TubeDriver

I agree, with your tire size choice. I'll send Bob V an e-mail and see what other people are doing.

TubeDriver

Hmm, Bob V. actually recommended the 235/40-17 rear (not the 255/40-17). He is basing this on the recommended wheell width (235/40-17= 8.0-8.5-9.5) and (255/40-17=8.5-9.9-10). So the OEM MY04 wheel is perfect width for the 235/40-17 and the minimum reccommeded for the 255/40-17. I'm still not sure what I will end up going with, I guess the ideal combo from a wheel/tire interface standpoint would be the 235/40-17 but the 255/40-17 gives another .5-.6 tread width.

Triple-H

And if memory serves me RA-1s 245/45-16 on the rear OEM wheel are also at the narrowest optional wheel size...

When I first had them mounted I remember thinking wow, the sidewall really is pulled in at the mounting point of the wheel/the bead. But now that I have been tracking them they seem to be wearing just fine, although the sidewall still seems pulled in a bit.

Triple-H

Memory serves me...
http://www.toyo.com/tires/tire_specsheet.cfm?id=1

245/45ZR16 - 7.5-8.0-9.0

TubeDriver

J/K I don't think it looks too extreme on my current setup (MY03 wheels and 245/45-16). My guess is that either the 255/40 or the 235/40-17 will work. I wonder what would have a bigger contact patch a 245/45-16 on a 7.5" wheel or a 235/40-17 on a 8.5" wheel (when overall width is speced as being identical 9.6 by Toyo)?

Triple-H

I suspect you are right, I sure wish this thread had more contributions than just you and I...

Good question, but I ain't touchin that one with a ten foot pole.

All I know is when I switched my 195/55-14 CRX-SiR tires from the OEM 5.5" wheel to the MSW 6" wheel I was amazed at how much wider they seemed. And now that that came up let me just say the ing tire makers don't seem to want to make a decent street 195/55-14s any more...

TubeDriver

Yea, I am starting to think that no MY04/05 owners track or autoX their car with RA-1s? Oh well, I still have enough tire for a few more events with my 225/45-16s, perhaps there will be more interest as the newer cars/owners start to get involved in motorsports.

Tedster

I can tell you what I run on Volk Racing CE28N's, for what it's worth.

Those wheels are 17x7.5 50mm offset front / 17x9.0 63mm offset rear, so wider in the rear than the MY04 wheels, I believe.

I use 235/45-17 front and 255/40-17 rear RA-1s.

TubeDriver

That looks like the best overall 17" combo for RA-1s (more rubber front and rear and good stagger) but thet front tire really won't fit on a 7" wide OEM wheel since the minimum recommended size is 8". However, I think this setup is the no brainer with wider aftermarket wheels.