Wow...Do yourself a favor

[Rez]

and replace the stock run flat tires. I just had mine switched to Continental DWS 295/40/20 on all corners. My god, car feels so much smoother, NO tire noise at all(you can actually hear the engine at work) and so much better handling I am stunned. I feel the square set up is the way to go, the understeer is no where to be found anymore. I am in love again. Anybody wants the stock Bridgestones with 12k on it?

[donho]

You have a squared setup???
How does it look on the staggered wheels? Can you post some pics?
and with the slightly narrower rear tires, maybe the sandblasting on the wheelwell trim will be reduced???

[Rez]

Yup square set up and I could not be happier. I posted a thread asking about going this route but did not get any feedback so I took the chance since the 275's were and are back ordered with no end in sight. The look of the whole set up is not much different than stock honestly. The wider rear wheel accepts the tires a little better IMO, the front does look a little wider than stock but really we are talking about 2cm on a 30cm tire. I would have to take pics later, just had them installed last night and it has been raining nonstop. I think BMW wants to give the car a bit of understeer for safety hence the stagger set up. I am loving the extra grip up front and a little less push from the rear, car turns beautifully and god it rides better. I can actually feel the dampers for the first time. BTW Cayenne and all other SAV's of significance use square set up, so does BMW for their non M version. Free yourself from Run flat and square set up!!!!!

[stlcity]

U dint have to change rims Rez specially the rear ones?

[Rez]

No, wheels are stock. I could have gone with 315 in the rear but decided to keep the same overall diameter. Plus I was never a fan of the artificially forced understeer of the stagger setup. 295 is plenty of tire for AWD car with no traction issues.

[TahoeM3]

Yep. Run flats suck...ditching them was my first order of business, and I've been very happy with the change. Good move going to 295s in front...extra front-end grip would be nice, but you might lose some traction off the line with the narrower rears.

[Rez]

Originally Posted by TahoeM3

Yep. Run flats suck...ditching them was my first order of business, and I've been very happy with the change. Good move going to 295s in front...extra front-end grip would be nice, but you might lose some traction off the line with the narrower rears.

A theoretical concern really...since overall I have the same contact patch with wider fronts, AWD. In reality there is so much grip that I doubt even going down to 275's all around would result in any real loss of traction.

[stlcity]

Rez, not to hijack your thread. Have a question: tried google, could not get answer. Could you or someone else go over the adv/disadv with square vs staggered set up? Thanks.

[TahoeM3]

Originally Posted by Rez

A theoretical concern really...since overall I have the same contact patch with wider fronts, AWD. In reality there is so much grip that I doubt even going down to 275's all around would result in any real loss of traction.

The only way to know for sure would be to do back to back performance runs and see if there's a difference. Biggest chance of a difference would be in off-the-line traction. AWD will help, but only if it's able to fully compensate by shifting enough torque up to the front wheels. Since you kept stock wheels, the contact patches may not have changed in size much.

[donho]

Does using the 295 all around, have the same diameter as the 315?
if diameter is changed, wont that mess up speedo settings and possiblly other things?

I am not that concerned with improved handling in the turns. I just want a tire i can use when it snows, get rid of the heavy runflats and make sure it still hooks off the line with the LC. and your setup is sounding great to me. i almost ordered a set of 298m from the dealer because of the forever B/O of the DWS. But this is sounding good!