Now that I've got the suspension more or less sorted on my BMW, Ive been on the search for some new wheels, and I've been having a hell of a time trying to figure out what specs will best match my new setup. It's further not aided by the fact that I'm quite picky on what I'm actually looking for, and I'm also not looking to spend thousands of dollars on the wheels alone for a car that's daily driven and in all likelihood I WILL curb one at some point 
I understand as much that ET is basically the measurement from where the wheel mounts on the hub face to the center of the wheel. And a lower ET is what creates more "poke" and makes the wheel sit farther towards the fender. But then you also have to factor in wider wheels, which will also have an effect and that's where my brain starts shorting out.
For reference, the stock wheels that are on my car are kinda funky dimensions. Fronts are 18x7.5 ET 45, and the rears are 18x8.0 ET52. After my suspension went on I threw spacers on them and put 12mm in front and 15mm in rear. Since spacers essentinally lower the ET on wheels, so that means my front wheels are now more like an ET 33, and the rears are ET 37. And I like the results. I feel the fronts still have a little bit of wiggle room, but I don't want to push it too much, and the rears about perfect.
Now when most people upgrade wheels on these cars, they normally go w/ an 8.5" wide wheel in front and 9.5" wheel in the rear (still sticking w/ 18") so that's where I start getting lost trying to factor in what sort of ET I should be shooting for. Again I'm not looking to go crazy trying to fit the widest tire I can on it cuz again, daily driver. Front tires are 225/40 and rears are 245/35, and at most id probably be looking to put a 255/35 on the rear, especially if i went up w/ a 9.5" wheel.
I know there's dozens of wheel calculators out there but I haven't found one yet that can actually tell me what the hell I'm looking at so if anyone has a good one they use please post it up.
Help me stop overthinking this TCG!
I understand as much that ET is basically the measurement from where the wheel mounts on the hub face to the center of the wheel. And a lower ET is what creates more "poke" and makes the wheel sit farther towards the fender. But then you also have to factor in wider wheels, which will also have an effect and that's where my brain starts shorting out.
For reference, the stock wheels that are on my car are kinda funky dimensions. Fronts are 18x7.5 ET 45, and the rears are 18x8.0 ET52. After my suspension went on I threw spacers on them and put 12mm in front and 15mm in rear. Since spacers essentinally lower the ET on wheels, so that means my front wheels are now more like an ET 33, and the rears are ET 37. And I like the results. I feel the fronts still have a little bit of wiggle room, but I don't want to push it too much, and the rears about perfect.
Now when most people upgrade wheels on these cars, they normally go w/ an 8.5" wide wheel in front and 9.5" wheel in the rear (still sticking w/ 18") so that's where I start getting lost trying to factor in what sort of ET I should be shooting for. Again I'm not looking to go crazy trying to fit the widest tire I can on it cuz again, daily driver. Front tires are 225/40 and rears are 245/35, and at most id probably be looking to put a 255/35 on the rear, especially if i went up w/ a 9.5" wheel.
I know there's dozens of wheel calculators out there but I haven't found one yet that can actually tell me what the hell I'm looking at
so if anyone has a good one they use please post it up.Help me stop overthinking this TCG!
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