Time (almost) for new tires. What to get for street/track dual purpose?

[LAP1DOUG]

Originally Posted by steved0x

Should I consider a track alignment, or maybe some type of compromise? Or does that just move the wear to a new place when I am street driving? Does the stock m030 suspension have enough range to allow this?

Yes, you should get the best track alignment possible, but it still will not be enough front negative camber, unless you install GT-3 lower control arms with plenty of shims, or camber plates. With the stock components, you cannot get more than about -1 degree negative, which is not enough to effectively use all of the tire width at high cornering loads. You need more like -2.5 to -3.5 degrees depending on how stiff the rest of your suspension is. The m030 is little or no help in this regard.

The basic problem is that these cars are McPherson Strut suspension designs, and for any McStrut design whether it is on a BMW or Porsche or a Kia, the amount of camber change is about the same as the roll angle in a turn. So, in a high G load turn, if your car rolls 4 degrees, your wheel/tire is going to roll over 4 degrees. In this case your paltry -1 degree front camber becomes + 3 degrees in the turn. Not good.

The only other thing you can do about it is put on a stiffer front sway bar to reduce the amount of roll, but if you go too stiff, the bad effects of weight transfer will override the good effect of less body roll, and cause more understeer.