Ok I've recently purchased some WedsSport TC105Ns 17x8.5 +32 17x9.5 +32 for my track setup, but now I'm stumped on tire size. I've narrowed my tire decision down to the Bridgestone RE11As. My question is what would you guys recommend for tire sizes? I've been thinking 235/45F 255/40R or possibly 225/45F. Looking at the tire specs my main focus is thread width, understanding how all tires are different. So if anyone has and experience with those specs it would be greatly appreciated to chime in.

 

If you look at the overall diameter on tire rack's tire data page, you will see that the 215/245 @ 24.7" are matched and the 225/255 @ 25" are matched in terms of overall rolling diameter
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Potenza+RE-11A

Fitment wise, running a 225 on the 8.5 front will yield a significant stretch while the 9.5 with the 255 will have a little stretch. I would think, but I can't say for sure that the 235 would be a better fit for the front. In general, if the tire has a little stretch, this will yield more precise handling feel as the sidewall will deflect less. Whereas running the reverse, pinch, where a tire is slightly too large for the rim results in sidewall squish and deflection. This yields less steering feel.

I noticed you have an AP2 so your stock rim size will handle the 225/255 setup perfectly fine.

From personal experience I know that the size of those WEDs are going to rub, pull, dent and destroy your fenders without significant fender rolling/tab relocation/pulling and an aggressive alignment. -2 camber won't do it, so you will also need offset camber joints.

To me, modifying suspension, alignment and your chassis to accommodate a wheel and tire seems insane. As a note, on my stock '08 CR with 225/255 RS3s on stock wheels and -3 camber front/rear rubs my fender liners and burns through the fender buttons (which I always carry spares). I'm a few seconds off from the big dogs at my local tracks running square dots and I have watched my friends drive my car at some crazy lap times with my setup.

My honest advice to you is:
Return the WEDs (take the money restocking fee hit)
Run the stock wheels with 225/255 - this is a plenty fast setup and easy to learn with. The larger the tire, the higher the grip level, the harder it is to learn car control at a reasonable speed.
Run the 225/255 Hankook RS3 - there is a ton of setup data on them and they are a forgiving tire



.

 

You picked the wrong offsets if you’re looking to maximize the available rubber width on these rim widths for the track. With all the usual fender rolling and bumper tab relocation modifications, you will still be hard pressed to accommodate a stock size 215/45 - 245/40 combination. You will definitely need to pull the front fenders. The rear doesn’t pull very well without buckling, but you may not have a choice if you want to use these bad fitting wheels.

 

Agree with above. i have 17x9.5 +35 in the rear with a 245/40, there's no room for a 255 without a good bit of camber. My rear fenders are rolled and pulled.

 

you're going to need a body shop to fix your fenders all around if you plan on tracking with those wheels

 

Thanks guys. I'm sorry I failed to mention my fenders are rolled already but that doesn't matter much because I will be running rear over fenders and wide front fenders. I know this isn't the ideal wheel size for stock body, completely aware of this. Also gptoyz I thought about the RS3 but I wanted something with a stiffer sidewall again. I had a set of RE11s before and loved them

 

Could run Star Specs in 235/45/17 and 265/40/17 perhaps?

 

Z2 and z2ss aren't available in 265/40/17. Only the z1ss was

 

why not 245R 255R

 

That's my suggestion too. Offsets aside - assuming you have the appropriate mods for clearing the fenders, with rims in 8.5" width up front and 9.5" width in the rear, I think 245/255 will be the perfect stagger for giving you a staggered wingless setup for track use. The tires should fit perfectly on the rim width for maximizing side wall stiffness, steering feedback, and maximizing contact patch without getting too much tire deflection (from a pinched tire), or being over stretched.