Buying an FR-S, quick question...

[Orbital]

Hi everyone, I am about to seal the deal on an FR-S this Wednesday. I've got plans for it to get a PTuning turbo kit with meth (no e85 here in centralish FL area). First things first is I'm taking it to get some new tires and having the shop buy back the stock Prius ones for some PSS tires.

I'm Just not sure what would fit on the stock wheel, I'm going with the 17's, I actually like those wheels, not the TRD 18s. I'll be getting some ST coilovers after getting the tires changed out and dropping it so there is about one finger wheel gap or less. What's a feaseable tire size for 300-400whp with those stock wheels on the drop without rubbing? I was thinking 225/45/17, but is that wide enough? I also didn't want my speedo and odometer to be way off.

I appreciate any advice on this matter... Coming from a Mk6 GTI no stranger to traction issues albeit in a FWD format. So not sure what to expect here.

[Teseo]

First buy the car
Second, drive the car as stock form
Third, search?

[Orbital]

Wow, thanks. I have driven the car over the weekend a few hundred miles on loan. Just looking for opinions and what others have managed. You get the most buy back with the tires having more tread. I'd like to maximize that and wanted to buy the the right tires the first time.

[extrashaky]

Don't mod the car before you even have it. Drive the car for a while in stock form to get an appreciation for what it has and what it needs. Then search the forum for ideas.

[Orbital]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

Don't mod the car before you even have it. Drive the car for a while in stock form to get an appreciation for what it has and what it needs. Then search the forum for ideas.

Maybe I am not explaining or asking really well... I just heard the stock tires have super bad grip. I'm more into great traction and holding the road. I heard changing those tires helps big time. So in an effort to not have to buy 2 sets of tires within a short time span I just wanted to know best size for not rubbing with a slight drop and the ability to handle more hp down the road.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Orbital

Hi everyone, I am about to seal the deal on an FR-S this Wednesday. ............I appreciate any advice on this matter... So not sure what to expect here.

Hello Orbital and welcome to the forum .......

@extrashaky and @Teseo have given you some good advice.

In reference to tires, I suggest you decide what you want the car to be used for.

Second, search this forum and find out what tires others are using ..... for that purpose.

Once you get the desired tires on the car, then put it through its paces, (of the intended use) after it's broke in, ….. THEN decide what modifications (if any) would enhance that use.

Enjoy your new machine .....


humfrz

[Impureclient]

I have Michelin PSS 225/45/17s on my Enkei M52s and everything is fine with a lowered 1" gap. Stock rim width is 7" and the M52 are 7.5".
Difference in that switch: https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc...5r17-225-45r17
I don't plan doing any forced induction with high horsepower or racing, autoX, or anything of that nature, so just a bit wider than the stock tires with much stickier rubber suits me fine.
I don't think I have ever read a bad review on the Michelin PSS tire.
I never rode on the stock rim/tire but I know it's very hard to lose traction with the PSS. If I turn off all nannies I can get it to slide around a little but it's pretty controllable with that tire.

[Vracer111]

Stock tires do not have horrible grip...the car can corner at .97G with the stock tires in the dry. In the wet they are not excellent, but not bad at the same time. If you want a grippier tire you don't need to go wider than stock, just upgrade the tire compound to something suitable in a stock size. I'm back on the stock tires and don't mind them one bit (plenty of grip dry-zero complaints), once they wear out I'll go back to a Max Performance category tire in 205/45-17 size for specific reasons I won't get into here. Tire compound, not tread area is what provides the grip force.

And the wider you go, the more unsprung weight you are adding on... which is actually a degradation to handling precision and chassis feel. Stock sized Michelin PSS should be plenty enough for 300+ hp, traction issues are really either 'right foot' issues or tuning issues...

[soulreapersteve]

Wish I was on my home computer, I have a new reply meme for these types of questions...

There's a subforum dedicated to what you wish to know. Look there is my suggestion.

[strat61caster]

Stock tires are decent. In what scenario will you be utilizing all this extra traction you've heard that you need?

Standard answer for sporty tires is Michelin Pilot Super Sports. I wouldn't go more than 225 up front on OEM wheels as you'll begin to loose steering feel and your tire mounting guy will not want to do business with you again. Quite happy with my autox tires in 215 size.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Orbital

Maybe I am not explaining or asking really well... I just heard the stock tires have super bad grip. I'm more into great traction and holding the road. I heard changing those tires helps big time. So in an effort to not have to buy 2 sets of tires within a short time span I just wanted to know best size for not rubbing with a slight drop and the ability to handle more hp down the road.

Since you are so good at hearing, here's another tidbit:

Don't mod it until you know what you want to address (as far as shortcomings are concerned) on the car. To mod based on hearsay and without firsthand knowledge is like planning on a custom kitchen and laying out all the work/dimensions without actually buying a house.

-alex

[rs999]

Originally Posted by Orbital

Hi everyone, I am about to seal the deal on an FR-S this Wednesday. I've got plans for it to get a PTuning turbo kit with meth (no e85 here in centralish FL area). First things first is I'm taking it to get some new tires and having the shop buy back the stock Prius ones for some PSS tires.

Are you sure you wouldn't want a Porsche Cayman or Boxster instead?

You're going to spend 20-25K to buy the car, the PTuning Turbo is 5800, labor for all the work $1K.

You're looking at 27-32K. That's used Porsche territory.

[Orbital]

Originally Posted by rs999

Are you sure you wouldn't want a Porsche Cayman or Boxster instead?

You're going to spend 20-25K to buy the car, the PTuning Turbo is 5800, labor for all the work $1K.

You're looking at 27-32K. That's used Porsche territory.

Understandable, but I'm sure. I really like this cars looks, size, balance and potential. Always enjoyed having an underdog that can perform at a higher level with some mods. I'm sure other people on this forum that are boosted have contemplated the same thing though.

[Orbital]

Originally Posted by rs999

Are you sure you wouldn't want a Porsche Cayman or Boxster instead?

You're going to spend 20-25K to buy the car, the PTuning Turbo is 5800, labor for all the work $1K.

You're looking at 27-32K. That's used Porsche territory.

Understandable, but I'm sure. I really like this cars looks, size, balance and potential. Always enjoyed having an underdog that can perform at a higher level with some mods. I'm sure other people on this forum that are boosted have contemplated the same thing though.

Originally Posted by mav1178

Since you are so good at hearing, here's another tidbit:

Condescending remarks aside because I used a word twice in a paragraph... The rest of your post was sound advice.

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Stock tires are decent. In what scenario will you be utilizing all this extra traction you've heard that you need?

Wanted to get into AutoX, or some type of weekend road racing. However, even if I didn't do those things I wasn't sure those size tires could handle that amount of hp.

Originally Posted by Impureclient

I have Michelin PSS 225/45/17s on my Enkei M52s and everything is fine with a lowered 1" gap. Stock rim width is 7" and the M52 are 7.5".
Difference in that switch: https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc...5r17-225-45r17
I don't plan doing any forced induction with high horsepower or racing, autoX, or anything of that nature, so just a bit wider than the stock tires with much stickier rubber suits me fine.
I don't think I have ever read a bad review on the Michelin PSS tire.
I never rode on the stock rim/tire but I know it's very hard to lose traction with the PSS. If I turn off all nannies I can get it to slide around a little but it's pretty controllable with that tire.

Thanks, I appreciate you writing up you're experience on that. Also, that link is super helpful for the tire sizing differences.