R Comp Question

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:24 pm

So I finally got some wide rims with the intention of mounting R comps. I got 17x9 rims for a really good price thanks to Jeb.

My question is whether to get the A6 in a 245/40 or the V710 in a 245/45. Everbody talks about how good the 710's are and they are a good bit cheaper, but they are an inch taller than the A6. 17x9 is the widest width kumho recommends using the 245/45 with.

I have also considered taking the pulnge and getting a set of Hankook's new R comp the Z214. They make a 245/40 and it's cheaper than the 710 or A6, but no one in the country has them in that size. I keep getting the "we are waiting for the shipment to come in" treatment and no one knows when that shipment will get here.

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

17x9 rims. You also can squeeze 275/40-17 on them. Easy to find tire from both vendors. Just a matter of will they clear on your car.

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:32 pm

Graham Jagger wrote:

17x9 rims. You also can squeeze 275/40-17 on them. Easy to find tire from both vendors. Just a matter of will they clear on your car.

I would have to do some serious fender modification to make that tire fit. That tire is really tall also.

I guess my main question is if the 710 is worth giving up the gearing.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:48 pm

MarcusMcRae wrote:

I would have to do some serious fender modification to make that tire fit. That tire is really tall also.

I guess my main question is if the 710 is worth giving up the gearing.

No, not at all. I would buy the Hoosiers. Just keep your front negative camber over 1.8 degrees, preferably 2+. - AB

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

MarcusMcRae wrote:

I would have to do some serious fender modification to make that tire fit. That tire is really tall also.

I guess my main question is if the 710 is worth giving up the gearing.

I wasn't sure if you could squeeze those into the BMW fenders.

As far as tall goes. A 245/45-17 and a 275/40-17 are the exact same height, 25.4". That's why I mentioned with a 9" rim they'll fit if they clear. It would give you between 1-2" more rubber on the pavement

Anyway I don't know squat about the gear ratios on the BMW so listen to Aaron. I feed tire dimensions into a gear calculator and see where I am in the RPM band to see where the sweet spot is.

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:21 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

MarcusMcRae wrote:

I would have to do some serious fender modification to make that tire fit. That tire is really tall also.

I guess my main question is if the 710 is worth giving up the gearing.

No, not at all. I would buy the Hoosiers. Just keep your front negative camber over 1.8 degrees, preferably 2+. - AB

I have -2.5 in the front now.

Have you heard any good things about the Z214?

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:26 pm

while many will disagree here, 245/40/17 is as big as you should go on the front Marcus, for clearance issues. this is only an opinion held by the person i use for tires.

V710's are sweet on track. very nice lateral grip.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:31 pm

MarcusMcRae wrote:

I have -2.5 in the front now.

Have you heard any good things about the Z214?

I'm probably the only one on here who has actually run them

I liked them a lot. For autocross purposes, I was able to keep pace with Mike Whitney and Adam Breakey at Laurinburg last year.

They have very lateral grip and pretty decent longitudinal grip... and they seemed to last a long time and didn't fall of quickly. - AB

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:36 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

MarcusMcRae wrote:

I have -2.5 in the front now.

Have you heard any good things about the Z214?

I'm probably the only one on here who has actually run them

I liked them a lot. For autocross purposes, I was able to keep pace with Mike Whitney and Adam Breakey at Laurinburg last year.

They have very lateral grip and pretty decent longitudinal grip... and they seemed to last a long time and didn't fall of quickly. - AB

That's basically what I had read about them. I might try to hold out until somebody gets them in stock.

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:33 am

steve remchak wrote:

while many will disagree here, 245/40/17 is as big as you should go on the front Marcus, for clearance issues. this is only an opinion held by the person i use for tires.

I've run 255/40/17 Victoracers on 17 x 8.5" ET43 wheels (no spacers, GC coilovers) on both my E36 M3 & E36 328 without rubbing. The front was no problem at all, probably could go wider but may require spacers. The rear is where it gets tight, some fender rolling is generally required to fit 255/40s. Of course, neither the A6 or V710 is available in that size, but if they were, they should/would fit an E36 with the right wheel offset.

Prior to the 255's, I ran 245/45/17's on my M3 (on the same wheels), and the additional sidewall height caused some rubbing issues on the inside of the rear quarter panels, just above the fender lips. Although tire temps indicated I should run less negative camber in the rear, I had to add more negative camber to keep the tires from rubbing. A slightly higher offset wheel (ET45-ET47) would have been the better solution, but there aren't many wheel options that fit that bill.

Also, I totally agree with Aaron about running the lower profile size (245/40) for the gearing and ride height advantages - even with the 3.23 final drive on the later E36 M3's, third gear is very rarely needed for autocross. On the flip side, Hoosier's higher price (and possibly quicker wear?) might steer me toward the 245/45/17 V710s.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:42 am

i have heard the 45 will rub on the bottom of the front strut. with coilovers that may not be an issue. i have marks on my right front strut from 235/40/17 toyos. i might need stiffer springs and valving. running "sport" levels now. but this is track use not autoX.

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:58 am

steve remchak wrote:

i have heard the 45 will rub on the bottom of the front strut. with coilovers that may not be an issue. i have marks on my right front strut from 235/40/17 toyos. i might need stiffer springs and valving. running "sport" levels now. but this is track use not autoX.

Hmmm, that's very strange - 235/40/17's should never get close to the front struts. Do your wheels have very high offset?
(BTW, the relationship of tire to strut is fixed based on wheel offset, independent of springs, valving, etc.)

I ran 245/45/17 Victoracers w/OEM front struts on 17 x 8.5" ET43 wheels with 5 mm spacers (effectively 38 mm offset) on my E36 M3 w/ no rubbing. I recall that Rob Harvey did the same, and Mike Whitney has been running 245/45/17 V710's w/OEM front struts on his M3 in Stock class (ET41 +/- 6 mm).

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:08 am

Keith Quistorff wrote:

Of course, neither the A6 or V710 is available in that size, but if they were, they should/would fit an E36 with the right wheel offset.

The A6 is available in 245/40 17.

My 17x9 et40 hit the front strut right now without tires. I am planning on running a 15mm spacer in the front and rolling the rear fender.

I am supposed to here back today if I can get the Z214 in a reasonable time frame.

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:25 am

MarcusMcRae wrote:

The A6 is available in 245/40 17.

Yup. I was referring to 255/40/17.

MarcusMcRae wrote:

My 17x9 et40 hit the front strut right now without tires.

Yes, you have to run lower offset (via spacer) to compensate for the additional width of that wheel. 9" is as wide as I've heard anyone fitting on an E36 without major body work (fender flares).

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:33 am

Keith Quistorff wrote:

MarcusMcRae wrote:

The A6 is available in 245/40 17.

Yup. I was referring to 255/40/17.

MarcusMcRae wrote:

My 17x9 et40 hit the front strut right now without tires.

Yes, you have to run lower offset (via spacer) to compensate for the additional width of that wheel. 9" is as wide as I've heard anyone fitting on an E36 without major body work (fender flares).

Oh, I did not read your post carefully enough.

I wanted to get 17x8.5's but I was having a hard time finding a cheap set. The 17x9's I got were really cheap and weigh 22lbs.

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