running slicks with 18's ????

[_Nathan_]

Aps fit under 18s fine, assume you have am suspension already?

[alexk]

I am running M3 E46 18" with Dunlop slicks.
All rims are 9J and I have wider rear slicks (rears are 240 and fronts 210).
They can fit in the AP brakes (and I have the CP5555 calipers with 18mm thick pads // my front rims are 9J).

I run them with OEM suspension.
I am VERY HAPPY with them. The grip is phenomenal.
I don't see any problem in the car.

[shimmy]

Why are you running slicks

Speed

Cost

???

[alexk]

Originally Posted by shimmy

Why are you running slicks

Speed

Cost

???

In the bike I used to run slicks all the time (road use too).
As you know shimmy (you helped with the transfer ) I got the slicks for the car in a good deal.
The traction is so much better compared with the cups so why not to use them ?

[daniel]

Or you can buy 4 x rear 18" bmw wheels, as per AlexK, for around 200. There are other sticky options to consider that are a lot cheaper than cups and maybe safer than slicks.

Originally Posted by shepp80

Thanks for the reply! definitely answered my question

The grip is really good, but the issue is the cost of cups all the time.

I know someone who bought ten sets of slicks, used, with loads of grip for £300 off ebay. they were 18's, and i think were also Dunlop

£1200 for one set of cups seems a little excessive to me. ive just worn mine, i think a change to slicks would be a good idea.

You can buy a brand new set of 18'' super lightweight rota wheels for £800

[alexk]

Originally Posted by daniel

Or you can buy 4 x rear 18" bmw wheels, as per AlexK, for around 200. There are other sticky options to consider that are a lot cheaper than cups and maybe safer than slicks.

Yeap you can get good deals for 18" bmw wheels.
I am not sure why you say that slicks are unsafe ?
Have you tried slicks ?

[shimmy]

Originally Posted by shepp80

Hi,

Im looking at dropping down a rim size so i can run slicks on my CSL.

Been looking into it and im worried that my AP brakes fitted on the front will hit the inner rim.

Does anyone know whether they will? as i don't want to buy find out the hard way!

Also has anyone run any slicks, what are they like etc...any recommendations

Thanks

back to your question!

most 18 inch rims should be fine with APs, just check you have Cp5575 front kit and not CP5555 which are slightly bigger callipers, CP5575 was specialy modified to fit under OEM 18 M3 inch rims.

[DuncanR]

Originally Posted by shimmy

back to your question!

most 18 inch rims should be fine with APs, just check you have Cp5575 front kit and not CP5555 which are slightly bigger callipers,

Alexk is using CP5555

[Thorney]

I didn't think I was having a go at anyone? However I wasn't really referring to pick up, I was thinking more of the tyre wear around that, I wasn't referring to your car as anything other than an example, sorry if you took that as negative, it was not intended that way. My point was that running slicks works up to a point and that it was not completely without some risk (which is negated by checking the car) that's all but it was an option when wanting to have more fun on track.

As for laptimes and comparing to other cars on track, well that's not something I do, for a start 90% of a lap time is the driver, always has, always will so I never compare car to car on track as its moot. Unless of course it's racing and that is more than times, its who finishes ahead, not an attitude I think would go down well on a track day!

Running slicks does add fun, but if the desire is to be faster then there are other ways of doing it, thats not to say running slicks is wrong, far from it, just one option when looking for faster times. Thats all I was trying to get across.

[titan]

As some of you know, I've a mentalist race-prepped evo. That runs 285 profile DZ03 rubber at each corner.

I don't run slicks. And I'll tell you why by way of an example.

When I was at snetterton last in the evo a fellow northlooper was out in a GT3 on cups. He was going round Corham as fast as his level of grip would allow. He came and saw me later to tell me that I went around the outside of him like he wasn't trying.

Stick slicks on and you'll go faster still.

And therein lies the issue. When you do come off you'll be doing god-only-knows how much extra speed than you were before. Fine if its a track with a load of run off (but I still reckon you'll end up in the tyres) but I enjoy trackdays at the ring. Not quite the run-off area you need ;-)

The other issue is that these cars weren't designed to run with that level of grip. Wheel bearings, strut towers, suspension, even the chassis will be asked to do stuff it wasn't designed for. I haven't had the experience of a wheel bearing breaking mid-corner but I can't see it being a cheap one.

My last trackday was the first trackday I've done in the CSL, sitting on smaller-profile-than-specified contis. UB was there with his R888. And he was tramping round far faster than I with barely a glimmer from his DSC light. Me? I had the DSC off and was having the time of my life. Yes I spun on one attempt to set a new drift record ;-) , but at the speeds I was doing, it was a non-issue.

I want to learn how to drive and control a RWD car properly and I don't see that happening with slicks. I'd be back where I was with the evo, tramping around but ultimately not learning much.

Ultimately we all have different reasons for trackdays so I'm not judging. If you want to blast around (and timing suggests you do!) then go for it.

I did just buy a set of cups for the CSL 19" so it sounds a bit hypocritcal, but I'm waiting on some TD 18" where I'll run Federals or something. The cups were just to have a set of CSL wheels with the specified tyres on them :-)