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In Reply to: Best for Average Drivers on Straight Roads posted by Orca on November 25, 2000 at 19:24:33:
BMW, as do other manufacturers, have a definite bias towards terminal understeer, which is (or at least feels) the safest for average drivers to bumble their way through gentle curves.
If you want a more responsive and faster M5, especially driving through real twisties, change the settings from 52-48 to around 35-38. The rear tires bite better (turn the traction control off) and the front is relatively stabilized. This allows you to better control the rear, especially when tossing the car and using the throttle to steer. The lower pressures also allow you to use the entire width of the tread; check scuff marks on the tire tread against those generated with the BMW-recommended pressures. This again allows higher cornering forces in sharp corners. The tires also conform better to rough roads when run at lower pressures. All this makes a big positive difference in the feel and the cornering ability of the M5.
Don't take my word for it. Go to a local autocross and try it yourself.
Why does BMW recommend 4 more psi for the rear tires? How does BMW determine the recommended psi? In other words, why 29/33 instead of 31/35 etc.? Thanks a lot, if you can answer this, because no one seems to have an answer.
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