Well I want to have the stock wheels and tires sold in new condition as possible and I was going to swap them out and sell them as soon as I buy my car. I have the cash readily available for new wheels and tires but what tires should I go with?

Choice 1 235/40 Falken FK451's
Choice 2 235/45/17 Kumho MX's

The tires will be on 17x8 wheels with a +48 offset.


I asked a WRX forum, they said the 235/45 is less optimum due to the sidewall. But overall which compound is the better compound?

Or if I strike lucky and I'm able to pick up a set of the older Azenies in 225's I might just buy those and keep the stock wheels/tires. Or If the new Azenies have proven themselves( I know they are making a 235/40/17 size in those) I'll buy those.

Any insight on which of the tires are better for daily driving, moderate auto crossing and light track use?

I looked at the S03's but they are out of my pricerange for the moment once I get the car...

 

Hard to say. I have tracked them both but the cars I used for each were entirely different (tt supra on the MXs and azenis on the 88crx b18c) MXs were sticky for price. Maybe a little more sidewall flex but then they were on a 3400lb car. Azenis felt like they had good turn in response but then I was driving a lighter car.

I didn't know there was such a thing as "light" track use. Once you get on the track how can you not hammer down?

Barry H.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Scoobywrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I asked a WRX forum, they said the 235/45 is less optimum due to the sidewall. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Why?

I have 235/40/17's on my bimmer... 17x7.5" M3 wheels, they are fine

 

Between the 2 tire choices you just listed the MX will probably kick the carp out of the less grippier FK-451s. Out of those 2 choices, I would go with Kumho MX, but take my advice with a grain of salt because I've never driven on either tire.

Have you considered the 245/45-17 Azenis (current), or a 245/45-17 Kumho MX, or will they not fit on the WRX?

[kidding]By buying the very last set of RT-215s on the market, and sitting on them for a while, I can win STS after the RT-615s have been recalled/banned for tread seperation issues and all the l33t STS AXers are stuck using Kumho MX while I can use my precious/rare Ahhhhh Zeeee Knees[/kidding]

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Why?

I have 235/40/17's on my bimmer... 17x7.5" M3 wheels, they are fine </TD></TR></TABLE>

Most said go for the 235/40 size while very little told to go with the 235/45 size

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by apexinghonda &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I didn't know there was such a thing as "light" track use. Once you get on the track how can you not hammer down?

Barry H. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Light track use as in about 1 or 2 events a year

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LX4CYL &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Have you considered the 245/45-17 Azenis (current), or a 245/45-17 Kumho MX, or will they not fit on the WRX?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

As for the 245's I'd surely need to roll the fender lips which I don't feed like doing so while the car is "newish".. The 245s will probably be what I step up to after the 235's..

 

Ah, rolling fenders is teh suck. I predict Kumho MX in your future, but that's just me

I've been AXing on 205/60-15 ES100s on stock steel wheels, but now that I've sucked it up and purchased a set of 240SX alloy wheels, I am going to finish off my ES100s 'till they cord, and then mount 205/50-15 MX or Azenis on the 240 wheels, and use them for AX only.

I'll use some regular 205/60 tire on the street, because it's a Honda Accord and I like it quiet...

Before buying some expensive 17x8" wheels+tires, have you considered just doing the same? That way you can avoid driving around on the street (rain) with legally worn tires because you are trying to get the most out of them. You will also have a set of tires to safely drive home on when you cord the other set on course


Modified by LX4CYL at 6:04 PM 2/12/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LX4CYL &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Before buying some expensive 17x8" wheels+tires, have you considered just doing the same? That way you can avoid driving around on the street (rain) with legally worn tires because you are trying to get the most out of them. You will also have a set of tires to safely drive home on when you cord the other set on course
Modified by LX4CYL at 6:04 PM 2/12/2005</TD></TR></TABLE>

I might keep the stockers but then again the wheels I'm getting are and they aren't really $$$

 

So are the FK451s the ones that wear down a little then have the new Azenis tread on the inside? or is that a big rumor?

 

Why are you asking about tires for a car you don't even own?

 

Are j00 talking to me?

EDIT: Ah, I just saw his sig...

 

As far as the 235/245 comparison, check out the sectional width on the two tires to determine whether you need roll the fenders. BTW, fender rolling is fairly easy.

 

at the suby challenge in 2003, i was talkin to one of the other guys who had an STi and he had 245/40 r tires on his stock 17x7.5 wheels. he said he didnt need to roll his fenders or anything but damn, those tires look funny on his wheels.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why are you asking about tires for a car you don't even own?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Because, I'll be bringing my own wheels to the stealership and if they want to give me about 400 or 300 for them I'll let them keep them and use my own wheels/tires. Which I've heard of a few dealerships doing(including the one I should be buying the WRX from) . One of my friends will be selling his WRX soon and he bought Tarmac II's for it. Which means I'll get to keep his stock 2003 wheels which he only put 1500 miles on

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fireant &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So are the FK451s the ones that wear down a little then have the new Azenis tread on the inside? or is that a big rumor?</TD></TR></TABLE>

FK's actually stick to the ground once shaved. Which is what the 03 STX champion Tom Hoppe used on his old WRX

 

You're going to be autox/tracking a brand new car at 16 years old?


235/40 is the correct size to use if you want a 235 width tire

thats what i have

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Scoobywrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Because, I'll be bringing my own wheels to the stealership and if they want to give me about 400 or 300 for them I'll let them keep them and use my own wheels/tires. Which I've heard of a few dealerships doing(including the one I should be buying the WRX from) . One of my friends will be selling his WRX soon and he bought Tarmac II's for it. Which means I'll get to keep his stock 2003 wheels which he only put 1500 miles on </TD></TR></TABLE>

You missed my point.

You are 16, you don't even have this car yet, IMO you should quit talking about all these grandiose plans for expensive wheels and tires and suspension before you've even turned a wheel around a course.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Evil Nick M &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You're going to be autox/tracking a brand new car at 16 years old?

235/40 is the correct size to use if you want a 235 width tire
thats what i have</TD></TR></TABLE>
Pretty much, because my parents don't want me tracking a bike, and I,myself don't approve of street racing.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You missed my point.

You are 16, you don't even have this car yet, IMO you should quit talking about all these grandiose plans for expensive wheels and tires and suspension before you've even turned a wheel around a course.</TD></TR></TABLE>

So wait I'm exaggerating??
The electronics for one of my RC's cost more than a set of Rota Wheels(and I have 4 RC's all relatively running the same stuff. [Crystal less digital radio (200), Digital servos x2(100 each), AMB transponder (80)].

As for turning wheels around a course I've watched 2 local auto cross events, and for turning wheels I know if I can drive a 70+mph RC keeping a constant line without losing control a 1/1 car shouldn't be much harder.
I've done fine driving on that and on Also keep in mind on the off road track the trucks get air and I can perfectly land keeping all 4's on the ground after being 10+ft in the air.
So why do I need justify each thing I ask or be in questioned for it?

Now back on topic...
Just wondering Mr.Nick M the ES100's I've heard wear down fast and don't offer the best grip for their money? Is that true?

 

Are you honestly comparing auto-x to driving a RC car on a dirt track?

wow

 

You have to be ******* kidding me.

So how does "driving" an R/C car account for the seat of the pants feel of a real car, do you shove the controls up your *** when you race?

I watched autocross for 4 years, sim raced every game under the sun, etc. and here is where it got me the first time I autocrossed:

CSP 76 Scott Lear 01 Black Acura Integra R 38.001 32.329 33.192 31.777 35.189 32.467 31.777 26.81979
CSPSF 8 Jared Utz 99 Blue Honda Civic 33.009 33.025 32.767 32.892 32.22 33.755 32.22 27.19368
CSP 44 Paul Krysa 85 Brown Mazda RX 7 33.075 37.001 32.327 33.397 35.945 34.797 32.327 27.28399
CSP 9 Todd Allen 91 Red Toyota MR 2 32.923 35.247 34.971 34.292 34.654 32.547 32.547 27.46967
CSP 27 Ron Schroeder 89 White Honda Civic 33.662 33.256 33.085 33.147 33.127 32.902 32.902 27.76929
CSP 12 Bryan Lingruen 96 Red Honda Civic 33.787 33.007 33.361 33.214 33.018 OC 33.007 27.85791 &lt;---The owner of the car I was driving
CSP 82 Chris Hartwig 82 Red Mazda RX 7 34.344 36.081 34.078 34.706 33.416 42.658 33.416 28.2031
CSP 59 Don George 95 Black Mazda Miata 35.709 34.722 33.573 34.234 34.086 OC 33.573 28.33561
CSP 60 Scott Brediger 95 Black Honda Civic 35.777 35.619 34.74 34.45 39.255 34.919 34.45 29.0758
NCSP 70 Aaron Carpenter 96 Red Honda Civc OC 34.936 34.754 38.504 36.097 47.869 34.754 29.33238
NCSP 21 Sean O'Gorman 96 Red Honda Civic 40.177 DNS 38.005 DNS 35.854 DNS 35.854 30.26078

Throwing truckloads of money at a car when you have no driving experience is going to accomplish nothing when it comes to making you faster, but then again I didn't win the lucky sperm lottery either.

Stop asking stuff like this, just drive the car as it is, and start changing things when you simply cannot get any faster. You'll have much more fun this way, trust me.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You have to be ******* kidding me.

So how does "driving" an R/C car account for the seat of the pants feel of a real car, do you shove the controls up your *** when you race? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Read any of his posts if you want a good laugh.

This kid lives in a seriously fucked up dream world...

 

WOW.. These posts made my level of optimism for myself much more reasonable.

I raced rc cars when I was younger also.... definitely doesn't feel the same as threshold braking a turn and continuing through at 100%. Did he forget that you are risking your life/health when racing a car, not just ruining your $600 RC car investment.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Scoobywrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">As for turning wheels around a course I've watched 2 local auto cross events, and for turning wheels I know if I can drive a 70+mph RC keeping a constant line without losing control a 1/1 car shouldn't be much harder </TD></TR></TABLE>

You've got to be shitting me.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You've got to be shitting me.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If nothing else at least it's entertaining and with pics.

 

235-45-17 is too tall for a WRX. 235-40-17 doesn't leave much sidewall for wheel protection. Why don't you stick to the sizes that are appropriate for that car? 225-45-17 or 225-40-18 are the proper sizes. You can also get away with a 245-40-17, but that's not gauranteed, depending on your suspension setup, wheel offset and fender rolling skill.
-Adam