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[thorny]

I was thinking of buying a set of 18" track wheels (TE37SL or Apex) with Hankook RS3 tires. I love TE37SL, but they are so much $$$. I don't like Apex look and don't want to swap wheels before every track day. I run spacers with my stock ZCP. So, is there a good compromise for running stock ZCP on the track? Which tires would you recommend? Is there so much to gain from running lighter wheels, in terms of seconds on the track?

I don't care how strong my wheels are, if I destroy my stock wheel, I'l just buy a new one, but so far they held up well.

Thanks in advance

[persian54]

AD08
245/35/19 (255/35 could also work, but I'm not sure if it's too tall?)
275/35/19

or, if you want to be aggressive:
265/30/19 (heck possibly even a 275/30 could work!)
295/30/19

[thorny]

Originally Posted by persian54

AD08
245/35/19 (255/35 could also work, but I'm not sure if it's too tall?)
275/35/19

or, if you want to be aggressive:
265/30/19 (heck possibly even a 275/30 could work!)
295/30/19

Thanks for the good tip persian. Right now I run OEM 245/35/19 and 265/35/19 ContiSportContact 3. Spacers 15mm front and 12mm rear. That first setup is pretty close to what i got, but I don't mind going wider if at all possible

[LateBraking]

I'd probably run a 255/285 like the OEM M3 GTS, but AD08 is best overall on a 19" I think. R-S3's don't have very many good sizes. R888's are even offered in good sizes if you want an R-compound. I also tried the ExtremeContact DW's and they held up really well and gripped well, only problem is that they overheated a little too quickly. I've also tried PSS's, PS2's, and Invos. PSS's and PS2's were decent, I liked the ExtremeContact DW's better but the PSS/PS2's lasted longer heat-wise. Invos were just shit in every way. Pirelli Pzero's that came from factory gripped really well, but they were utterly destroyed after just one track day.

Hope this helps a little?

BTW, If you're looking to sell your OEM ZCP wheels and buy like Apex or something, I'm looking to buy a set of reasonably priced ZCP's as long as they're in decent shape. I happen to head up to Bakersfield area fairly often, too.

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by thorny

Thanks for the good tip persian. Right now I run OEM 245/35/19 and 265/35/19 ContiSportContact 3. Spacers 15mm front and 12mm rear. That first setup is pretty close to what i got, but I don't mind going wider if at all possible

The AD08's have very tall sidewalls. If you go wider, you'll most likely have to remove the spacers or you will rub in the front (turning) and rear (when suspension compresses). I had 12mm spacers all around with stock Contis and when I went to 255 and 275 AD08's, I was rubbing all the time.

The good thing about the AD08's though is they fill your wheel well up a lot better than the Contis and provide a ton more grip.

[wwjd15]

We use Ad08 275/30/19 and 275/35/19 for most of our ZCP customers. They like them.

[thorny]

Originally Posted by LateBraking

I'd probably run a 255/285 like the OEM M3 GTS, but AD08 is best overall on a 19" I think. R-S3's don't have very many good sizes. R888's are even offered in good sizes if you want an R-compound. I also tried the ExtremeContact DW's and they held up really well and gripped well, only problem is that they overheated a little too quickly. I've also tried PSS's, PS2's, and Invos. PSS's and PS2's were decent, I liked the ExtremeContact DW's better but the PSS/PS2's lasted longer heat-wise. Invos were just shit in every way. Pirelli Pzero's that came from factory gripped really well, but they were utterly destroyed after just one track day.

Hope this helps a little?

BTW, If you're looking to sell your OEM ZCP wheels and buy like Apex or something, I'm looking to buy a set of reasonably priced ZCP's as long as they're in decent shape. I happen to head up to Bakersfield area fairly often, too.

Thanks Brian! That is very helpful. I am pretty much sold on AD08's.
I looked up GTS specs, it comes with 255 35 19 F and 285 30 19 R. If I remove my spacers and get AD08's in these sizes, do you think I'll experience any rubbing?

Not selling my wheels at this time

[thorny]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

The AD08's have very tall sidewalls. If you go wider, you'll most likely have to remove the spacers or you will rub in the front (turning) and rear (when suspension compresses). I had 12mm spacers all around with stock Contis and when I went to 255 and 275 AD08's, I was rubbing all the time.

The good thing about the AD08's though is they fill your wheel well up a lot better than the Contis and provide a ton more grip.

Radiant, were you rubbing with spacer or with spacers removed? Could you answer my question to LateBraking above ^^^. Thanks a lot!

[thorny]

Originally Posted by wwjd15

We use Ad08 275/30/19 and 275/35/19 for most of our ZCP customers. They like them.

Are these 275/30/19 front and 275/35/19 rear?? I know you guys have reputation, but this sounds unconventional.

[wwjd15]

Originally Posted by thorny

Are these 275/30/19 front and 275/35/19 rear?? I know you guys have reputation, but this sounds unconventional.

Yes I know. I just try to max out the potential on stock parts. We also run 265/285 or 275/275 combo on 219m wheels. They might not be the best choice for the wheels, but they do serve the best for driver's need.

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by thorny

Radiant, were you rubbing with spacer or with spacers removed? Could you answer my question to LateBraking above ^^^. Thanks a lot!

I was rubbing with spacers. You'll probably be fine with them removed. Right now I have 255 in the fronts (no spacers) and 275 in the rear (with 5mm spacers). I don't rub at all.

Here are 2 photos with my setup:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiant...7625194054809/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiant...7625194054809/

[thorny]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

I was rubbing with spacers. You'll probably be fine with them removed. Right now I have 255 in the fronts (no spacers) and 275 in the rear (with 5mm spacers). I don't rub at all.

Here are 2 photos with my setup:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiant...7625194054809/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiant...7625194054809/

Mark, I'll go with your setup. Looks perfect! Could you confirm that both front and rear are 35 profile? Thanks

[aus]

Who cares what track wheels look like???

.

[thorny]

Originally Posted by aus

Who cares what track wheels look like???

.

True, but I care how my car looks like off the track

[OC3]

Ran 16 track days on ZCP wheels, first with PS2, then PSS and then AD08. AD08 is awesome.

Or, move onto 18" track wheels (am on Apex and R-S3 now). As good as AD08 is on the track, R-S3 is even better.

BTW, Apex looks pretty decent, especially on track setup: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=616273

[thorny]

Originally Posted by OC3

Ran 16 track days on ZCP wheels, first with PS2, then PSS and then AD08. AD08 is awesome.

Or, move onto 18" track wheels (am on Apex and R-S3 now). As good as AD08 is on the track, R-S3 is even better.

BTW, Apex looks pretty decent, especially on track setup: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=616273

16 track days on zcp wheels sounds encouraging I agree apex does look decent. Did apex allow you to run better times after the switch?

[OC3]

Originally Posted by thorny

16 track days on zcp wheels sounds encouraging I agree apex does look decent. Did apex allow you to run better times after the switch?

Better times yes, but probably not due to Apex, but rather due to R-S3.

And, with squared setup (Apex & R-S3), the turn-in is so much better - i.e. helps quite a bit with heavy E9x M3's tendency for understeer.

[thorny]

Originally Posted by OC3

Better times yes, but probably not due to Apex, but rather due to R-S3.

And, with squared setup (Apex & R-S3), the turn-in is so much better - i.e. helps quite a bit with heavy E9x M3's tendency for understeer.

After todays track day at Button, I am going with the square setup Apex wheels
18x10! We'll be running 275/35/18 R-S3's on all corners or 285 on the rear. Need some grip to get closer to 2 min on CW13 from my current best time of 2:08.10

[OC3]

Originally Posted by thorny

After todays track day at Button, I am going with the square setup Apex wheels
18x10! We'll be running 275/35/18 R-S3's on all corners or 285 on the rear. Need some grip to get closer to 2 min on CW13 from my current best time of 2:08.10

Nice!

[wwjd15]

Originally Posted by thorny

After todays track day at Button, I am going with the square setup Apex wheels
18x10! We'll be running 275/35/18 R-S3's on all corners or 285 on the rear. Need some grip to get closer to 2 min on CW13 from my current best time of 2:08.10

I drove my customer's bone-stock M3 with AD08 275/30/19 and 275/35/19, 2:01 is pretty much the limited at Buttonwillow.
If you wanna get under 2 min, suspension and RS3's is the way to go.

[thorny]

Originally Posted by wwjd15

I drove my customer's bone-stock M3 with AD08 275/30/19 and 275/35/19, 2:01 is pretty much the limited at Buttonwillow.
If you wanna get under 2 min, suspension and RS3's is the way to go.

Nice! Once i get the wheels, i wanted to do the alignment with some negative camber, would you recommend me getting a set of camber plates. I am not planning on purchasing coil overs just yet. Thanks for all the advice guys, it is very helful

[thorny]

Originally Posted by OC3

Nice!

You and Clint had me convinced.