Many threads have discussed the handling advantages of putting the rear tires and wheels up front. BUT, no one has discussed the disadvantages. WHY NOT DO IT??
more weight, more tramlining (not sure if that is spelled correctly), more expensive tires, probably worse aerodynamics, fuel economy and top speed.
oh, the obvious, less understeer, so if you're a bozo in the corners you have more opportunity of exiting backwards.
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Mike
91 M5 Alpine White II, Silver Gray 3/90 production
17x8/17x9 M system with PS2, 20mm touring roll bar; Ground Control Coilovers; EAT Chip, CD43; bmw/nardi blackline steering wheel, 3.8 Cam Gears
08 535i / 6 speed
Space Gray; Gray; Sport/Premium/Nav
00 M5 Ti Silver; Imola/black sportiv --Sold
Engine:
Supersprint Headers, Dinan CAI kit and MAFS, Throttle Bodies, Cams, Ported heads, Exhaust, Custom dinan software, Evosport Pullies, Dinan clutch and lightened flywheel; Ignition solutions plasma coils
Suspension:
Dinan Stage 3 with front and rear Strut Tower Braces, Beastpower Sway bar brackets, Dinan Wheels with 275/285 PilotSport, X5 Thrust arm bushings, Stoptech 355mm 4 piston front, 355mm 2 piston rear brake kit, Dinan 3.45 diff
Interior/Misc:
Eurodash, updated steering wheel, Bluetooth retrofit, Sirius Retrofit, hardwired V1, Widescreen Mk4 nav, M audio retrofit, Ice Link, BSW Stage 1 speaker upgrade, bmw towbar
Understeering cars are safer for poor drivers. They serve as an effective speed governor/limiter in corners. A teen kid who's used to driving mom's minivan or some other plowing machine will wrap a neutral-handling car around a tree before they realize they aren't gonna hear tires howling, squealing and scrubbing.
Another issue that hasn't been mentioned is road feel and steering sensitivity. Both are compromised a bit with brute sizes.
If you are looking for better max performance on M5, the wider wheel & tire combo always is the best choice. The modest 8" front wheels are grossly overworked for the 2 ton V8 application.
In my defense( I am an attorney) I just re researched the subject. The only post on the subject I can find is this one.
Try different search terms!
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Need4Spd
'01 M5/UUC SSK + Rogue WSR/RE Tranny Mounts+Royal Purple Synchromax/Axxis ULT Pads/StopTech SS Lines/TC Design from BeastPower Anti-roll Bar Brackets/Dinan LtWtFlywheel and Stage 3 suspension/Goodyear F1 Asymmetrics/Vines thrust arms/IATS relocation/10w-60 oil/hardwired Escort 9500i/Euro Armrest/TEC Cupholder/IceLink/PowerChip 91 Gold/TUBIs!/Strong Strut/BSW Stage 1/BT/Angel iBrights 3.0
'05 M3 Imola Cabrio 6MT, Nav, HK
"Is it the sounds that make a BMW a BMW? A BMW is designed to be heard, felt, experienced. So our engines sing. Our steering talks back. And we insist on offering manual transmissions in nearly all our models for drivers who crave them. The result is an almost telepathic oneness with the car. Just as surely as you can hear a BMW, a BMW hears you."
I would add extra strain on the front wheel bearings also. All relatively minor trade offs IMHO.
Regards,
Jerry
good point, also on the various bushings etc. You'll go thru thrust arm bushings faster.
__________________
Mike
91 M5 Alpine White II, Silver Gray 3/90 production
17x8/17x9 M system with PS2, 20mm touring roll bar; Ground Control Coilovers; EAT Chip, CD43; bmw/nardi blackline steering wheel, 3.8 Cam Gears
08 535i / 6 speed
Space Gray; Gray; Sport/Premium/Nav
00 M5 Ti Silver; Imola/black sportiv --Sold
Engine:
Supersprint Headers, Dinan CAI kit and MAFS, Throttle Bodies, Cams, Ported heads, Exhaust, Custom dinan software, Evosport Pullies, Dinan clutch and lightened flywheel; Ignition solutions plasma coils
Suspension:
Dinan Stage 3 with front and rear Strut Tower Braces, Beastpower Sway bar brackets, Dinan Wheels with 275/285 PilotSport, X5 Thrust arm bushings, Stoptech 355mm 4 piston front, 355mm 2 piston rear brake kit, Dinan 3.45 diff
Interior/Misc:
Eurodash, updated steering wheel, Bluetooth retrofit, Sirius Retrofit, hardwired V1, Widescreen Mk4 nav, M audio retrofit, Ice Link, BSW Stage 1 speaker upgrade, bmw towbar
THANKS to all with a positive answer. Since I do not plan to track the beast, it seems the stock wheel and tire size and configuration are the best.
Forget track. Handling has everything to do with street performance use. Switching from stagger to non-stagger setup is one of the best street modifications you can make to the M5. The increase in cornering capability is substantial and the front tires will last longer.
For street only, the performance advantages offered by the 9.5" front wheel setup far outweigh the disadvantages.
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