DOT-R Tires Discussion

[BRDHNTR]

Originally Posted by lucid

Mark has considerable racing experience and is a very good driver. He is also a nice guy. Ask him to take you out for a ride when you see him next at the track, and you'll see how the car does when pushed to its limits.

He is running BFG R1s on the stock 18" wheels. Or, at least, he was last time I saw him.

I think the 265/285 works well. It can probably do 275/295 comfortably as well. I personally do not feel the need to have more rotation than one can already induce with the staggered setup. I understand others think differently.

Adding some negative camber to the stock setup with the camber plates (-1.95) helped the rotation a great deal, and resulted in more even front tire wear. However, I think it is safe to say the car gets loose in high speed sweepers. Coming out of the esses at WGI for instance. I wouldn't want less rubber in the back for that reason alone.

I talked to him briefly in the Spring, but I didn't know enough to ask him the questions I now have. I saw him on the OEM 18"s as well, but only remember that he was running slicks that had sidewalls shorter than the OEM 40mm (I also thought that they were Hoosiers, but he might have switched since then).

I was thinking about picking up a track car over the winter for next season, but now I'm thinking about getting some R-compound tires and some camber plates for the M3.

Thoughts on PSC's or Yokohama Advan A048 vs. BFG R1/Hoosier R6. Would the former be more "beginner friendly" i.e. have a harder compound and are therefore "more predictable".

[lucid]

I am pretty sure Mark was on BFG R1s at the Glen, but I might be wrong.

I don't know enough about the differences in PSC vs. BFG compounds to say if one will be more beginner friendly than the other. I am on PSC with the E30 and used PSC+ with the E92 in the past. BFG does offer more grip than PSC+, especially when new, so that means you'll lose traction at slightly higher loads/speeds. Either tire has proved to be more predictable than I thought and slips somewhat without snapping provided you warm them up properly. When compared to BFG, spending the extra money on Hoosiers is not necessary unless you are racing IMO.

[CSMRX7]

Are talking about running 275s on the stock front 18. Isn't that a little wide for a 8.5" rim?

[BRDHNTR]

You'd have to run 255 on the front of OEM wheels. Not optimal, but definitely cheaper. Lucid brings up a good point. We aren't racing here, so is it really worth spending the extra cash for a couple tenths that don't matter.

Maybe I'll buy a set of OEM 18" wheels and put R1's on them until I get better. By then, I'll probably want a dedicated track car with a cage. I still think about the guy at Thunderhill that got wacked by the 911 GT3RS. A cage saved his life.

[lucid]

Mark might have been running a square 265 setup on 9.5" stock 18" wheels all around. Radiation Joe has been running that with PS2s, and he says his fronts rub a little, but it might be fine with lower diameter BFG R1s. I'll ask Mark when I see/talk to him next.

[BRDHNTR]

Pretty sure Mark was staggered on his OEM 18"s, but I know Radiation Joe was running two sets of 18" OEM rears with 265/40/18 PS2's. He only gets some rubbing at lock with that setup (he uses/was using his two sets of OEM fronts for winter driving. The man drives his M3 in the winter in Upstate NY ) Joe was actually the one who introduced me to Mark. They are both very nice guys. That was first HPDE, and they taught me a lot.

[CSMRX7]

Originally Posted by lucid

Mark might have been running a square 265 setup on 9.5" stock 18" wheels all around. Radiation Joe has been running that with PS2s, and he says his fronts rub a little, but it might be fine with lower diameter BFG R1s. I'll ask Mark when I see/talk to him next.

We need to be careful with rubbing on the inside as on the passanger side there is a harness running down the outside of the frame rail.

I may go 255/275 staggared to start and see how that performs. Keeps me from getting a new set of rims in the short term which is more $$ for track time!

[lucid]

I run 265/285 BFG R1 on 18x9.5 et29 and 18x10.5 et30 wheels without any problems apart from the slight "marking" of the shock liner in the rear I mentioned, which can be easily solved by a 5mm spacer. However, keep in mind those tires are ~1" shorter than OEM PS2s.

[gaddiel14]

Ur experiments helping more.... thanks for the sharing.....

__________________
Compound Interest Formula

[autospiel]

Lucid, I'm planning to follow your example when I track my E90 next spring: camber plates and staggered rims/tires. I already have a second set of rims I bought for my 335, so I'll either use them (with spacers) or the factory forged rims for HPDEs. I'm leaning toward Ground Control camber plates, since I'm concerned about even tire wear (learned that lesson after only getting 2.5 days out of PSCs on my E46). I've also heard good things about RE-11s, so I'm leaning toward those as well. Anything you'd advise (for or against)?

[lucid]

The very first set of r-compound tires I used were PSC+ on OEM 19" rims, and yes, the fronts did get uneven wear on the outside without camber plates. You won't have a whole lot of r-compound choice for the 19" rims. If your other set of rims are 18", and if you have track experience, then go with those and r-compounds. Based on the responses here, it appears that BFG R1s and Nitto NT-01 are both good choices. BFG will probably offer slightly more performance when new, and NT-01 will probably be less prone to heat cycling. I haven't driven on RE-11, but they seem to be a good trade-off. Would probably be a good choice if you don't want dedicated track wheels.

[autospiel]

Thanks, Lucid. I have fair amount of track experience (>25 HPDEs) and run as either advanced student or instructor. Outright speed isn't my top priority -- driving smoothly, within my limits, without abusing the equipment is. I'll have separate sets of rims/tires (and pads) for track & street. Both sets of rims are 19", so I realize my options are limited. I'll look at the R1s and NT-01s before pulling the trigger on the RE-11s.

[von_zoom]

If I can chime in, I have been running BFG R1s on my track car all season. I can only give a hardy recommendation on using them. While they are not on my E92, they are on a modified 525i E36 270 hp powered car, which is 3620 lbs with me in it and half a tank of gas. I have had absolutely no issues with the tires, and plan to replace them for next season. No doubt, they will be high on my list for consideration when putting shoes on the E92, and on 18 rims.
vz

[lucid]

Originally Posted by autospiel

Thanks, Lucid. I have fair amount of track experience (>25 HPDEs) and run as either advanced student or instructor. Outright speed isn't my top priority -- driving smoothly, within my limits, without abusing the equipment is. I'll have separate sets of rims/tires (and pads) for track & street. Both sets of rims are 19", so I realize my options are limited. I'll look at the R1s and NT-01s before pulling the trigger on the RE-11s.

I believe neither BFG R1 nor NT-01 come in 19" sizes.

[autospiel]

Okay Von_Zoom and Lucid, I'm following the herd: buying 18" rims and BFG R1s. Based on the rims' total cost, the break-even point is (2) sets of tires (vs. 19" Michelin PSCs), which I'll reach in under two HPDE seasons. The unsprung weight savings should be noticeable on the track (or, "that's my story and I'm sticking to it"). And it leaves the 19" rims/tires I already have (left over from my 335i) as an 'alternate street set'.

[lucid]

Yes, PSC+ are too expensive. You'll save over the long term with the more affordable 18" tires.

[jml]

Originally Posted by lucid

Yes, PSC+ are too expensive. You'll save over the long term with the more affordable 18" tires.

+1 This is the right move. It opens up a lot more options and the wheels should get less abuse.

[Splinter4784]

i wanted to post a review of the NT-01's

I was at the streets of willow springs running a square set up of new NT-01's 275/35 18 all around the car on APEX ARC 8 Wheels.

These are great tires and i barely lost any tread even though i was demolishing these tires on the corners and inducing drift every time i entered the skid pad.


I like to talk about PSI in Cold terms rather than hot because hot psi is not stable and it does not give you an accurate PSI Reading

The Nitto NTO1's run best at about 34 to 35 PSI Cold. when i got of the track running them cold at 35, i got out of the car and checked the PSI hot and it was reading 45 PSI

I kept dropping the pressure. I felt as if 33 PSI Cold was good too but it was too close to notice a difference IMO. When i dropped the pressure to 31 PSI Cold the tires got very sloppy and i felt the grip change a lot.

The NT-01's are great tires because they are not super sensitive and they provide stable grip through out the life of the tire from what i hear

i think ill definetly keep getting sets of NT-01's and later on i want to try the BFG R1's

I definetly recommend the NT-01 to anyone who is getting their first set of R Compound for the track.

[Polak]

Not a whole lot of talk here on the V710... Auto-X guys tend to like those along with Hoosiers..... They usually post the same times, with A6's being the slight victor. Any idea which are better for heavier cars?

On my previous car (Rx-8) people would routinely run 275 V710s on 8'' wide wheels, anyone here doing the same on stock 18x8.5s??

[03SG///M3]

I'm looking for an r comp I can drive to the track on. Love the r1's but not sure it's the best idea to drive to the track on - too sticky. I had a set of Yokohama a048 I liked although they don't seem to make them in the sizes I need. I'm planning on running 245/40/18 front and 275/35/18 rear. I'm also looking for an r comp that will last a few track days. Any recommendations? Tirerack seems to only have the r1's and v710 and some hankooks. Ideally I'd like to get them from tirerack so they can mount them to the wheels I'm purchasing.

[03SG///M3]

From what tire rack has to offer in r comps in the sizes I want is the r1 the best option for durability and long lasting performance compared to the hankook or kumho?

Has anyone tried driving to the track in r1's?

[M3 Montreal]

I have to say I've been loving this thread and my experience with cars on the track is very limited. I only started off last year but do have some prior track experience with Racing motorcycles (at least 30 to 40 track days).

I just ordered some 18"s (Volk TE37 SL's)but wanted something good for track and street use. Currently I use RE-11's and I have to say I really like them.

Are there any other suggestions for street/track tires? I was thinking of going 265/285 or 275/295. Fronts are 9.5's and rears are 10.5's.

On a sidenote... Lucid , you going to Tremblant with BMW Boston again this year?