I know this has been discussed a little bit but let's continue the discussion:

RA1:
I've used the RA1 in two different applications on my '02 WRX. I ran 225/50/16s on my stock wheels and absolutely loved them. I also have used them on my 17X8.5 Volk LE37s in a 235/45/17. I loved them even more in that application but the problem is that they wear quickly on the street (Treadwear 100).

RE01:
From what I've heard it's a very sticky tire for a non-R compound. Treadwear is 140 which would help get a lot more life out of it. I've never driven on these tires.

What I'm thinking of doing is keeping a set of stock wheels with 225/50/16 RA1s for auto-x and Summit Point when I finally get out there. The second piece of this will be a RE01 application for my 17X8.5 Volks. I'm having trouble deciding what size RE01 I want to go with.

Thoughts on my idea are welcome.

Thanks,
Eric

Some other aspects of my setup:

Brakes:
Wilwood 4 pot 12.2" brakes that fit under the 16" stock wheels.

Power:
A torquey 500lb/ft GT52 EJ25 hybrid motor (this is why I need a super sticky tire for the street).

for a bugeye, the biggest that will easily fit---no cutting/pulling.....is likely gonna be a 245/40 and that may require a bit of 'adjusting' the rear camber

for a bugeye, the biggest that will easily fit---no cutting/pulling.....is likely gonna be a 245/40 and that may require a bit of 'adjusting' the rear camber

I think I'm going to stick with a 235...or even a 225 for the street.

I think I'm going to stick with a 235...or even a 225 for the street.

waste of time with that wheel....a 245/40 is the right size, no doubt

waste of time with that wheel....a 245/40 is the right size, no doubt

Good to know.
Thanks.

235 on a 8.5" wide wheel is perfectly fine. It'll probably offer a bit more steering feel than 245s. I'm not against 245s, but I don't like really rubbing and if you wish to go with 235s I think that size wouldn't be a problem. Remember that contact patch area doesn't increase with a wider tire, the contact patch shape gets wider but shorter. The decrease in slip angle per unit cornering force is what gives a wider tire the ability to pull more gs, but that ability translates imperfectly at best to longitudinal grip. If you're mostly worried about grip launching your car, and judging from your engine specs you are, I'd say the 245s would not offer much improvement over the 235s. If you can get away without rubbing on the 245s though, the 245/40-17 size is closer to the original rolling diameter which helps with speedometer and odometer accuracy.

RA-1's have a treadwear of 100, not 40.

RA-1's are have a treadwear of 100, not 40.

Thanks...I'll correct the post.