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Old 08-15-2012, 07:35 PM   #1
CIATexan
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Default Tire Selection

Hi all, I'm looking to purchase some new tires for my car, and wanted some input and advice about selection.

I've got 18x8.5 Rota Grids on a 2002 WRX Wagon thats lowered on Epic Engineering Wagon Springs, currently running a 235/40ZR 18 Direzza, but I get light rub on the rear fenders in hard cornering and large bumps at speed.

I've heavily rolled the rear fenders, so thats not going to get any better.

I'm thinking about going to BFG G-Force KDW's but i'm unsure wether to go with the current 235/40, or try going to a 225/40.

Any clue how much more clearance I might gain by going with this?

Is it worth the tradeoff of a smaller contact patch/slightly stretched tires performance wise?

I do drive this car hard, and would like to get into some AutoCross and Trackdays soon.
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Old 08-15-2012, 09:39 PM   #2
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I highly doubt you are rubbing the fenders with those wheels, if you are you don't have correct camber.

Are you rubbing at full lock under cornering? Front or rear?
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Old 08-15-2012, 10:29 PM   #3
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you dont want those bfg's...they get LOUD...so loud you wanna stab your eardrums out with a thermonuclear bomb....

****can the 18's get some 17x8 or 17x9's and put a 235/40 federal 595rs-r on and be or try the 225/40-18 on your wheels 595RS-R and be

the rs-r's run WIDE for their size
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Old 08-16-2012, 07:40 AM   #4
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Somehow I am not surprized that Uncle suggests Federals.

Go to manufacturer web site, find your current tires and write down their dimensions. It seems that you are looking for tires that are a little smaller than what you currently have. Nominal sizes are just indication of load and size; tires assigned the same size can vary significantly in real dimensions.
Then go and check Federal and you will find that Uncle's suggestion is probably spot on.

How much money do you have?

The best tires will be Michelin Pilot Super Sport (all around) and Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 (dry).

A few notches below will be Dunlop Star Spec. Probably also here will be Federal RSR (if you can find them).

One of the best wet tires is Goodyear F1 Asymmetric 2 but not as good as others in dry.

And if you are on budget and want comfortable dd tire (summer grand touring like) nothing beats Hankook Evo V12 K110 (except that it wears quite fast).

Krzys

PS Check tirerack and car and driver, both recently tested summer tires and posted the results. I base my opinions on these tests (and a few more European ones).
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Old 08-16-2012, 09:56 AM   #5
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krzyss, Nice post. Interesting story, I have both the Hankook evo 12's and the Sumitomo HTRZIII's, in the same size (two different sets of tyres of course) - the ZIII's are much wider.

The Evo12's have decent grip, but they really have a "squishy"/soft feel to them. The ZIII"s have much better feedback w/o being as harsh as StarSpecs/Neovas, similar traction "feel" to the Evo 12, but feel slightly sportier overall. I'd faster recommend the ZIII as a budget alternative than the Evo 12 K110's (well, aside from the 595 RS-R)....cuz they are priced about the same IIRC, and give more value for money IMHO
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Old 08-16-2012, 10:07 AM   #6
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Are there any options for a 235 or 245 in a 35 sidewall measurement? Going with a slightly shorter tire might help on the fender clearance issues at least.

That being said, Scotty is at least correct in that you would have more options in a 17x8 or 17x9.
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Old 08-16-2012, 11:27 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sc00by4life View Post
I highly doubt you are rubbing the fenders with those wheels, if you are you don't have correct camber.

Are you rubbing at full lock under cornering? Front or rear?
No offense, but when I say they rub, they definately rub.

Its not under cornering or full lock, its under hard compressions, and only in the rear where they rub the inside edge of the fender. The fronts never contact.
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Old 08-16-2012, 11:32 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CIATexan

No offense, but when I say they rub, they definately rub.

Its not under cornering or full lock, its under hard compressions, and only in the rear where they rub the inside edge of the fender. The fronts never contact.
None taken. I'm not saying you aren't rubbing, I'm saying you aren't rubbing where you think you are unless there is something significantly off on your car.

Last edited by sc00by4life; 08-16-2012 at 02:32 PM.
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Old 08-16-2012, 01:02 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Omega_2nr View Post
krzyss, Nice post. Interesting story, I have both the Hankook evo 12's and the Sumitomo HTRZIII's, in the same size (two different sets of tyres of course) - the ZIII's are much wider.

The Evo12's have decent grip, but they really have a "squishy"/soft feel to them. The ZIII"s have much better feedback w/o being as harsh as StarSpecs/Neovas, similar traction "feel" to the Evo 12, but feel slightly sportier overall. I'd faster recommend the ZIII as a budget alternative than the Evo 12 K110's (well, aside from the 595 RS-R)....cuz they are priced about the same IIRC, and give more value for money IMHO
a friend had the htrzIII on his wrx and i drove **** outa that car and liked those tires 10000000% better than the v12 hankooks

them v12 hankooks are just a touring tire....they are NOT a performance tire
__________________________________________________ __

and after using 'performance' tires since the early 1980's.....

the federal 595RS-R is the best UHP/MAX performance street/dd tire there is right now....nothing even comes close

cheap
SILENT
good ride
great performance wet and dry
decent life
work on the track just fine if ya wanna do that
they just do NOTHING wrong....quite amazing, really

about the only downside is a bit limited size selection
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Old 08-16-2012, 04:18 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty View Post
a friend had the htrzIII on his wrx and i drove **** outa that car and liked those tires 10000000% better than the v12 hankooks

them v12 hankooks are just a touring tire....they are NOT a performance tire
__________________________________________________ __

and after using 'performance' tires since the early 1980's.....

the federal 595RS-R is the best UHP/MAX performance street/dd tire there is right now....nothing even comes close

cheap
SILENT
good ride
great performance wet and dry
decent life
work on the track just fine if ya wanna do that
they just do NOTHING wrong....quite amazing, really

about the only downside is a bit limited size selection
I'm looking at them, and they are dirt cheap... and they make a 235/40 and a 225/40...

for a little over 500 bucks to my door, thats not effin bad.
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Old 08-16-2012, 05:52 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CIATexan View Post
I'm looking at them, and they are dirt cheap... and they make a 235/40 and a 225/40...

for a little over 500 bucks to my door, thats not effin bad.
do the 225/40's

they run REALLY wide....the 225 is EASILY as wide as a 235 of any other brand

and it will help the gearing a bit too being shorter


just make sure...i mean REALLY sure that your toe is ZERO....and nothing else!!!

these tires are silent UNLESS they get a bit if a feather edge on them from toe being off.....then they get LOUD enough that ya wanna stab your ears out with electric eels and things......
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Old 08-17-2012, 01:55 AM   #12
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I highly recommend the Michelin pilot sport a/s plus, primacy mxm4, or a pilot super sport. Three of the worlds greatest tires ever made. As far as the size, uncle scotty said it all.
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Old 08-17-2012, 04:15 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jaredej20t View Post
uncle scotty said it all.
fixed that one for ya

ya dont know jack about tires......ya just think ya do
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Old 08-17-2012, 07:20 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty

fixed that one for ya

ya dont know jack about tires......ya just think ya do
Your funny. I've been in the tire business since before you knew what a subaru was.
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Old 08-17-2012, 07:21 PM   #15
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Get a y rated hankook to last 50k haha. Hankook..... what a joke.
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Old 08-17-2012, 07:32 PM   #16
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Attn: tire knowledge is based on how many posts on this fourm you have.
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Old 08-17-2012, 08:26 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jaredej20t
Attn: tire knowledge is based on how many posts on this fourm you have.
Someone's butt hurt. Scotty knows his ****.
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Old 08-17-2012, 09:15 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jaredej20t View Post
Attn: tire knowledge is based on how many posts on this fourm you have.
sweetie....i been driving high performance tires since i put the bfg T/A 60H on my 1981 celica gt in 1983(several sets....great tires, didnt last long).....and bought and used UHP/MAX performance tires on every car I have had since...and I have had some sort of hot rod or hot hatch or whatever since 1978....

how much UHP and MAX performance tire experience do YOU have???


yeah....
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Old 08-17-2012, 10:36 PM   #19
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I do agree that scotty knows his ****. But obviously he isn't the only person that knows a thing or two about this subject. Tires are my profession. Its what I do all day everyday. You guys talk **** to everyone that says anything on here. Congrats. You've been in the game a while. So have I. Sweetie.
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Old 08-17-2012, 10:37 PM   #20
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Ps traction t/a is a garbage tire.
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Old 08-17-2012, 10:42 PM   #21
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Yes i hated my kdw's because of the noise! But they do have cool tread
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Old 08-18-2012, 01:41 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jaredej20t View Post
I do agree that scotty knows his ****. But obviously he isn't the only person that knows a thing or two about this subject. Tires are my profession. Its what I do all day everyday. You guys talk **** to everyone that says anything on here. Congrats. You've been in the game a while. So have I. Sweetie.
and ya gonna tell people to buy the $$$$ Michelin tires 'cuz ya make a lot of $$$ on them sellin them

ok...fine

bang for the buck they suck....if ya balla.....holla Michelin

i usta think buying hi dollar automotive products like tires was a great thing....until i realized that most of the hi dolla automotive things were just hype and advertising which inflated both their image and price

meh
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Old 08-18-2012, 01:44 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eurotek View Post
Yes i hated my kdw's because of the noise! But they do have cool tread
they are an OLD design....2001 iirc

and

Quote:
Ps traction t/a is a garbage tire.
who said ANYTHING about a 'traction t/a' tire here
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Old 08-18-2012, 01:48 AM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jaredej20t View Post
I do agree that scotty knows his ****. But obviously he isn't the only person that knows a thing or two about this subject. Tires are my profession. Its what I do all day everyday. You guys talk **** to everyone that says anything on here. Congrats. You've been in the game a while. So have I. Sweetie.
you mount tires at discount?
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Old 08-18-2012, 02:07 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sc00by4life

you mount tires at discount?
Im in marketing for Michelin. What do you do? Work at a local shop making 20 dollars per hour? Fast food?? Landscaping? Get real guy. This website is the only way for you to be a big shot.
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