(2010) Autocross Tires

[agreatham]

I didn't know anything about tires when I started looking to replace the ones I have this so I just thought I'd share my research to help others out.

I've been looking for a decent set of tires for autocross since the tires that came with my E46 M3 ZCP when I bought it don't stick very well -- Kumho Ecsta SPT 225/40ZR19 front and 255/35ZR19 back.

I checked with other autocrossers and the most recommended tires were the following (in alphabetical order):

Bridgestone Potenza RE-11
Dunlop Direzza Sport Z-1 Star Spec
Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08

I plugged all three tires into my favorite search engine from 1996 (AltaVista), and found the following review from TireRack:



Based on the input I've gotten from other autocrossers and TireRack and since they're a little cheaper, I'm going with the AD08 in 245/35R19 for the front and 275/30R19 for the back. My M3 has these wheels and I believe they should fit. If I'm wrong about the fit, please let me know!

I also thought about getting new wheels but I don't know what I would do with the old set of wheels and tires so I'm sticking with them -- for now.

Thanks to Noel, Nick, Reach and Ron for their input and patience. Comments, suggestions and violent objections welcome!

[civicexracer]

You'll like the AD08's over the SPT's, big improvement even though the SPT's aren't all that bad. I used to have the SPT's on my street wheels a couple years ago. I remember running a CDC weekend, Saturday and Sunday, both days had the same course(Sunday was just T&T). I ran the Bridgestone RE-01R's at the time on Saturday and then the SPT's on Sunday. IIRC, The SPT's were at peak performance on their second run(on a short course), after that they couldn't handle the heat for any improvement. I believe the time difference between those tires was around 1.5seconds. The new tires now are even faster. You'll probably see atleast a 1.5sec improvement all around.

What mod's do you have done to your car?

[Biggins]

If I were running your car and had unlimited budget, I'd ditch the 19's and staggered setup for 18x10 all around with the widest tires that fit (275/285s) of the three you mentioned. You might need a spacer for that setup, but it has to be lighter and stickier. I am not a fan of staggered setups for 90% of autocross cars, and I think that will slow you down.

I was going to refer you to my tire thread from last year, but I guess it's gone from the forum. Check out bimmerforums to see what the rest of the E46 M3 people are doing... http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...ght=e46+m3+stu

Also, fyi... Adam set FTD at one of our events last season in the wet at SPR on your current tires, Kumho SPTs. I'd wait until they're totally trash before upgrading.

[mcoupemindy]

If I were running your car and had unlimited budget, I'd ditch the 19's and staggered setup for 18x10 all around with the widest tires that fit (275/285s) of the three you mentioned. You might need a spacer for that setup, but it has to be lighter and stickier. I am not a fan of staggered setups for 90% of autocross cars, and I think that will slow you down.

I was going to refer you to my tire thread from last year, but I guess it's gone from the forum. Check out bimmerforums to see what the rest of the E46 M3 people are doing... http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...ght=e46+m3+stu

Also, fyi... Adam set FTD at one of our events last season in the wet at SPR on your current tires, Kumho SPTs. I'd wait until they're totally trash before upgrading.

Here's your tire thread from last year - it wasn't lost!

http://forum.nccbmwcca.org/showthrea...29-Tire-Thread

[agreatham]

You'll probably see atleast a 1.5sec improvement all around.

Getting stickier tires and finally learning to set the right tire pressure should help my psychologically as well. I'll be able to push harder and sooner out of turns since I won't be worried about spinning out.

What mod's do you have done to your car?

I added a camera mount to the parcel shelf in the back. Nothing really. The previous owner put in a lot of cosmetic stuff like painting the stock calipers red but I haven't put anything in. I'm still at the point where I'm the slowest part of the car. I'd like to focus on being a better driver first. I'm worried that modding the car will mask a lot of driver error. Plus it'll put me in the same class as Bogdan and Reach. I need to beat James LeCompte first. Yes, James, that's a throw-down. That's for every time you've tried to psych me out!

[agreatham]

If I were running your car and had unlimited budget, I'd ditch the 19's and staggered setup for 18x10 all around with the widest tires that fit (275/285s) of the three you mentioned. You might need a spacer for that setup, but it has to be lighter and stickier. I am not a fan of staggered setups for 90% of autocross cars, and I think that will slow you down..

I've been considering getting new wheels and even justified it to myself that the new wheels would pay for themselves over time since the tires would be a little cheaper. Maybe I can find a decent used set on CL or here.

Also, fyi... Adam set FTD at one of our events last season in the wet at SPR on your current tires, Kumho SPTs. I'd wait until they're totally trash before upgrading.

I am disappointed that the events haven't been as wet as last year. My first three events were underwater.

[turbosporttsi]

I would consider the Hankook Ventus v12 evo k110 as well. They perform pretty well in the wet and the dry. At ~100 a pop (for 245/40/17, anyway), they are real easy on the wallet. Car and Driver did a comparo with all the big names... might want to check it out. The Sumitomo HTR Z III is said to be about as good as the Hankook, but is not directional (can't flip the tires to get max life).

If you are still contemplating which tire to get by the next event, I can take you for a ride in my Hankook-equipped car if you'd like.

[Reach]

Nitto NT-05 deserves to be on the list as well. They are cheap as hell but they don't come with much meat on the tread, even new.

[mcoupemindy]

Nitto NT-05 deserves to be on the list as well. They are cheap as hell but they don't come with much meat on the tread, even new.

... But that is a COMP tire not a street tire ...

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

... But that is a COMP tire not a street tire ...

Wrong.

[mcoupemindy]

Wrong.

Oops ... I read that as NT-01. I fail.

[Biggins]

I would consider the Hankook Ventus v12 evo k110 as well. They perform pretty well in the wet and the dry. At ~100 a pop (for 245/40/17, anyway), they are real easy on the wallet. Car and Driver did a comparo with all the big names... might want to check it out. The Sumitomo HTR Z III is said to be about as good as the Hankook, but is not directional (can't flip the tires to get max life).

If you are still contemplating which tire to get by the next event, I can take you for a ride in my Hankook-equipped car if you'd like.

Unless they're the Hankook RS3's, they're not even worth considering for autocross. The Kumho SPT's he has are far better than anything Hankook offers other than the RS2/RS3s.

I love the Dunlops, and they're very cheap for how good they are. You can't go wrong with the three tires you were considering.

[flohtingPoint]

The answer to your question depends on if you run SCCA or not. If you run SCCA, and since you've done nothing to your car, you're in a stock category. Everyone else will be on R-Comps, you'll be odd man out. I'd suggest some new wheels (smallest widest racing steelies you can fit) and some V710's or A6's. The wheels are quite cheap, just about everyone uses them if you can fit a 15 or below.

If SCCA is not on your calendar, you cant go very wrong with the RE11's or the Star Specs. A lot of the STS folks swear by the Star Specs and AJ's been doing great things with the RE-11's. Another choice is the Hankook RS3's, as they've been bought up like they're going out of style by a lot of the STS folk and I've not heard bad things from them (the 15's in 225 are on back order last time I checked because everyone is throwing down on them).

[civicexracer]

Getting stickier tires and finally learning to set the right tire pressure should help my psychologically as well. I'll be able to push harder and sooner out of turns since I won't be worried about spinning out.

I added a camera mount to the parcel shelf in the back. Nothing really. The previous owner put in a lot of cosmetic stuff like painting the stock calipers red but I haven't put anything in. I'm still at the point where I'm the slowest part of the car. I'd like to focus on being a better driver first. I'm worried that modding the car will mask a lot of driver error. Plus it'll put me in the same class as Bogdan and Reach. I need to beat James LeCompte first. Yes, James, that's a throw-down. That's for every time you've tried to psych me out!

You def. have the right idea as far as mods. I wouldn't touch your car for a while until you are real used to the tires and start getting to a point where you can't improve anymore. Running STU is good because there's plenty in there that run consistantly and are competitive. If you start inching closer to them on just tires, then you can start thinking about mods.

I would consider the Hankook Ventus v12 evo k110 as well. They perform pretty well in the wet and the dry. At ~100 a pop (for 245/40/17, anyway), they are real easy on the wallet. Car and Driver did a comparo with all the big names... might want to check it out. The Sumitomo HTR Z III is said to be about as good as the Hankook, but is not directional (can't flip the tires to get max life).

If you are still contemplating which tire to get by the next event, I can take you for a ride in my Hankook-equipped car if you'd like.

Those tires are on the same level as his current SPT's, won't see much improvement, if any with those.

Nitto NT-05 deserves to be on the list as well. They are cheap as hell but they don't come with much meat on the tread, even new.

Although good, they aren't up there with the tires he listed..

The answer to your question depends on if you run SCCA or not. If you run SCCA, and since you've done nothing to your car, you're in a stock category. Everyone else will be on R-Comps, you'll be odd man out. I'd suggest some new wheels (smallest widest racing steelies you can fit) and some V710's or A6's. The wheels are quite cheap, just about everyone uses them if you can fit a 15 or below.

If SCCA is not on your calendar, you cant go very wrong with the RE11's or the Star Specs. A lot of the STS folks swear by the Star Specs and AJ's been doing great things with the RE-11's. Another choice is the Hankook RS3's, as they've been bought up like they're going out of style by a lot of the STS folk and I've not heard bad things from them (the 15's in 225 are on back order last time I checked because everyone is throwing down on them).

Stock class requires stock sized wheels. Since he mentioned price, I don't think he wants to go the r-comp route. Especially on a 19" wheel, that'd hurt the wallet lol. The RS3s don't come in 19", neither do the Star Specs I believe.

[flohtingPoint]

Stock class requires stock sized wheels. Since he mentioned price, I don't think he wants to go the r-comp route. Especially on a 19" wheel, that'd hurt the wallet lol. The RS3s don't come in 19", neither do the Star Specs I believe.

Good points. Yea, R-Comps on a 19 would trash a bank acct, especially with how little runs they're good for before they turn into bricks.