So its time for some new rear tires, I have been searching this forum and others to see what people have been running in AP1's for 09' model tires. Unfortunatly most of the threads I have found are older. It seems as though in the 245/45-16 is a very difficult tire size to find, all I have found that will fit are the Toyo T1-R's (I currenlty have T1-S in the rear T1-R front), and the Hankook Ventus RS-2's. I wanted to get Federal 595's but the closest size is 245/50-16 unfortunatly. Are there any tires im missing, I want tires that will perform excellent in dry conditions but will be able to deal with rain somewhat as the S is my DD.

Also when I get alignments done I usually sit in the car. One place I called for tires will do unlimited alignments for 3 years but they won't let me sit in the car. They said that they can compensate for my weight using the alignment machine, am I better off going somewhere that will let me sit in the car?

Any help is appreciated.

 

I would go where they let you do what you want. Customer is #1

 

There really aren't many street tires available in 245/45/16. The Hankook RS2s are decent. They grease up really fast if you use them on the track, though.

I had a set of 225/50/16F and 245/45/16R. They were great for the first like...few laps. Then it was like driving on mush.

If it's just a street car, they'll be fine.

Sitting in your car isn't really going to make a huge difference in alignment unless you're 300lbs or something.

The whole comment about "go somewhere where they will let you do what you want because the customer is #1" is a little ignorant. You've probably never seen an alignment done.

Here are a few issues:


If you were a tech yourself, sitting in the driver's seat wouldn't be too big of an issue. You have to move the wheels around for a caster sweep and then shake the wheels after for other measurements. You have to do this till the machine blinks or beeps. This works if you know how to do an alignment.

However, there's no way for the shop to know if the customer knows how to do the caster sweep, etc.

The tech has to be in/out of the car a couple of times during the alignment. There also needs to be a steering wheel stopper in the car. They're not going to trust you to hold the wheel 100% steady as the tech adjusts the front wheels. I wouldn't trust myself to hold the wheel 100% steady either.

Besides all that, there are liability issues. What if something happens to the lift or there's a fire while you're in your car up on the lift? They can't take the liability of some (presumably) untrained person sitting inside of a vehicle up in the air in their shop.

I work part time at a service shop. We get people who come in with unreasonable requests all the time. Some people understand once you explain things to them. Other people act ignorant. FYI, we usually make you out to be a jackass.

So what you're really saying to me with your statement is: "give me whatever I want or I'll go act like a jackass elsewhere" .

see ya.

 

Thanks for all the info B, I think im just going to run the T1-R's. I have them on the front now (I only need to replace the rears) and I am under the impression its not the best idea in the world to run different tires front and rear. I really wanted to run the dunlop direzza star specs but I don't feel like replacing my front tires which have plenty of tread. Also I would have to run them in the 225-50-16 size since the direzzas are not made in the 245-45-16.

As far as alignment goes it looks like I will not sit in the car this time. Typically when I have sat in the car I have had to hold the steering wheel straight for when they set it and hold the brake the entire time so the car doesn't move at all... very annoying. I agree on the liability issue and thats what most shops have told me.

 

You could go to a hardware store and buy your weight worth of sand bags. That's what cornerweighting and performance alignment shops do.

It kinda sucks that the direzza sports don't come in 245-45-16 because they are AWESOME tires. I have them on my 17'' ADVANs. There's lots of people that were on slicks that I've passed at a few tracks that couldn't believe I was on street tires.

 

Its looking like I will need to buy new wheels the next time I buy tires or maybe I will just run the Direzza's in the 225-50 size.