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[MarkR171]

Wouldn't be that horrible to use for 1 autocross event would it? I noticed some rash/roughness on the edges of my front RFT sidewalls so I'm thinking I probably shouldn't put another autocross event through it even though I've been happy with the grip.

I have access to a set of 225/40/18 Star Specs for the fronts, so I was thinking of putting those in this week for the autocross event on Sunday (19th.) No one local has the Star Specs in 255/35/18 so I would have to order them. They wouldn't get here in time to install for the event.

It shouldn't be too bad to run different tires front and rear right? Keep in mind, tight autocross course not reaching 3rd gear or more than 50mph.


edit: Also keep in mind that I only have 4000 miles on the RFTs, so tread depth isn't bad in the rears.

[VMRWheels]

I don't see a problem of it damaging your vehicle but your driving dynamics and characteristics will change. Being that the RFT side walls are stiff and the compound is less sticky, the rear end may swing and rotate more then you'll like compared to the soft grippy compound Z1's up front.

-Charles@VMRWheels

[MarkR171]

I took another close look at the tires today, they don't seem too bad so I'm just going to order the rears and wait until after the event to swap the tires out. When it comes time for lease return, I'll just swap the lefts with the rights to put the wear on the inside.

[Novator]

Lol, see you and I have the opposite dilemma. I need new rears, you need new fronts (though my tires are a helluva lot more worn then your RFTs). I inquired about Dunlop Star Specs too, figured I'd try a different tire over the Continentals and see if I like them more. I love my Continentals, but I want a different tread design. I've been looking at Nittos too, might get the Nittos completely on by next Cars and Coffee.

[MarkR171]

Your rears are balding because you go first gear around hairpins on tantalus and spin the tires on every turn lol. My fronts are only wearing on the edges because of autocross. Going to try raising pressure next time and see if I'm still rolling over the edges.

Even then, star specs are in the garage already and will be going on sometime soon after Sunday's event. If people are right about the grip difference, I'll really be kicking some butt then! Looking forward to staying in front of the field STU class cars with a completely stock car

[Novator]

True, but I've had my car for a lot longer and Tantalus is not my only stomping ground When you have that much torque and no LSD, somethings bound to spin. Besides, I think 15,000 tire intervals aren't so bad if you have fun in between. Tell me how well your Star Specs hold up after 15k of aggressive driving.

[MarkR171]

Which is why I'm still on the fence about tunes. I'm happy with the power, any more would just be for getting in trouble. People with the N55 tune are saying launch control is useless with a tune because there's too much power to launch at 3500rpm and it just spins the tires, so it would be useless for me.

I don't drive aggressively normally. I get my fun at auto-x, and the tire wear there really isn't too bad as the speeds aren't too high and tires don't get too hot.

I'm really hoping Star Specs are as good as people say they are! Should be a lot of fun since the RFTs did slip a little with launch control. I'm anxious to try LC with star specs and see if they bite well and launch hard.

[Novator]

N54 Procede has launch control too, but its only useful if you have a 335xi or drag radials. Tunes are alot of power as you saw at my last auto-X, too much for me, but then again maybe I braked too early and held it there too late, but I am not as skilled an autocrosser as you. I will tell you that once tuned you will want more, its incredibly addictive, but I will wait until the mainland or Christmas (whichever comes first) for some more power, still haven't tried race gas, but maybe after the new tires get fitted. LSD is really what these cars need, and something I want to do, but keep putting on the back burner.

[MarkR171]

I think your main issue at autocross was just memorizing the track and having pre-planned lines. You looked sort of confused at times and braking too hard in a lot of sections and upsetting the balance/momentum of the car because of it. Too hard on acceleration with the extra power of the tune after hard braking was making another abrupt momentum change keeping the car off balance. Autocross is all about being smooth, not necessarily wide open throttle as much as possible then hard on brakes at the corners.

I know more power would be addicting, and that's the other 50% of me that says just go for it, but I think I'm going to try to control myself. Not worth the risk of stressing the motor for something I would only use once in a blue moon on the highway. I prefer corners, not so much straight line power.

[Novator]

I hear you man, for me its the opposite, I drive 40 miles to and from work everyday so I like the power, but the car tuned handles well up Tantalus and most twisties, but autocross does confuse me at times. I would like to do it again, I probably was too brash in saying I'd stop, but I don't know when I'll come out again, probably after the brake work is taken care of. I found this excerpt from Tire Rack, though you probably already know yourself. "NOTE: The Tire Rack recommends installing Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tires in sets of four to fully realize the benefits of the Star Spec tread compound. While the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec can be mixed with its predecessor in axle pairs if necessary, it is recommended that the treads be shaved to the equivalent tread depth of the existing tires." http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....t+Z1+Star+Spec
As you know these are some BA tires, I am calling in myself to see about a set and see how much over they are from the Nittos I had in mind, if not Nittos N555, maybe NT05, or the Michelin RE-11s, or is it RE-01s? Or just stick with my current setup and keep it just street.

[MarkR171]

RE-11s are Bridgestones. I think the 11 is the newer version of the RE-01. Those are used by a few at autox so I'd assume they're good tires as well.

By the way, someone on bimmerforums told me of a shop that ships tires to Hawaii free. Saves ~140$ from Tirerack.

edit: Tirerack's test of the RE-11, Advan AD08, Kumho Ecsta XS and Star Specs:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=118

[Novator]

I don't know if this is the same shop, but I think it was a Goodyear dealer near the Nimitz. If you look on the Dunlop dealer site under area code 96819, should pop up. That's what they told me, but when I called again they didn't answer and that's how I found out about Sam's Club.

[Novator]

Oh, by the way, I didn't ask about yesterday, how did you do, how'd they feel? Probably won the class anyway, but how did the steering and handling feel with the fronts mounted on? I met someone with our size tire all around on his Subaru and I can't wait to get the rears on! These are some wide tires! Pretty square in setup. If I have issues, I will fit back my stock wheels and get them refinished or look for anyone selling the M-Sport wheels, not sure what style # they are, but they look not that far off from AC Schnitzer wheels, just more curved and no lip. My wife says she likes the wheels on yours and Chris's too. I've been a fan, just don't want to pay too much for OEM.