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Now that 285 will be allowed in STU for RWD/FWD, I did a quick check at TireRack.... not too many options out there.

There is a clear leader in Yokohama ADVAN Neovas - but those cost $358 a piece (285/30R18)! There don't seem to be 285s from the other tire leaders (Dunlop Direzza Star Spec, Bridgestone RE010) - any chance they they will release new tire sizes by next year?

What about a cheaper alternative like the Kumho Ecsta MX that is less than half the price (285/40R17 = $157)? That is cheap enough to offset the cost of new 17" wheels. I don't think I have seen any top drivers use this tire though - is it any good?

Any other good options out there?

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Jason P.
Indy Region Moderator
STU - M3 e46

The Kuhmo MX is not a great choice compared to the other tires now plus it is being replaced with the XS.  The closest sizes I see are a 275/35/18 in the Dunlop and the Kuhmo XS.  So your choices at the moment seem to be spend the big money on the Yokos or go for the 275 Dunlop or Kuhmo for less money.

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Keith
2008 Honda S2000

For a car with some heft and/or HP that'll fit 'em, I'd go for the 285/35-20 Dunlop DSST, the stickier of the two tires available on the back of the new GTR.

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--Jason Rhoades

jzr:

For a car with some heft and/or HP that'll fit 'em, I'd go for the 285/35-20 Dunlop DSST, the stickier of the two tires available on the back of the new GTR.

But, those are Run Flats - and even more pricey than the Yokos. (and weigh 40lbs.)

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Jason P.
Indy Region Moderator
STU - M3 e46

You're looking at 18 or 19" wheels for the top tires (Dunlop, Bridgestone) and that would be a 275.

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Brian Davis, 89 Civic Si, 158 STS

turbohappy:

You're looking at 18 or 19" wheels for the top tires (Dunlop, Bridgestone) and that would be a 275.

So, you think most people in STU with RWD/FWD are going to just stick with 275 then despite the new allowance for 285?

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Jason P.
Indy Region Moderator
STU - M3 e46

that was already the reality for 2wd STU cars given that a 265 was the best (yok, b-stone) widest tire available when the allowance was 275.  a 275 615 just didn't cut it. 

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Doug #81 STS2
1990 Mazda Miata
STU 2000 Audi S4 (retired)
STU 2005 Mazda RX-8 (retired)

The Nebulizer:

turbohappy:

You're looking at 18 or 19" wheels for the top tires (Dunlop, Bridgestone) and that would be a 275.

So, you think most people in STU with RWD/FWD are going to just stick with 275 then despite the new allowance for 285?

You can run 225s in STS and almost everyone is on 195s. A better tire is still better even if it's a little narrower.

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Brian Davis, 89 Civic Si, 158 STS

I'm not as in tune with the latest tires since I dropped out of STU this year, but the 265/35 Advan Neova was considerably wider and shorter than any of the other 275/35 tires available previously.  A 285/30 will be shorter and wider still, so there's potentially a gear advantage or disadvantage at play depending on the application.

If it were me I'd play the waiting game before making any particular commitment.  A lot can happen between now and the early half of the 2009 season.  I'd expect the serious manufacturers to step up with this size once it's certain that it will be STU legal.  The old 275 limit is why most of them don't offer a 285 yet .... yet.

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"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car and oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car.
Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, torque is how far you take the wall with you." --Anonymous

This sounds like a great new rule change that TONs of people are going to be able to utilize...

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Ryan K

TeamRX8:

I'm not as in tune with the latest tires since I dropped out of STU this year, but the 265/35 Advan Neova was considerably wider and shorter than any of the other 275/35 tires available previously.  A 285/30 will be shorter and wider still, so there's potentially a gear advantage or disadvantage at play depending on the application.

If it were me I'd play the waiting game before making any particular commitment.  A lot can happen between now and the early half of the 2009 season.  I'd expect the serious manufacturers to step up with this size once it's certain that it will be STU legal.  The old 275 limit is why most of them don't offer a 285 yet .... yet.

Thanks for the info - didn't know that about the Yoko 265s (they are your old tires BTW  ) I'll definitely not buy anything until next year - just trying to plan my attack. I was thinking of going to 17" wheels possibly. Hopefully, there will be more options in 285 by next year.

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Jason P.
Indy Region Moderator
STU - M3 e46

285/30/18 is awesome as its nice and short compared to other tires, at least for a 240sx, fitting the fronts with massive tires this is the way to go but there aren't many 285/30/18 options i wish more tire companies would go this route and produce more sizes... heck even 335/20 or 25/19 or something would be an interesting albeit expensive sizing to keep the tire nice and wide yet short... I plan to fit some 285s up front and 3xx in rear when I swap a v8 in it next year... i have clearance issues and wanna keep everything nice and right... whether its legal or not in this race class... regardless I wish these sizes would become possible...

The Nebulizer:

TeamRX8:

I'm not as in tune with the latest tires since I dropped out of STU this year, but the 265/35 Advan Neova was considerably wider and shorter than any of the other 275/35 tires available previously.  A 285/30 will be shorter and wider still, so there's potentially a gear advantage or disadvantage at play depending on the application.

If it were me I'd play the waiting game before making any particular commitment.  A lot can happen between now and the early half of the 2009 season.  I'd expect the serious manufacturers to step up with this size once it's certain that it will be STU legal.  The old 275 limit is why most of them don't offer a 285 yet .... yet.

Thanks for the info - didn't know that about the Yoko 265s (they are your old tires BTW  ) I'll definitely not buy anything until next year - just trying to plan my attack. I was thinking of going to 17" wheels possibly. Hopefully, there will be more options in 285 by next year.

We have and E46 M3 with comp package.  17" rims will not fit.  Have you tried a 17 on your car, or do you just assume it will fit?  The comp package on our car has much bigger rotors, but I thought the calipers were the same.  17" rims hit the calipers, a good bit.

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125 STS '89 Civic Si
RPGproduction.com/Toyo Tires/Moton/NABC-Ethanol Racing

TimSmith:

We have and E46 M3 with comp package.  17" rims will not fit.  Have you tried a 17 on your car, or do you just assume it will fit?  The comp package on our car has much bigger rotors, but I thought the calipers were the same.  17" rims hit the calipers, a good bit.

The calipers are the same, but they sit out farther on the ZCP due to larger rotors (I have non-ZCP). I have read many reports (m3forum.net - racing section) of people running 17s. I am sure not all 17s fit, several are supposed to - like Kosei, TR motorsports, 330i sport wheels, some BBS, etc. I believe some are supposed to fit on ZCP even. Many people run 17s for winter and some do for track too. Which 17s were you trying? (are they for sale? )

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Jason P.
Indy Region Moderator
STU - M3 e46

When looking at tire choices, don't discount the overall height of the tire and it's effect on your gearing.  That could be more important than the 20mm width difference of a 265 vs 285.  I'd look at your 2nd gear mph limit try and pick an overall height that allows you to not shift if possible on an vast majority of courses you will encounter.  For example, in a '05 STi I had to shift to 3rd and back to 2nd twice on both courses at Nationals and bumped the rev limiter a few times as well.  If I could change the gearing via tire height and eliminate either one of those shifts or bumping the limiter (which slows my acceleration), I know I could pick up .5 seconds.

If comparing 17" vs 18" wheels, I think 18's are the way to go as you probably will gain overall height while not having to run a tall sidewall.

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Jason McCall #47 STU
'00 M Roadster - XP (under construction)

McCall:

When looking at tire choices, don't discount the overall height of the tire and it's effect on your gearing.  That could be more important than the 20mm width difference of a 265 vs 285.  I'd look at your 2nd gear mph limit try and pick an overall height that allows you to not shift if possible on an vast majority of courses you will encounter.  For example, in a '05 STi I had to shift to 3rd and back to 2nd twice on both courses at Nationals and bumped the rev limiter a few times as well.  If I could change the gearing via tire height and eliminate either one of those shifts or bumping the limiter (which slows my acceleration), I know I could pick up .5 seconds.

If comparing 17" vs 18" wheels, I think 18's are the way to go as you probably will gain overall height while not having to run a tall sidewall.

That's a good point. For my car I haven't had any trouble with 25.3" diameter 265s (stock being 26"). The only 285s I know of (Yoko) are even shorter at 24.8" - I think I would still be fine (I have never hit the rev limit in 2nd - but 1st a couple times... oops )

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Jason P.
Indy Region Moderator
STU - M3 e46

The Nebulizer:

TimSmith:

We have and E46 M3 with comp package.  17" rims will not fit.  Have you tried a 17 on your car, or do you just assume it will fit?  The comp package on our car has much bigger rotors, but I thought the calipers were the same.  17" rims hit the calipers, a good bit.

The calipers are the same, but they sit out farther on the ZCP due to larger rotors (I have non-ZCP). I have read many reports (m3forum.net - racing section) of people running 17s. I am sure not all 17s fit, several are supposed to - like Kosei, TR motorsports, 330i sport wheels, some BBS, etc. I believe some are supposed to fit on ZCP even. Many people run 17s for winter and some do for track too. Which 17s were you trying? (are they for sale? )

That makes sense.  The rims I was trying were the 330i sports, it was a while ago, I don't have them anymore, as you know, they are heavy and definitely not wide enough.  Good luck in your venture.  I will be keeping an eye out.

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125 STS '89 Civic Si
RPGproduction.com/Toyo Tires/Moton/NABC-Ethanol Racing

The Nebulizer:

Now that 285 will be allowed in STU for RWD/FWD, I did a quick check at TireRack.... not too many options out there.

Any other good options out there?

Yokohama AD07 285/30/18 

Yokohama AD07 265/35/18

Toyo R1R 275/40/17 

Toyo R1R 265/35/18

Kumho XS 285/40/17

Kumho XS 275/40/17 

Kumho XS 275/35/18  

Kumho XS 265/35/18

Bridgestone RE-01R 265/35/18 

Bridgestone RE-11 265/35/18 

Dunlop Z1* 275/35/18

Dunlop Z1* 265/35/18

There are a few more options if you consider 19s and 20s. 

 

The Nebulizer:

I was thinking of going to 17" wheels possibly. Hopefully, there will be more options in 285 by next year.

I thought about 17s, but the wheel sizes are simply not available. The Volk 17x9.5+42 was the largest I found without going custom. D-Force has been the only lightweight 18x10 I have come across so far.

 

The Nebulizer:

For my car I haven't had any trouble with 25.3" diameter 265s (stock being 26"). The only 285s I know of (Yoko) are even shorter at 24.8" - I think I would still be fine (I have never hit the rev limit in 2nd - but 1st a couple times... oops )

The E46 M3 is unique in-so-far as it has a stock 26.0" rolling diameter. The E36 M3 had a 24.7" rolling diameter and always saw a gearing disadvantage when going wider. At 26.0", though, all the weird sizes are no taller and many are quite a bit shorter.

I was going to do my initial development on a set of 255/40/17s I have from my E36. It will be a few months into next season before I have to actually pull the trigger on something.