Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[BMW M Power Mexico]

Just got back from the track. In a nutshell, this is THE TRACK SETUP for those of you who have limited budgets like me.

No rubbing AT ALL while driving on the track. Tremendous grip. My lap times went from 2:04 to 2:01. Car feels completely balanced.

I used no spacers for the front, 5mm spacers on the rears.

Regarding braking, had Hawk HT-10s in front and stock pads on the rear + ecs tuning steel lines + Motul RBF 600 fluid. No fade, no brake balance issues, nothing. Simply great.

Drove all day with MDM on + EDC on sport + Power Normal + Steering Sport, didn't go all the way to DSC OFF saw no need + afraid to trash an expensive car.

Only rubbing is at full lock when parking which can be easily avoided by limiting lock a bit with an extra parking maneuver. So - great setup and inexpensive - total cost for wheels & tires was about $2,300 from the tire rack + shipping - excellent service. Total brake cost was less than $350.

Had the car aligned for maximum stock camber which is about 1.4 negative up front. Wear seemed quite even, much much better than stock PS2s. Will post pics tomorrow as I am exhausted from today.

I only do tracks, no autocross. For autocross maybe, just maybe 265/18s would do a bit better.

Started with tire pressures at 34 and then had to bleed a couple of times to keep them between 39 & 40 which seems to be their sweet spot. Above 41 they start sliding a bit.

My car is a loaded E90 with sunroof (had no choice in that). With this setup I feel I am now on the top 20% of people at this track. Gave hell to 911TTs even on the twisties + kept up easily with a very well driven R8 and basically walked every other BMW in sight including quite a few M3 coupes, 135s, 335s, etc.

Car felt so good I am getting cocky!

Now the magic of the M3 is also in driving back from the track with all the settings on soft and feeling like you are comfortable in your mini 5 series. I just love this car so much. No other car in the world does so many things so well.

UPDATED BELOW WITH PICS.

[aus]

Thanks for the report.

This sounds like a great track set-up.

[schnell325]

Ok, back from the fitment test:

To review, this is the setup:

4 18x10 TR Motorsports ET 25 Wheels
4 BF-Goodrich R-1 Tires (275/35-18)


^^^^ a quote I found, just to help out!

[dawgdog]

Are the spacers needed in the rear? I was thinking of this setup with 265 width tires. If you could post pictures that would be great.

[bigjae1976]

Good info. I was looking at doing the 18x10 D-Force LT5s with 275s on all 4 corners.

I also like those TR Motorsport wheels. NEED SOME PICS!

[m3larson]

Thanks for the update!! How far are you from the track? I have to drive about 120 miles to the track so I wonder how these tires hold up.

[BMW M Power Mexico]

Pics are attached.

I'll try to answer your questions:

1. The spacers are not needed in the rear. I put them on because the stock offsets make the rear track about 1 cm wider than the front and I wanted to preserve that.
2. This setup would definitely work with 265 tires too.
3. I wouldn't drive on these tires to the track - wear for nothing and you are screwed if it rains. I changed at the track when I arrived and before I left. About 25 minutes each time, no big deal. I think if you go by yourself everything would fit on the E90. I had a friend bring the E46 as a "support car" with all the stuff.

[Gladius]

What do you think about running 9.5"s all around?

[Dascamel]

Sounds perfect, I'm probably going to do the exact same thing!

[BMW M Power Mexico]

Originally Posted by Gladius

What do you think about running 9.5"s all around?

Those would most likely work too. The 9.5s are ET35 and the 10" are ET25. With my setup the fronts barely clear the strut so I think spacers would be required in the front with the 9.5s.

You would also need spacers in the rear. I´d guess you would need 10mm in front and 15mm in the rear. With the 9.5s you would save a pound per corner.

However, the 9.5s are not available from the Tire Rack until June while the 10s are in stock. This was the deciding factor for me.

[M3V8Driver]

Did you get the TR Motorsports wheels in 18x10 from the Tire Rack? Did they give you a hard tome about fitting them ont he front? I'm thinking about going with the 18x9.5 up front, but the offset is 35mm, which, correct me if I'm wrong, tucks the wheel inward a bit compared to a 25mm offset (wheel width not withstanding). So, given the same wheel diameter and width, a smaller offset = more outward and a larger offset = more inward when mounted. Just need to confirm. I'd like to run 255/35/18 tires up front and 275/35/18 in the back.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by BMW M Power Mexico

Those would most likely work too. The 9.5s are ET35 and the 10" are ET25. With my setup the fronts barely clear the strut so I think spacers would be required in the front with the 9.5s.

You would also need spacers in the rear. I´d guess you would need 10mm in front and 15mm in the rear. With the 9.5s you would save a pound per corner.

Are you figuring spacers and longer lug weight in that calc? Those will weigh a pound.

[BMW M Power Mexico]

Originally Posted by M3V8Driver

Did you get the TR Motorsports wheels in 18x10 from the Tire Rack? Did they give you a hard tome about fitting them ont he front? I'm thinking about going with the 18x9.5 up front, but the offset is 35mm, which, correct me if I'm wrong, tucks the wheel inward a bit compared to a 25mm offset (wheel width not withstanding). So, given the same wheel diameter and width, a smaller offset = more outward and a larger offset = more inward when mounted. Just need to confirm. I'd like to run 255/35/18 tires up front and 275/35/18 in the back.

I did get them from the Tire Rack and yes, they mentioned they couldn't guarantee front fitment but I went ahead anyway.

Your reasoning about offsets is correct.

If you are not going square and want to run staggered I think the 9.5s are better for the front because a 255 on a 10" wheel is at the limit of its fitment range. Since the 255 is smaller it probably will fit in the front without spacers but it will look more tucked in than my setup.

[BMW M Power Mexico]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Are you figuring spacers and longer lug weight in that calc? Those will weigh a pound.

You make a good point. I didn't consider the spacers. Since you definitely would need them at four corners with the 9.5s that would offset the extra weight of the 10" wheels in the front.

[M3V8Driver]

Originally Posted by BMW M Power Mexico

If you are not going square and want to run staggered I think the 9.5s are better for the front because a 255 on a 10" wheel is at the limit of its fitment range. Since the 255 is smaller it probably will fit in the front without spacers but it will look more tucked in than my setup.

Since the 9.5" wheel is an inch wider than the stock 8.5", wheel, I figure the 6mm difference in offset is such that the wheel track is still a tad outward if anything, compared to stock (there are 25.4mm in an inch).

So what do you think about the following setup:
FRONT
TR Motorsports MT1 18"x9.5", 35mm offset
255/35/18 Hoosier R6
Optional tire: 265/35/18 BFG G-Force R1

BACK
TR Motorsports MT1 18"x10", 25mm offset
275/35/18 Hoosier R6
Optional tire: 275/35/18 BFG G-Force R1

Both front and rear track should be wider than stock and rear should be a little more outward than front, so no spacers.

[BMW M Power Mexico]

Originally Posted by M3V8Driver

Since the 9.5" wheel is an inch wider than the stock 8.5", wheel, I figure the 6mm difference in offset is such that the wheel track is still a tad outward if anything, compared to stock (there are 25.4mm in an inch).

So what do you think about the following setup:
FRONT
TR Motorsports MT1 18"x9.5", 35mm offset
255/35/18 Hoosier R6
Optional tire: 265/35/18 BFG G-Force R1

BACK
TR Motorsports MT1 18"x10", 25mm offset
275/35/18 Hoosier R6
Optional tire: 275/35/18 BFG G-Force R1

Both front and rear track should be wider than stock and rear should be a little more outward than front, so no spacers.

I think that would be a good setup. You would be saving a little unsprung weight over my square setup above.

With the square setup I have I was expecting the car to be a little tail happy but it wasn't the case, the car feels very well balanced with amazing turn-in. Oversteer is not an issue and you can rotate tires as you please.

Of your choices I'd probably go with the 265/275 BFG-R1s over the Hoosiers to save some money and minimize understeer.

[Hellride]

Originally Posted by M3V8Driver

Since the 9.5" wheel is an inch wider than the stock 8.5", wheel, I figure the 6mm difference in offset is such that the wheel track is still a tad outward if anything, compared to stock (there are 25.4mm in an inch).

So what do you think about the following setup:
FRONT
TR Motorsports MT1 18"x9.5", 35mm offset
255/35/18 Hoosier R6
Optional tire: 265/35/18 BFG G-Force R1

BACK
TR Motorsports MT1 18"x10", 25mm offset
275/35/18 Hoosier R6
Optional tire: 275/35/18 BFG G-Force R1

Both front and rear track should be wider than stock and rear should be a little more outward than front, so no spacers.

I just placed my order for your option two. Only difference I put the front tire on a 9" wheel. I feel the track will be wider yet still close to stock ratio, the wheel/tire height will be smaller for both axles, but still close to stock ratio (they are closer together in size - but the rear is still larger). The speedo will be more off, but hey - reduced rotational inertia, right? And no spacers.

In any case, super excited. Have a track event - first this year - in a week and a half, then another at the end of the month. Can't wait, can't wait!

[m3larson]

I am wondering since I wont do a square tire set up right now if I should still do 18x10 all around with the Cups sports or another tire or the 10 in back and 9 in front. suggestions?

[Hellride]

Can't say for sure - depends on how wide a tire you want fr/bk then put on the best size wheel for the tire and our offsets.

I don't get the understeer on this car that others refer to, and would only go square for the cost savings, but considering what I ordered was probably the best value it negated the square advantage IMO.

YMMV, but start with the tire size/width you want first and hope there's a wheel you can use in the correct offset. I didn't want the extra hassle of spacers but it may not bother you. GL.

[M3V8Driver]

Originally Posted by Hellride

I just placed my order for your option two. Only difference I put the front tire on a 9" wheel. I feel the track will be wider yet still close to stock ratio, the wheel/tire height will be smaller for both axles, but still close to stock ratio (they are closer together in size - but the rear is still larger). The speedo will be more off, but hey - reduced rotational inertia, right? And no spacers.
In any case, super excited. Have a track event - first this year - in a week and a half, then another at the end of the month. Can't wait, can't wait!

They come in 9"?

[BMW M Power Mexico]

Originally Posted by M3V8Driver

They come in 9"?

Maybe he used a different wheel. TR Motorsports on the tire rack are 8.5, 9.5 & 10.

[BMW M Power Mexico]

Originally Posted by Hellride

The speedo will be more off, but hey - reduced rotational inertia, right?

Speedo error is a non-issue at the track.