XSeries-forum

Hi all,

Have standard 19" wheels on my 2004 E53 4.4i and 30mm spacers. Tyre and wheel sizes :

255/50 R19 F
285/45 R19 R
8Jx19 ET30 F
10.5Jx19 ET30 R

Just bought a set of 20" Le Man alloys :

275/40 R20 F
315/35 R20 R
10Jx20 ET30 F
11.5Jx20 ET30 R

I'm assuming that they will fit straight on, no issues, but as they are wider, then I will need to remove the spacers, as they will push out way to far ! I have the extended arches but even so.....

Can anyone confirm the above is all ok ?

Thanks

Ro.

i would remove the spacers, however you may find that they sit legal with the spacers in, the le mans alloys are designed to work with the arch extensions however they are not flush with them, if memory is correct they sit around 30-40mm back from the front edge of the arch

Thanks Shadrack - I am going to get tyres on them, then fit the rears with / without spacers to see which I like the best.

Brings me to another question......tyres ! Any recommendations ?

I guess you can go budget, mid range or expensive depending on how deep your pockets are. Budget are a no-no - my wife and kids travel in the X5 a lot and I'm not skimping on tyres.

I will do a proper search on here but if anyone has any rubber recommendations let me know !

Any help appreciated.

Cheers

Ro.

I always found the Michelin Diamaris were fine on mine.

Diamaris here too (on my 19's - I don't run 20's). They are a summer tyre but fine all year around except in snow. I speak from harsh learned ownership experience in my car - not keyboard scaremongery.

If not having a winter set up then perhaps consider something that won't turn your car into a sledge when driving on snow - if you only get occasional snow or light dusting and plan on having the 20's set up as 365 day sole rubber then you may be better with Toyo proxes ST1 or hankook , ( based on what others have said from here & elsewhere).

If you live in highlands then consider a winter set up also...& in which case the diamaris will be fine if removed before snow comes.

iirc there isnt much choice in the 315 rears anyway

I had a couple of Diamaris fitted to the rear 20" wheels back in April. They were circa £440 via Black Circles and fitted locally.

The reason they were changed were the previous Diamaris had worn in the centres suggesting too high pressure. They were on 32psi. The new ones have been set at 30psi to see if this helps. Too early to tell as it's only done about 50 miles since.

I think you are absolutely right not to scrimp on tyres. You've got very little rubber in contact with the road so you might as well make it the best rubber you can get.

I've got Bridgestone Duelers on mine , fantastic tyres I run them at vehicles rec pressures and I had 4 wheel alignment checked and there wearing perfectly.