[DBinOH]

Hi all,

I’m due for new tires this season but I’m looking at options for something a little bigger/wider than the OEM 18s. They are staggered but don’t feel nearly big enough, especially with the BM3 M2 tune. I keep losing the back-end when I push it.

Anyone have any suggestions of what they’ve done without doing a lot of suspension/spacing modifications? It’s a 2016 6MT.

Thanks in advance!

[leftoverture]

First, check your tire pressures. If you're loose it could be a tire pressure issue. Start there.

[DBinOH]

I check pretty frequently. Just don’t feel very planted.

[leftoverture]

How do you have your pressure set? I felt mine was loose and I made an adjustment, putting my fronts at 32 and rears at 36 and it made a nice difference. I've never had a car so sensitive to tire pressure settings.

[DBinOH]

What tires are you using?

[leftoverture]

Originally Posted by DBinOH

What tires are you using?

I run all seasons, Bridgestone Driveguard Plus RFTs. Consequence of living in Minnesota and driving it year round.

[msej449]

Do you have an LSD fitted? Either the BMW M Performance one from Drexler or a third-party unit?

I ask because lots of owners with LSDs would say that as long as you have the right tire on the car, the next thing to do is fit the LSD, rather than go for wider wheels. Because these will just accentuate the issue with an open differential on a 330 BHP, RWD car.

[DBinOH]

Originally Posted by msej449

Do you have an LSD fitted? Either the BMW M Performance one from Drexler or a third-party unit?

I ask because lots of owners with LSDs would say that as long as you have the right tire on the car, the next thing to do is fit the LSD, rather than go for wider wheels. Because these will just accentuate the issue with an open differential on a 330 BHP, RWD car.

Good point. I do not currently have the LSD. I looked at doing it but the quotes I've gotten are around the $4k range.

[msej449]

Yes, it’s a very difficult equation to balance, and very dependent on your local road conditions and how you drive the car. Plus how long you’re going to own the car. Different people go in different directions.

In my case, I have the OE summer wheel setup, a separate set of winter wheels and winter tires, and a retro-fitted M Performance LSD. So my summer tires are warm-biased, the winters are more wet-weather and cool biased, and the LSD is sort of icing on the cake. My LSD was dealer-fitted to keep my extended warranty valid, for about $3K. But mine is a second car and I do relatively low mileage (~6K/year) and I intend to run it to 100K miles. So the cost can be amortised over about 14 years. And in the summer it does a regular touring 3-4 weeks around the Alps, where the LSD shines on mountain roads. But for someone who does higher mileages and/or will change the car in 3-4 years, and/or mainly does an urban commute and so on, they might decide quite differently.

[DBinOH]

Yeah, I’m currently on the OE summer performance tires, Michelin Pilot Super Sports. I only drive it in nicer weather, so it gets maybe 5-6k miles a year. I’m not necessarily opposed to the LSD, but it’s a big nut to swallow. As for how long I’ll keep it, not sure. However, trying to find another car with a 6-speed is not easy these days.

[leftoverture]

Originally Posted by DBinOH

Yeah, I’m currently on the OE summer performance tires, Michelin Pilot Super Sports. I only drive it in nicer weather, so it gets maybe 5-6k miles a year. I’m not necessarily opposed to the LSD, but it’s a big nut to swallow. As for how long I’ll keep it, not sure. However, trying to find another car with a 6-speed is not easy these days.

The longer I own my F23 the more I like it and the more I want to drive it. I started out using it as a fair weather toy but now I daily drive it. I hope you have the same experience! And yes, that 6 speed is priceless.

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by DBinOH

Yeah, I’m currently on the OE summer performance tires, Michelin Pilot Super Sports. I only drive it in nicer weather, so it gets maybe 5-6k miles a year. I’m not necessarily opposed to the LSD, but it’s a big nut to swallow.

Bigger/wider wheels that aren't needed is another big nut to swallow if adjusting your tire pressures or choosing a different tire is a solution. Pilot SS are usually one of the favorites - maybe it's time for the Pilot Sport 4S!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by John in VA

Bigger/wider wheels that aren't needed is another big nut to swallow if adjusting your tire pressures or choosing a different tire is a splution. Pilot SS are usually one of the favorites - maybe it's time for the Pilot Sport 4S!

Note that the PSS rear tires that came with the 6-cylinder cars has a much greater tread width than do the PS4S tires in the same size.

Even the PS4S in 255/35-18 has noticeably less tread width (8.8") than does the Star BMW 245 PSS.