summer or all-season tires? freezing temps?

[Alan]

Originally Posted by rainmonkey

If I'm reading this correctly, you're basically saying that between 17 and 18, the major difference will just be weight, because total diameter of the wheel+tire is still roughly the same as a 17.

If 8 and 9 are not considered 'over-tire-ing' then what is? I was always under the assumption that anything past 8 was just for looks... even on track. Granted I don't know much about this stuff.

btw, thank you Alan, you're helping a lot.

No problem. As you indicate, you're new at this. I remember when I first got into modding in 2000 and knowing absolutely nothing. 13 years and 7 cars later, I'm still learning, but enjoy helping others, especially those new that sometimes don't get answers. I should also add that this info is particularly fresh for me as I just bought new wheels and tires for my BRZ this week.

I think 9 is probably enough for most people with these cars. 10s seem to be pushing it except if you really need the grip at track/auto-x. But even then its a lot of wheel/tire for a 200hp car. You can always have more grip with a wider tire (and thus wider wheel). But the question is, can you exploit it and what are the downsides? Oversimplifying, a wider wheel and tire combo will add weight, may affect the feel and of course there is only so much space under the fender.

In most cases, whenever you "+1" (the term for adding an inch in diameter to a wheel), you will get a tire with a smaller sidewall heigh so the total diameter of the wheel/tire package is the same. Thus the wheel rotates the same number of times in a given distance. You would get an even smaller sidewall if you "+2" and so on. At some point, you just can't get a smaller sidewall tire and you run into a larger overall wheel/tire package which would then affect the rolling diameter and which would then affect the speedo/odo.

This link and the links on the page at Tire Rack will give you plenty of reading for wheel/tire education.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=31

[Chuynh207]

I have an FR-S and drove this past winter with General Altimax Arctic tires. They are dedicated winter tires and were awesome! After the "nemo" blizzard, I drove from Boston to NJ and they were great. As long as I wasn't trying to accelerate quickly and just stayed cautious, I was perfectly fine.

I recommend getting a set of winter tires for the winter, if you're planning on driving the car at all. Just my recommendation though

[rainmonkey]

Originally Posted by Chuynh207

I have an FR-S and drove this past winter with General Altimax Arctic tires. They are dedicated winter tires and were awesome! After the "nemo" blizzard, I drove from Boston to NJ and they were great. As long as I wasn't trying to accelerate quickly and just stayed cautious, I was perfectly fine.

I recommend getting a set of winter tires for the winter, if you're planning on driving the car at all. Just my recommendation though

Yeah I've resigned myself to getting a set of winters.
If I wrap my OEM wheels in winter tires and get a different type of wheel (say for example 18x8) would I have to readjust my suspension when I swap em?

[Skurj]

I've had my V12's out when its below zero, and they aren't bad at all. I wouldn't want to hit any ice, but if the pavement is clear they are fine.

[Khyron686]

Originally Posted by rainmonkey

Yeah I've resigned myself to getting a set of winters.
If I wrap my OEM wheels in winter tires and get a different type of wheel (say for example 18x8) would I have to readjust my suspension when I swap em?

No - this is what most of us have done. Stock wheels are good winter beaters!