I just bought new rims and tires and the handling doesn't seem as good as it did before.

Is it because the tires are new? Or, are the 17x8.5 wheels not as good handling as the 17x8?

For what it's worth, I have an E36 325i and I track it on occasion. I went from OZs with Falken rubber, to LTW rims from Turner with Khumo Ecsta rubber. So really, the only changes are the rim width and the tire newness. (is newness a word?)

Anyway - am I just seeing the effects of a new tires and I should shut up and put some miles on them? Or, is the width messing up my cornering ability and I should sell these things and get another set of OZs again?

BryDog

(before & after pic's for fun)

Kumho's aren't as sticky as Falkens, but they are more consistent with temperature. So you are feeling the difference in tires.

New tires are greasy.

what I feel is more like "roll" (I should check my tire pressure .. arrgh)

Question - is it lack of real solid sidewall as a result of the wider 8.5" rim width ?

BryDog

If anything, the wider rim will reduce the effect of a softer sidewall. I wouldn't worry about the rim. The difference is the tire, either because it hasn't scrubbed in, because it isn't as grippy a tire or a combination of the two.

Mike

Thanks Mike S ! I will sleep soundly knowing I can keep my LTWs - love those wheels and at 16 lbs, I want to keep them!

I guess I will have to wear out the Khumos at the next few track events - bummer! LOL

BryDog

Did you change tire size as well?

When I went from 235/40/17 on a 17x7.5 to 255/40/17 on a 17x9 on the same tire the feel was substantially different. Turn in response is a hair slower. There's a little less feedback through the wheel. The extra grip was worth it though :)

no matter what its something with your tires. the 17x8.5 ltw-5 is superior to the superleggra in both weight and tire support.

I have the falkens 615 on the Z coupe and the Kuhmo's MX on the 99M
On the track the Kuhmo's roll over Way more then the falkens, they seem to stick well but roll over too soon for me.
DD with rain I prefer the Kuhmo's for her(wifes drives the 99M most of the time)

So it depends on what you want, I find the falken is the stiffer side wall, less roll, firmer ride, good rain (for me)
For her I don't want to worry so I wanted better rain and she only just started DE's so she doesn't need to worry about the roll yet (soon thought I think)

For what it's worth, I have an E36 325i and I track it on occasion. I went from OZs with Falken rubber, to LTW rims from Turner with Khumo Ecsta rubber.

It wouldn't be the rims. What Falken tires vs. what Khumo Ecsta?

With the OZs, I had Falken FK 451's ZR - 235/40/17's ..

With the LTWs, I now have Khumo Ecsta SPTs ZR - 235/40/17's ..

I think what I'm seeing is the fact that the tires are new and need to break-in a little. The difference in the sidewall shouldn't be as dramatic as it is, so I think they just need some track days and a few ADSS's.

Would anyone recommend overinflating them a few psi to reduce the tread a bit?

- Dog

If anything, the wider rim will reduce the effect of a softer sidewall. I wouldn't worry about the rim. The difference is the tire, either because it hasn't scrubbed in, because it isn't as grippy a tire or a combination of the two.

Mike

+1 to Mike's comments.

Adding wheel width don't hurt handling. The biggest change here was in tires (brands/models), as well as having brand new unscrubbed tires.

Just to follow up ...

I checked my tire pressure and it was only at 30psi ..

I put air in to bring it to 36psi and my handling was noticeably improved.

I also called Tire Rack and their 'experts' said that the first 500 miles in any performance tire is considered a heat cycling break in period. They said that tires needed to be heated up and cooled down to remove the oil/grease mixture that preserves the tire from dry rot during storage. Once that is gone and tire is shaved a bit from driving, it should handle the same if not better than my old worn out tires.

I'm at mile 200 now and it already, combined with the air pressure, has improved a lot. I have had 18 cars and purchased many sets of rims/tires so I know it is not that I'm getting used to them .. it is more the tire is changing for the better - as I break it in.

Any other thoughts here? I'm still satisfied with my LTW rims .. light, strong, and glam looks too ;-)

BryDog

also - reading thru the past posts I realized I made a mistake and the tire size is and has always been the same -

235/40/17, both on the OZ 17x8's and the LTW 17x8.5's ..

- Dog

I am returning my Kumho SPTs (unless someone needs a street set or rain tires) and getting the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1's instead ..

.. I talked to the Kumho rep at Bav Auto and also to the experts at the Tire Rack. What our cars need are extreme summer high performance tires and the ultra and max performance tires are a compromise.

Anyway - if you're tire shopping, don't skimp. Get the best rubber out there - period.

- BryDog

Kumho sidewalls seem very soft. I had to run my cold pressures approaching 40psi because the turn in sucked so bad.

It's a real shame that these spts I bought are such a slow wearing tire, I'm already planning an Azenis purchase with only about 2500 miles on my set of Kumhos.

You get what you pay for....

Well - for those who are still actually following this thread I have great news. Tire Rack has let me return my Kumho tires for a FULL refund. I turned around and bought the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 for a nice discount (due to the pain and suffering that Tire Rack's recommended Kumho SPT tire caused me).

Well let me tell you .. these Dunlop Direzza's are freakin' insane! They are super sticky!

Happy Customer!
Tire Rack for Life !

BryDog

Yah reborn .. the SPTs suck from a performance standpoint. Even the Kumho rep at the BavAuto show said they SPTs are night and day difference from the Kumho MXs.

Now the Dunlop Direzza on the other hand .. totally hot sticky tire. And not too bad in the rain. I could give a crap about wear .. I need some grip - period!

Dog

Thanks for the tire info in this thread, I enjoyed reading your experiences. I must be behind the times Dunlop wise, because any Dunlop's I've run in the past stunk.

Well, new tires with 10/32nds of tread will never handle as well as almost worn out ones. I'm surprised a lot of people are clueless to that fact. There's a comfort zone between new, and completely worn. Some teams shave tires to get to that zone as well.

Kumho sidewalls seem very soft. I had to run my cold pressures approaching 40psi because the turn in sucked so bad.

It's a real shame that these spts I bought are such a slow wearing tire, I'm already planning an Azenis purchase with only about 2500 miles on my set of Kumhos.

You get what you pay for....

Yep. I ran a 42/38 split traditionally on mine. Haven't gotten the E36 out in a while, may autocross it this weekend on the MXs that I can't seem to burn off.

Kumho's aren't as sticky as Falkens, but they are more consistent with temperature. So you are feeling the difference in tires.

Really? So a Kumho Victor Racer isn't as sticky as lets say the All Season fk-912?

That is kind of a blanket statement.

He bought a poor tire and put it on a performance car...

Really? So a Kumho Victor Racer isn't as sticky as lets say the All Season fk-912?

That is kind of a blanket statement.

He bought a poor tire and put it on a performance car...

Its a pretty safe bet when someone says falkens on here they mean the azenis.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Direzzas. I've been considering these as an alternative to the ADVAN Neovas--which are hands down the best summer performance tire on the market--the only catches are their price and low wear. I'm working through a set and a half, and am considering a cheaper alternative without giving up the performance. These Dunlops sound like the ticket--especially if I'm considering new LTW5 wheels (except in 9 x 17 with 245/40-17s)? Please share your experience here on my thread http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=822470&highlight=dunlopWell - for those who are still actually following this thread I have great news. Tire Rack has let me return my Kumho tires for a FULL refund. I turned around and bought the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 for a nice discount (due to the pain and suffering that Tire Rack's recommended Kumho SPT tire caused me).

Well let me tell you .. these Dunlop Direzza's are freakin' insane! They are super sticky!

Happy Customer!
Tire Rack for Life !

BryDog