Staggered setup on M42 powered ti

[318ti_Portugal]

Hello...

My ti is running on a set of M Kontours, 7,5X17 in the front and 8,5X17 in the back.
I currently have 235/40/17 tyres on all 4 wheels.
I was considering doing the M3 staggered setup, wich is 225/45/17 on the front and 245/40/17 on the back.
Would this setup improve the handling? Or would the rear tyres have too much grip for the M42 engine?
Wich option would be best, handling wise?

Regards!

[clex2]

Hello...

My ti is running on a set of M Kontours, 7,5X17 in the front and 8,5X17 in the back.
I currently have 235/40/17 tyres on all 4 wheels.
I was considering doing the M3 staggered setup, wich is 225/45/17 on the front and 245/40/17 on the back.
Would this setup improve the handling? Or would the rear tyres have too much grip for the M42 engine?
Wich option would be best, handling wise?

Regards!

Portugal,

The stock M42/M44 is, in my opinion, not powerful enough for a staggered set up. I would stay with the same size all around from a purely handling perspective. In reality, unless you track the car or really drive hard on the street, you may never notice. Some people just like the staggered look, and that's fine, too. Nice color ti, but based on those pictures, your next mod is your suspension to get rid of the fender gap.

[AlaskaBlue]

Wider tires on the rear will cause more understeer, but like clex said on the street I doubt you will ever notice.

[318ti_Portugal]

Yes...
My next mod is the suspension... H&R cupkit on the way... :)
I like to drive my car hard, and as much as I would like the staggered look, the handling is my main concern... :)

[Variance]

You should talk to Viper3812. He's running a staggered setup with a drop, so he may give you some insight into how it handles. IIRC, he loves the way it handles.

[96 3 1 8 ti]

Variance, are your wheels the same as the e36 m3 csl? I saw a set on ebay a while back. Are they forged? Thanks

[Variance]

Yes, but they're replicas. The real ones are forged, but the ones you saw on ebay were most likely cast, like mine. Oh, and in case you're wondering, it's the M3 LTW (lightweight), not CSL.

[J!m]

Yes, but they're replicas. The real ones are forged, but the ones you saw on ebay were most likely cast, like mine. Oh, and in case you're wondering, it's the M3 LTW (lightweight), not CSL.

LTW and CSL are for all intents and purposes, interchangeable. CSL (Coupe Sport Leight) is the internal designation that has (on the E46) become accepted on the street (and was also used back on the 'batmobile' coupes). If you look at the factory tags on the '95 M3 Lightweight, you see it is designated as the CSL.

As far as the wheels go, there are two versions (both forged) from the factory. The ones used on the LTW are un-polished, and have BMW MOTORSPORT deeply cast into the inner ring, just outside the lug holes. The later version does not have the writing cast in, but adds the small "M" sticker added, and after paint, they are machined in the center (like yours, and mine). Both versions of these wheels are difficult to find used, as they are extremely expensive new and most people don't spend the extra money.

[Variance]

Ah, I stand corrected on the terminology.