Will this fit? (width, offset and tire size Qs)

[BigJyoungblood]

Originally Posted by MVJ1975

215 or 225 in stickier summer tires is more than enough for street driving. A 7.5" wide wheel is fine.

I can't say I'm a fan of that wheel, but if you like them, that's fine. For around that price (a tad more) I'd be running Kosei K4Rs, personally.

Can't say I like your tire choice, though. Michelin PSS are basically the same price and are a much better tire.

THIS!!!!

[Vracer111]

What about Enkei Fujins? ~17.1lbs, 17x7.5 with +40mm offset...

I have and love the Kosei K4R's (17x8 with 36mm offset) riding on Kumho Ecsta XS (215/45-17) for track duty - over 4lb weight savings a corner and you can really feel the difference in makes in handling. Rear tires worn down to wear bars in combination of aggressive street driving and a track day in ~8k miles though.

Currently back on stockers, but hate how the stock wheel and tire weight affects the suspension in comparison (nothing wrong with the grip levels and handling though), so I will be swapping out to Enkei Fujin's for the daily driver's - transferring over the TPMS and tires to them.

Once the 'Prius' tires wear out I'll probably go with 205/45-17 Kumho Ecsta LE Sports, which are an awesome, inexpensive (less than $90) Max Performance Summer category tire with superb wet handling and very good dry grip. With a tread width of 7.7" the 205/45-17 size will be a perfect match for 17x7.5 wheels and lighter than wider sizes...should be within ~1lb of the 17x8 K4R and 215/45-17 Ecsta XS setup.

[tennisfreak]

Since I am new to performance and custom wheels can I ask why so many here hold the Kosei K4R's in such high regard?

Outside of style what makes them superior to the Motegi? (sorry not being a d!ck I am just somewhat of a newb).

[20valvewynn83]

Originally Posted by SkullWorks

Best Bet for a hot street tire is Hankook Rs-3's

They just work, much cheaper than most of the other recommendations, and head and shoulders above that continental DW crap...those tires are horrible, I get more traction from a set of rs-3's in 255 than the 285's i had to put on for the FRshootout hosted by continental....If you are actually going to be driving hard and not just hard parking steer clear of the DW's

most of the other brands suggested carry a much heavier price tag, but there is a very good reason that the RS-3's have a waiting list in several sizes, they work...better than anything you can compare in price or treadwear.

I was also looking at RS3 but don't think they make them in the size I need. It's strange tire rack is recommending 225/40R18 does that sound right for 18x8.5 as I don't want a stretch look.

[LeeMaster]

Originally Posted by tennisfreak

Since I am new to performance and custom wheels can I ask why so many here hold the Kosei K4R's in such high regard?

Outside of style what makes them superior to the Motegi? (sorry not being a d!ck I am just somewhat of a newb).

They are super lightweight at a very good price and they look good and are made by Toyota.

[OrbitalEllipses]

235/35/19. On a 9" wide wheel.

[JoeBoxer]

We don't all live in socal, wish i could run rs3's or star specs but those tires aren't thes best choice for every enviroment.

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by tennisfreak

Since I am new to performance and custom wheels can I ask why so many here hold the Kosei K4R's in such high regard?

Outside of style what makes them superior to the Motegi? (sorry not being a d!ck I am just somewhat of a newb).

Kosei is well known for being a high quality wheel manufacturer like Enkei Racing series whose wheels are made in Japan - great price for well engineered and reliable wheels that are lightweight. The K4R's are a brand new wheel from Kosei, but for $200 you get a 15.6lb 17x8 wheel with 36mm offset, and it comes with lightweight machined aluminum valve stems, center caps, and lug nuts. 35mm-36mm offset is the perfect offset for an 8" wheel on the FR-S, yet so many 17x8 wheels only come in 45-42mm offset (cough...Enkei...)? So it's one of the few 17x8 wheels with a 35-36mm offset.

If you compare the Kosei K4R to the Motegi MR125 you can see the extra care Kosei took in engineering their wheel versus Motegi to handle track loading better (root blending and spoke geometry)... the Motegi MR125 would probably be 'ok' to track, but I'd much rather go with the better designed wheel. Motegi did make an excellent forged lightweight track wheel known as the Traklite, but it doesn't come in any sizes (- offsets or huge + offsets) that really fit the FR-S any more.

Not sure on the Motegi MR125, but with the Kosei K4R's there is a ridiculous amount of clearance if you want to upgrade your brakes to the AP Racing Essex Sprint kit:

[MVJ1975]

Kosei K4R - made in Japan by a quality JDM manufacturer. As said, Kosei makes OEM wheels for Toyota.

Motegi MR125 - made in China.

I don't think I need to say any more than that...

[powerj2]

well the thing is about star specs or rs3 they have like 140 tread wear, where as something Like Michelin pilot super sports or falken 453 give you 300 tread wear.

you have to sacrifice Grip for longevity.

my friend has PSS on his e46 m3 and he wouldnt have any other tire they are hella grippy.

[NorseLegend]

Originally Posted by JoeBoxer

Continental DW or goodyear eagle f1 asymetric 2 are good performance tires that are still really nice on the street.

Woohoo! I was planning on a set of Eagle F1s!

[TSY]

Do you have a budget? Is wet grip important? How cold does it get? These can all help you decide on what fits your needs and funds the best.

The Michelin Pilot Sports are nice but also a bit more expensive than the Conti's and are probably only marginally better. This being said I really like the Pilots. Eagle F1s are good tires but I find they are a little noisy and don't have the grip the pilots do. I've done well with Bridgestone RE-11s as well but kinda heavy tires. I've heard good things about Yokohama AD008s but have never actually owned/driven them. Same goes for Nittos.

I've had RS-3s and Star Specs on my dedicated track cars which are great tires but maybe not the best for street use. They're sticky enough to pick up debris from the road and throw it up inside your fenders and on the side of your car. They also will not wear well if your car is a Daily Driver. (not that any summer tire will get you 40K miles )

From the sound of your driving needs any good summer tire will fit your bill. Putting 245s on your car will give you more than enough grip for public roads- if not you're probably driving a bit too fast.

Also if you've never tracked your car taking things slowly and having forgiving tires with a little less grip is probably better than driving faster than your skill level hurting your car (or yourself)

The great thing about summer tires is if you buy a set and don't like them they won't last that long anyway, so you can buy something different next time!

Good luck!

[20valvewynn83]

Originally Posted by TSY

Do you have a budget? Is wet grip important? How cold does it get? These can all help you decide on what fits your needs and funds the best.

The Michelin Pilot Sports are nice but also a bit more expensive than the Conti's and are probably only marginally better. This being said I really like the Pilots. Eagle F1s are good tires but I find they are a little noisy and don't have the grip the pilots do. I've done well with Bridgestone RE-11s as well but kinda heavy tires. I've heard good things about Yokohama AD008s but have never actually owned/driven them. Same goes for Nittos.

I've had RS-3s and Star Specs on my dedicated track cars which are great tires but maybe not the best for street use. They're sticky enough to pick up debris from the road and throw it up inside your fenders and on the side of your car. They also will not wear well if your car is a Daily Driver. (not that any summer tire will get you 40K miles )

From the sound of your driving needs any good summer tire will fit your bill. Putting 245s on your car will give you more than enough grip for public roads- if not you're probably driving a bit too fast.

Also if you've never tracked your car taking things slowly and having forgiving tires with a little less grip is probably better than driving faster than your skill level hurting your car (or yourself)

The great thing about summer tires is if you buy a set and don't like them they won't last that long anyway, so you can buy something different next time!

Good luck!

Thanks for taking the time and recommending some tires. As you asked what's my budget? Just don't want to spend more then I paid for my wheels ($1460). Second question, is wet grip important? Yes but not really. Also how cold does it get? It's California so not too cold maybe in the 50* at night. Also you are recommending 245s but would you run a 45 or 35 ect? I have been looking at the Handkook Ventus V12 EVO K110 any experience with this tire?

[TSY]

Originally Posted by 20valvewynn83

Thanks for taking the time and recommending some tires. As you asked what's my budget? Just don't want to spend more then I paid for my wheels ($1460). Second question, is wet grip important? Yes but not really. Also how cold does it get? It's California so not too cold maybe in the 50* at night. Also you are recommending 245s but would you run a 45 or 35 ect? I have been looking at the Handkook Ventus V12 EVO K110 any experience with this tire?

No Prob. I'm actually going through the same thought process right now too.

You're budget covers about anything, and being California I guess you don't have to worry about snow or monsoons. As for 245s, I thought that's what you were thinking which is probably a good fit for the wheels you bought. 235s are hard to find.

You definitely want to run a 35 profile tire, a 45 will increase your tire diameter by 2" (and raise your car up by 1")! If you need the clearance and want to go off road then get a different car.

I don't have experience with that Hankook tire- did you see if Tire Rack did any tests with them?

I myself will probably get the new star specs in a 245/40-17 as my track/autocross tire.

I'm torn between the Pilots and the Conti DW's for a street tire (mostly for looks) in a 225/40-18. I may stay with a 17" street tire though since we have a lot of potholes and bad roads here.

You've got a good set of wheels- put some tires on them and go drive!

One more piece of advice, if you do get out to a track you might learn more from driving these skinny stock tires on the car than big fat sticky ones. Just something to think about!

Have fun!