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[1fastdoc]

Found a nail in the mid tread with 10 psi loss last night. Took my car to Sears this AM. They struggled to get it off and after fixing the nail hole and mounting it I could see a few guys standing around the tire. Turns out it now had 2 large sidewall bubbles. They recommended replacement and were willing to compensate 1/2 the cost since it was very near time anyway (at 4/32). It has PS2's on it and the ONLY reason I haven't upped to the PSS yet is that everyplace is out of 255/35/19 for the front. So here begins my problem:

I don't want to go up to 275 in the rear if I can't get the 255 up front. From what I've read, a 30mm stagger is a bit much and will negatively affect handling.

It is supposed to go get a clear bra installed on Tuesday. I was supposed to leave next Friday to meet some friends out at the Smokey's and run Tail of the Dragon. Earliest anyplace could get the 275/35/19 is end of the week. So I settled on a PSS 265/35/19 and we'll just leave the fronts alone since they have 6/32 left. It's currently sitting at Discount Tire until Monday night.

New development: my buddy who was meeting me next weekend grenaded his S65 and burned his bumper off this morning at VIR! So, that trip is likely cancelled.

Now, I wanted the 275 because, according to guys here, it has a lot more meat on it. 10 mm but smaller gaps for a greater amount of rubber actually on the road. Does it really make that much of a difference?

So the question is: let them change the PS2 to PSS 265 rear and change the fronts to 245 or 255 in a month or wait a little longer (with my car sitting at a tire shop's parking lot) and bump to PSS 275 in the rears, leaving the 245 on the front for the next month? If we my buddy still wants to meet next weekend I'll put the 265 on so I can get it to the other shop for the clear bra in time.

I don't care about tire longevity but I'm not going to upgrade a perfectly good tire. So if i get the 265's they stay for the next 10k miles or so at least, which for me is a couple years.

Sorry this is so long winded. I just want to get the best setup for my car. BTW, it might get tracked 1-2x annually.

Thanks for any help.

[1fastdoc]

Perhaps I should add Cliff's notes:

Sears ruined a tire fixing a nail hole. Only place that can find Michelin PSS is Discount tire and the car is living in their parking lot right now.

Option 1: get the 265/35/19 on the rears on Monday and change the fronts to the stock PSS in another month or two. The car would go right from there to the place that's installing the clear bra.

Option 2: get the 275/35/19 on the rear and have a 30 mm stagger since the fronts are still good. This option may require leaving the car there until Wednesday and that makes me quite uneasy. They have a rather small parking lot. And, I don't trust other people with my car.

So far I am going with Option 1.

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by 1fastdoc

New development: my buddy who was meeting me next weekend grenaded his S65 and burned his bumper off this morning at VIR!

Details? Rod bearing failure? Main bearing failure?

[1fastdoc]

He doesn't know yet. It was towed down to the dealer in Raleigh and they'll start looking at it Monday.

He said that there were concentric warped rings on the back bumper, from the flames out the back and oil was all over the ground. Much of the rear fascia is melted up to the trunk lid. I thought the front end was on fire but apparently it was all out the back. He got out and got some distance from the car and by that time it was just lots of smoke, no more fire.

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by 1fastdoc

He doesn't know yet. It was towed down to the dealer in Raleigh and they'll start looking at it Monday.

He said that there were concentric warped rings on the back bumper, from the flames out the back and oil was all over the ground. Much of the rear fascia is melted up to the trunk lid. I thought the front end was on fire but apparently it was all out the back. He got out and got some distance from the car and by that time it was just lots of smoke, no more fire.

Update?

[1fastdoc]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

Update?

Blew #5 piston out the bottom of the block. BMW is going to rebuild it.

[Transfer]

Originally Posted by 1fastdoc

Blew #5 piston out the bottom of the block. BMW is going to rebuild it.

That's pretty crazy.

In regards to your question I would go with option #1, but you don't really want to run the mixed setup if you're planning on the track at all. Street it will be ok.

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by 1fastdoc

Blew #5 piston out the bottom of the block. BMW is going to rebuild it.

Sounds like a wasted rod bearing was likely the source of the problem.

[aus]

I would just get the 275. 10mm isn't going to be a hug diffeence.

Originally Posted by 1fastdoc

Blew #5 piston out the bottom of the block. BMW is going to rebuild it.

Can you confirm with him if it was a rod bearing and add the info to the registry?

[1fastdoc]

Had to go with Option 1. They couldnt get the 275's in time.

Initially I didn't like the PSS, they didn't lose grip but the back felt a little squirrely. However, after a couple hundred miles they got a lot better.

Also ran Tail of the Dragon yesterday and for parts of that as well as the Cherohala skyway it was raining hard. Didn't have the DSC kick in once. The PS2's were never that solid.

When it's time to get new fronts I'll probably still go up to 255 for a 255/265 set up.

[happos2]

There are quite a few people that run 255 / 285 set ups....your 30 mm stagger would not have been a huge deal. However I understand your decision was influenced when the tires would arrive...