RE-71R 1er fitment

[AndyW]

So, getting close to pressing "buy" on these...it seems to me, from everything I have read, the safe fitment (i.e. no rubbing) on a 135i with stock M-sport suspension and improved camber is:

225/40-R18 Rear (wheels are 18x8,-2.2 camber)

255/35-R18 Rear (wheels are 18x8.5, -2.0 camber)

Anyone have other thoughts? Thx!

EDIT: FIXED WHEEL WIDTHS.

[BimmerAg]

Those will fit, but I've been able to pretty easily fit a 255/40R17 square set of Federal RSRRs on my car with the stock M-sport suspension. IIRC you do some track and AutoX events and I'd definitely recommend going to a wider front tire to further reduce understeer. My wheels are stock widths so that may pinch the tires in a little to keep them from rubbing but in a couple hundred miles of street driving I've only ever heard mine rub once.

[mKilgore]

Originally Posted by BimmerAg

Those will fit, but I've been able to pretty easily fit a 255/40R17 square set of Federal RSRRs on my car with the stock M-sport suspension. IIRC you do some track and AutoX events and I'd definitely recommend going to a wider front tire to further reduce understeer. My wheels are stock widths so that may pinch the tires in a little to keep them from rubbing but in a couple hundred miles of street driving I've only ever heard mine rub once.

So you put a 255 on the stock 7.5 front/8.5 rear?

[AndyW]

Originally Posted by BimmerAg

Those will fit, but I've been able to pretty easily fit a 255/40R17 square set of Federal RSRRs on my car with the stock M-sport suspension. IIRC you do some track and AutoX events and I'd definitely recommend going to a wider front tire to further reduce understeer. My wheels are stock widths so that may pinch the tires in a little to keep them from rubbing but in a couple hundred miles of street driving I've only ever heard mine rub once.

I don't do AutoX...just HPDE's. Pretty sure the 255's won't fit in 18's on the front without rolling/widening, based on a lot of responses in a previous thread.

My goals this season are mild: I will be moving up from All seasons in that fitment so I think I will still enjoy a LOT better grip this season that I will need to grow into(someone told me I could do 205's in RE-71s all around and would still be shocked at how much the grip will be improved from the 215/245 all season fitment).

I didn't consider wider yet, because the advice I have seen from folks who track a lot is that once you start getting tons of grip, you need to upgrade your suspension to control roll...and my piggybank isn't that big this year considering the suspension I want to get! I figure by the end of this HPDE season, the RE-71s will used up and I'll be in a position to recalculate wheels/tires/suspension/body mods for future years.

[BimmerAg]

Originally Posted by mKilgore

So you put a 255 on the stock 7.5 front/8.5 rear?

Yep. Well, stock width wheels at least. Wheels are BMW style 68 17x7.5ET41 and 17x8.5ET50. To stay in the F-Street SCCA class wheels can be changed diameter by 1", but must be the same width as stock. Some of the s2000 guys put 255s on a 7" wide front wheel

[berns]

If you plan to do any street driving, and don't care about insanely quick-wearing tires, RE71R is great. But they melt away swiftly.

Can't say enough good thinks about the Nexen Sur4G, on the other hand. I'd have a look.

[Ginger_Extract]

71R's run a bit on the narrow side. You didn't state offsets, but I'm sure it'll fit just fine.

[arc_resistant]

I'll throw my $.02 in.

RE71R: Amazing tire. Esp for the $$. Doesn't like to be abused though. Will overheat on a road course if you are sliding it around a lot. This is at its worst when new. After some heat cycles and less tread depth it is more tolerant.

Speaking of heat cycles, my set lasted 7 days (x4 20 minute sessions/day) before they heat cycled out. There is still 1 or 2 days left of tread, but the grip has gone away.

My advice, don't run these as a street tire. Highway trips are likely to heat the tires enough to take some of the 'goody' out of the them.

Fitment: I run 235/40/18 all around. Mounted on 18x8 w/40 offset. No spacers. I'm running M3 arms and Dinan camber plates giving about 2.1 degrees of negative camber. Camber is required to fit under front fenders w/out rubbing. I did rub once on the rear going over big dip (stock M-sport suspension), but otherwise no issues.

A 225/40 on 8.5 (unknown offset) should fit up front. Esp if offset is 45-ish.

Handling: If I'm being honest, these probably have too much grip for the stock spring rates, but I ran them anyway. Even with 2 deg of camber the outer shoulder of the front tires wears first. Flip the tires on the rims after 3-4 days.

IMO a 255 rear tire is too much for the track with stock suspension. The understeer will be bad. Even with a square setup, the car still has lots of understeer, to the point where the car is very hard to rotate on the brakes on corner entry.

Lastly, let me repeat the mantra 'Replace the rear subframe bushings'. A grippy tire really highlights the flaws of the stock bushings.

[AndyW]

Originally Posted by berns

If you plan to do any street driving, and don't care about insanely quick-wearing tires, RE71R is great. But they melt away swiftly.

Can't say enough good thinks about the Nexen Sur4G, on the other hand. I'd have a look.

Thx for the input. I have separate track wheels so these will go on the night before I drive to the track, and off when I get home after the track day. If they last 5-6 track days (my plan for this summer), I'll be happy.

[AndyW]

Originally Posted by Ginger_Extract

71R's run a bit on the narrow side. You didn't state offsets, but I'm sure it'll fit just fine.

Thx. I've followed a number of your threads on tracking...very helpful. Do you think I should up to 235 (it's an 8.0" wheel which is another reason I am being conservative)? I have 10mm spacers to use if need be.

[AndyW]

Thx for the input. I'll reply inline...

Originally Posted by arc_resistant

I'll throw my $.02 in.

RE71R: Amazing tire. Esp for the $$. Doesn't like to be abused though. Will overheat on a road course if you are sliding it around a lot. This is at its worst when new. After some heat cycles and less tread depth it is more tolerant.

I am ordering them with the initial heat cycling so hopefully will be less of a problem.

Originally Posted by arc_resistant

Speaking of heat cycles, my set lasted 7 days (x4 20 minute sessions/day) before they heat cycled out. There is still 1 or 2 days left of tread, but the grip has gone away.

That would be acceptable to me.

Originally Posted by arc_resistant

My advice, don't run these as a street tire. Highway trips are likely to heat the tires enough to take some of the 'goody' out of the them.

Not going to...have two sets of wheels/tires.

Originally Posted by arc_resistant

Fitment: I run 235/40/18 all around. Mounted on 18x8 w/40 offset. No spacers. I'm running M3 arms and Dinan camber plates giving about 2.1 degrees of negative camber. Camber is required to fit under front fenders w/out rubbing. I did rub once on the rear going over big dip (stock M-sport suspension), but otherwise no issues.

Interesting. We have similar camber so that confirms I should be OK.

Originally Posted by arc_resistant

A 225/40 on 8.5 (unknown offset) should fit up front. Esp if offset is 45-ish.

I corrected my widths (was going off memory)...8.0 up front, 8.5 rear (these are BMW style 135 wheels for the E46). Offsets are ET47 front, ET50 rear. Front has *just enough* space with a 225. With 10mm spacers in front,a 225 fits great (these are Conti DWS). Pretty sure a 235 would fit, just didn't think 235 on an 8' wheel was a good idea, from the forum scouring I did.

Originally Posted by arc_resistant

Handling: If I'm being honest, these probably have too much grip for the stock spring rates, but I ran them anyway. Even with 2 deg of camber the outer shoulder of the front tires wears first. Flip the tires on the rims after 3-4 days.

Good advice, thx. So the RE-71's aren't directional then?

Originally Posted by arc_resistant

IMO a 255 rear tire is too much for the track with stock suspension. The understeer will be bad. Even with a square setup, the car still has lots of understeer, to the point where the car is very hard to rotate on the brakes on corner entry.

Hmmm...maybe I should save some bucks and do 245? I am running greater than stock power (probably about 370/400...will be dynoing on the 24th). I didn't feel like I had too much understeer on the street tires, but, as I keep getting told, going to the next level in tires will reveal a whole new set of weaknesses...in the car and in me!

Originally Posted by arc_resistant

Lastly, let me repeat the mantra 'Replace the rear subframe bushings'. A grippy tire really highlights the flaws of the stock bushings.

Heh...already done. Whitelines installed last year.

[AndyW]

OK...sale ends tomorrow, so I pulled the trigger...thx for all the advice.

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by AndyW

OK...sale ends tomorrow, so I pulled the trigger...thx for all the advice.

Where's this sale at?

[AndyW]

Originally Posted by spxxx

Where's this sale at?

Discount Tire Direct. Trifecta of no tax, free shipping, and $100 rebate thru the 19th.

[arc_resistant]

Originally Posted by AndyW

I corrected my widths (was going off memory)...8.0 up front, 8.5 rear (these are BMW style 135 wheels for the E46). Offsets are ET47 front, ET50 rear. Front has *just enough* space with a 225. With 10mm spacers in front,a 225 fits great (these are Conti DWS). Pretty sure a 235 would fit, just didn't think 235 on an 8' wheel was a good idea, from the forum scouring I did.



Good advice, thx. So the RE-71's aren't directional then?

235 on a 8" wheel is minimum. It is an approved wheel width. Is it optimum? No. Does it work. In my experience, yes.

RE-71's have rotation direction, but no 'OUTSIDE' marking. Thus, one can flip the tires on the rim and run them on the other side of the car. Helps even the wear out.

[AndyW]

Originally Posted by arc_resistant

235 on a 8" wheel is minimum. It is an approved wheel width. Is it optimum? No. Does it work. In my experience, yes.

RE-71's have rotation direction, but no 'OUTSIDE' marking. Thus, one can flip the tires on the rim and run them on the other side of the car. Helps even the wear out.

Thx! I stayed "safe" and went with 225 front, 255 rear. It's OK...I'll probably be in this same decision space again after this season so maybe I'll move up.

[berns]

Safe is boring! I'll probably hate myself after trying to make this set work.

[AndyW]

Originally Posted by berns

Safe is boring! I'll probably hate myself after trying to make this set work.

Hah...wow....I think you'll need the widebody kit for those...

[dbronnik]

Originally Posted by berns

Safe is boring! I'll probably hate myself after trying to make this set work.

Yeah that's not about being safe or not, its just not going to fit with 135i front fenders.. You'll need 1m front fenders or some other wide front fenders to fit 275 up front for sure.

[AndyW]

One tire arrived yesterday...UPS is stringing me out...lol.

[AndyW]

All tires have arrived...and so it begins...

[berns]

Originally Posted by dbronnik

Yeah that's not about being safe or not, its just not going to fit with 135i front fenders.. You'll need 1m front fenders or some other wide front fenders to fit 275 up front for sure.

Wasn't planning a 275 up front. Mounted the 265s, they fit fine. Updates in my build thread.