[murph-54]

I run about a dozen track days a year and am going to a dedicated wheel/tire set up. I have been running Toyo R888's (255/35/118 on the rears and 235/40/18 on the fronts) on stock wheels. I have the Dinan Stage 3 suspension set-up (upgraded shocks, springs, struts and camber plates) and run with the traction control off. Going to a non-staggered set-up will help make the car more neutral, but I will have to give up some treadwidth on the rears. Is it worth the loss treadwidth in the rear or should I just adjust tire pressure and keep the staggered set up?

[satakal]

I would go with the low cost solution all other things being equal. You can run 255 all around on 17s. I think there are a few wheel options.

[murph-54]

Originally Posted by satakal

I would go with the low cost solution all other things being equal. You can run 255 all around on 17s. I think there are a few wheel options.

Have you run that set-up without any problems? What tire did you use? I want to check the dimensions against the tires I'm considering since there are varitions amoung 255's especially with race type tires such as Hoosiers which run wider because of the straighter sidewall. Thanks.

[satakal]

I run:

kosei 17x8.5. I think it's a 40 offset
falken rt 615 255 40 17

no issues. I only have experience with this exact setup.

[murph-54]

Originally Posted by satakal

I run:

kosei 17x8.5. I think it's a 40 offset
falken rt 615 255 40 17

no issues. I only have experience with this exact setup.

Great. Thanks for the info. That helps a lot.

[jbass524]

Originally Posted by satakal

I run:

kosei 17x8.5. I think it's a 40 offset
falken rt 615 255 40 17

no issues. I only have experience with this exact setup.

IMHO, the Falkens are good but temperamental. I have a lot of experience with them.

SUGGESTED SETUP: 255 Dunlop Direzzas on LTW 17" x 9". Use 10mm spacer in front and 5mm spacer in back. Best handling upgrade for first mod, even if you use the Falkens. I think the Koseis are available in 8.5" which won't support the 9" Dunlops as well.

Many threads on Falkens and Dunlops. Search for information.

[satakal]

I've been wanting to try the star spec's. But, I can't seem to get all 4 of my tires to wear out at the same time.

[murph-54]

Satakal and jbass54, Do you have a coupe or a sedan? Do you know if there is a difference in clearance between the two?

[satakal]

4 door. I don't know of a difference. I *think* I have seen my wheels on a coupe with no issues.

the guys in the other subforum are right with the idea that the front is the limiting factor. But, like I said, 255 are without-issue upfront.

http://flickr.com/photos/9070201@N03...7613323193133/

[murph-54]

Satakal, jbass524 is recommending spacers for his set-up. Do you use spacers on yours?

[satakal]

the koseis are 8.5" v 9" for the LTW. I think that's why Jan uses spacers. I use no spacers and as such, the offsets are visually goofy. But, effective.

[murph-54]

Originally Posted by satakal

the koseis are 8.5" v 9" for the LTW. I think that's why Jan uses spacers. I use no spacers and as such, the offsets are visually goofy. But, effective.

Thanks

[cyphr]

As others have said, the square setup is money for our cars.

[jbass524]

Satakal, doesn't the 41mm offset have something to do with the spacers requirement? Our cars normally take a 35mm offset wheel.

[satakal]

Over my head dude. Watch... here comes LeftCoastMan to say:

Yeah, like I said, I'll rub in the parking lot with Koseis and 255s. I have yet to experience full lock on track at speed, so no rubbing on track, lol.

THE BIG UNKNOWN WITH THE LTW WHEELS IS BRAKE CLEARANCE. It barely, barely fits with the Koseis. If the LTW doesn't have the same schpanky stepped design, there is no way it will fit.

IF the brakes fit, a LTW5 17x9 ET41 with 5mm spacer will probably still work, even with 255. On the Koseis, the issue was that the wheel was getting close to strut - lowered or not doesn't make a difference there. The tires were fine. Deflection under cornering load generally occurs on the bottom half of the tire anyways and I never got "rubber" on my strut tube.

With the Kosei, I had 6mm between strut tube and wheel. The 17x9 would protrude inwards an additional 6.35mm (1/4 inch) from the wheel width change and 1mm from the offset. That gets you 7.35mm inwards, which would NOT work without a spacer. With the 5mm spacer, you would be 2.35mm inwards compared to the Kosei, basically cutting half your clearance. That's too close for comfort in my mind.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...4&postcount=21

[nicknaz]

I've read somewhere on this forum that 2doors have less front fender clearance than 4 doors. Not sure if this is true.

I've used Falkens a lot as well, and I don't really notice a difference between RT615 and the stock sport package tires in terms of heat resistance, turn in or grip. I personally would not bother with the cost or trouble to go to a square RT615 setup and continue to use the stock stuff until it was time to go to an R tire

But seems like everyone hates the stock tires so.. YMMV

[satakal]

I thought the numbers were really close. Koseis + cheap tires is about the same cost as 4 runflats. I'm about to finish off my 2nd, and get started on my 3rd set of $130 tires. $130 v $300 times 4 is a big deal. Especially when you remember that a tire is a "wear component".

I personally like the performance of the runflats. It was very good to me.

[blipblip]

Originally Posted by murph-54

I run about a dozen track days a year and am going to a dedicated wheel/tire set up. I have been running Toyo R888's (255/35/118 on the rears and 235/40/18 on the fronts) on stock wheels. I have the Dinan Stage 3 suspension set-up (upgraded shocks, springs, struts and camber plates) and run with the traction control off. Going to a non-staggered set-up will help make the car more neutral, but I will have to give up some treadwidth on the rears. Is it worth the loss treadwidth in the rear or should I just adjust tire pressure and keep the staggered set up?

Hmmm, my thought is:

More grip in the back means accelerate earlier and harder, but without LSD, it's just gonna spin the inside wheel anyways.

Is that correct?

Anyways, I use Kosei K1s with 245 width Hoosiers. Worked without problem. I have stock setup E90.

[blipblip]

Satakai:
You really need to try those star specs if you are gonna stay with street tires. We did a back to back test on those two tires, using the same car. Dunlop averaged more than 1 sec faster, and comparing fastest lap times, Dunlop is a whopping 2 seconds faster.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by satakal

I thought the numbers were really close. Koseis + cheap tires is about the same cost as 4 runflats. I'm about to finish off my 2nd, and get started on my 3rd set of $130 tires. $130 v $300 times 4 is a big deal. Especially when you remember that a tire is a "wear component".

I personally like the performance of the runflats. It was very good to me.

I feel like the stock tire lasts longer than the RT615. Did you find that as well or do you generally just go through tires quickly

[leftcoastman]

Originally Posted by blipblip

Hmmm, my thought is:

More grip in the back means accelerate earlier and harder, but without LSD, it's just gonna spin the inside wheel anyways.

Is that correct?

Anyways, I use Kosei K1s with 245 width Hoosiers. Worked without problem. I have stock setup E90.

holy CRAP! Stock suspension with Hoosiers?!?!

Your body roll and weight transfer has to be obscene!

[blipblip]

Originally Posted by leftcoastman

holy CRAP! Stock suspension with Hoosiers?!?!

Your body roll and weight transfer has to be obscene!

Oh yeah...make that HELL YEAH.

Anyways...I'll probably switch to RA-1s or R888s later, or upgrade suspension, or maybe even getting a dedicated track car, haven't made up my mind yet.