Hey guys, first off this isn't another "whats the biggest tire I can fit on my track wheels thread?" I've done plenty of reading and searching and it seems that the max looks like a 255/265.

However, I'm somewhat concerned about sidewall strength and feel when it comes to tracking the car at AutoX/track days. Right now, I'm sitting on the stockers...I've ran it at an AutoX and surprisingly did pretty well for being an 03 on stock tires and suspension...a few times was able to close in the gap with a newer HR on nittos (didn't have an LSD however). I think the car feels great on the road and I like how responsive it feels. I think I've settled with a 245 front and a 255 rear...but should I run a 35 or 40 sidewall? I was thinking 35...

Also, what kind of recommendations can you guys make for a tire? Of course like usual, I would prefer something sticky, with good tread life, and low road noise...I'm thinking I'm going to have to pick 2 of those attributes. The car isn't driven in the winter time, so a performance only tire is fine, but I do take it on 5 hour road trips back home at times. I am interested in the BFG KDW2, but have heard they are super loud on the interstate...but how bad? I've got test pipes and a full system with 2 10s and it never bothers me. Maybe those would be a good choice?

Future plans are to get the tires, measure and add spacers, and then look into camber arms front and rear, rear toe arms, and coils. For now I do plan to keep the stock V1 track wheels. I like the look, they're light, and 18in tires are way cheaper than 19s...and plus I really don't forsee myself needing more tire meat than that...thats 10in worth of tire in the back. I track it for fun, I'm not trying to smash the competition in my DE...just trying to make a few little improvements!

Sorry for the long post. Thanks for the help!

 

Also was looking at the Hankook Ventus R-S3 in the 255/35 & 265/35. The 245 size only comes in a 40 series.

 

that all sounds good, but you're gonna want a 40 series sidewall imo

 

I hear to stay away from the BFG KDW2 due to noise and shitty wear. Some people's last, others are shot in a few thousand miles. as far as hankook, Ventus v12's get a decent rep but are said to have a rather mushy sidewall. I don't know about the R-S3 so I won't talk about them.

As far as tire sizes, the factory sizes are a 225/45r18 and a 245/45r18. You can look at these numbers online by googling a "rolling diameter calculator", but by switching the rear from a 45 sidewall to a 35 and not running a much wider tire (which does add to the rolling diameter) you change the rolling diameter by 7.24% (about 2 inches shorter form top to bottom). This will affect your speedo and odometer by showing that you are doing ~65 when only doing 60, and will also say you have done 100 miles when you have only driven ~93. Also, a 35 sidewall is a short sidewall. It makes for a rougher ride and also protects the wheel less. This will also lower your car an inch, but also give it an inch more wheel gap up top. Just trying to share some info with you Alex, I've come to learn wheels and tires have a lot more going on than I first thought.

 

I believe that the track trim also has VDC or w/e the stability management is on the Z's (base doesn't ) so you'll have to worry a little bit about the ratios from front to back rolling diameter. I will wait for someone else to chime in on this because I don't know as much about it seeing as I don't have to worry about it lol.

 

Star specs, 245/40 front and 245/45 rear would be a great choice. Really i would just buy ned wheels so i could run wider tires.

 

I'm running 275/40 Michelin ps2 on my rear V1 wheels. Looks great and perform great.

 

Yeah I need to keep the ratios close, and it's my fault for not paying closer attention to the sidewall height...definitely need to go with a 40 and maybe even a 45 in the rear. I'd certainly like to get a new set of wheels, but I want coils and camber arms more. With it sitting lower and the proper spacers I'll be plenty happy with the look for the time being. Just need a good performing tire in the right sizes. Maybe even a square setup?

 

Look at what i suggested, its square but still retains the factory stagger in height. Great setup for daily driving and awsome setup for autocross/track. The tires i suggested work great for autocross and track, run this setup for a while till you can buy some RPF1's or somthing else to use wider tires with.

If you plan on getting wider wheels, save you $$$ and do not buy spacers. You can use thay extra $250 for your new wheels with the proper offset.

 

Yeah man I like that idea...I took a closer look at my tread today, and I think I have more life than I thought left in them...so I might wait and get a set of RPF1's. That was my aftermarket wheel choice anyway, so hopefully I can make that work! Thanks for the suggestions everyone

 

Hmm, I'd stay with the V1 Track wheels...

18x8 & 18x8.5? Not so much where the tires are concerned.

I got a chance to measure mine when mounting some new tires. At the official measuring point (where the bead meets the barrel) the wheels are 18x8 1/8" and 18x8 3/4". The bead tapers outward 1/4" each side, so the tires are actually mounted on equivalent "straight" (right-angle) beads of 18x8 5/8" fronts and 18x9 1/4" rears.

 

Oh nice to know! I sure do wish I had some dough to throw at a set of wheels, but I have to be honest...I really like the look of the V1 track wheels, very simple yet elegant, and functional at the same time. I think it will look amazing with a proper drop and the right spacer. Although it may cost me a couple hundred bucks for the spacers, I've been focused on the little things here lately...and also bills...not to mention 37in tires on a lifted excursion, ball joints, and u joints is some serious $$$ that I had to drop on that recently

Just taking my time with it and trying to do stuff right and not cut corners. Last thing I wanted to do was throw a heavier set of wheels like some vars or something. I know the rpf1's are light, but my future plan is to get a used set of volk gts in silver and have the barrels powdercoated black. I LOVE the phantom edition gts's, but since they discontinued them I figure I can make my own set. That's all way in the future after a few motordyne parts and such.