Transporting wheels/tires to the track?

[Sleeper519]

I'm getting dedicated track wheels and R-comps for this season. My home track is only 30 miles away, so I don't have any problem just driving there on track tires. But I will be attending other events that are a 6 hr drive away, and I don't feel comfortable doing so on these "commutes".

Anybody have any clever ideas? I will NOT tow this car.

My friend has a very small trailer rig that he tows with his E92 M3 that holds 4 tires, jack, tool box, etc. I'm not quite ready to cut into the rear fascia to mount a trailer hitch and wiring at this time. I'm thinking about removing the back seat to carry the wheels, but unsure if it all will fit w/ jack, etc. Also wondering how PIA it is to seat delete. Search entries gave mixed reviews. Probably my best bet, though.

I know I'm not the only one to ponder this problem...

Advice?

[yyoo]

I used to get 4 tires into my 2001 330i with all seats intact. Of course, there was a wheel well in my trunk for a full-sized spare.

At some point though I bit the bullet and got a small utility trailer much like the one your friend apparently has. I could carry a ton more stuff and it made prepping for track lot less of a hassle since I didn't have to pack and unpack the car for every event. But... no rear fascia issues for the 330i.

I contemplated transporting tires in a rack on top of the car, but never seriously looked into it.

Good luck and let us know what you ultimately decide on.

By the way do you know where your friend got his trailer? I sold mine years ago and the people who made it are no longer in the business.

[JAJ]

Originally Posted by Sleeper519

I'm getting dedicated track wheels and R-comps for this season. My home track is only 30 miles away, so I don't have any problem just driving there on track tires. But I will be attending other events that are a 6 hr drive away, and I don't feel comfortable doing so on these "commutes".

Anybody have any clever ideas? I will NOT tow this car.

My friend has a very small trailer rig that he tows with his E92 M3 that holds 4 tires, jack, tool box, etc. I'm not quite ready to cut into the rear fascia to mount a trailer hitch and wiring at this time. I'm thinking about removing the back seat to carry the wheels, but unsure if it all will fit w/ jack, etc. Also wondering how PIA it is to seat delete. Search entries gave mixed reviews. Probably my best bet, though.

I know I'm not the only one to ponder this problem...

Advice?

Four will sit comfortably side by side across the back seat with no problem. Don't lay them down, don't open the split rear seat, just put them in position in the back seat as if they are passengers rolling along with you. You could put three in the back and one in the trunk, but you really don't need to. I used to get four rims and four tires (not mounted) in the car. For track days, I used to turn up with four mounted tires, a tool box, three 5 gallon gas cans and a jack. Be creative! And, yes, protect the seats with something.

[LiM3y]

^^ What he said

I put 4 x 10" rims with 275/35 tires on in the back, and use a bungee cord hooked to the headrest and through the wheels to hold them steady.

You can impress the trailer trash () with how much you track day stuff you can fit in an M3... makes for a good comeback when you get toasted by a Porsche Turbo:

"So what! I can fit 20 bags of mulch in my car!" Just look at the expression of envy on the guy's face!

[von_zoom]

Me too. I put 4 275/35/10 BFGs in tire totes in the back seat, except I lay the back down. I guess they would fit with the back up, just have not tried that yet. I used to put three in the back seat and one in the trunk. I put my jack, tool box, small cooler with drinks in the trunk plus Cloth bag, shoes, gloves and helmet. Well loaded down, but works for me. 130 miles to the track.
vz

[Richbot]

I can get 4 in there comfortably, along with a jack, toolbag, helmet, etc. And that's not even using the front seat yet! Fold down seats to protect them, put three upright on the seats and strap them down to the front tiedowns in the trunk, put one in the trunk face down and put the tool bag in it, etc. Lots of different options. Not sure where you'd put a trailer hitch on this car, not much back there to bolt to. I used a tire trailer on another car back when I was semi-serious about autocross and you get used to the extra space which means it gets pretty heavy with all the stuff you "need"

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by von_zoom

Me too. I put 4 275/35/10 BFGs in tire totes in the back seat, except I lay the back down. I guess they would fit with the back up, just have not tried that yet. I used to put three in the back seat and one in the trunk. I put my jack, tool box, small cooler with drinks in the trunk plus Cloth bag, shoes, gloves and helmet. Well loaded down, but works for me. 130 miles to the track.
vz

+1 that is exactly what I do.I always have that feeling that I will get decapitated if I ever hit anything solidI really need to start securing them properly if I am going to keep doing it this way or maybe it is really time for a dedicated track car

[von_zoom]

have that feeling that I will get decapitated if I ever hit anything solid

Exactly - I use a tie down threaded in the tires to hold them securely. A bitxx to get in the back of the car to connect everything.

Cheaper to put up with the hassel than to get a dedicated track car. Been there, done that.
vz

[paradocs98]

I really do love it when the Corvette and 911 guys watch me pull all that stuff out of my M3. "You got all of THAT in THERE?" It actually does package pretty nicely. I do two tires upright on the back seat, a third tire on its side in the back seat on top of a plastic bin with all my stuff (wheel chocks, torque wrench, tow hooks, extra Castrol TWS, blue tape, etc.), and a fourth tire in the trunk with the jack, gas can, a folding chair, pop-up tent, and three fraternity brothers. Okay, no fraternity brothers.

Besides the other obvious benefits of having a dedicated track wheel/tire setup, I like the fact that if I were to get a puncture in a tire on the 3-hour drive to the track, it doesn't affect the integrity of my track setup. And vice-versa: if you happen to spin off the track and bang up your track tires, you still have your street setup to get home on.

[OC3]

Originally Posted by paradocs98

I really do love it when the Corvette and 911 guys watch me pull all that stuff out of my M3. "You got all of THAT in THERE?" It actually does package pretty nicely. I do two tires upright on the back seat, a third tire on its side in the back seat on top of a plastic bin with all my stuff (wheel chocks, torque wrench, tow hooks, extra Castrol TWS, blue tape, etc.), and a fourth tire in the trunk with the jack, gas can, a folding chair, pop-up tent, and three fraternity brothers. Okay, no fraternity brothers.

Besides the other obvious benefits of having a dedicated track wheel/tire setup, I like the fact that if I were to get a puncture in a tire on the 3-hour drive to the track, it doesn't affect the integrity of my track setup. And vice-versa: if you happen to spin off the track and bang up your track tires, you still have your street setup to get home on.

Yep. Or, if you're not doing separate track wheel/tire setup, and are running square setup, then just haul a 5th wheel/tire (same size obviously). Can get home without having the car towed.

[bigjae1976]

I just bring one spare and drive slow on the track.

[Sleeper519]

Awesome responses! Much appreciated. I knew I wasn't alone!

I'm glad to know that the backseat will hold all that without removing (wasn't looking forward to that).

I'm thinking tire totes might be a good investment to keep upholstery fresh...

[Sleeper519]

Originally Posted by LiM3y

You can impress the trailer trash () with how much you track day stuff you can fit in an M3... makes for a good comeback when you get toasted by a Porsche Turbo:

"So what! I can fit 20 bags of mulch in my car!" Just look at the expression of envy on the guy's face!

This is classic!

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by OC3

Yep. Or, if you're not doing separate track wheel/tire setup, and are running square setup, then just haul a 5th wheel.

Where do I find a specific M3 5th wheel setup

[persian54]

Can't do this in a vert..

[OC3]

Originally Posted by Gearhead999s

Where do I find a specific M3 5th wheel setup

[OC3]

Originally Posted by persian54

Can't do this in a vert..

I think 4 wheels/tires will fit in the E93 backseat when they're positioned the same direction of the travel (i.e. wheels/tires on the car itself).

[schnell325]

Excellent thread fellows!

[persian54]

Originally Posted by OC3

I think 4 wheels/tires will fit in the E93 backseat when they're positioned the same direction of the travel (i.e. wheels/tires on the car itself).

Nope

Tried that

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=596923

Most I could get in was 3.

[dcgolfdr]

You can always pop out the back seat bottoms, so you only have to worry about covering the seat backs, you just pull those straight up and they just pop out. Along with everyone else I was able to fit four in the back and a trunk full of other shit!!

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by paradocs98

I really do love it when the Corvette and 911 guys watch me pull all that stuff out of my M3. "You got all of THAT in THERE?" It actually does package pretty nicely. I do two tires upright on the back seat, a third tire on its side in the back seat on top of a plastic bin with all my stuff (wheel chocks, torque wrench, tow hooks, extra Castrol TWS, blue tape, etc.), and a fourth tire in the trunk with the jack, gas can, a folding chair, pop-up tent, and three fraternity brothers. Okay, no fraternity brothers.

Besides the other obvious benefits of having a dedicated track wheel/tire setup, I like the fact that if I were to get a puncture in a tire on the 3-hour drive to the track, it doesn't affect the integrity of my track setup. And vice-versa: if you happen to spin off the track and bang up your track tires, you still have your street setup to get home on.

Exactly what I do too.
i have a E90 with split, fold-down rear seats. I throw my tires in seperate garbage bags, and they all fit in my car without using the front seat and with plenty of rear visibility, and additional room for bags.

1 in trunk.
3 on the folded-down seat back, 2 of them sitting upright.

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by persian54

Nope

Tried that

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=596923

Most I could get in was 3.

what about putting your roof up and fitting one in your trunk?