It is nearing time to replace the OEM tires on the Brick after 23,000 miles.

My first choice is Goodyear F1 GS-D3. They are at the top of the list in CR and Tirerack.

Problem is Goodyear does not make fronts in the stock size of 225/45 18. But they do have the rears in stock size of 245/45 18.

So I called Tirerack. Salesman says I can go:

Front: 245/40 18 (Stock 225/45 18)
Rear: 245/45 18 (same as stock)

Salesman says only difference is the front will be .8 inches wider than stock. Outside of appearance, there is no downside to getting the wider front tire.

Am I giving anything up in handling, wear, etc by not staying with the stock size?

Will the different size effect the TPS?

What do y'all think?

 

There is going to be a small problem with VDC/TCS due to stagger size (or lack thereof).

I would say go with Michelin Pilot Sport PS/2 tires, they come in the right sizes and they're really really really nice performance tires.

 

there will not be a problem with the VDC>..

The 245/40/18 / 245/45/18 will have the same diamters as stock...

Stock tires...

225/45/18 = 26.0
245/45/18 = 26.7

Difference in rotations per mile - 21 (front spins 21 more times then Rear)

Other set up...

245/40/18 = 25.7
245/45/18 = 26.7

Differene in rotations per mile - 28 (front spins 28 times more then rear)

The extra 7 rotations is not enough for the VDC / TCS to think your wheels are spinning... If it was the other way around where the rear spin more then the front or the same speed as the front then you have a problem...

 

Jason,

What do you think of me going with the Goodyears given the fronts won't be stick size?

Appreciate the help.

 

You will NOT giving up any handling on the car if the F and R tires have the same size. You will actually get better handling for a more neutual steering characteristic.
Rat, please also provide what kinda expectations you are looking into a tire, so we will be able to give you some alternative choices. (treadwear, wet traction, cornering or simply stickyness?)

 

you will have better grip on the front with the wider tire size...

as far as what that magazine did testing the same tire sizes in the front and the rear and getting better performance...

you actually get even better performance out of having a wider tire up front (same as the rear etc) but with a smaller diamter you will have better steering response and put less strain on the power steering system since you will have a smaller diameter tire and less rotational mass...

 

Appreciate it guys.

Priorties are:

(1) road grip---wet pavement
(2) road grip---dry pavement
(3) ride quality
(4) noise (lack there-of)
(5) treadwear.....hoping for 25,000 miles
(6) Price....I'm willing to pay the pipper for the "best"

I don't take the car near the edge on cornering so the last millimeter of grip is not important to me. But I would hope the tires would corner at least as well as the OEM tires.

 

By the way, per the Tirerack site, the Pilot Sport PS2s do not come in the stock size for the Z.

 

Bridgestone Potenza S-03s are great in the wet and dry, but a bit noisy and won't last all that long... but then again most performance tires won't unless you just drive very gingerly.

Oh, and the stock tires are pretty crappy (look 'em up on tirerack.. 38/39 in their category) so bettering their performance with replacements isn't too hard.

 

Another question: Will the 245/40 18s fit on the stock front wheels?

 

Yes, they will fit on a 18x8.0.

 

Rat, given your priorities for tires, I can definitely recommend the Eagle F1 GS-D3. EXCELLENT wet weather grip, very good (certainly better) dry grip than the Potenzas, a little quieter, and I still have 3-4/32nds (out of original 10/32) tread left after a bit over 29,000 miles on my set! ( I only got 20,000 miles on my original Potenzas, and nto a mile more!) Go Goodyear! (BTW, the Eagle has been displaced on the Tirerack ranking to #2 by the Michelin PS2!)

 

In another thread it was suggested to increase the size of the rear tires to 275/40 18.

Should I be thinking about it? Or does that require a larger wheel?

 

Do you want great wet traction or just good and safe? If you plan on driving hard in the rain thats a different tire. Tire size is good advice, balance the car up. Run the 245/40,45 combo is better for agressive driving (take out some under steer), the rims will need to be replaced to go much wider.

 

Okay, thanks john. I'm not getting into new rims. No, I'm not planning to drive hard in rain. Its just that I've seen so many posts on the web sites about guys that lost it in the rain with the OEM tires I wanted to be sure my next set performed well in the rain under "normal" driving.

 

I have heard great things about the Michelin PS2. I hear it is the best performance street tire out.

 

kdw 2 for the money and style and oem sizes avaiable $700 about, out the door.

 

If Tirerack is correct PS2s don't come in sizes to fit the Zzzz OEM rims.

 

It requires a larger wheel. Tirerack.com recommends a 9-11" wide rim for the 275/40R18 fitment, with ideally a 9.5" wide rim. If you have a 8 or 8.5 wide rear rim, then that leaves you out if you choose to stick to the OEM rim. BTW, I live in TX but grew up in CA. The GS-D3 is awesome in TX torrential rain, and from what I recall of Sacto rain, you will be pleasantly surprised by the water evacuation properties of this Eagle. In "normal" driving conditions over wet roads without standing puddles of water, the Eagles will feel just like driving in the dry -- they have confidence-inspiring grip in wet conditions I have found, due to the longitudinal grooves that pump out water to the rear of the tread.

 

I'm getting the Eagles in the next day or two from discounttiredirect.com. They have free shipping until 6/15 and Goodyear also has the $60 rebate offer. I decided to go with a wider wheel in order to get 245/40/18 in the front and 275/40/18 in the rear. This is a great tire. I would go with it or the Michelin PS2.