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Any problems w/ fitting 15x7 alloys & BBS airdam? (archive)

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Posted by DHoang on July 16, 2000 at 15:17:04:

Ideally, I would like to install a set 15" of alloys staggered w/ 6" wide fronts and 7" wide rears. However, I just located AST 15x7" et12 honeycomb alloys for the E21 at a used wheel reseller shop. I want to get these, but am hesitant about mounting the 7" widths in the front. If I do get it, however, I would like to buy 195/50 tires in the front, (if for nothing else than to lighten up on the manual steering effort when wife drives it & to reduce any chances for rubbing on BBS air dam), & 205/50 in the rears.

For those of you who have tried 7" wheels all around, do you have any advice/suggestions ? Namely, is 195mm tires too narrow (either YOKO AVS Intermediates or Bridgestone RE71) to mount onto 7" wheel widths and will I have rubbing problems or interferences w/ tie rod ends from the 7" wheels? I have factory springs & Bilstein HD struts.


THe BBS air dam, with molded flanges which wraps around the inner fenderwell somewhat, protrudes into the tire well cavity by as much as 2". These tapered protrusions do reduce tire clearance slightly when the tires are turned. I could cut out some of this fiberglass material to match the 1/2" flange widths of the existing fender lip, but would rather not risk losing the air dam's structural rigidity. Does anyone think I will need to hack these off ?

Thanks for any insights.




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