Has anyone fit 255 or larger in the front?

Master Apex · 10-21-2010, 09:55 PM

I have run both 245/40/18 and 245/35/18 in the front for track days.
I think the car can benefit more with wider tires in the front 255 or larger...Ideally the same as rear 275/35/18.

Looking at my setup, 245 is almost touching the front strut at offset 38.
If I lower the offset by 5mm (spacer) to fit 255, at 23.25" front ride height, it may rub the fender. http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html..._spacers.shtml

Just curious if anyone has fitted 255 or larger in the front and what wheel offset and/spacer modifications are used to protect against hitting the fender?

Thanks

esqu1re · 10-22-2010, 08:38 AM

I think someone on here put 255 r888's on their stock fronts.

JCz04Bimmer · 10-22-2010, 09:32 AM

I've run 255/35/18's with a +41 offset on the front for quite some time with no issues. It is VERY close on the strut-side but not making contact. I don't know my exact ride heights but in the past I was quite low with about 2.5 camber and I cleared the fender just fine. In fact, with that sort of camber (or more), I'm pretty sure I could run a 265/35 tire but that'd require a wider wheel which is an investment I didn't think would be worth it.

v3.0si · 10-22-2010, 10:34 AM

for the front of an ///m, i have seen and inspected...

9.0" x et 40 with 265/35R18, no rubbing at the fender liner and minor rubbing on the strut tower. the car was lowered on H&R's.

F360C · 10-22-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v3.0si

for the front of an ///m, i have seen and inspected...

9.0" x et 40 with 265/35R18, no rubbing at the fender liner and minor rubbing on the strut tower. the car was lowered on H&R's.

Is it a member of this forum? I would like to get more info because I am looking at going from the 255 front to a 265 over the winter

v3.0si · 10-22-2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F360C

Is it a member of this forum? I would like to get more info because I am looking at going from the 255 front to a 265 over the winter

not to my knowledge. i'll ask him when i see him next. if he's not willing to jump on here, is there anything specific you would like to know?

The HACK · 10-22-2010, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v3.0si

...and minor rubbing on the strut tower. the car was lowered on H&R's.

I hope he/she never drives the car too hard. There's a video floating around somewhere on YouTube with a camera set up on a suspension arm...And the amount of tire deflection in the middle of a turn will shock you.

Rubbing on the strut tower is not a good thing. Even if it's minor.

Master Apex · 10-22-2010, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCz04Bimmer

I've run 255/35/18's with a +41 offset on the front for quite some time with no issues. It is VERY close on the strut-side but not making contact.

What kind of strut did you have?
I am using KW CS and the gap is so close that my pinky does not even fit. This is with 245/35 at offset 38.
I am thinking about using 255/35/18 and add 3mm spacer to make the offset 35.
The 255 adds 5mm toward the inside so hoping the 3mm spacer will create sufficient gap but it also adds 5mm toward the fender plus the 3mm spacer, it will be 8mm closer to fender than 245/35...I worry that this will rub the fender.
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html..._spacers.shtml

v3.0si · 10-22-2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The HACK

I hope he/she never drives the car too hard. There's a video floating around somewhere on YouTube with a camera set up on a suspension arm...And the amount of tire deflection in the middle of a turn will shock you.

Rubbing on the strut tower is not a good thing. Even if it's minor.

found this...

interesting thing about this particular video is that the side wall does go verticle under lateral load, but never past it. in the case of the ///m i saw today with the 265/35R18's, the rubbing was only occuring at the very edge of the tire's shoulder. i'm thinking he must be deflating his tires in order to gain traction? i'll absolutely be talking to him about the rubbing issue... i'm not sure he's aware of it (he wasn't there when i saw the car. it was up on a hoist at the dealer when i saw it.) it could be that the rubbing is happening on the outside of the turn when everything is compressed over there.

v3.0si · 10-22-2010, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F360C

Is it a member of this forum? I would like to get more info because I am looking at going from the 255 front to a 265 over the winter

he's a pretty private guy. he reads the posts here, but isn't interested in joining. the TIRERACK gave him the specs for his setup on wheels and tires. i did see he's running 18" dia 9.0" w x et40 on all four corners. pretty serious spacers in the rear. 265/35R18's on all corners. as i said above though, there is some rubbing occuring. i could not fit the thickness of my pinky finger between the sidewall and the strut. a more aggressive offset, or 255's all around would be just fine though.

silversprint · 10-22-2010, 08:04 PM

My car has 265 front 285 rear RS-3 tires. Car is on KW V3 coilovers with stiffer springs. It was harder to fit the rear than the front. The KW front spring perch is narrow allowing for the bigger tires. Wheels are 8.5 front 9.5 rear. Front is offset 38+5mm spacer.

This is too much tire for this car. But since I paid $350 for all 4 tires I'll track them then go back to the 255/265 sizes that I prefer.

Master Apex · 10-23-2010, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silversprint

My car has 265 front 285 rear RS-3 tires. Car is on KW V3 coilovers with stiffer springs. It was harder to fit the rear than the front. The KW front spring perch is narrow allowing for the bigger tires. Wheels are 8.5 front 9.5 rear. Front is offset 38+5mm spacer.

What is your ride height (measured from bottom rim to fender line)? This gives me idea on where the KW perch sits relative to the widest part of the tire (near the rim).

Also, which 5mm would you recommend? Should I use hub extender?
http://store.vacmotorsports.com/vac-...ers-p2191.aspx

Thanks

silversprint · 10-23-2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master Apex

What is your ride height (measured from bottom rim to fender line)? This gives me idea on where the KW perch sits relative to the widest part of the tire (near the rim).

Also, which 5mm would you recommend? Should I use hub extender?
http://store.vacmotorsports.com/vac-...ers-p2191.aspx

Thanks

The perch on my car is near the lip of the wheel. Spacers that do not have the hubcentric ring will cause a vibration in the front wheels.

Master Apex · 10-27-2010, 01:36 PM

I jacked up the car and compared the inside clearance (toward the strut):

225/45/18 on stock wheel 18" x 8" et 42 versus
245/40/18 on NT03 wheel 18" x 8.5" et 38

The stock has more clearance but the 245 still have about 8mm clearance.
So, using 255 on 18x8.5et38 (no spacer) will add 5mm toward the inside which means there is still 3mm spacing. However, I wonder for heavy track duty whether the tire deflection during cornering will rub the strut housing (at 3mm clearance).

10-21-2010, 09:55 PM	#1
Master Apex Private 17 Rep 99 Posts Drives: '17 F80 M3 '07 Z4M '06 E60M5 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Has anyone fit 255 or larger in the front? I have run both 245/40/18 and 245/35/18 in the front for track days. I think the car can benefit more with wider tires in the front 255 or larger...Ideally the same as rear 275/35/18. Looking at my setup, 245 is almost touching the front strut at offset 38. If I lower the offset by 5mm (spacer) to fit 255, at 23.25" front ride height, it may rub the fender. http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html..._spacers.shtml Just curious if anyone has fitted 255 or larger in the front and what wheel offset and/spacer modifications are used to protect against hitting the fender? Thanks
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10-22-2010, 08:38 AM	#2
esqu1re Lieutenant Colonel 41 Rep 1,855 Posts Drives: M Coupe Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	I think someone on here put 255 r888's on their stock fronts. __________________ ///M Coupe: RPI Scoop, OE Strut, CDV, Volk RE30, SS Brake Lines, Stromung Exhaust
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10-22-2010, 09:32 AM	#3
JCz04Bimmer Captain 32 Rep 606 Posts Drives: 06 Z4MC Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New York City iTrader: (2)	I've run 255/35/18's with a +41 offset on the front for quite some time with no issues. It is VERY close on the strut-side but not making contact. I don't know my exact ride heights but in the past I was quite low with about 2.5 camber and I cleared the fender just fine. In fact, with that sort of camber (or more), I'm pretty sure I could run a 265/35 tire but that'd require a wider wheel which is an investment I didn't think would be worth it. __________________ \|www.onehotlap.com\|Real People\|Real Cars\|
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10-22-2010, 10:34 AM	#4
v3.0si Lieutenant 17 Rep 409 Posts Drives: '08 Z4C 3.0si Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: midwest iTrader: (2)	for the front of an ///m, i have seen and inspected... 9.0" x et 40 with 265/35R18, no rubbing at the fender liner and minor rubbing on the strut tower. the car was lowered on H&R's. __________________ \| v3.0si \| \| '08 Z4Coupe 3.0si \| BMW Aero \| BMW Performance \|
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10-22-2010, 08:04 PM	#11
silversprint Private First Class 3 Rep 164 Posts Drives: Z4M Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SOCAL iTrader: (0)	My car has 265 front 285 rear RS-3 tires. Car is on KW V3 coilovers with stiffer springs. It was harder to fit the rear than the front. The KW front spring perch is narrow allowing for the bigger tires. Wheels are 8.5 front 9.5 rear. Front is offset 38+5mm spacer. This is too much tire for this car. But since I paid $350 for all 4 tires I'll track them then go back to the 255/265 sizes that I prefer. __________________ MR-S Track -2100lbs/300hp Miata Z4M Coupe (Sold)
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10-27-2010, 01:36 PM	#14
Master Apex Private 17 Rep 99 Posts Drives: '17 F80 M3 '07 Z4M '06 E60M5 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	I jacked up the car and compared the inside clearance (toward the strut): 225/45/18 on stock wheel 18" x 8" et 42 versus 245/40/18 on NT03 wheel 18" x 8.5" et 38 The stock has more clearance but the 245 still have about 8mm clearance. So, using 255 on 18x8.5et38 (no spacer) will add 5mm toward the inside which means there is still 3mm spacing. However, I wonder for heavy track duty whether the tire deflection during cornering will rub the strut housing (at 3mm clearance).
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