Tire Recommendations...

[Foxcolt]

Well looks like I've gotten my hands on a set of 17X8.5 (F) and 17X9 (R) 35offset all around.

What I need to know is what size tires I should put on em?

Also what brand would you guys choose? I'm looking for a good all round performance tire. Something that'll last me a good amount of time.

I'd like to spend no more than 500 shipped from tirerack.

Thanks folks!
Jed

[DoriftoSlut]

What type of driving?

I would say you COULD go with 215s, 225's, 235's, 245's and the rear will take 255 or maybe 265 but you will have clearance issues to worry about (and more understeer).

[Foxcolt]

Well, These are just gonna be for street driving. Nothing special. I've got a rear set for drift so I'd like to go with a nice high performance tire for my street wheels.

I'd also like to stay away from understeer.

235's in the front and 255's in the back? Would that work?

Thanks,
Jed who's trying to find a shop to fit 195's on his 8.5inch wide drift wheels

[DoriftoSlut]

Well I am partial to stretched sidewalss. I run 215/45/17 on 17x9J rims, so thats what i would do, cause they are cheaper (a bunch) than the other sizes. PURELY for street I would go 225/45/17 or 235/45/17 all round. You wont have understeer as bad. With 255 in rear there wil be a bit more understeer than stock. (the wider the rear tire is staggered vs. the front, the more understeer).

Also, 2 friends of mine go driving at Deal's Gap (the Dragon's tail... 318 turns in 11 miles...) Anyway Chris has a 435+ rwhp S14 KAT, and Russ has a 130~ rwhp S14 (Stock KA). Chris has subs and amps and a full interior, Russ has just about nothing in his car. Chris's tires: 235/45/17 front 255/40/17 rear. Russ was running stock tires at the time, iirc, so 16x6.5 probably 205/50/16. Wanna guess who Obliterated the other? Russ. I asked Chris why, he said his car was just understeer king and even running uphill at times, he could not catch Russ. both cars are daily driven, and Chris for sure, maybe Russ as well, goes to Road Atlanta track events/road races.

Oh well take it as you will...

[Foxcolt]

hmmm, so your saying its best to have the same size all around? Interesting.

I've always wanted to go with a staggered setup. I actually wanted rims that were 8 in the front 9 in the back. But the price of these were too good to not take. I'd be a shame if I have to put the same size tires on them

Any other opinions?

Thx,
Jed

[Steeles]

hmmm tire size I dunno man. theres sooo many theries i have no clue anymore. but for a good priced tire I've been really happy with my Yokohamma AVS ES100s well except that day it snowed... but thats to be expected right?

[DoriftoSlut]

Why would it be a shame? They are 1/2 an inch different. The same size tires will be tighter on the rear tires, making them more responsive, and giving you less understeer. i would not go with more than a 10mm difference between the F/R. Unless you know your car oversteers, or you like understeer. Whatever, don't listen to me, its ok... not my car. I am trying to offer you advice, but if that advice doesn't adhere to your predetermined desired response, don't listen to me.

[DoriftoSlut]

Oh types of tires, too: Dunlop FM 901's, Advan Neovas (Hehe $$$), FALKEN Azenis, Falken ST-series, Kumho Ecsta 712's, Potenza's...

[Foxcolt]

Originally posted by Dorifto180sx
Why would it be a shame? They are 1/2 an inch different. The same size tires will be tighter on the rear tires, making them more responsive, and giving you less understeer. i would not go with more than a 10mm difference between the F/R. Unless you know your car oversteers, or you like understeer. Whatever, don't listen to me, its ok... not my car. I am trying to offer you advice, but if that advice doesn't adhere to your predetermined desired response, don't listen to me.

not at all. i really appreciate your advice. no need to get offended.

At this point it looks like I'm gonna go with 235's all around.

[tnord]

why do you insist on a staggered setup again?

[Foxcolt]

Originally posted by tnord
why do you insist on a staggered setup again?

To be honest I really have no reason for it. Just something I've always wanted to do.

If it turns out that having a staggered setup will hinder performance more than help it than I'll go with the same size all around.

However, From the limited knowledge I have on tires I understand that most high performance cars including race built use a staggered setup like I wanted. If it causes so much understeer than what are the positives about it?

Thanks,
Jed
Whos confused as all getup at the moment

[DoriftoSlut]

Also have to remember the wieght balance of those cars though. For example, the Ferrari 360 Modena has very staggered setup, but the weight it biased towards the rear, the MR set up is inherently oversteering, and they build in slight understeer for the average driver cause it is more predictable (not better). Same with Porsche 911, etc..

Also remember that race cars have crazy compounded tires, so the fronts, that get less work in a RWD car, can afford to possibly be more sticky, and the rears, to be more consistant will be harder sometimes. Or even vice versa depending on driver preference/car setup. We are talking EXCLUSIVELY 240sx (and most production FR cars).

[Foxcolt]

ahh I understand.

ok so... It'd be best (since I already have crazy understeer due to camber) to get same size tires all around.

Would the sidewall look any different between the front and the rears?

Also How would fitment be with 235's all the way around? S14. I'd like to get a realitivly wide tire to take advantage of the wide wheels I have.

[DoriftoSlut]

235's should look just about the same between front and rear. Good size for everyday driving with some spirited stuff in there too....

Should make a difference in helping your understeering prob's.

[Foxcolt]

What tire sizes/ wheel width's do you run?

[DoriftoSlut]

I have GTR wheels (17x9) with 215/45/17.

[Foxcolt]

These are your everyday driving tires?

How come you chose those width's? positives/negatives?


And thanks for anwsering all my questions. It kinda bugs me that your the only one willing to help

[Dousan_PG]

i would help too but i do the same as dorifto but i have 15s.

when i get some 9 inch wheels i do the same.

dorifto and i participate in the same style of driving.

[Steeles]

mmm well I'd help if I knew more does that count fox?

oh and L when your done schooling us on tires... ya wanna eat the D?

[Foxcolt]

No prob guys, thanks for the input.

I'm just stuck as whether to go with a conventional tire size i.e. 235's or a smaller size like a 215.

Is it safe to say that all people with staggered width's tend to choose the same tire size all the way around due to the fact that if they don't it will decrease rather than increase performance?

Why do I always have to make everything so complicated

[deltrr]

yokohama avs es 100 is the way to go here, and as explained by whats-his-face about the RR based cars, seems staggered setup is not actually functional on our FR cars (well, outside from a drag setup, atleast..)

back to the yoko's - they are farely cheap too, ~80 per tire for this setup you want. but if you dont want to get jipped on COD's perhaps you should have me buy them through my work for you? since your giving me a break on that limited slip and all?

Driftec is MINE!


With love,
James

[DoriftoSlut]

I have those on my car 'cause I have an RPS13, and it is very very low.those wheels/tires fit perfectly, but with coilovers, any tire bulge will rub. 215/45 streches nicely, and is a good sixe to break loose with only ~est~ 200 rwhp or so. I do not have any interest in drag racing, and I don't drive fast. Occasional grip is good for getting racinging lines and then going back and drifting those lines, etc... Plus, with all the wasted tires from drifting, 215 is a cheap size to buy for 17's. Also, 215/45/17 is carried just about everywhere.

Aaron, what's our style of driving? Posing? LOL. Internet drifting, or Ricing? LOL.

Bran-- I'm gonna take you down.. down to china town, boy. Get some good FTE, shady-ass SI, and then feed you some imported D. Chit Meign what you know 'bout OBMF D?

[Foxcolt]

Oh what up Dood! Didn't recognize you till I read all your post.

All I saw was "driftec is mine" and I started getting all ruffle'd

Hmm, 80 bucks a tire huh? let me do some reasearch on that brand name and I'll get back to you. Ya think that dealership would be able to mount and balance those tire for me?

Thanks!
Jed

[Foxcolt]

Originally posted by Dorifto180sx
I have those on my car 'cause I have an RPS13, and it is very very low.those wheels/tires fit perfectly, but with coilovers, any tire bulge will rub. 215/45 streches nicely, and is a good sixe to break loose with only ~est~ 200 rwhp or so. I do not have any interest in drag racing, and I don't drive fast. Occasional grip is good for getting racinging lines and then going back and drifting those lines, etc... Plus, with all the wasted tires from drifting, 215 is a cheap size to buy for 17's. Also, 215/45/17 is carried just about everywhere.

I figure since I have a set of rears that I'm gonna use for drift. I'd like something that I can corner with for everyday driving. Something that wouldn't break loose as easily especially in the rain.

In that sense I'd be better off with something like a 235 correct? However like yours my car sits really low and even with the 300z wheels I have on 205's my fronts won't clear my coilovers unless I use a spacer.

Is there anyway I can figure out if a certain tire size will rub my coilovers without actually test fitting em on first?

Jed
who's getting a damn headache

[deltrr]

thats not exact pricing, but tell me - whats your stock tire size? 195/60/15 or 205/55/16?

[Steeles]

you gotta research yokohama?!?! lol just playing man the es 100s replaced the AVS intermediate. AA (or whatever the top is) traction rating and a good wear rating too.

Lin - chit mang you cant take me nowhere with your ride in the ocean sumwherez!take ya to MY hood show you some of that GFBMF ol school D!

[Foxcolt]

Originally posted by Steeles
you gotta research yokohama?!?! lol just playing man the es 100s replaced the AVS intermediate. AA (or whatever the top is) traction rating and a good wear rating too.

Oops i misread james's post. I thought he said tokohama.

In that case James I'll give you a call sometime this week to set things up.

Now I just need to find out what size I need

I think my stockie (300z wheels) are 205/55/16's.

[deltrr]

well if you had 205/55/16 then youll need a 215/40/17 for the tire/wheel combo to "work" (correct speedo and odo readout, etc)

i just got off the phone with tirerack - if you want them today, i can still place an order and have a set of 4 in on thursday at the latest (they will be coming out of indiana)

thats four (4) Yokohama AVS ES100 215/40/17

total with shipping is $420.00

let me know

[Foxcolt]

Originally posted by deltrr
well if you had 205/55/16 then youll need a 215/40/17 for the tire/wheel combo to "work" (correct speedo and odo readout, etc)

i just got off the phone with tirerack - if you want them today, i can still place an order and have a set of 4 in on thursday at the latest (they will be coming out of indiana)

thats four (4) Yokohama AVS ES100 215/40/17

total with shipping is $420.00

let me know

Preciate it, however I'm gonna have to wait a week since A) my wheels aren't in yet B) I spend all my money on the wheels

I'll go with your deal. But I'm still unsure of what size I want.

PS. I can't remember the last time my speedo read right

[deltrr]

lol, allright.