[Rice & Gravy]

215/55/17
225/55/17
225/50/17
maybe even 235/50/17 but I think I might have rubbing (on swifts)

Anyone know? I like to keep the speedo pretty close to right.

These tires are going on 17x7.5 +45 offset wheels.

I ran 225/45/17 tires before which was ok, but major wheel gap, but the upside was ZERO chance of fender rubbing - plenty of travel.

 

[wolfman79]

I ran 245/45/17 on 17x8 +48 last year with no rubbing, dropped on coil overs. But for this season Auto-X we are running 225/55/17 on 17x7 +48. Test fits in the shop look good and they didn't rub the one time I've taken them out on a test drive.

 

[Legacy]

Are you buying these tires specifically for autox ? If so then not really. 215's will be too skinny, 225/55 has too tall a sidewall, the 225/50 is pushing it at best. On a 17x7.5 I'd run in order of preference

235/40/17
235/45/17
225/45/17

(A 245/40/17 would be too wide for 7.5, it "can" fit but it will be sloppy)

Also, if you're ONLY going to autox with these then don't concern yourself with the speedo. Its irrelevant, if you have time to look at the speedo you're doing it wrong.

That said, I suspect you want to maintain speedo accuracy to run these on the street as well. If that's the case go with the 225/50's , sacrifice some grip and you'll have your accurate speedo as well.

What tires are you thinking of getting ?

 

[Rice & Gravy]

What tires are you thinking of getting ?

That's what I am trying to figure out - I can't really find any decent autox worthy tires in a size that will also be good for the street - meaning maintain speedo accuracy and fill the wheel wells a fair amount. Last year I ONLY used them for autox since i was on 225/45/17 and they were pretty well done at that point. I suppose I could do that again with new tires, but I'd like to put them on and leave them on.

 

[Legacy]

Here you go. Any of these tires will rock at the autox and be WAY more then you'll ever need on the street.

Bridgestone Potenza RE-11
225/45R17
235/40R17
235/45R17


Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec
225/45R17
235/40R17
235/45R17

Hankook Ventus R-S3
225/45ZR17

Kumho Ecsta XS
225/45R17
235/45R17

 

[Rice & Gravy]

Yeah, I am partial to the Star Specs I think. It looks like I'll have resign myself to dealing with the wheel gap/speedo thing if I want to use them all summer. I don't mind swapping them for events really, it'd just be nice not to.

 

[Legacy]

Don't get too hung up on speedo accuracy because.... the speedo isn't accurate. I have GPS in the car and I knew beforehand my 245/45/17's would throw it off. Well its not that much, maybe 4mph @ 75. Put OEM size 215/60/16 winter tires on this year and suprise, its still not accurate. Most cars are off about 5% @ 60mph.

 

[funkymonkey1002]

Speedo is accurate with 215/65/16 tires, stock tires are even off so don't worry about it.

I ran 235/45/17, they clear stock suspension even and give a good amount of tread. At stock height they looked a little goofy, but once I was dropped on wrx suspension they looked fine. Ran then on 17x7.5. I run 225/50/17 now, I like the size a bit better for a DD, but for autox 235/45 would be great.

Are you planning to run R comps or street tires?

 

[Rice & Gravy]

The short answer is street tires. I'd love R comps but the indexing the local club I run with uses puts me in competition with STis, EVOs, Cobras, Mustangs and the like. R Comps would give me a tire multiplier as well and make it even harder to compete. I do a little track stuff too ( I'm an SCCA official - free sessions ) and I am not willing to run R comps on a street car on track.

 

[wagn]

For sure don't think this response means any dis respect. Many years of Solo/DE guide me to say get a tire/wheel that is the best for Solo, and do not DD them. If budget prevents that take what you can get and don't look back. What class you running, will you be getn trophies? Go have fun with your dd/solo solution and "do not" track the set unless you want 5k from them. I'll take a set of solo shoes on the track and they will be slippy mush in ten minutes. I didn't see much suspension parts on your sig so you will be a pushing pig. Enjoy, learn and keep it right side up.

A great driver on 215s will best an average driver on 245s. Both will be pushing pigs in a Fozzy.

Solo STU#27, 245-17-45 Bridgestone on 17x7.5
SCCA F&C and Sound Control, Evolution Instructor

 

[Rice & Gravy]

I certainly don't take it anyway other than as advice to be heeded or not. And you are probably right about not DD them. I only do limited track time - a session here or there as a "benefit" of being a steward for our regions PDX/TT program, so I don't believe using a "solo tire" for a few sessions on track now and again is going to a big issue for me. Beats all seasons.

I have swift FXT springs and STi rear sway bar. This spring I am adding a bigger front sway bar, rear strut tower bar and solid endlinks all around - The new setup is going to ask more out of my tires than last year for sure.

btw, I am also SCCA F&C. Best seat in the house!

 

[fourortwowheels]

245/45/17 would be my choice. im having a tire dilema myself this season, i cant decide on r comps or some 245/45/17 dunlops.

 

[Rice & Gravy]

245/45/17 would be my choice. im having a tire dilema myself this season, i cant decide on r comps or some 245/45/17 dunlops.

What width wheel are you putting those on? I have a hard time thinking a 245 tire will fit well on a 7" wide wheel

 

[Legacy]

Don't put a 245 on a 7 inch wheel. Its way too wide and will bulge, you'll get slop and actually have worse handling than a correctly matched tire, even a 225/45 will perform better on that width.

 

[Rice & Gravy]

Don't put a 245 on a 7 inch wheel. Its way too wide and will bulge, you'll get slop and actually have worse handling than a correctly matched tire, even a 225/45 will perform better on that width.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. Legacy, have you ever autox'd on RE070s?

 

[Legacy]

Yes, I've done both autox and a lapping day on RE070's. 225/45/17 wil fit nicely on a 17x7 wheel. The RE070 has a stiff sidewall which makes well for spirited driving. I used "worn out" street tires from STI's which are still plenty good for events and wear very well. I must have done 4-5 events on these tires until I bought a different setup.

 

[fourortwowheels]

my bad, major brain fart - i thought it was at least a 7.5" wheel... i run a 245 now on an 8" wheel, no problems..

my next setup will be 8.5-9" wide!

the re070s even worn are great auto-x tires. and they can be had for relatively cheap, so its a win, win!

 

[Rice & Gravy]

I've decided for now to seek out some RE070 take offs since I had to spend some of my tire funds to have 2 of my wheels unbent. If I can't find any for a fair price I am gonna suck it up and just get a set of the Dunlop Star Specs.

 

[Legacy]

I got mine for free, search you local Nasioc forum and you should be able to find someone giving them away or at the very worst $50 for a set. What's worn out for a street car is perfect for the track.