BMW E90 E92 E93 M3 Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide

Are you hunting for the ideal wheels and tires for your 2008-2013 BMW E90, E92, or E93 M3? Our E90, E92, E93 M3 fitment guide is the best resource for identifying the best wheel and tire sizes along with any modifications to the suspension or spacers needed to run wide wheel sizes with meaty tires. All M3 models including base, Competition package, through to special editions like the Lime Rock and GTS cars benefit from wider wheel and tire fitments to increase mechanical grip and decrease lap times. Apex wheels offer options for those seeking the perfect stance and aesthetics to those looking to replicate the OEM 359M fitments with increased performance. Our Forged wheels offer the pinnacle of performance. The lineup features our popular VS-5RS along with our ARC-8RT, ML-10RT, EC-7RS, SM-10RS, SM-10RE, and VS-5RE. Our Flow Formed wheels are a mainstay of the BMW E9X M3 community with designs like the ARC-8, EC-7 and SM-10 being used on fast E9X M3s for decades. If you’re looking for information on Non-M3 E9X 3 series, head over to our BMW E90 E91 E92 E93 3 Series Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide.

Ideal for the driver who wants a no-nonsense direct bolt-on fitment. These fitments are a small step up from stock wheels and tires, and offer a small but noticeable performance improvement.

Square Setups

Recommended for most types of street and performance driving. Allows proper front-to-rear tire rotation to extend tire life & improve handling balance.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x9.5" ET22
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x9.5" ET22
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, EC-7RS, ML-10RT, SM-10, SM-10RS, VS-5RS

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• • Front Tire Size: 265/35-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 265/35-18
  • Direct fit.

• Wider Alternative:
• • Front Tire Size: 275/35-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 275/35-18
  • Direct fit.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 19x9.5" ET22
• Rear Wheel Size: 19x9.5" ET22
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, EC-7RS, ML-10RT, SM-10, SM-10RS, SM-10RE, VS-5RS, VS-5RE

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• • Front Tire Size: 265/30-19
  • Rear Tire Size: 265/30-19
  • Direct fit.

• Wider Alternative:
• • Front Tire Size: 275/30-19
  • Rear Tire Size: 275/30-19
  • Direct fit.

Staggered Setups

Maintains stock-like handling characteristics, tires can only be rotated left to right. Maximizes both front and rear tire width.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x9" ET30 or ET31 (EC-7)
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x10" ET25
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, EC-7RS, ML-10RT, SM-10, SM-10RS, VS-5RS
  • Popular fitment
  • This fitment is 1/2" wider all around than the OEM 18" Style 219 wheels, meaning you can either reuse the stock tires or go wider. The widths and offsets mirror those of the OEM Competition Package/GTS wheels.

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• • Front Tire Size: 255/35-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 275/35-18
  • Direct fit.
  • OEM 245/40-18 front and 265/40-18 rear tires can also be used as a direct fit.

Slight scrubbing of front fender liners may occur during full-lock turns.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 19x9" ET30 or ET28 (ARC-8)
• Rear Wheel Size: 19x10" ET25
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, ML-10RT, SM-10, VS-5RS
  • This fitment is 1/2" wider all around than the OEM 19" Style 220 wheels, meaning you can either reuse the stock tires or go wider. The widths and offsets mirror those of the OEM Competition Package/GTS wheels.

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• • Front Tire Size: 255/35-19
  • Rear Tire Size: 275/35-19
  • Direct fit.
  • 285/30-19 rear tires can also be used to mirror M3 GTS fitment.
  • OEM 245/35-19 front and 265/35-19 rear tires can also be used as a direct fit.

Ideal for the driver who wants to fill out the wheel wells with the widest possible rubber and perfectly flush offsets. Sometimes these fitments are a direct bolt-on, but often times require small spacers, negative camber, or rolled fenders for the sake of dialing in the perfect blend of function and form.

Staggered Setups

Maintains stock-like handling characteristics, tires can only be rotated left to right. Maximizes both front and rear tire width.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x9.5" ET22
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x10.5" ET22
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, EC-7RS, SM-10, SM-10RS, VS-5RS
  • Popular fitment

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 265/35-18
• Rear Tire Size: 285/35-18
• • Direct fit.
  • Front 275/35-18 tires can also be used.
  • Rear 295/35-18 tires can be used but may require rolled fenders to prevent rubbing.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x10" ET25
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x11" ET25
• • Available in: EC-7, ML-10RT, SM-10RE, VS-5RS, VS-5RE
  • 5mm front spacers may be required for certain aftermarket suspensions, see below.
  • This is another popular staggered fitment that is just a touch more aggressive than the 9.5/10.5" fitment above. These wheel widths are about as wide as the front and rear fenders will take without extensive modifications. For enthusiasts looking for a little more tire, this is typically a bolt on fitment with no modifications required. For staggered fitments, we typically do not recommend exceeding a 295 tire in the rear unless the car has a substantial bump in power (supercharged / stroker) as anything wider will likely be counter productive.

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 275/35-18
• Rear Tire Size: 295/35-18
• • May require rolled rear fenders to prevent rubbing.
  • The front tires may lightly scrub the inner fender liners at full lock or at particular steering angles, and most of the time things will "self clear" over time (a little divot will form in the plastic liner). This is considered par for the course with wider wheels and tires, and enthusiasts shouldn't worry as no major damage will come from this.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 19x9.5" ET22
• Rear Wheel Size: 19x10.5" ET22 or ET25 (VS-5RS)
• • Available in: ARC-8, EC-7, EC-7RS, SM-10, VS-5RS

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 265/30-19
• Rear Tire Size: 285/30-19
• • Rear 295/30-19 tires can be used but may require rolled fenders to prevent rubbing.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 19x10" ET25
• Rear Wheel Size: 19x10.5" ET25
• • Available in: ARC-8, EC-7, EC-7RS, SM-10, VS-5RS
  • Front 5mm or larger spacers may be required with certain aftermarket suspensions, see below. The 19x9.5" ET22 front wheel can be used to avoid spacers, see previous fitment.

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 275/30-19
• Rear Tire Size: 295/30-19
• • Rear rolled fenders may be required to prevent rubbing.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 20x9.5" ET22
• Rear Wheel Size: 20x11" ET44
• • Available in: VS-5RS only
  • 15-18mm Rear Spacers required

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 255/30-20
• Rear Tire Size: 295/25-20
• • 305/25-20 rear tires can also be used but rear fender rolling and/or additional negative camber may be required

These fitments are effective for both performance oriented street cars, weekend track warriors, or even a dedicated race car. The suspension type, alignment settings, and tire brand/size can be changed accordingly to work for nearly any scenario.

Square Setups

Recommended for most types of street and performance driving. Allows proper front-to-rear tire rotation to extend tire life & improve handling balance.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x10" ET25
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x10" ET25
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, EC-7RS, ML-10RT, SM-10, SM-10RS, SM-10RE, VS-5RS, VS-5RE
  • Popular fitment

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 275/35-18
• Rear Tire Size: 275/35-18
• • Direct fit, but a 5mm front spacer may be required for certain aftermarket suspensions, see below.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x10.5" ET22
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x10.5" ET22
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, EC-7RS, ML-10RT, SM-10, SM-10RS, VS-5RS
  • Since you'll be using all available real estate under the fender arches to accommodate these wide wheels, coilovers with linear race springs are a must for inner clearance (JRZ, MCS, Ground Control, AST, Moton, etc.).

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 295/30-18
• Rear Tire Size: 295/30-18
• • Requires -3º or more of front camber
  • This aggressive square fitment is also popular amongst track enthusiasts looking to maximize sidewall support with 275/35-18 R-compounds or slicks.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 19x10" ET25
• Rear Wheel Size: 19x10" ET25
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, EC-7RS, ML-10RT, SM-10, SM-10RS, SM-10RE, VS-5RS, VS-5RE

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 275/30-19
• Rear Tire Size: 275/30-19
• • Direct fit, but a 5mm front spacer may be required for certain aftermarket suspensions, see below.

Staggered Setups

Maintains stock-like handling characteristics, tires can only be rotated left to right. Maximizes both front and rear tire width.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x9.5" ET22
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x10.5" ET22
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, EC-7RS, ML-10RT, SM-10, SM-10RS, VS-5RS
  • Popular fitment

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 265/35-18
• Rear Tire Size: 285/35-18
• • Front 275/35-18 tires can also be used.
  • Rear 295/35-18 tires can be used but may require rolled fenders to prevent rubbing.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x10" ET25
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x11" ET25
• • Available in: EC-7, ML-10RT, SM-10RE, VS-5RS, VS-5RE
  • 5mm front spacers may be required for certain aftermarket suspensions, see below.
  • This is another popular staggered fitment that is just a touch more aggressive than the 9.5/10.5" fitment above. These wheel widths are about as wide as the front and rear fenders will take without extensive modifications. For enthusiasts looking for a little more tire, this is typically a bolt on fitment with no modifications required. For staggered fitments, we typically do not recommend exceeding a 295 tire in the rear unless the car has a substantial bump in power (supercharged / stroker) as anything wider will likely be counter productive.

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 275/35-18
• Rear Tire Size: 295/35-18
• • May require rolled rear fenders to prevent rubbing.
  • The front tires may lightly scrub the inner fender liners at full lock or at particular steering angles, and most of the time things will "self clear" over time (a little divot will form in the plastic liner). This is considered par for the course with wider wheels and tires, and enthusiasts shouldn't worry as no major damage will come from this.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x10" ET25
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x11" ET44
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, EC-7RS, ML-10RT, SM-10, SM-10RS, SM-10RE, VS-5RS, VS-5RE
  • 5mm front spacers may be required for certain aftermarket suspensions, see below.

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 275/35-18
• Rear Tire Size: 305/35-18
• • May require rolled rear fenders to prevent rubbing.
  • Many drivers remove the rear fender liners to avoid contact.
  • 295/35-18 rear tires may also be used.
  • This is the most aggressive staggered fitment out of the lineup, and would typically be reserved for either a serious track/race car or a car with a substantial bump in power (supercharged / stroker). The drivers goal is to maximize wheel and tire width under the front and rear fenders, and enthusiasts running slicks may even opt for a 10.5" front wheel for superior sidewall support. We recommend 12mm or 15mm spacers to clear the subframe, however the spacer requirement varies due to differences in tire brand and alignment settings from car to car. Using these spacers results in an effective offset of ET32 (with 12mm spacers) or ET29 (with 15mm spacers). These higher offsets provide greater fender clearance compared to our 18x11" ET25.
  • Even with spacers, the rear tires may still make contact with the subframe under full droop, such as on a lift.
  • The front tires may lightly scrub the inner fender liners at full lock or at particular steering angles, and most of the time things will "self clear" over time (a little divot will form in the plastic liner). This is considered par for the course with wider wheels and tires, and enthusiasts shouldn't worry as no major damage will come from this.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 19x9.5" ET22
• Rear Wheel Size: 19x10.5" ET25
• • Available in: ARC-8, EC-7, EC-7RS, SM-10, VS-5RS

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 265/30-19
• Rear Tire Size: 285/30-19
• • Direct fit.
  • Front 275/30-19 tires can also be used a direct fit.
  • Rear 295/30-19 tires can be used but may require a touch of negative camber or rolled fenders to prevent rubbing.

These no-compromise fitments are ideal for dedicated track / race cars.

Square Setups

Recommended for most types of street and performance driving. Allows proper front-to-rear tire rotation to extend tire life & improve handling balance.

• Front Wheel Size: 18x10" ET25
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x10" ET25
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, EC-7RS, ML-10RT, SM-10, SM-10RS, SM-10RE, VS-5RS, VS-5RE
  • Popular fitment

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 275/35-18
• Rear Tire Size: 275/35-18
• • Direct fit, but a 5mm front spacer may be required for certain aftermarket suspensions, see below.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x10.5" ET22
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x10.5" ET22
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, EC-7RS, ML-10RT, SM-10, SM-10RS, VS-5RS
  • Since you'll be using all available real estate under the fender arches to accommodate these wide wheels, coilovers with linear race springs are a must for inner clearance (JRZ, MCS, Ground Control, AST, Moton, etc.).

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 295/30-18
• Rear Tire Size: 295/30-18
• • Requires -3º or more of front camber
  • This aggressive square fitment is also popular amongst track enthusiasts looking to maximize sidewall support with 275/35-18 R-compounds or slicks.

Staggered Setups

Maintains stock-like handling characteristics, tires can only be rotated left to right. Maximizes both front and rear tire width.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x10" ET25
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x11" ET44
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, EC-7RS, ML-10RT, SM-10, SM-10RS, SM-10RE, VS-5RS, VS-5RE
  • 5mm front spacers may be required for certain aftermarket suspensions, see below.

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 275/35-18
• Rear Tire Size: 305/35-18
• • May require rolled rear fenders to prevent rubbing.
  • Many drivers remove the rear fender liners to avoid contact.
  • 295/35-18 rear tires may also be used.
  • This is the most aggressive staggered fitment out of the lineup, and would typically be reserved for either a serious track/race car or a car with a substantial bump in power (supercharged / stroker). The drivers goal is to maximize wheel and tire width under the front and rear fenders, and enthusiasts running slicks may even opt for a 10.5" front wheel for superior sidewall support. We recommend 12mm or 15mm spacers to clear the subframe, however the spacer requirement varies due to differences in tire brand and alignment settings from car to car. Using these spacers results in an effective offset of ET32 (with 12mm spacers) or ET29 (with 15mm spacers). These higher offsets provide greater fender clearance compared to our 18x11" ET25.
  • Even with spacers, the rear tires may still make contact with the subframe under full droop, such as on a lift.
  • The front tires may lightly scrub the inner fender liners at full lock or at particular steering angles, and most of the time things will "self clear" over time (a little divot will form in the plastic liner). This is considered par for the course with wider wheels and tires, and enthusiasts shouldn't worry as no major damage will come from this.

Our wheels are popular for winter use because of their unmatched caliper clearance. We recommend a square fitment in order to allow front-to-rear tire rotation, although staggered fitments can also be used.

Square setups

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x9" ET30
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x9" ET30
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, EC-7RS, ML-10RT, SM-10, SM-10RS, VS-5RS

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 245/40-18 winter tires
• Rear Tire Size: 245/40-18 winter tires
• • Direct fit.

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 19x9" ET30 or ET28 (ARC-8)
• Rear Wheel Size: 19x9" ET30 or ET28 (ARC-8)
• • Available in: ARC-8, ARC-8RT, EC-7, ML-10RT, SM-10, VS-5RS

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• Front Tire Size: 245/35-19 winter tires
• Rear Tire Size: 245/35-19 winter tires
• • Direct fit.

Concavity & Face Profiles

Each of our wheel designs is available in two or three different levels of concavity, which we call Profiles. The Profile is dictated by the width and offset, meaning wide lower-offset wheels will have more concavity, while narrow higher-offset wheels will have less concavity.

Identifying Suspension Types

If you’re using coilovers, see the image below to identify which type of coilover spring you have, as it may effect your wheel fitment.

Aftermarket E9x M3 Suspensions Known To Reduce Inner Clearance

(includes but not limited to):

• Bilstein PSS9 & PSS10
• KW Height-Adjustable Spring (HAS) kit
• KW Variants
• KW Clubsports
• Öhlins Road & Track

About Camber Plates

Adjustable camber plates do more than just aid in wide wheel and tire fitment. They provide increased grip and reduced tire wear by spreading the load evenly during cornering. Learn more in our blog article, The Positives of Negative Camber.

Big Brake Kit Clearances

We have tested over 20 big brake kits with most of the wheels listed in this guide. Please email us with any questions related to brake clearance, we’ll be happy to help.

Brake kits known to clear 18x10" ET25 ARC-8

• AP Racing 368mm
• AP Racing 378mm
• Brembo 6-piston 365mm
• StopTech 6-piston 380mm incl. Trophy

Brake kits known NOT to clear 18x10" ET25 ARC-8

• Brembo 6-piston 380mm
• Harrop 381mm
• Sparta Saturn 380mm

Brake kits known to clear 18x10" EC-7/SM-10/FL-5

• AP Racing 368mm
• AP Racing 368mm Competition
• AP Racing 378mm
• AP Racing Radical 370mm
• Brembo 6-piston 365mm
• Brembo 6-piston 380mm GT (not including 1T1.9001A_ kits)
• Harrop 381mm
• StopTech 6-Piston 380mm