Experience Nitto NT01 on Staggered Setup

[Splinterz88]

Hello All,
Making the switch to R-comps this track season. I have looked up NT01 setups no answer to my questions.

I want to run apex ec-7 18x9.5 in front and 18x10.5 in rear. Suspesnsion is stock with GC camber plates. What tire size should I be running 275/35/18 front and rear of a 305/35/18 in back? Any expereince with this ast NT01 do not have 285/295 profile that I am aware of. Thanks,

-Art

[M3 Adjuster]

Assuming that your wheels are a correct offset in the low 20s. The front tire size is correct and should fit. ( I use that size on 18x10 wheels ) 275 may be a little wide for a 9.5" wheel so check manufacturer specs.

As far as the rear, a 305 would be a good match but I am not aware of anyone fitting that size yet so cannot confirm that it works.

I am going to test fit a 315 BFG r1 in a week or so. A friend of mine has a 10.5" wheel and a tire he wants to fit on his car.

[Splinterz88]

Thanks Mark.
I am running apex ec-7 18x9.5 et 22 in front and 18x10.5 et 27.

[M3 Adjuster]

Check out the thread. " Max tire size fitted to the front ".

Mattm has run 315/30/19 rear and 265/35/19 up front on stock wheels. So looks like your rear should fit.

I will be testing the same tire on an apex 10.5 " wheel. Probably next Friday.

[robertm]

I've contememated runnig 305s on back. Prob will next set. They will fit.

It's amazing how hard it is to type while sitting on the beach in Cozumel with a bunch of empty piña caratas, margaritas and may tyes sitting around you. Also how the hell do you spell Mai tai?

[Em/1]

Originally Posted by robertm

I've contememated runnig 305s on back. Prob will next set. They will fit.

It's amazing how hard it is to type while sitting on the beach in Cozumel with a bunch of empty piña caratas, margaritas and may tyes sitting around you. Also how the hell do you spell Mai tai?

my tie, no caps and pass the tequila!

[Splinterz88]

How have you guys made out with the 305/315 rear fitments?

NItto NT01 305/35/18 is on national back order so I am going to run 275/35/8 square on 9.5" APEX EC7 rim . At least on PSS I preffered the staggered setup to the square.

[ayao]

Would be curious to hear your feedback on this setup. Currently on staggered 18" M3 OEMs with stock-sized AD08s, but considering 275/35/18 NT01s on as-of-yet-to-be-acquired 18x10 ET25 Apex EC-7s.

Originally Posted by Splinterz88

How have you guys made out with the 305/315 rear fitments?

NItto NT01 305/35/18 is on national back order so I am going to run 275/35/8 square on 9.5" APEX EC7 rim . At least on PSS I preffered the staggered setup to the square.

[Splinterz88]

Any recommendations on what the hot tire pressures I should be shooting for? Will be out on the 275/35/18 square setup weekend after this. Will be getting a new alignment a few days before hand. Thanks.
-Art

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Splinterz88

How have you guys made out with the 305/315 rear fitments?

NItto NT01 305/35/18 is on national back order so I am going to run 275/35/8 square on 9.5" APEX EC7 rim . At least on PSS I preffered the staggered setup to the square.

A 305 definitely will fit on the rear. I fit a BFG 315/30 on the rear on my car..

Be careful on the overall height of the tire rear tire when going bigger than 305 (for example 305/35) , particularly on the passenger side with the fuel filler neck and items in that area. I have seen some notes of rubbing on the passenger side possibly.. particularly on 19s with a tall sidewall IIRC.

If you are only going to go with a 275 up front... then probably stick to 305 rear. 285/30 front and 315/30 rear is what I was able to run. I think if one goes with anything more than a 30 mm stagger (for example 265 front and 305 rear or 275 and 315 ) then I think the understeer is going to be very difficult to manage.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...=794770&page=3

as far as tire pressures I would aim for 36-38 hot and then tailor based on your driving style and or lap times/data from there.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by ayao

Would be curious to hear your feedback on this setup. Currently on staggered 18" M3 OEMs with stock-sized AD08s, but considering 275/35/18 NT01s on as-of-yet-to-be-acquired 18x10 ET25 Apex EC-7s.

if you are prefer better wear over ultimate grip..... definitely go with the 18 x 10s all around and a square set up of 275s or 285s so you can rotate. You do give up some ability to put the power down in the rear, but you gain a ton of tire life with the ability to rotate, particularly with non directional tires.. plus it's just easier mounting since you don't have to find front and rear.. just gran any of the 4 and put it on a corner and set tire pressures and go.

[Splinterz88]

Thanks Mark,
First time on r-comps. Which the NT01 waiting for the 305 rears to come in for the 18x10.5. Thanks again.

Cheers,
Art

[ayao]

I'm finding that I want more grip than AD08s offer on the track. I'm not sure if that's because I'm overdriving, or if I'm progressing in skills, or something else. So I'm kicking around the idea of R-comps.

Currently on staggered 18" M3 OEMs (245/40, 265/40) and the only R-comps that fit these are Trofeo R's. They seem finicky with camber and pressure. I don't like finicky. Other options include:
-making the stock 19" 359s the track wheels which would allow R888s and MPSCs
-going 275/35/18 square on 18x10 et25s

I definitely like the idea of improved wear. And a bunch of R-comps are made in the 275 size. How much do you think going square will change the balance of the car? I feel like it's pretty balanced and relatively easy to throttle steer through turns ... do you think going square will make it too prone to oversteer? That's my major concern at the moment.

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

if you are prefer better wear over ultimate grip..... definitely go with the 18 x 10s all around and a square set up of 275s or 285s so you can rotate. You do give up some ability to put the power down in the rear, but you gain a ton of tire life with the ability to rotate, particularly with non directional tires.. plus it's just easier mounting since you don't have to find front and rear.. just gran any of the 4 and put it on a corner and set tire pressures and go.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by ayao

I'm finding that I want more grip than AD08s offer on the track. I'm not sure if that's because I'm overdriving, or if I'm progressing in skills, or something else. So I'm kicking around the idea of R-comps.

Currently on staggered 18" M3 OEMs (245/40, 265/40) and the only R-comps that fit these are Trofeo R's. They seem finicky with camber and pressure. I don't like finicky. Other options include:

-making the stock 19" 359s the track wheels which would allow R888s and MPSCs

-going 275/35/18 square on 18x10 et25s


I definitely like the idea of improved wear. And a bunch of R-comps are made in the 275 size. How much do you think going square will change the balance of the car? I feel like it's pretty balanced and relatively easy to throttle steer through turns ... do you think going square will make it too prone to oversteer? That's my major concern at the moment.

As far as wanting more grip... makes sense... the AD08s are ok.. but definitely not great.. street tires like the HankooK RS-3 and the Direzza II are better performers..

As far as entry level R tires.. the Nitto NT-01, Maxxis RC-1, and Toyo R888 are all tires that have fantastic wear, reasonable price and a step up in grip over the street tires. While not being fast as the TOP DOG "R" compounds, they will wear well and be a very good value. Tires like the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup, Hoosier, BFG R1, and Dunlop Maxx Race are definitely significantly more expensive - save those for when you are competing.. if that day occurs..)

The 18" OEM M3 wheels you have are really only suitable for street duty or winter tire use. Smaller than stock wheel width IIRC (8.5 front and 9.5 rear?) along with stagger is no bueno.

So.. if on a budget.. (sorta).. you could go with R tires on the stock wheels (saving you $1200 in wheel expense) and go with something like a 255 up front and a 275 or 285 rear would work... but you are still left with more expensive track tires (19s vs 18s) in the short run plus less rubber than you can ultimately run if you were to go with new wheels like the APEX and the car will also still understeer.

Ever since the E36 M3... BMW has been putting smaller tires up front than the rear.. It could be for looks.. but more likely... it's to create understeer, which makes the car safer. However.. I am absolutely in favor of a square setup on most BMWs.... (with the 1M and perhaps Z4 as the possible) exceptions to the rule.) On the E30M3.. E36 M3... and the E46 M3... a square setup is usually preferred in racing..

With the 1M.. my personal preference is to go as BIG as possible.. on all corners... And if you want to give up a little bit of rear grip for wear then go square.

As far as changing the balance of the car.... well.... if you LOVE the current balance.. then try square.. you might find you like it MORE! It seems that you are concerned with oversteer... when this chassis actually has too much UNDERSTEER designed into it. Yes.. it *can* and does oversteeer easily with provocation from your right front (by either lifting or putting it to the floor).

With more rear tire.. the car does come off the corner better.. but when it comes time to brake and turn... then the car understeers at the limit. Therefore.. rather than putting something like an itty bitty 245 up front... the 275s up front on a square setup give you more grip up front so you can turn.. Add camber plates and to a square setup and you will find that the car actually is MUCH more neutral overall. It will be as close as possible to naturally not oversteering OR understeering AND you get the better wear. And don't forget... you can still create oversteer... *any* time you want... and this won't change at all.

For those that are entering TIMED events... racing.. time trials.. or if you just have to have the fastest time... If that's the case.. then go as big up front as possible and go as big on the rear as possible, and try and keep a 20-30 mm difference front to rear. While I havent tested this myself with lap times.. (and i will try to do so sometime soon) I have heard this is the *fastest* setup...

if you want the fastest setup that will fit under the wheel wells... then go with what Harold at HP Autosport recommends... I believe you indicated 9.5/10.5 with a staggered tire size.

[ayao]

THank you for this insightful and thorough reply! Lots of food for thought ... do you think a square setup affects the function/threshold of EuroMDM in a tangible way?

[Ender_]

This is going back awhile but how did this all fit and how did you like the NT01's - going to order a set after cording my Z2's.

[ayao]

I ended up going 275/35/18 NT01s on a square set of rear 219M wheels. Very happy with the neutral balance and grip of this setup, other than the NT01 splice issue.
I think the ability to rotate the tires is huge and is worth the slight reduction in grip compared to a maxed-out staggered setup for all-out speed.