Optimal Wheel Size for Stock Power

[JimmyMac]

I'm going for a street setup. I'll be running Pilot Super Sports. This year we've been having oddball rain every week. During the winter, I may store them and toss the stockers back on.

[ill86]

Originally Posted by JimmyMac

For a stock car and keeping performance, 17x7 or 17x7.5 with better rubber is the performance bet. You can probably go with 17x8 but a wider rubber selection will increase diameter and likely slow the car down a few tenths for certain situations. If its a track day it may help, but for street driving it'll be slower. Most might not notice or not care.

You can get wider tires without increasing diameter. 235/40 is smaller, 245/40 is the same in 17".

However the wider rubber will increase tire weight. Getting a lightweight wheel to offset the heavier rubber is ideal.

[D1cker]

Originally Posted by Tanuki

What tires do you guys prefer? Affordable but good

It depends on your needs and where you get them from (this affects pricing)

For a street tire without any track time, I like the Hankook V12. It's a cheap well balanced tire and available in a bunch of sizes.

For tires that will see the track frequently I like the Z1 star spec, and the hankook RS3, or if you're on a tight budget the Federal 595 RSR

If you'd like the best all around tire and don't mind spending a little extra, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport is really the best allrounder.

[Tanuki]

^thanks. These will probably be a 1-2 day a year on track tire. The rest will be street. I have a race car, so there is actually a good chance this car will never go out to the track, but I like to keep the options open. I was thinking Nitto's maybe.

[D1cker]

The NT05 is a decent tire. Does it rain much in Utah? All of the good street/track tires tend to suck in the rain save for the star specs.

Since my FR-S is my daily driver currently and I have a track car already as well, I went with the Hankook V12 because of the low cost and all around balance of the tire, it maintains the fun feel of the FRS's factory setup but greatly improves grip.

I'm running the 225/45/17 on a 17x9 for reference.

[ill86]

Originally Posted by D1cker

The NT05 is a decent tire. Does it rain much in Utah? All of the good street/track tires tend to suck in the rain save for the star specs.

The Yokohama ADVAN AD08 is excellent in the rain. Highly recommended.

[D1cker]

Originally Posted by ill86

The Yokohama ADVAN AD08 is excellent in the rain. Highly recommended.

Great tire, just awfully expensive.

[Tanuki]

Yeah we don't get a lot of rain, and when we do, it is for like 10 minutes. We do get snow during winter, but I will run snow tires or find a beater car for winter. They ALMOST have public transportation done to my work though, so honestly Id prefer that.

[Khyron686]

I think I've settled on 17x8 with 225/45-17 - for a street driver with the day or two of autox/year.

[Lee358]

What wheel ate you going to go with?


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[Draco-REX]

My opinion: 17x7+42 with 235/40-17 tires pinched on. This will let you stay in SCCA C-Stock. I think this car will be a terror in RTR(CS) with that wheel/tire combo and front crash bolts.

[Tanuki]

Is there a formula for power intervals? Meaning, what are the factors to create the equation on weight/power/wheel size? When do you go bigger?

[ill86]

Originally Posted by D1cker

Great tire, just awfully expensive.

Not the most expensive, but not the cheapest either. Great on track, excellent wear, no chunks, very sticky in dry or wet, pressures and temps stay consistant.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/types/extremeperf.jsp

If i didn't love the AD08 so much I'd check out the Star Spec.

[Tanuki]

Ok, I bought the volks 17x8+44. I hope they are close to what I am hoping for. They should retain some fuel economy while improving performance.