ones.


Current 18" wheels / tyres are 225/40 R18 and the ones for sale are 225/45 R17 (they came off a BMW 1 series (M140i).

Could these wheels / tyres work?

Thanks for any advice!

Mr Tidy

24,383 posts

134 months

Monday 13th March 2023
quotequote all
As both cars share similar underpinnings I would have thought they ought to be OK.

But I'd want to try to identify the Style numbers of both sets to see what the rim sizes and offsets are. Offset is quoted as ET but BMW stamp it as IS - usually on the back of the rims.

Then enter the details on a site like this to be sure:- https://www.willtheyfit.com/

Willy Orwonty

Original Poster:

20 posts

97 months

Monday 13th March 2023
quotequote all
Thanks

The information on the ad is "Wheels are 17" diameter, 7" width, 5x120 PCD".

I'm picking up something else from him tomorrow so will have a proper look.

d_a_n1979

9,685 posts

79 months

Monday 13th March 2023
quotequote all
Willy Orwonty said:
Hi all !!

I've just bought a 2018 218d Coupe M-Sport and wondering about buying a set of winter wheels & tyres (I live in not so sunny Scotland).


There is a set of wheels being sold locally but I'm unsure if its possible to just swap these wheels over with the current ones.


Current 18" wheels / tyres are 225/40 R18 and the ones for sale are 225/45 R17 (they came off a BMW 1 series (M140i).

Could these wheels / tyres work?

Thanks for any advice!
Most BMW wheels are here bar the latest G series: https://www.auto-treff.com/wcf/index.php?category-...

Use Chrome to translate to English if necessary; but it's an easy website to navigate

So look at the alloys you have fitted and it'll tell you their specs (weights, offsets, sizes and OEM tyre sizes...

Do the same with the 17s and then see if they match the specs of 17s fitted the 2 series, if they were fitted to the 2 series...

Most of the time they'll be fine, but it can be down to what brakes are fitted as well (ie larger brake calipers need larger wheels for clearance etc)

You need to make sure the offsets are close enough (+/- 10 is generally fine) and you'll also need the correct tyre sizes for your 2 series; highly doubt they'll be the same on the 1 series


Willy Orwonty

Original Poster:

20 posts

97 months

Monday 13th March 2023
quotequote all
Looks like they are not going to be perfect so I'll hold off just now.

Got all summer to find a set.

Thanks chaps.

E-bmw

9,981 posts

159 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
Willy Orwonty said:
Looks like they are not going to be perfect so I'll hold off just now.

Got all summer to find a set.

Thanks chaps.
Just remember there is perfect & there is cheap, a good balance is fine. wink

d_a_n1979

9,685 posts

79 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
Willy Orwonty said:
Looks like they are not going to be perfect so I'll hold off just now.

Got all summer to find a set.

Thanks chaps.
2 series wheels here: https://www.auto-treff.com/wcf/index.php?tagged/51...

From 16"; so look at them and see which 17s and 18s you can find and go for them

TBH it may make life easier just to go for another set of the 18s you have, if you can find them. Sometimes 17" tyres are more expensive than 18s, worth bearing in mind...

E-bmw

9,981 posts

159 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
Obviously not true of all sizes, but in my experience 2xx/17" tyres are some of the cheapest around, certainly seem to be more so than 2xx/18".

d_a_n1979

9,685 posts

79 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
E-bmw said:
Obviously not true of all sizes, but in my experience 2xx/17" tyres are some of the cheapest around, certainly seem to be more so than 2xx/18".
That'll be why I said 'sometimes'...

E-bmw

9,981 posts

159 months

Tuesday 14th March 2023
quotequote all
d_a_n1979 said:
E-bmw said:
Obviously not true of all sizes, but in my experience 2xx/17" tyres are some of the cheapest around, certainly seem to be more so than 2xx/18".
That'll be why I said 'sometimes'...
Correct, i was just adding a bit more (possibly helpful) info.

Pica-Pica

14,491 posts

91 months

Thursday 16th March 2023
quotequote all
As said, check the offsets (quoted as ETx where x is the offset in mm and may be different between front and rear) make sure it matches your vehicle’s requirements.

sunnyb13

1,048 posts

45 months

Thursday 16th March 2023
quotequote all
They might not clear your front brake callipers depending if you’ve got the upgraded blue m sport callipers