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[DrRobert]

Guys,

I'm getting ready to order some new tires on my 2011 335i and could use some help with size selection. I've settled on the Bridgestone RE-11 or RE-11A (see THIS review). I drove them on my buddy's 335i and liked them. I want to keep my OEM 18" star spoke 287 rims, but am thinking I'll get a new or used pair of the 8.5" ET39 rear rims to replace the 8" ET34 front rims, so I'll be 18x8.5" square with the rims.

But I can't decide whether to go with the RE-11s in 255/35/18 90W, or the RE-11As in 245/40/18 93W, which is the only 18" size the RE-11As come in. The RE-11A has better grip than the RE-11 (see THIS comparison), due to some new tire compound that the RE-11s don't have; other than that the two tires are the same. When I plugged both sizes into the wheel offset calculator I got the same result, 11 mm wider on the strut side, and 1 mm wider on the outer side. I'm leaning towards the RE11A in 245, but am a little nervous about decreasing the width of the rear tires since rear wheel hop was what prompted this whole idea in the first place, to get more grip. Which do you think would give me more rear wheel grip - the grippy RE-11s in 255/35/18, or the even grippier RE-11As in 245/40/18?

Any advice or suggestions would be welcome!

Thanks,
Robert

[neoduffer]

I would get the RE-11A because of the newer compound. I like that these are not directional, so it allows rotation to all corners. what ever your choice is, enjoy the sticky tires.