R compound for M5 - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

M5ROKIT · 3rd February 2005, 00:07

Seriously considering going to track only R compound tires for my M5. Anybody out there done it? What brand and sizes all around? I have 18" rims with Michelin PS2 all around now.

CSBM5 · 7th February 2005, 17:39

Suggest you post over in the E39 section as this section rarely ever gets much action. There are many R-compound users on the board.

Nick Guise · 2nd June 2005, 02:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5ROKIT

Seriously considering going to track only R compound tires for my M5. Anybody out there done it? What brand and sizes all around? I have 18" rims with Michelin PS2 all around now.

No, but it looks like you could give me some advice on what tyre pressures to run on standard E39 M5 in the dry. I'm going to driving school at NHIS. Done it 15+ times in M3, but this will be a 1st in the M5.
Thanks,
Nick.

SCORPIO · 2nd June 2005, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Guise

No, but it looks like you could give me some advice on what tyre pressures to run on standard E39 M5 in the dry. I'm going to driving school at NHIS. Done it 15+ times in M3, but this will be a 1st in the M5.
Thanks,
Nick.

I run 40 in the rears and 38 in the fronts on a dry track day. Using PS2s.

Nick Guise · 3rd June 2005, 01:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCORPIO

I run 40 in the rears and 38 in the fronts on a dry track day. Using PS2s.

Thanks Scorpio. I'll start with that and see where it takes me!
Cheers,
Nick

M5ROKIT · 3rd June 2005, 01:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Guise

No, but it looks like you could give me some advice on what tyre pressures to run on standard E39 M5 in the dry. I'm going to driving school at NHIS. Done it 15+ times in M3, but this will be a 1st in the M5.
Thanks,
Nick.

Usually run 40 all around and have found that to be good. An instructor with BMW GVC at Watkins Glen discussed this topic. He stated that higher pressures were mainly pre-low profile tire era adjustments to minimize roll over. He suggested staying with the recommended pressures as higher pressure reduces contact patch. I then tried 36 front and 38 rear and did not like the feel. Too mushy even when tires heated and increased in pressure.
I'll keep them lower in the wet though.

Nick Guise · 8th June 2005, 00:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5ROKIT

Usually run 40 all around and have found that to be good. An instructor with BMW GVC at Watkins Glen discussed this topic. He stated that higher pressures were mainly pre-low profile tire era adjustments to minimize roll over. He suggested staying with the recommended pressures as higher pressure reduces contact patch. I then tried 36 front and 38 rear and did not like the feel. Too mushy even when tires heated and increased in pressure.
I'll keep them lower in the wet though.

Thanks for feedback. I just returned from NHIS. In asking around various instructors about cold tire settings, I got "add 5 psi to BMW's recomendation", to 40F 42 R. I started at 38F and 40R with air temp at about 60+. Tire temps went up to 45F 48R after 20mins on the track, and I felt thr car understeer in slow corners but more neutral on fast corners. Good overall. It's a topic of great discussion and at the end of the day it's how you feel the car handling. Nick

Enigma · 18th June 2005, 01:32

For a heavy car like the M5 I would look at the Pilot Sport Cup. They are a great tire and last a while. They take a lap or two to warm up but then stick really well. I used them on my M3 with a lot of success. I would avoid the Hoosiers or Kuhmos because they will probably overheat and/or wear fast on a heavy car. The PSCs outlasted both the Kuhmo and Hoosiers by greater than 2x on my car.

If they make the Toyo's in your size thats also a good choice.