Square wheel setup for track

[torrque]

Hi all,

Sorry for all the questions, new to tracking the M3 . I am trying to decide for a square setup for track, I am leaning on Apex wheels... I see some pics with some of them here

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=748166

Question is, why would one choose 18x10 instead of 18x9, do you need that extra wideness ? The x 9 is lighter too.

If you have a square setup, what do you run and are happy with?

I would think 18x9 et30 would be fine, no? Maybe needs a few mm of spacers to line up better...

Thanks

[evilspiritM3]

You'll want at least 10 inches wide. A lot of people run 10.5 square. The grip of a 275 or 285 width tire makes a difference and in the front reduces some of the under steer.

[torrque]

Originally Posted by evilspiritM3

You'll want at least 10 inches wide. A lot of people run 10.5 square. The grip of a 275 or 285 width tire makes a difference and in the front reduces some of the under steer.

Thanks! So 18 x 10 ET25 with 275/35 18 tires will work ?

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by torrque

Thanks! So 18 x 10 ET25 with 275/35 18 tires will work ?

Yes it will.

255 is about the biggest you can run on a 9" wheel. For a car of this size and weight, a 255 square setup is under tired. 10" wheels gives you the flexibility to run 275's and up to 295's without issue.

[Ervin87]

Originally Posted by torrque

Thanks! So 18 x 10 ET25 with 275/35 18 tires will work ?

This is a great option for a square setup, and highly popular with the M3 track crowd. I assume you have a set of camber plates to ensure proper camber and avoid tire wear.

[torrque]

Originally Posted by Ervin87

This is a great option for a square setup, and highly popular with the M3 track crowd. I assume you have a set of camber plates to ensure proper camber and avoid tire wear.

Not yet... but will get some. I did adjust the wheels to max camber with pins removed at negative 1.7 front and 2.1 rear before my track day.

I am not doing more than 4-5 track days a year, so I like to keep an adjustment which works on the street as well... if that makes sense.

Thanks

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by torrque

Not yet... but will get some. I did adjust the wheels to max camber with pins removed at negative 1.7 front and 2.1 rear before my track day.

I am not doing more than 4-5 track days a year, so I like to keep an adjustment which works on the street as well... if that makes sense.

Thanks

That's part of the benefit to camber plates. Put more camber in for a track day, then take it out for the street.

[nickauger]

honesly when i look on porsche 911 gt3 and they are running 265 front and 325 rear , there a litle voice in my head thinking about my 275 square and it sound all wrong.

I know it's more economical to run same front and rear tire so you can rotate them but performance wise i would run wider rear tire.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by nickauger

honesly when i look on porsche 911 gt3 and they are running 265 front and 325 rear , there a litle voice in my head thinking about my 275 square and it sound all wrong.

I know it's more economical to run same front and rear tire so you can rotate them but performance wise i would run wider rear tire.

A GT3 is a rear engined car, very unbalanced weight distribution. This is not the case with an M3, which is close to 50/50.

Do 10.5 square. The other day someone at the track made the same comment, about 9" wheels vs 10" , and I wasn't sure if he was joking or serious.
The M3 is a heavy friggin car. It needs all the damn wheel you can give it. If we could fit. 12" square setup easily we'd all be recommending that

[leftfootbr8king]

There should be a little voice in your head telling you that comparing the way a p car is rubbered up vs an m3 is silly due to the fact that a 911 doesn't have its engine sitting over its front axle and the m3 does.

Also silly: thinking that the driving characteristics of a 911 are the benchmark and something all cars should aspire to.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by leftfootbr8king

Also silly: thinking that the driving characteristics of a 911 are the benchmark and something all cars should aspire to.

Thank you. Someone had to say it. The Porsche adoration blows my friggin mind.

[911r]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

A GT3 is a rear engined car, very unbalanced weight distribution. This is not the case with an M3, which is close to 50/50.

Do 10.5 square. The other day someone at the track made the same comment, about 9" wheels vs 10" , and I wasn't sure if he was joking or serious.
The M3 is a heavy friggin car. It needs all the damn wheel you can give it. If we could fit. 12" square setup easily we'd all be recommending that

Are you still running 10.5" et27 TA16 wheels w/ 275/35 squared?

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by 911r

Are you still running 10.5" et27 TA16 wheels w/ 275/35 squared?

Yup. But the tires vary, sometimes 295 R7, other times 285 R1, etc

Even to run 275/35 it's still worth it to maximize the contact patch and run 10.5

[nickauger]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

A GT3 is a rear engined car, very unbalanced weight distribution. This is not the case with an M3, which is close to 50/50.

Do 10.5 square. The other day someone at the track made the same comment, about 9" wheels vs 10" , and I wasn't sure if he was joking or serious.
The M3 is a heavy friggin car. It needs all the damn wheel you can give it. If we could fit. 12" square setup easily we'd all be recommending that

I agree with m3 being a heavy car but i would not run a 12in wheel at front even if it would be possible.

I had good performance out of my 275 square but it bet 275 at front and 295 at rear would be better.

Also the front being that heavy , i would upgrade the front swaybar. Anyway i'm off topic now. Dont want to start a war.

[dparm]

There is a reason 18x10.5 is so popular: it's proven. Copy setups that work.

[Exclusivs]

^But do they?

10" 275/35 was the standard up
Until recently?

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Exclusivs

^But do they?

10" 275/35 was the standard up
Until recently?

10" or 10.5" are both popular. It will depend on other things like your alignment, coilover selection, exact wheel offset, etc. Point is to cram a big wheel on there so you can get more tire.

Remember that bigger tires also wear more slowly and will take longer to overheat.

[Exclusivs]

^ of course

Was posting to say 10" was the norm

Until guys lost their minds and started cramming 10.5s

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Exclusivs

^ of course

Was posting to say 10" was the norm

Until guys lost their minds and started cramming 10.5s

The 10.5s fit the same as the 10s, that's why they're being used.

This is not like the 11" s some people manage to fit after rolling fenders and running -4 camber. The 10.5s fit just as well as the 10s

[leftfootbr8king]

Can anyone speak from experience on the benefit of going from 10.5 to 11 with the same tire? Is it worth the effort? I understand sidewall support etc. just wondering how that actually translates.

[Exclusivs]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

The 10.5s fit the same as the 10s, that's why they're being used.

This is not like the 11" s some people manage to fit after rolling fenders and running -4 camber. The 10.5s fit just as well as the 10s

Seems guys are doing that just to get 10.5s to fit

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

The 10.5s fit the same as the 10s, that's why they're being used.

This is not like the 11" s some people manage to fit after rolling fenders and running -4 camber. The 10.5s fit just as well as the 10s

Hey I represent that comment!

And the fenders look just lovely rolled like that - done purely for aesthetic reasons