I've done a good bit of reading up on the understeer-inducing tendency of my stock ZHP's staggered wheels. With my car needing four new summer tires, now seems to be the perfect opportunity to try out something other than the OEM staggered Pilot Sport setup!
Now, while I haven't taken my ZHP to the autoX track – YET – I do enjoy navigating on/off ramps, roundabouts, & general corners in a spirited (not reckless!) manner & would like to emphasize the E46's inherent 50/50 handling characteristics as best I can. That said, the general consensus seems to be that if you want your ZHP to be more neutral in corners, go square. With an additional interest in being frugal with my ZHP's tires, going with a square setup also seems to be beneficial by allowing four-corner rotation & less-expensive tire options (assuming I don't buy four 255s!).
That advice seems to leave me with three options:
- 1. Buy a square set of tires for my stock (staggered) wheels.
- 2. Get a pair of 8.5" 135Ms to replace the 8" fronts.
- 3. Get a pair of 8" 135Ms to replace the 8.5" rears.
I have corresponding concerns for each of the above options:
- 1. What single size of tire will not look goofy/weird/wrong/stretched on both an 8" & 8.5" wheel? The stock 255 looks perfect (IMHO) on the 8.5" & the 225 looks a little small for the 8". (Is there a consensus on what size looks best on an 8" 135M?) Will a 255 be too big for the 8"?
- 2. I've seen a couple pictures of this setup & it seems like a 255-wrapped 8.5" is a bit too big, if at least visually; what about rubbing on the wheel well at full turn? (I have a fully stock suspension.) Anyone have clear pictures of a stock ZHP 8.5" on the front?
- 3. The option I'm most leaning to, with one major concern: does an 8" wheel/tire look too thin at the tail of a ZHP? Is the offset such that it looks noticeably "tucked in"? Anyone have clear pictures of this setup?
In general, I'd like the community's opinion on which of these three options is "The Best"(TM). And if anyone is also in my situation & would want to swap an 8" pair for an 8.5" pair or vice versa, let me know!
Now, while I haven't taken my ZHP to the autoX track – YET – I do enjoy navigating on/off ramps, roundabouts, & general corners in a spirited (not reckless!) manner & would like to emphasize the E46's inherent 50/50 handling characteristics as best I can. That said, the general consensus seems to be that if you want your ZHP to be more neutral in corners, go square. With an additional interest in being frugal with my ZHP's tires, going with a square setup also seems to be beneficial by allowing four-corner rotation & less-expensive tire options (assuming I don't buy four 255s!).
That advice seems to leave me with three options:
- 1. Buy a square set of tires for my stock (staggered) wheels.
- 2. Get a pair of 8.5" 135Ms to replace the 8" fronts.
- 3. Get a pair of 8" 135Ms to replace the 8.5" rears.
I have corresponding concerns for each of the above options:
- 1. What single size of tire will not look goofy/weird/wrong/stretched on both an 8" & 8.5" wheel? The stock 255 looks perfect (IMHO) on the 8.5" & the 225 looks a little small for the 8". (Is there a consensus on what size looks best on an 8" 135M?) Will a 255 be too big for the 8"?
- 2. I've seen a couple pictures of this setup & it seems like a 255-wrapped 8.5" is a bit too big, if at least visually; what about rubbing on the wheel well at full turn? (I have a fully stock suspension.) Anyone have clear pictures of a stock ZHP 8.5" on the front?
- 3. The option I'm most leaning to, with one major concern: does an 8" wheel/tire look too thin at the tail of a ZHP? Is the offset such that it looks noticeably "tucked in"? Anyone have clear pictures of this setup?
In general, I'd like the community's opinion on which of these three options is "The Best"(TM). And if anyone is also in my situation & would want to swap an 8" pair for an 8.5" pair or vice versa, let me know!