Style 68 rims 7,5" and 8,5"

Don't put 245 on 7,5". Stick with stock sizes. If your rims are 7,5", just keep 225 all around. That's my opinion of course.

 

These are my wheels with the sport package.

 

I prefer a squared setup. Rears last longer, are cheaper, can be rotated. BMW used 8.5" for staggered setup rear.

 

I’ve always run a staggered set—until this last one, when I went with squared. Staggered looks good, as long as your alignment is good,

 

I haven't seen that US EURO plate in years.

 

I just put on my 6th set, Michelins this time, but no photos yet.

 

As above, the 245/40 are for a different wheel width. Your wheels all take the 225/45.

 

Then why does the door card and two local tire places state that my wheels will handle 245/40's?

 

Square setup - you get the best handling and without a spacer - 245 will not fit on the front without rubbing during hard cornering. I found that out when I went to a HPDE and somehow put one of the rear tires on the front - DO'H.

 

If you have staggered wheels ( example 7.5 front, 8.5 rear Style 68 17 inch rims ), then the 225/45 front, 245/40 rear is a factory configuration. That is my setup, and it is nice.

 

Staggered set of BMW Style 286 with 235/45/17 on all four.

 

I run 205/50/17 all around with no issues at all.

 

My uncle might like that neat looks for his incoming 325 Convertible. It will he is next retirement project after mounting the new rotors, xd wheels, and BFG tires on his truck.

 

Does the door card show rim widths?

 

I had 255/35/18 on the rear of mine but rubbed slightly when going over speed bumps.
I ran 225/40/18 on the front with no issues .
Then the first born "stole" them off me.

Mart.

 

The 2004 325Ci Sport Package in the US came with 17 X 8 wheels (Non Staggered) and came with 225 / 45R 17 tires.

BMW used an 8.5" rear wheel for the 330Ci staggered Sport package with the 245 40R 17 tires.
While a 245 / 40R 17 tire may fit on a 8-inch-wide rim the tread width (~ 8.3 ish inches) may exceed your wheel width.

The door jamb sticker shows all the tire / wheel options that were available.

This is from the 2004 BMW Coupe brochure:

 

Thanks! This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Appreciate it.

 

It will handle better with a square setup.

 

I'm running the 225/45, 245/40 setup on square 17x8" wheels. I started this mostly because I came upon a free pair of 245/40r17 tires and tried it out. My wheels are aftermarket and have less offset than most of the OE wheels. With the way the Continental DWS06 Plus is built, I actually prefer the look of the 245 on the wheel. It has a more squared shoulder than the 225. It is purely and aesthetic thing. (Not a coupe, but...)