Help with tire selection on OEM Z4M 18s

[dsgrillot]

I'm running the original Continentals on my '08 Z4M and looking to upgrade to a different brand and size on my stock rims. Any suggestions? My car is basically a weekend driver with an occasional track day or two. Thanks for your help!

[Finnegan]

See this thread, post 6 in particular. Overall I'd recommend PSS given your needs (unless you're looking for something more budget conscious). Pretty much anything though is going to be an improvement over the stock tires!

[dsgrillot]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

See this thread, post 6 in particular. Overall I'd recommend PSS given your needs (unless you're looking for something more budget conscious). Pretty much anything though is going to be an improvement over the stock tires!

Great thread! Thanks for the link. Any suggestions on size?

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by dsgrillot

Great thread! Thanks for the link. Any suggestions on size?

Yes. 235/40/18 in the front and 265/35/18 if you're on stock wheels and want to go a bit wider. These are going to have a little less sidewall than the stock sizes, so you probably want to keep an extra pound or two of air in them. You also get some small increase in torque at the wheels as a side benefit. Of course, if stock sizes are available you can always go with that too. It's not a bad idea to run a little bit more negative camber in front than stock settings with wider than stock tires too, as it preserves steering feel and responsiveness--nothing extreme. (-1.0 stock vs. say -1.5 for a bit wider tires.)

Personally, don't see much point in going 245/275 for a car that's primarily driven on the street on stock wheels. That's pushing the max size for the wheel and super wide tires aren't great (think pontoon) in the rain.

[dsgrillot]

Thanks! That was just the info I was looking for!

[Kgolf31]

I have 235/45 and 265/40 Hankook RS3s on OEM Wheels for autocross and track days.

Haven't had any miles on them yet. In a couple weekends though they will be put to the test.

[dsgrillot]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

I have 235/45 and 265/40 Hankook RS3s on OEM Wheels for autocross and track days.

Haven't had any miles on them yet. In a couple weekends though they will be put to the test.

In a couple of weeks? Are you going to VIR by chance?

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by dsgrillot

In a couple of weeks? Are you going to VIR by chance?

Negative, just a local Auto-X points event at the beginning of May and sooner or later a couple times at Mid-Ohio

[mgwatson48]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

I have 235/45 and 265/40 Hankook RS3s on OEM Wheels for autocross and track days.

Haven't had any miles on them yet. In a couple weekends though they will be put to the test.

I'd through em on the car now so you can burn through the layer of crap on the new tires. Youll hate your setup if you take those tires to auto-x without breaking them in first.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by mgwatson48

I'd through em on the car now so you can burn through the layer of crap on the new tires. Youll hate your setup if you take those tires to auto-x without breaking them in first.

Day before I'm taking it out to get all the fluids out to temp and get the mold release off the tires. Car is still in the garage, as I'm in school now and I don't take the car down here.

I think a 2 hour drive should be worthy enough