Common wisdom - track wheels and tires

[D-O]

After seven years I finally took my M3 to a track day. My buddy is a member at Atlanta Motorsports Park and invited me as a guest. I got loads of track time and had a blast.

I am definitely going back for more, but I don't want to hammer my street tires and wheels. Am I correct that an 18" square set up is the go to for the track?

D-O

[foolio]

18 square is a good go to setup for a lot of people. I have one set of 18’s but I actually prefer 17” square due to slightly lower running costs so that is what I run typically. However, should you decide you need to upgrade your brakes down the road, 17’s don’t have as many choices. Also, I have found that 17’s limit your tire choice some as well. Not a problem for me because I love NT01’s and I can get them in 275/40-17.

[D-O]

18 square is a good go to setup for a lot of people. I have one set of 18’s but I actually prefer 17” square due to slightly lower running costs so that is what I run typically. However, should you decide you need to upgrade your brakes down the road, 17’s don’t have as many choices. Also, I have found that 17’s limit your tire choice some as well. Not a problem for me because I love NT01’s and I can get them in 275/40-17.

Many thanks.

18's do seem most flexible as far as brake clearance (996) and tire sizes. Any advice regarding tires sizes and wheel offsets would be welcome.

[bigjae46]

18 square is a good go to setup for a lot of people. I have one set of 18’s but I actually prefer 17” square due to slightly lower running costs so that is what I run typically. However, should you decide you need to upgrade your brakes down the road, 17’s don’t have as many choices. Also, I have found that 17’s limit your tire choice some as well. Not a problem for me because I love NT01’s and I can get them in 275/40-17.

Agreed. Just keep in mind that the front fenders would need to be rolled flat and then more negative camber to get 275s to fit. Depends on the OP's level of addiction.

For 275/40R17s, there are some 200TW choices, just not a lot. I saw the Falken 615s for $220 per tire or RT660s for $280 IIRC. I believe Continental has some tires comparable to a PS4S which would be better for someone starting out.

Also can run 17x9.5s and run a 255/40R17 which will give you a ton of options. More tire is faster but tires ain't cheap either!

[foolio]

Agreed. Just keep in mind that the front fenders would need to be rolled flat and then more negative camber to get 275s to fit. Depends on the OP's level of addiction.

For 275/40R17s, there are some 200TW choices, just not a lot. I saw the Falken 615s for $220 per tire or RT660s for $280 IIRC. I believe Continental has some tires comparable to a PS4S which would be better for someone starting out.

Also can run 17x9.5s and run a 255/40R17 which will give you a ton of options. More tire is faster but tires ain't cheap either!

FWIW I didn’t have to roll my fenders front or rear for my 275/40-17 NT01s. I do run -3.5° F and -2.5° rear for camber.

[bigjae46]

FWIW I didn’t have to roll my fenders front or rear for my 275/40-17 NT01s. I do run -3.5° F and -2.5° rear for camber.

Now that I think about it, I didn't even try without rolling the front.

[OldRanger]

Any advice regarding tires sizes and wheel offsets would be welcome.

Wheel + Tire: My track car is setup with 18x9.5 square Apex Arc-8 ET35. My preferred tire is 263/35 for a host of reasons (clearance, availability, pricing).

Spacers: I use a 12mm spacer in the rear. When I have Potenza RE-71RS 265/35 on I use a 5mm spacer in the front to clear the Ohlins R&T perch and lowest coil on the spring. Personally, I don't like the way the ET35 + a 5mm spacer handles

Alignment: My alignment/camber is somewhere close to -3 front and -2 rear. This is relatively conservative for a track car because I still drive the car to/from the track. My car weighs about 2,900 pounds without driver/instructor.

Outcome: My car is very neutral and predictable. I'm planning to increase camber to -3.5 front and -2.5 rear

[Slideways]

Wheel + Tire: My track car is setup with 18x9.5 square Apex Arc-8 ET35. My preferred tire is 263/35 for a host of reasons (clearance, availability, pricing).

Spacers: I use a 12mm spacer in the rear. When I have Potenza RE-71RS 265/35 on I use a 5mm spacer in the front to clear the Ohlins R&T perch and lowest coil on the spring. Personally, I don't like the way the ET35 + a 5mm spacer handles

Alignment: My alignment/camber is somewhere close to -3 front and -2 rear. This is relatively conservative for a track car because I still drive the car to/from the track. My car weighs about 2,900 pounds without driver/instructor.

Outcome: My car is very neutral and predictable. I'm planning to increase camber to -3.5 front and -2.5 rear

Are you running the Ohlins strut spacers?

[OldRanger]

Are you running the Ohlins strut spacers?

I just installed them, and tinkering with front ride height. I'm aiming for 13.5 inches from center of wheel to fender when I'm in the seat. I have no opinion on whether or not using the spacer is beneficial, but it has helped reallocate travel to the droop 'side'.

Note: I have Vorshlag Camber Plates.

[D-O]

Wheel + Tire: My track car is setup with 18x9.5 square Apex Arc-8 ET35. My preferred tire is 263/35 for a host of reasons (clearance, availability, pricing).

Spacers: I use a 12mm spacer in the rear. When I have Potenza RE-71RS 265/35 on I use a 5mm spacer in the front to clear the Ohlins R&T perch and lowest coil on the spring. Personally, I don't like the way the ET35 + a 5mm spacer handles

Alignment: My alignment/camber is somewhere close to -3 front and -2 rear. This is relatively conservative for a track car because I still drive the car to/from the track. My car weighs about 2,900 pounds without driver/instructor.

Outcome: My car is very neutral and predictable. I'm planning to increase camber to -3.5 front and -2.5 rear

Thanks Ranger.

No front spacer with tires other than the RE-71RS?

[D-O]

Are 265 and 275 width tires not a bit wide for 9.5" wheels? Way back (when 50 series tires were blowing people's minds) the rule of thumb was the tread width should be no wider than the rim width, and 265 or 275 width tires almost certainly have a tread width greater than 9.5". Have modern sidewalls made this obsolete?

[OldRanger]

No front spacer with tires other than the RE-71RS?

I had some minor rubbing with Michelin 265. To be specific: when driving on track I would see minor scuffs of rubber on the yellow Ohlins spring. This was at a ride height of 13.5 inches center of wheel to fender and without the 3DM spacer. I didn't consider it an issue worth addressing.

When I put the RE-71RS on...the contact was more of an issue because it wore off some of the yellow paint.

[D-O]

Can anyone confirm whether or not the 17" Arc8 will accommodate the 996 brakes?

[mrgizmo04]

Can anyone confirm whether or not the 17" Arc8 will accommodate the 996 brakes?

17x10 et25 is a confirmed fitment, other sizes/offsets not sure. Arc8 are tight with spoke design, ec7 have more room.

Sent from my SM-S911U1 using Tapatalk

[D-O]

Thanks. I was thinking ET35 all the way around. ET25 will work for a square set up? Spacers?