Please Help. Can't decide between 265/285/35 and 265/295/35

[///M///]

I have read numerous threads and the large consensus seems to lean towards the 275/295/35 setup on the stock wheels. Personally I am not a fan of 275's I the front. There are some that prefer the 265/295/35 and finally the safest bet which is the 265/285/35.

Am planning on getting the Michelin 4S and honestly can't make up my mind between the 285 vs 295 in the rear. Definitely don't want to go over 265 in the front and I don't like tramlining and I think the 265 is more than sufficient for the front. Looking for feedback on the 295 in the back.

Just to be clear My main goal here is increased traction without sacrificing any handling. Also don't want increased DSC intervention. I will keep the car at stock height and I could care less about the stance and how flush or not it looks. That is my last priority.

Thanks for your support.

Cheers.

[TTR]

4S is crap compare to CUP2 or Trofeo R

with the stock rim, i would go to 285

If you need a good traction - you should go to R-compound tires, 4s it the same like PSS, the width of the rear wheel make more sense than wheel width

[Jaymax85]

Originally Posted by TTR

4S is crap compare to CUP2 or Trofeo R

with the stock rim, i would go to 285

If you need a good traction - you should go to R-compound tires, 4s it the same like PSS, the width of the rear wheel make more sense than wheel width

I'm not sure that's totally accurate, people are saying that 4s is much more grippy than the pss.. for street driving a 295 is fine... I did a 265/295 setup on my old m4 and it was great

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by TTR

4S is crap compare to CUP2 or Trofeo R

with the stock rim, i would go to 285

If you need a good traction - you should go to R-compound tires, 4s it the same like PSS, the width of the rear wheel make more sense than wheel width

For street driving? No, he shouldn't go to an R compound.

OP, 4S is an improvement over the PSS and since your keeping it stock, 265/295 would be really nice for street driving.

[TheLegend]

I ended up going with 265/35r19 285/35r19 pilot 4s, apparently the 295/35R19 has less contact than the 285 widths

[///M///]

Originally Posted by TheLegend

I ended up going with 265/35r19 285/35r19 pilot 4s, apparently the 295/35R19 has less contact than the 285 widths

What are your thoughts on the 285? Much improved traction over stock or would you have preferred the 295? And how does the 285 have more contact than the 295? Can you be more specific. Post the tires you are comparing. Thanks.

[Lexor1704]

I just had the 265/285 set installed and the traction is dramatically better. However I had the contis from the factory so not a valid comparison. The 295 tire appears to be a Mercedes spec tire and is narrower than the 285 according to tire rack. That is why i went with the 285.

[pdt84]

Following as I am have pondering what to do with my Conti's. Not impressed with them and hear good things about the PS4.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by Lexor1704

I just had the 265/285 set installed and the traction is dramatically better. However I had the contis from the factory so not a valid comparison. The 295 tire appears to be a Mercedes spec tire and is narrower than the 285 according to tire rack. That is why i went with the 285.

It is not narrower per say. a tire measured at 295 cannot be narrower than a tire measured at 285. I think you mean "Tread Width" which equates to "Contact Patch"? The way Tirerack measures "Tread Width" it basically indicates which tire has a more rounded shoulder. In this case the 295 seems to have a more rounder shoulder and therefore the contact patch ends up being 0.2 inches less than the 285 which has a more square shoulder.

That said, the 295 measured from side to side would is still wider than the 285 for obvious reasons - Section Width - Measurement of the tire's width from its inner sidewall to its outer sidewall at the widest point.

Hope that made sense. The picture below from tirerack shows a square vs a rounded shoulder.

Edit: I'd alsolike to add that the "tread Width" varies greatly depending on the type of tire you select (even within the same brand). For example, the PILOT SUPER SPORT ZP - SIZE: P285/35ZR19 has a "Tread Width" of 11.1 inches which is far greater than both, the 285 and 295 on the Pilot Sport 4S.

[Lexor1704]

Originally Posted by ///M///

It is not narrower per say. a tire measured at 295 cannot be narrower than a tire measured at 285. I think you mean "Tread Width" which equates to "Contact Patch"? The way Tirerack measures "Tread Width" it basically indicates which tire has a more rounded shoulder. In this case the 295 seems to have a more rounder shoulder and therefore the contact patch ends up being 0.2 inches less than the 285 which has a more square shoulder.

That said, the 295 measured from side to side would is still wider than the 285 for obvious reasons - Section Width - Measurement of the tire's width from its inner sidewall to its outer sidewall at the widest point.

Hope that made sense. The picture below from tirerack shows a square vs a rounded shoulder.

Edit: I'd alsolike to add that the "tread Width" varies greatly depending on the type of tire you select (even within the same brand). For example, the PILOT SUPER SPORT ZP - SIZE: P285/35ZR19 has a "Tread Width" of 11.1 inches which is far greater than both, the 285 and 295 on the Pilot Sport 4S.

You are correct and I was posting from my phone so did not want to go into a long post, thanks for doing that for me and with such great detail! My hesitation with the 295/35 stemmed from the rounded shoulder which I took it to mean it was specifically designed for some charateristic of the Merc it was on and may not work the best on my M3 whereas a generic 285/35 would be fine.

I continue to be impressed with the ability of this set to use the power of the car, let me be clear you can still break the rear lose but it is much easier to control than the previous set which seemed to turn into ball bearings under similar load.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by Lexor1704

You are correct and I was posting from my phone so did not want to go into a long post, thanks for doing that for me and with such great detail! My hesitation with the 295/35 stemmed from the rounded shoulder which I took it to mean it was specifically designed for some charateristic of the Merc it was on and may not work the best on my M3 whereas a generic 285/35 would be fine.

I continue to be impressed with the ability of this set to use the power of the car, let me be clear you can still break the rear lose but it is much easier to control than the previous set which seemed to turn into ball bearings under similar load.

Thanks. I have finalized on the 285 as well.

[Sales@wheelsdc.com]

Originally Posted by ///M///

Thanks. I have finalized on the 285 as well.

Good luck

[ZoneLaps]

Originally Posted by ///M///

Thanks. I have finalized on the 285 as well.

How are you liking the traction as compared to stock? I had the exact same question as your OP.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by isaywhateveryo

How are you liking the traction as compared to stock? I had the exact same question as your OP.

Haven't put the tires on yet.