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[looking]

Well, like everyone on here, I'm looking for a set of summers and I need to help. My questions are,

1) Should I stay with OEM sizing (and hence staggered set up)? I'm looking for something that would help the performance of the car.

2) If I should get away from the staggered set up what size tires should I go with?

3) Perhaps you guys could recommend what you're going with?

Again, performance is key. 19" probably aren't going to help me much in performance so would like to stay away from those.

Thanks for the help!

[philaf_666]

If you are looking for less understeer, the track guys seems to go with a square setup instead of staggered.

Also, you might look into some lighter wheels (Breyton GTS-R, OZ Alleggerita HLT, etc.) and lighter tires.

Getting rid of te RFT will also be your best bet for stability and grip. People seem to go with Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec, Bridgetone Potenza RE-01R or Pirelli PZero.

Most people with staggered setup go with:
225/40/18 (front)
255/35/18 (rear)

People with track in mind - non-staggered - seem to go with:
245/40/18 (all around).

Going with 19' won't do you good as you will have heavier and more expensive wheels/tires.

I prefer a staggered setup for the look, but if I were to change my wheels, I'd go for a non staggered setup for less understeer and tires rotations capabilities (which you can obviously not do with a staggered setup), lighter wheels and non RFT tires.

[TMc135]

People with track in mind - non-staggered - seem to go with:
245/40/18 (all around).

[/QUOTE]

Heads up that from everything I have read, a 245/40 may cause some fitment issues up front (with Breyton's and spacers). I should clarify that the added height of a 40 vs. a 35 (245/35) could become a problem. It depends on the tire. Mikeo tried 245/40 Dunlop Z1's up front (on the Breyton GTS-R) and had some rubbing so you will have to try camber plates or be careful which brand/tire in a 245 you use up front. 245/35 will be your safest bet but not all manufacturers make that size. I will be trying out the Breyton's 8.5 all the way around with a 245/35 Goodyear F1 Asymmetric and will let you guys know how that works out (it will be a while though before I can get them on and give them a good run). Good luck and keep us posted.

[Monaco35Dream]

I have the Pirelli Pzero, and have had them for about 7 months. I will not buy these tires again. They are just too soft, and by that I mean they have worn faster than I had hoped. Mind you, they're quiet, and grip the road wonderfully, but I'd like to explore some other alternatives. I am on 18x8.5 Front and 18.9.5 Rear CSL Reps. (Take a corner at 40ish mph and you will notice the extra inch of tire all around )

[philaf_666]

Originally Posted by TMc135

People with track in mind - non-staggered - seem to go with:
245/40/18 (all around).

Heads up that from everything I have read, a 245/40 may cause some fitment issues up front (with Breyton's and spacers). I should clarify that the added height of a 40 vs. a 35 (245/35) could become a problem. It depends on the tire. Mikeo tried 245/40 Dunlop Z1's up front (on the Breyton GTS-R) and had some rubbing so you will have to try camber plates or be careful which brand/tire in a 245 you use up front. 245/35 will be your safest bet but not all manufacturers make that size. I will be trying out the Breyton's 8.5 all the way around with a 245/35 Goodyear F1 Asymmetric and will let you guys know how that works out (it will be a while though before I can get them on and give them a good run). Good luck and keep us posted. [/quote]

Sorry, you're right about this. If you go with 245 in the front, you will also need a10mm spacer (so I've read).

[looking]

Thanks guys for the feedback, great info. I am going to try to avoid having to add camber plates as I'm leasing the car and don't want to go through the hassle of swapping them out. Of course that's the plan for now - we all know modding is an addiction! Does adding spacers change the handling in anyway?

I guess, ideally I would like something that is more "plug and play". Yes, I want to avoid the RFT, I really dislike them and the chunck at the track. I'd prefer to go non-staggered, lighter wheels, and non RFT.

So if I go 245/35/18 all the way around, I shouldn't get any rubbing?

[one-35]

I just installed front 18X8.0 ET+42 Sport Edition CD wheels (from Tire Rack) with 235/40R18 Kumho Ecsta XS tires (sticky!)... rears are awaiting NT-05 tires (also 235/40). Square set up. These will be primarily used on the track and rotatable. I'm driving them with OEM rear wheels right now (but 255/35 RE050A RFT tires)... much less or no understeer.

Here are my intitial findings... tires like Star Specs, RE-01Rs, Ecsta XS, and NT-05s have a very 'square' profile and are much wider than conventional street tires. 235 is more like a conventional 255 (approx. 9.5" contact patch width). My Ecsta XS 235/40 also tends to be a bit taller (larger dia.) and is very close to rubbing the inboard part of the plastic fender guard behind the front tire.

My 235/40 Ecsta XS tire up front ALMOST rubs the lower front strut (near cup) while static (about 0.5" clearance) and did slightly on large bumps at speed. I have stock suspension.

I'll find out on the track in 3 weeks if I have any significant rub issues.

If you use stock suspension, I'd recommend ET +40 up front on 18x8 or possibly 18x8.5... max tire size without camber plates would be 235/40. 225/40 is safe and no rub.

My 18x8.0 ET+42 with 235/40 rear NT-05 tires SHOULD be fine... I'll know after this weekend.

[mjovic]

Originally Posted by one-35

My 18x8.0 ET+42 with 235/40 rear NT-05 tires SHOULD be fine... I'll know after this weekend.

Why wouldn't they be fine? You're getting "16mm MORE clearance on the strut side, and the outside edge of the wheel will EXTEND an extra 4mm". Seems like a lot of wiggle room even with the 235 width tire.

[looking]

^^^

you guys have lost me a bit...when you mention ET+42 I'm assuming that, that's for camber plates. so you mentioned that 235/40 and 225/40 as being the max tire size to be safe, is this confirmed? and if it is which size would be better? if I go with either of the sizes, aren't I giving up grip in the back??

[Raflekt]

very interesting thread

does anybody have used TOYO R888? experiences?

regards

[one-35]

Originally Posted by mjovic

Why wouldn't they be fine? You're getting "16mm MORE clearance on the strut side, and the outside edge of the wheel will EXTEND an extra 4mm". Seems like a lot of wiggle room even with the 235 width tire.

It should be fine, but you never really know... until you install, drive, and hit some bumps at speed and corner hard.

Remember... I measured the width of my 235 Ecsta XS to be practically the same as my 255 RE050A RFT. The OEM rear wheels are ET+52 (offset)... I'm going to +42. It should be fine, but it's best not to find out at 110 mph on a track hitting a berm.

Everything I referenced is with STOCK SUSPENSION... no camber plates.