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[thorny]

I am trying to choose my new setup for maximum grip. I picked Apex EC-7 wheels and R888 tires combo.

Can I run this w/o much rubbing?

18x10 ET25 w/ 275/35/18
18x11 ET25 w/ 295/30/18


I want it to be uber aggressive. What I run now is a safe setup and no rub, but I feel like I can squeeze more in there. What do you guys think ?

[slicer]

275/35/18 is a great size for the front but you will need a 5mm or 10mm spacer in the front to clear your clubsports. I would choose 295/35/18 in the rear, which will fit without a spacer. 295/30/18 is 1" too small of a diameter. It's also a smaller diameter than the 275/35/18 you plan to run in the front which I would avoid (OEM spec is a larger diameter in the rear than front). 295/35/18 is very close to the OEM diameter, a good diameter match to 275/35/18, and it fits nicely. I have fit g-force rivals in that size with the same wheel width and offset. I have not test fit R888's.

[thorny]

Originally Posted by slicer

275/35/18 is a great size for the front but you will need a 5mm or 10mm spacer in the front to clear your clubsports. I would choose 295/35/18 in the rear, which will fit without a spacer. 295/30/18 is 1" too small of a diameter. It's also a smaller diameter than the 275/35/18 you plan to run in the front which I would avoid (OEM spec is a larger diameter in the rear than front). 295/35/18 is very close to the OEM diameter, a good diameter match to 275/35/18, and it fits nicely. I have fit g-force rivals in that size with the same wheel width and offset. I have not test fit R888's.

Thanks a lot! Well, the problem is that Toyo doesn't make 295/35/18. At least I couldn't find it.

275/35/18 is 25.7"
295/30/18 is 25.1"

Man, maybe I should try 305/35/18 at 26.3"?! It is 0.5-0.6" wider..

[slicer]

Originally Posted by thorny

Thanks a lot! Well, the problem is that Toyo doesn't make 295/35/18. At least I couldn't find it.

275/35/18 is 25.7"
295/30/18 is 25.1"

Man, maybe I should try 305/35/18 at 26.3"?! It is 0.5-0.6" wider..

Therein lies the problem... I mistakenly thought the R888 was available in 295/35/18. I just picked up the new BFG GForce Rival which is available in those sizes. It's not an r-comp like R888 but it has gotten good reviews. I have not yet tested it so I don't have an opinion on it. It does look good and is very beefy... You could try the 305/35/18 but I can't tell you whether it will fit. It depends how wide the R888's run. The Rivals in 295/35/18 were a tight fit but didn't rub. See the link below for pics of them installed:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...&highlight=E05

[slicer]

I should also say that I have seen a lot of accomplished track drivers on this forum run 265/35/18 and 295/30/18 tires. Those sizes are available in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup, Hankook TD, and Yokohama AD08R tires. I just don't see the point of installing 18's with 30-series tires in the rear which is a size / sidewall suitable for 19" wheels (in addition to the reasons I listed above). That being said, the grip of the TD's and PSC are know to be amazing which results in some impressive track performance.

[thorny]

Originally Posted by slicer

Therein lies the problem... I mistakenly thought the R888 was available in 295/35/18. I just picked up the new BFG GForce Rival which is available in those sizes. It's not an r-comp like R888 but it has gotten good reviews. I have not yet tested it so I don't have an opinion on it. It does look good and is very beefy... You could try the 305/35/18 but I can't tell you whether it will fit. It depends how wide the R888's run. The Rivals in 295/35/18 were a tight fit but didn't rub. See the link below for pics of them installed:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...&highlight=E05

Looks good! That front is intense. I'd try a 5 mm spacer just for shits

[thorny]

Originally Posted by slicer

I should also say that I have seen a lot of accomplished track drivers on this forum run 265/35/18 and 295/30/18 tires. Those sizes are available in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup, Hankook TD, and Yokohama AD08R tires. I just don't see the point of installing 18's with 30-series tires in the rear which is a size / sidewall suitable for 19" wheels (in addition to the reasons I listed above). That being said, the grip of the TD's and PSC are know to be amazing which results in some impressive track performance.

I noticed the same thing. Once you go wide, all of sudden everything becomes 30 instead of 35 and I noticed people running 35 front and 30 rear. I can raise the rear by a few mm to keep the car oem level. I am not that worried about mdm, etc. lately I be been driving DSC off even on the street. I don't like the mdm intervining at the slightest wheel spin. I dunno, there has to be a reason in the sizes they make..

[slicer]

Originally Posted by thorny

Looks good! That front is intense. I'd try a 5 mm spacer just for shits

5mm (et20) was insufficient with the 275mm Rivals. I'm only at -2* of camber in those pics. It will look less intense with a little more camber. I had my HRE's built in 18x10 et18 and 275/35/18 Michelin PSS barely fit. I don't know how people run any offset higher than et18 with 10" wheels and 275mm tires.

Originally Posted by thorny

I noticed the same thing. Once you go wide, all of sudden everything becomes 30 instead of 35 and I noticed people running 35 front and 30 rear. I can raise the rear by a few mm to keep the car oem level. I am not that worried about mdm, etc. lately I be been driving DSC off even on the street. I don't like the mdm intervining at the slightest wheel spin. I dunno, there has to be a reason in the sizes they make..

I'll tell you the reason... Porsche 911. 295/30/18 is the OEM size for the 996tt and 996GT3, plus it's a common track size used on any 996, or wide body 993.

[thorny]

Originally Posted by slicer

5mm (et20) was insufficient with the 275mm Rivals. I'm only at -2* of camber in those pics. It will look less intense with a little more camber. I had my HRE's built in 18x10 et18 and 275/35/18 Michelin PSS barely fit. I don't know how people run any offset higher than et18 with 10" wheels and 275mm tires.



I'll tell you the reason... Porsche 911. 295/30/18 is the OEM size for the 996tt and 996GT3, plus it's a common track size used on any 996, or wide body 993.

Darn Porsches! Thanks a lot for all your help. I think I know what I need now

[MFKN3]

Your sizes sound right and are what apex advised me to run too. R888 probably aren't the best grip tyre though. I run a 275 square setup but will soon upgrade to 11" rears with 295's.

Apex did tell me though that 295/35 are too tall and 295/30 are the best/correct size.

[slicer]

Originally Posted by MFKN3

Your sizes sound right and are what apex advised me to run too. R888 probably aren't the best grip tyre though. I run a 275 square setup but will soon upgrade to 11" rears with 295's.

Apex did tell me though that 295/35 are too tall and 295/30 are the best/correct size.

Interesting... Apex says a tire that is almost the exact same diameter as OEM is too tall? Then recommends a tire that's a full 1" smaller diameter as "correct"?

[Richbot]

Apex needs to read their own website then.

295/35-18 will fit just fine. A 295/35-19 would be too tall yes.

It's too bad The 11 isn't more like an et30-33. At et25 it's not taking full advantage of the available space. I would rather run their 10.5 than their 11 for that reason

There is room for the 315/30 Hoosier in back, but it is a shorter tire than the 305/35 Toyo. Still I was running out of width room before height room when running that tire so I would expect it to fit with the right offset.

Also there is room in front for a 295/30 but you have to buy the right struts and choose offsets carefully. Some of the struts out there take up more room than stock. I like this tire size for the front as it's usually pretty close to a 285/30 in width if you look at the specs (sometimes even narrower wven though in theory it should be wider) but it's got almost a half inch of extra height which can give you better wear as a bigger tire height or width can take more load longer than a smaller tire in general

[thorny]

Originally Posted by MFKN3

Your sizes sound right and are what apex advised me to run too. R888 probably aren't the best grip tyre though. I run a 275 square setup but will soon upgrade to 11" rears with 295's.

Apex did tell me though that 295/35 are too tall and 295/30 are the best/correct size.

Not the best grip ? Which one is the best? I am looking for a tire that is not necessarily street legal , but at the same time I dont want to get killed at the slightest hint of rain

[MFKN3]

Ohhh, I assumed you meant for track only, as R888 are more a track tire. I think the M3 is a bit heavy for the R888 and get too hot & greasy when tracking. I dunno if I would use R888 on the street either, because they wouldn't last too long and would be poor in the wet.

Problem you've probably noticed is.. when you're looking for shallow 295's, there are not many options, especially for track setups.

If you're after more of a street setup, maybe something from usual suspects like conti or michelin? The new ContiForceContact look interesting though, and Yokohama AD08 might be worth checking out too but I know very little about them? You might be able to find something that ticks most boxes.

I'm now confused by the differing opinions in 295/30 vs 295/35 Luckily I don't need them yet. My next track tyre I am considering trying pilot cup sports