Square Setup???
 

I would have put this in the wheels/suspension thread but, I think I have seen more chatter here.

Square setup to me would mean 4 same size rims and tires. I think it was ChrisSlicks that answered a question saying to go ahead and put 275/35/19's all the way around. That setup tire size wise fits the Nismo stock rims according to a few different tire manufactures.

So is this considered a square setup? or kinda a hybrid? and do you lose any tire performance with the fronts being on the smaller rim? Seems like with the fronts, the tire would want to crown more through the center when filled to spec pressures.

Thanks:tiphat:

For street use I can not see the point in running square setup unless there is something purely aesthetic you want to do.

And yes when you run 275 on all 4 or any other width on all 4 it is a square setup.

Tires of the same make and size will not crown anymore or less with same PSI unless there is a defect in one of them.

Performance wise, it will increase steering capacity and lateral load capabilities, but depending on a lot of things it can cause aero drag and is not ideal for drag racing either because it increases weight.

What are you trying to do w a square setup? Drag, road racing, just looks/street setup?

Drag, don't do it.
Road racing, ideal to some, but you sacrifice some things for the extra grip.
Street/looks. Nope waste of money unless there is something you find personally appealing about it.

I'm new to a square setup. But I'm on what you calked a hybrid setup. I have 18x9.5 and 18x10.5 with 285 all around. Haven't tested it yet. But most track guys say its ideal so why not. Wider up front will help a lot with our cars and been told wider I'd not always better for the rear. So gone are the 305's I had. Camber adjustment plays a good roll in square setup also.

Technically if the wheels are not square it's not a true square setup but it is better than nothing and huge improvement over any other setup. For example I ran a 9.5" front last year with up to 285's, I would wear the outer edge of the tire more since the tire has more flex and less of a stretch. I noticed Rs3 will run faster with a light stretch, so maybe next year I will look for 18x11 square to run 285's rs3 and MAYBE 305 square with the SC kit.

I'm running Enkei PF01 18x10.5 square with Toyo R888 275/40r18. I have nothing to really compare it to since all I've done previously was two autox events on the stock RE050's and sport rims but I loved the square setup on the road course. Autox I feel like I had struggled with turn-in using the 245 front tires (this also may be the nature of the quicker course with sharp turns). I had no issues with turn-in with the 275's up front and stickier compound. Absolutely RIPPED the hell out of the front R888's. hah but it worked very well!

that's what the square tires up front fix, gets rid of majority of understeer!

I was looking into enkei 18x9.5 +15 with 275/35/18 all around for next years season, autox and road course (lime rock, njmsp, and nhms). But the only thing i am not sure about is the clearance in the front. I woulndt be butthurt if i had to get fiberglass 10mm wide fenders but, that is another thing to the list.

I wish I had your problem Beatty lol. I run + 15 and 285. Not sure I can buy those fenders or I will be out of spec for class. Camber will help somewhat, but I still think it is going to cause me problems. The other solution is to take it to the shop and have them roll the fenders out a bit. I am also looking at other post market solutions, but a simple bend might be the cheap and effective answer.

IMO with 3 degrees of camber 275's would probably fit pretty well as long as you aren't lowered much more than an inch.

Just pick up enkei Nt03+30 square, and run a 15mm spacer in the rear, problem solved!

Thats the thing i dont want to run spacers because of 1) vibrations, 2) realiability on the track and/or parking lot. I have heard horror stories about spacers.

The plan is since i did autox this past year religously every month is to step it up to hpde and track days. then autox for a quick fix in between. I can care less about classing the car in autox because the clubs i run with arent strict with tires/wheels as with SCCA.

Adjusting the camber, i noticed when i got my new street tires its not the fender i needed to worry about it was the upper control arm on the inside that gave me problems with selecting tires. the wider i went it would rub on the inside when the wheels were turned. Thats why i was thinking of an aggressive offset. I can care less about asthetics because these will be track or autox wheels ONLY.

PharmDZ what offset are you running?

So ideally then run 2 nt03 upfront and rfp1 in rear lol!! Perfect offset

I'm trying to get better handling without breaking the bank for NASA track days (primarily) autox (Secondary). The plan for mods next year is to:

1. Get the Tune done
2. 34 row Oil Cooler
3. SPL upper control arm
4. New set of tires when the stockers are gone ( Still running Yoko Advans)

The tire purchase would be a need to do anyway and I was looking for better performance mainly on turn in like other have talked about. The auto x is just a fun thing not concerned in the least about which class etc... from my small exposure this year to out SCCA group they were pretty disorganized and I really prefer the track to auto x when it comes down to it.

The square setup question was based off of what I had read and wondering if (with stock Nismo rims 9.5 and 10.5) going with 35's on all fours would be a good route to take. Looking at RE-11's, RS3's and DirezaII

rs3 are not good for autox, as u can't get them up to temp

Auto x wouldn't be the focus but, utah summers in the high 90's to low 100's do the rs3 need a long warm up period for that type weather?

I've been running spacers for 4 plus years and over 17000 track miles. Just get quality H&R hubcentric ones and its no issue. Especially if you replace the studs with ARP extended ones.