[M Performance]

I need this in my garage immediately!

 

[Willy5]

Re tires: not just sizes - make sure they have XL weight rating - batteries are heavy.

 

[Willy5]

Re tires: not just sizes - make sure they have XL weight rating - batteries are heavy.

Yes, tires must be XL rated due to weight. Any possibility of downsizing to 18" wheels (better wet/snow traction)?

 

[Buford T. Justice]

Yes, tires must be XL rated due to weight. Any possibility of downsizing to 18" wheels (better wet/snow traction)?

Are there any sources which investigate how tire size affects handling / performance? I mean with actual measurements. I was curious about that, but besides one article that stated (slightly) better deceleration with broader tires I did not find anything substantiated.

 

[Inception]

It depends on how the suspension is set up on the car - the most important thing is to use the same as the engineers did when designing it.

I've seen people taking two identical cars but then replacing the suspension of one of them with a stiffer sports-suspension. The ride was firmer and had less perceivable body-roll, but lap times did not (!) improve. Since tires are essentially a suspension component, I would assume the same to be true for them. Most people agree big wheels are a negative trend for performance, and that there's at least no benefit in increasing size. It also increases tire cost dramatically.
For Nordic, there is an option of a 18" wheel (you have to pay extra for 19") but it's not very cool-looking. Winter wheels are 18". 40 in profile is acceptable, 30, like the true M cars, seems very little.

 

[Willy5]

It depends on how the suspension is set up on the car - the most important thing is to use the same as the engineers did when designing it.

I've seen people taking two identical cars but then replacing the suspension of one of them with a stiffer sports-suspension. The ride was firmer and had less perceivable body-roll, but lap times did not (!) improve. Since tires are essentially a suspension component, I would assume the same to be true for them. Most people agree big wheels are a negative trend for performance, and that there's at least no benefit in increasing size. It also increases tire cost dramatically.
For Nordic, there is an option of a 18" wheel (you have to pay extra for 19") but it's not very cool-looking. Winter wheels are 18". 40 in profile is acceptable, 30, like the true M cars, seems very little.

Lap times are not the way to evaluate handling. Big wheels improve drive performance in dry weather - detract in wet. Low profile tires are more subject to damage. Even more for run flats.