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Tire size suggestions
I'm looking to get a new set of tires and wasn't sure if I should upgrade to wider ones. I currently have 235/40/17 F and 255/40/17 R with Kuhmo MXs (which I don't like very much) and wasn't sure how the coupe would feel with the stock 225/245 setup in SO3s. Do you guys think I should stay with the wider setup or go back to stock? I mainly do some spirited driving with the coupe on the weekends. Right now with the MXs the car likes to grab onto the ruts in the road (due to the large tread blocks I was told) so that I don't like.
Any suggestions are welcomed.
JT
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I've been running SO-3s on my car for almost 3 years in a size larger than yours (235/40YR-17 front, 265/40YR-17 rear). Yes, they do hunt around (tramline) on grooves in the pavement, but they have great grip in the dry and the wet (somewhat important here in the Pacific NW). I will be purchasing another set from The Tire Rack shortly
I've had no problems with the larger size rubbing anywhere. One thing I like about them is that the shoulders of the tire stick out a bit beyond the edge of the rim, so that my park-by-feel wife has a bit of warning before the curb scrape. 
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Quote: | One thing I like about them is that the shoulders of the tire stick out a bit beyond the edge of the rim, so that my park-by-feel wife has a bit of warning before the curb scrape. | You let your wife drive your car?!  jk, my fiance won't even touch my Coupe. She says its so loud and scary she refuses to drive it...hahah! then again, she has an e36 M3/4 to keep her happy.
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I stuck with the stock size. I love the look of the 255 or 265 on the back.. but only when viewed directly from the back. From any other angle, I think the 10mm over sizing makes the tires look "square shouldered", which, I'm not a fan of. I prefer a tire that either has a rounded shoulder look, or, go with one that's even more like 20mm wider for a slightly "pooched out" rounded look. It varies from tire to tire, but the 10mm plus width sizing looks odd to me.
Also, a rounded shoulder tire is going to eliminate a lot of tram lining (wandering). Square shoulders tend to "grab" pavement edges / ruts.
I just put on a set of the new Dunlop tire, the SP Sport Maxx. I love 'em. My Coupe drives like a fun little go kart again. Goes where you point it.
But.. I'm in the minority here. Lots and lots of Coupe guys have gone with the wider sizes. For what it's worth though, I'd say; either stick with stock sizing to maxize looks and the "fun" performance factors, or, go with a really super wide size to again go for the cool looks and just live with / deal with the more sluggish steering.
.02
| | Reply » Tire size suggestions |
Quote: I stuck with the stock size. I love the look of the 255 or 265 on the back.. but only when viewed directly from the back. From any other angle, I think the 10mm over sizing makes the tires look "square shouldered", which, I'm not a fan of. I prefer a tire that either has a rounded shoulder look, or, go with one that's even more like 20mm wider for a slightly "pooched out" rounded look. It varies from tire to tire, but the 10mm plus width sizing looks odd to me.
Also, a rounded shoulder tire is going to eliminate a lot of tram lining (wandering). Square shoulders tend to "grab" pavement edges / ruts.
I just put on a set of the new Dunlop tire, the SP Sport Maxx. I love 'em. My Coupe drives like a fun little go kart again. Goes where you point it.
But.. I'm in the minority here. Lots and lots of Coupe guys have gone with the wider sizes. For what it's worth though, I'd say; either stick with stock sizing to maxize looks and the "fun" performance factors, or, go with a really super wide size to again go for the cool looks and just live with / deal with the more sluggish steering.
.02 | That is one thing I did notice, it does feel sluggish and somewhat subdued when bringin the tail out on a powerslide. I heard that the 367 and 368s were very tail happy and easy to rotate.
And yes, I do think the the tires look really meaty (in a un-natural way) b/c of the square shoulders.
I think I know the perfect way to find out what I really want. My buddy SGI4Side has his spare set of Roadster wheels on the stock PS1 tires. I think I will swap them out for his and see how it handles stock.
Thanks for the suggestions/opinions!
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Yeah, I can't say enough good things about these Dunlops. They have a rounded shoulder... and just the right look. I measured the actual tread contact area when compared to a Goodyear F1. They're identical. The F1's have a slightly rounded shoulder with the stock 245/40 in back, but the stock 225/45 in front mounts up more square. The Dulops .. somehow... provide a cooler look on the fronts, and yet provide the same tread width. Weird. But.. cool !
As a result of that shape, it really made a big difference in steering. The car is fun again. I really liked the F1's, but one of my few complaints about them is that they felt kind of dead. And that was with the stock width. Tried pumping them up higher but it made no difference. A solid and confident feel... I suppose. But, eh.. the Dunlops are way more fun, and have as good grip in higher speed manuevers.
Sorry, I realize you're not looking at those tires. We were on the subject so I thought I'd mention it.
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Tire size suggestions