I\'ve a set of 17x8 ET35 & 17x9 ET38 Advan SA3Rs I\'m about to fit on my otherwise standard FD; I noticed the OEM 17s use a 235/45/17 & 255/40/17 tyre respectively for their 17x8 & 17x8.5 wheels - what I want to know is does this make the car lose a bit of the neutrality in its handling?
Also if I try to stretch the 255/40/17s on a set of 9s rather than 8.5s should I go for a slightly larger profile size to ensure the rake of the car isn\'t adversely affected?
An alternative which I think might look better & possibly keep the handling more neutral is to fit a full set of 17x9s with 235/40/17s all-round - the only thing is should I try & go a profile size higher (235/45/17) to keep the car comfortable as the 16s with their 225/50/16 tyres make the FD a very pleasant place to be with the poxy roads I have near me. :) All insight/info welcome!
They will be fine and won\'t change the handling at all. You want more rubber on the rear than the 235. I\'ve looking at going to 255 all round !
Shaun
Even on a stock car with stock power?? 225 is what they come with as standard sure & (maybe it\'s my driving style or the good tyres but) I don\'t generally lose traction in it..?
They did upgrade the rear width later on with the stock car plus it does help for traction.
I\'m not really very stock any more :Giggle
Shaun
With the 99+ spec 17"s from what I read the wheels & tyre sizes were the same as the BBS 17s that came on the RZ - 17x8 & 8.5 respectively with ET50 all round yeah?
I\'d say the 235s should do me front & back so, just wanted to know would they affect the handling or comfort massively as I was fitting a 9" wide wheel at the front. Incidently, would you say a higher profile of 235/50/17 would be overkill or make much of a difference to the comfort..?
Dont forget Mazda reccommended a specific tyre (Think Bridgestone RE050) so just by changing tyre you will be altering the affect anyway....
Yeah true, the staggered ones were going to be the RE050A Potenzas anyway but I\'d be going for Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric 2s for the 9s all-round as the Assymetrics I have on my Mini are epic!