tirewheelguide

1997 BMW Z3 tire and wheel sizes, bolt pattern and tire pressure

Bolt pattern 5x120 on every 1997 trim.

Tires for the 1997 BMW Z3

Sizes most trims come with first. Open your trim below for its exact size.

  1. 225/45R17 front + 245/40R17 rear Best-rated standard on 3 trims · USA, Europe
    Check price on Amazon · 225/45R17 front Check price on Amazon · 245/40R17 rear
  2. 205/60R15 Best-rated standard on 2 trims · optional on 4 · Europe, USA, Japan
    Check price on Amazon · 205/60R15
  3. 225/45R17 Best-rated standard on 1 trim · optional on 6 · Europe, USA, Japan
    Check price on Amazon · 225/45R17

Also listed: 225/50R16

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Trims sold in 1997
7
Generation
E36 sold in 3 market versions

7 trims sold in 1997

Sold in 3 market versions with different tire sizes. Open a trim for its tire and rim sizes, bolt pattern and tire pressure.

BMW Z3 E36

1995–2003 7 trims

Europe

4 trims
Z3 1.8i 114 hp · M43B18 I4 225/45R17 91Z / 245/40R17 92Z 5 fitments
Generation
E36 · 1995–2003
Market
Europe
Power
114 hp
Engine
M43B18 I4, Petrol
Center bore
72.6 mm
Bolt pattern
5x120
Thread
M12 x 1.5
Check price on Amazon · 225/45R17 Check price on Amazon · 245/40R17 Wheels 17x7.5 ET41 · 5x120 · 72.6 mm on Amazon
Tire sizeRim size and bolt patternPressure, psi
Front225/45R17 91ZRim 17x7.5 ET41 5x12029 psi
Rear245/40R17 92ZRim 17x8.5 ET41 5x12029 psi
205/60R15 91HRim 15x6.5 ET47 5x12029 psi
225/50R16Rim 16x7 ET46 5x12029 psi
205/60R15 91HRim 15x7 ET47 5x12029 psi
225/45R17 90WRim 17x7.5 ET41 5x12029 psi
Z3 1.9i 138 hp · 1.9L M44B19 I4 205/60R15 91V 5 fitments
Generation
E36 · 1995–2003
Market
Europe
Power
138 hp
Engine
1.9L M44B19 I4, Petrol
Center bore
72.6 mm
Bolt pattern
5x120
Thread
M12 x 1.5
Check price on Amazon · 205/60R15 Wheels 15x7 ET47 · 5x120 · 72.6 mm on Amazon
Tire sizeRim size and bolt patternPressure, psi
205/60R15 91VRim 15x7 ET47 5x12029 psi
225/50R16Rim 16x7 ET46 5x12029 psi
205/60R15 91HRim 15x6.5 ET47 5x12029 psi
225/45R17 90WRim 17x7.5 ET41 5x12029 psi
225/45R17 91ZRim 17x8.5 ET41 5x12029 psi

How to read 91V: 91 is the load index (up to 1,356 lb / 615 kg per tire) and V the speed rating (up to 149 mph / 240 km/h). ET47 is the wheel offset: how far the mounting face sits from the rim centre, in millimetres. Compare offsets in the wheel offset calculator.

Z3 2.8i 190 hp · 2.8L M52B28 I6 225/50R16 92V 4 fitments
Generation
E36 · 1995–2003
Market
Europe
Power
190 hp
Engine
2.8L M52B28 I6, Petrol
Center bore
72.6 mm
Bolt pattern
5x120
Thread
M12 x 1.5
Check price on Amazon · 225/50R16 Wheels 16x7 ET46 · 5x120 · 72.6 mm on Amazon
Tire sizeRim size and bolt patternPressure, psi
225/50R16 92VRim 16x7 ET46 5x12029 psi
205/60R15 91VRim 15x7 ET47 5x12029 psi
225/45R17 90WRim 17x7.5 ET41 5x12029 psi
225/45R17 91ZRim 17x8.5 ET41 5x12029 psi

How to read 92V: 92 is the load index (up to 1,389 lb / 630 kg per tire) and V the speed rating (up to 149 mph / 240 km/h). ET46 is the wheel offset: how far the mounting face sits from the rim centre, in millimetres.

Z3 M 3.2i 316 hp · 3.2L S50B32 I6 225/45R17 90Z 1 fitment
Generation
E36 · 1995–2003
Market
Europe
Power
316 hp
Engine
3.2L S50B32 I6, Petrol
Center bore
72.6 mm
Bolt pattern
5x120
Thread
M12 x 1.5
Check price on Amazon · 225/45R17 Wheels 17x9 ET8 · 5x120 · 72.6 mm on Amazon
Tire sizeRim size and bolt patternPressure, psi
225/45R17 90ZRim 17x9 ET8 5x12029 psi

USA

2 trims
Z3 1.9i 138 hp · 1.9L M44B19 I4 225/45R17 91Z / 245/40R17 92Z 5 fitments
Generation
E36 · 1995–2003
Market
USA
Power
138 hp
Engine
1.9L M44B19 I4, Petrol
Center bore
72.6 mm
Bolt pattern
5x120
Thread
M12 x 1.5
Check price on Amazon · 225/45R17 Check price on Amazon · 245/40R17 Wheels 17x7.5 ET41 · 5x120 · 72.6 mm on Amazon
Tire sizeRim size and bolt patternPressure, psi
Front225/45R17 91ZRim 17x7.5 ET41 5x12029 psi
Rear245/40R17 92ZRim 17x8.5 ET41 5x12029 psi
225/50R16Rim 16x7 ET46 5x12029 psi
205/60R15 91HRim 15x6.5 ET47 5x12029 psi
205/60R15 91VRim 15x7 ET47 5x12029 psi
225/45R17 90WRim 17x7.5 ET41 5x12029 psi
Z3 2.8i 190 hp · 2.8L M52B28 I6 225/45R17 91Z / 245/40R17 92Z 4 fitments
Generation
E36 · 1995–2003
Market
USA
Power
190 hp
Engine
2.8L M52B28 I6, Petrol
Center bore
72.6 mm
Bolt pattern
5x120
Thread
M12 x 1.5
Check price on Amazon · 225/45R17 Check price on Amazon · 245/40R17 Wheels 17x7.5 ET41 · 5x120 · 72.6 mm on Amazon
Tire sizeRim size and bolt patternPressure, psi
Front225/45R17 91ZRim 17x7.5 ET41 5x12029 psi
Rear245/40R17 92ZRim 17x8.5 ET41 5x12029 psi
205/60R15 91VRim 15x7 ET47 5x12029 psi
225/50R16 92VRim 16x7 ET46 5x12029 psi
225/45R17 90WRim 17x7.5 ET41 5x12029 psi

Japan

1 trim
Z3 1.9i (E-CH19) 138 hp · 194S I4 205/60R15 91V 5 fitments
Generation
E36 · 1995–2003
Market
Japan
Power
138 hp
Engine
194S I4, Petrol
Center bore
72.6 mm
Bolt pattern
5x120
Thread
M12 x 1.5
Check price on Amazon · 205/60R15 Wheels 15x7 ET47 · 5x120 · 72.6 mm on Amazon
Tire sizeRim size and bolt patternPressure, psi
205/60R15 91VRim 15x7 ET47 5x12029 psi
225/50R16Rim 16x7 ET46 5x12029 psi
205/60R15 91HRim 15x6.5 ET47 5x12029 psi
225/45R17 90WRim 17x7.5 ET41 5x12029 psi
225/45R17 91ZRim 17x8.5 ET41 5x12029 psi

How to read 91V: 91 is the load index (up to 1,356 lb / 615 kg per tire) and V the speed rating (up to 149 mph / 240 km/h). ET47 is the wheel offset: how far the mounting face sits from the rim centre, in millimetres.

What these columns mean
Rim size
Rim diameter × width in inches, and the factory offset (ET) in millimetres, e.g. 18x7.5 ET25.
Bolt pattern (PCD)
Number of studs and the diameter of the circle they sit on. It must match exactly.
Center bore
Diameter of the hub hole. Larger aftermarket bores need hub-centric rings.
Pressure
Recommended cold inflation pressure for that axle, in psi.
Staggered
A wider tire on the rear axle than the front. Front-to-back rotation is not possible.
Thread size
Lug bolt or nut thread — needed when buying aftermarket fasteners.
Trims sold in 1997
7
Generation
E36 sold in 3 market versions
Other years
All years (1995–2003)

Considering a different size?

Compare your current tire size with the one you want: diameter change, ground clearance and speedometer error.

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