track tyres advice for OEM 18"

[Rajvosa]

hi guys,
bought a set of OEM 18" to use a track set.
i plan to do maybe 3-4 track events per year and they are fairly light events (not many tracks where i am).

got a friend selling me a cheap set of pretty much new R888's.
tyre sizes are 245F and 265R.
i got stock suspension. (dont plan to change that)

is that an OK size to run or should i be running wider tyres?

i am not looking to beat any records, just want to enjoy car a bit more off the streets and current tyres PS2's are not that good on the tyres.

[Groundpilot]

Stock sizes are ok, but on stock 18 wheels i would recommend to go with tires 1 size bigger 255/275.

[jphughan]

If you're using OEM sizes, run either 245/265, 255/265 (to dial out some understeer), or 255/275 (to maintain relative handling balance and increase overall grip at the cost of added weight). I'm installing a 255/265 setup on stock 220M's after chunking a front tire last weekend at the track, so hopefully the extra width and small extra camber I'm adding (going to -2.5 from -2.3) will protect the outsides more. I've already thrown out three sets of front tires early due to premature outside wear -- in 26K miles.

As for tire compounds, I'd stick with PSS for a while honestly. Several students run them even in advanced groups (including myself) because you can learn a lot by resisting the temptation to just add more grip -- although I don't have a set of dedicated track wheels, so that's also partly why I have PSS. If you feel the need for more, AD08 R's seem popular (though they're expensive), and of course there are NT01s if you have the cash to burn and are in a high enough run group that you're allowed to run them. RS-3s are ordinarily popular, but I don't see them on E9x M3s much, possibly because they wear too fast on cars that are this heavy? Also note that different tires with identical size ratings can run wider than others. For example, AD08s of a given size rating usually match the actual size of other tires that have a 10mm wider rating, so running 255/275 may not be possible depending on the type of tire you buy.

But if you'll be doing that many track days, get camber plates now and align for -2.5, otherwise you'll repeat my experience with premature front tire wear. I corded BOTH of my two front PSS tires after 3 track weekends (and a total of 7500 miles since they were my full-time tires) before I got plates. Part of that is because PSSes don't have as stiff a sidewall as tires like an AD08, but even there you'll probably want extra camber for protection -- and of course the extra grip.

[slicer]

I see Hankook RS3's used often on M3's here in CA. As others have said, OEM sizes, 255/40, 275/40, or 255/40, 265/40 all seem like good options. You could also get another pair of rears and run 275/35/18's on all four.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by slicer

I see Hankook RS3's used often on M3's here in CA. As others have said, OEM sizes, 255/40, 275/40, or 255/40, 265/40 all seem like good options. You could also get another pair of rears and run 275/35/18's on all four.

Using the stock 219M rear wheel on the front actually should work. It's a 9.5 ET23. That means compared to the stock front wheel (8.5 ET29), your wheel will extend outboard another 16.7 mm and extend inboard another 8.7 mm. But considering that a 10 ET25 setup all around is pretty common for the track, which compared to stock would extend the wheel 23 mm outboard and 15 mm inboard, that should fit just fine.

Or you could save cash by getting a set of 18x10 ET25 APEX ARC-8s or EC-7s, which cost less than OEM, are proven at the track, and have the additional benefit of clearing BBK setups that the stock wheels won't.

[Rajvosa]

At the moment I'm just looking for a bit of light track work. These tyres in 245 / 265 have come up pretty cheap as my friend isn't using them anymore so I just wanna make sure they ll be ok.

Sounds like they ll be fine but not ideal. Which is ok, so maybe next time I'm buying tyres I can look at more options

[bigjae1976]

I have a set of rear OEM 18s. 275 fit with not fender issues AND they clear Stoptech ST60s.

[admranger]

I like the Bridgestone RE11 (and have them on both my M3's). Costco sells them which is really handy for me. Cheaper than Tire Rack for me.

Agree that you should stay on street tires. Besides, the R888's are heinous. BTDT.

[krx927]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I have a set of rear OEM 18s. 275 fit with not fender issues AND they clear Stoptech ST60s.

You run 275 and which aspect ration 35 or 40?

[Sleeper519]

Originally Posted by Rajvosa

At the moment I'm just looking for a bit of light track work. These tyres in 245 / 265 have come up pretty cheap as my friend isn't using them anymore so I just wanna make sure they ll be ok.

Sounds like they ll be fine but not ideal. Which is ok, so maybe next time I'm buying tyres I can look at more options

you'll be just fine with those, mate. go have fun with them.

[TheKosherStogie]

The guy asks a simple question and get a trillion over answers.

Yes go with those. They will be just fine.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by krx927

You run 275 and which aspect ration 35 or 40?

275/35 all around. I would NOT mix 35 and 40 aspect tires though. It's important to keep the difference in overall diameter as close to the stock difference as possible, at least if you want DSC/MDM to work properly.

[Groundpilot]

Originally Posted by krx927

You run 275 and which aspect ration 35 or 40?

I may be wrong, but i dont think any tire in that size comes in 40 aspect ratio

[yandy]

Originally Posted by Groundpilot

I may be wrong, but i dont think any tire in that size comes in 40 aspect ratio

the NT-01 comes in 275/40 and 35 in 18 size. Only know this because I'm about to order a set of 275/35 and noticed that.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by jphughan

275/35 all around. I would NOT mix 35 and 40 aspect tires though. It's important to keep the difference in overall diameter as close to the stock difference as possible, at least if you want DSC/MDM to work properly.

On stock wheels, you'll be mixing aspect ratios. It's the overall circumference of the tires that matters, not the aspect ratios.

275/35/18 and 255/40/18 or the 265/245 mix you've seen earlier. Either will work. Same overall circumference (+/-) F to R.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by admranger

On stock wheels, you'll be mixing aspect ratios. It's the overall circumference of the tires that matters, not the aspect ratios.

275/35/18 and 255/40/18 or the 265/245 mix you've seen earlier. Either will work. Same overall circumference (+/-) F to R.

Hmm, ok. I admit I didn't look into the OD specs for those tires before posting that; it came from my own research into tire sizes for my 19" rims where there was a question of running either 255/35/19 or 255/30/19 and 255/30 would have created a much larger overall diameter (and thus circumference) difference than 255/35. My bad!

[bigjae1976]

I run 275/35s on the street...no issues with DSC so far.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I run 275/35s on the street...no issues with DSC so far.

You wouldn't have issues with a square setup since that's relatively close to the stock OD differential. But you could have issues if you paired 275/35 rears with something else on the front, depending on what you chose.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by TheKosherStogie

The guy asks a simple question and get a trillion over answers.

Yes go with those. They will be just fine.

I did answer the OPs question.

Not really. I suck.

But yes, I'd just stay stock sizes if you're OK with street tires. You can usually find used OEM PS2s for pretty cheap here as well. If you go with newer tires, a 255/35 and 275/35 setup will give you a lot of good choices for sticky street tires.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I run 275/35s on the street...no issues with DSC so far.

i ran 265-30-19 square on my e90 and didnt have dsc issues either. it was off.

[Richbot]

I think the hot ticket for OEM 18's is the direzza zII in 255/35 and 275/35

Cheap wear like iron and much more tolerant of heat than the pss

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Richbot

I think the hot ticket for OEM 18's is the direzza zII in 255/35 and 275/35

Cheap wear like iron and much more tolerant of heat than the pss

I'm going to have to try these.

Are they communicative? Wide peak traction or sharp and pointy so when you're over the limit you're off?