M3hunter

Hi Guys,
To fit to 18x10 wheels for a squared setup for best handling with good looks and not rub issues, what do you think it will be a better fit: 285/35R18 or 285/35R18 square set ups? Why?

darksky1984

The 35's will lower your car some which can only help with the handling. Also, it will help prevent them from any possible rubbing on your fenders. The wheel offset helps with that but having a shorter tire is just extra protection.

tigercrazy718

Also, IIRC, having the shorter tire gives you the same effect as having shorter gearing, so that could be a good or a bad thing depending on what you want to do with the car.

jackal119

You really should try both out and get a feel for how the car will handle with any tire. The key to all this kind of tire you want to run and how deep your pockets go. 18X10 may not clear without some spacers depending on rim design. By using a smaller diameter you can fit a wider tire up front. I seen a few Mustangs with bfgoodrich rivals (285/35-18,I think) now that's a very small looking tire/wheel on the car with stock ride height. Looking good does not happen often with track tires unless you got the BBS wheels that the Boss 302R have. I met a few American iron racers at a few local tracks and they all run 18X9.5 with a 275/35-18 tire. Seems to be the happy spot of affordability for most. But I would never run that set on the street ever.

UrS4

I run a square 18x10 et 43 mm, 285/40/18 tire set up, no rubbing, 1.25 inch drop in front.

I don't like a fender gap so i would stay away from the 35 ratio tire.

CMcNam

Just out of curiosity, have you found yourself to driving at the limits of your current setup? Are you having trouble with traction and that's why you're asking? Not that there's anything wrong with that, just wondering.

I've found my setup to be a nice combo (275/40R18) but it has more to do with the tire compound than the width of the tires I'm running. I'm only running Nitto 555s but haven't found a need to get a more aggressive compound yet, I'm not experienced enough. If you're worried about rubbing issues why not just got with a 9.5" wheel running 275s with a more aggressive tire compound?

Edit: I'm lowered 1.5".

M3hunter

My present setup is OK, 275/40R19 on stock 19x9 wheels & they look great, no fender gaps. But I want a second wider and cheaper squared option set, just for the track.

tigercrazy718

Like URS4, I am running a 18x10 with 285 tires for my track set up. I bought the Vorshlag wheels, which are really light and very nicely made. They have the +43mm offset as well. If you want to run an 18x10 I believe you will need that offset or close to it to keep it square all the way around. I know the SVE Drifts are in that offset as well, and are cheaper than my Vorshlag wheels.

JThor

If you are using them for track/autocross, make sure they meet the rules of the class you are in. The wider rim might bump you to the next class.

Norm Peterson

This ↑↑↑ .

Appearance for a dedicated track or autocross setup is a bit different from appearance in a street setting. At the track or autocross, the people whose opinion matters are the people who would look at a shorter tire with a little extra tire to fender opening gap and see that you made a step in the right direction. If you're way out at the performance end of a performance vs appearance spectrum, you can even live with this on the street (because you know why it looks that way and screw the opinions of people who don't).

FWIW, a 285/35-18 with a 3.55 axle is about the same as having 3.73's with any of the 27" tall OE tire sizes.


Norm