Tire Width & Fun Factor Discussion

[Stealthy]

I'm on 17x8 with a 225 tire.

I like this as a happy compromise, I can take corners and onramps with a decent speed but I can kick the tail out whenever I wish to. 'Fun' is relative however, people like having all the grip in the world whereas others like being able to slide.

[DAEMANO]

Width isn't nearly as important as tire compound. If you want the car to break traction easily, use a less sticky compound like the stock Primacy's (Ultra High Performance Summer category). If you want a bit stickier that you can still break loose on public roads without killing everybody upgrade the stock compound to a tire in the Max Performance Summer category. If you want the car to have better initial in and ultimate grip for the street/track use any 200TW tire in the Extreme Performance Summer category.

Go wider if you have already tried upgrading the compound in the stock width (215) or something near to it (225). If you need to shave fractions of seconds at the AutoX, go wider (245-275).


Tire Rack's categories jive pretty well in the real world with some exceptions of course.

Summer Passenger
Extreme Performance Summer
You want extreme dry street performance and are willing to trade some comfort and hydroplaning resistance to get it.


Max Performance Summer
You want an unsurpassed blend of dry and wet street traction and handling and only the finest will do.


Ultra High Performance Summer
You want an outstanding blend of dry and wet street traction and handling.


High Performance Summer
You want a good blend of dry and wet street performance when "re-tiring" your sports coupe or sedan.


Grand Touring Summer
You want a good blend of dry and wet street performance along with responsive handling and noise and ride comfort.


http://www.tirerack.com/tires/types/tiretype.jsp

[venturaII]

Originally Posted by MrDinkleman

What offset and do you have any pics?


TIA

16x7 ET40 Motegi Traklites...12.5 lbs each. Kumho Ecsta XS at 21lbs each I believe. Very noticeable weight loss...reacts much quicker over irregularities, and the slightly taller sidewall soaks up some of the harshness over the same stuff. I think I've posted a picture on here before...I'll try to dig it up...

[venturaII]

Here you go...please excuse my filthy-assed car...lol

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...&postcount=417

[jawn]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

Width isn't nearly as important as tire compound. If you want the car to break traction easily, use a less sticky compound like the stock Primacy's (Ultra High Performance Summer category). If you want a bit stickier that you can still break loose on public roads without killing everybody upgrade the stock compound to a tire in the Max Performance Summer category. If you want the car to have better initial in and ultimate grip for the street/track use any 200TW tire in the Extreme Performance Summer category.

A million times this.

[Phantobe]

I guess for a daily...

Is there any reason to get a 17x9 wheel unless you wanna fit like 245/255 tires.

You'd save money + weight if youre okay with running a 17x8 wheel, with a 225/235 tire.

It just seems like that wheel size is very popular but Im not sure why we need something that wide.

[djdnz]

Originally Posted by Phantobe

I guess for a daily...

Is there any reason to get a 17x9 wheel unless you wanna fit like 245/255 tires.

You'd save money + weight if youre okay with running a 17x8 wheel, with a 225/235 tire.

It just seems like that wheel size is very popular but Im not sure why we need something that wide.

Everyone wants concave wheels, which usually need wheel width. If I could get my hands on my wheels but narrower (and less weight) while maintaining the same concavity, I would - but that's dreaming.

[churchx]

What's with generalisation? For example - i don't care about concavity. I wouldn't use 'everyone' that easy.

[djdnz]

Originally Posted by churchx

What's with generalisation? For example - i don't care about concavity. I wouldn't use 'everyone' that easy.

Fair enough, but he asked why would you want wide wheels without necessarily wanting wide tires and the three reasons in my mind are all aesthetics - the wheel you want only comes in that width, you like concavity, or you like having stretched tires?

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

Width isn't nearly as important as tire compound. If you want the car to break traction easily, use a less sticky compound like the stock Primacy's (Ultra High Performance Summer category).

Agree with pretty much everything in your post. Quick correction though - Primacy's are actually classified as "Grand Touring" summer tires.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....del=Primacy+HP

I haven't seen anyone buy tires from that category but they should be quieter and less grippy which OP seems to be looking for.

[86Tony]

255 is the sweet spot for NA I ran 225 RS3 on stock it was great made the car feel planted now with 255 RS3 on 17x9 shit is even more planted now i can take corners at a higher speed. -3 fr and -2 rear camber s money turn in repsonse is is perfect IMO . I can still get my car sideways on 255 aswell

[Mim]

I only do around 7,000km a year so the stock rubber will last me a while, but I would like to go for a lighter wheel and am thinking of going 17x7.5. I'll just migrate the existing tires and once they finally wear out I'll consider upgrading to 225 rubber.

All said and done the intention is to only go to the wider rubber once I've done some drive train mods.

More a wider query to throw to the crowd, but how much more power would you need to gain before needing to consider a wider tyre?

The mods will include a 4.556 FD, full header back exhaust, custom tune and I'll be sticking to regular 98 petrol. Would love E85, but its too rare around where I live to be practical.

Sorry I should add. Just like the O/P I want to maintain the current feel of the stock car or at least not mess too much with it.

[churchx]

"i can take corners at higher speed", "i can still get my car sideways" - yes, both CAN be done on senslessly wider tires. BUT! Is this what OP wants?
- no track racing, just daily driving - is there need to get corners at much higher speeds?
- yes, one can get car sideways even on formula slicks .. question comes at what situation and in what fashion this will happen. No more sideways with power (lacking @NA) oversteering at much lower & safer speeds replaced now with that done not with ease but rather very risky and very fast (maybe over legal speedlimits), probably in less progressive and more sudden way, often above skills of most but few for it to be reasonably controllable and safe.
Imho greater care should be done to reading what people want in giving advises. Even our gurus like CSG/RCE - they first ask for what type of driving and with what expectations it will be, before giving out any advises on suspension/wheel/whatever setup. Telling what's best for you, when OP clearly stated that he wishes for something completely different, is simply ignoring/not listening other party.

[crackcaffeine]

Powersliding at low speeds in this car is probably one of the funniest things about driving it.