I thinking about getting these tires.
225/45YR18 Kumho ECSTA SPT $520 shipped w/ Road Hazard

The biggest factor right now is price.
This is also my daily driver.
I'd like something that will work well in AutoX.
I'm just starting out, and don't plan on competing for a least a year.

Also, I noticed some people are using narrower tires. 225/35/18.
Is this better? If so, will they fit on my stock rims?

Any input would be much appreciated.

- Cesar -

 

Just my thoughts, if you arent going to compete for a year or so and you are just starting out and price is a factor why not just use the stock tires to make sure you like it? Or do you need new tires anyways?

 

Go with a 245-40-18, more grip than the 225 and the same diameter...

Also look at the Kumho Ecsta MX, a bit more grip than the SPT.

 

My bad. I should have been more specific. I do need new tires. Got 28k on the stock tires. I plan on attending practice events, until I decide to actually compete for points.


Thanks, I'll look into those sizes. The MX is more than I'd like to spend right now, but I'll keep them in mind for the future.

 

While we are on the subject, Can you run 245s on the street?

Would people recomend them for track as well as autocross?

 

245s on the street are fine.

 

Looking at the Advan Neovas, but they don't seem to be available in 245/40/18

Any thoughts on 255/40/18? Too harsh for regular street use?

Thanks

 

Anybody driving on streets with this size tires? I am intrigued by 18X9.5 wheels with these tires.

 

I had question on 275/35X18 tires in above post but part of it got lost.

 

people have run them, IMO they are too wide for the stock 8" wide wheels, you won't put down any more contact patch than a 245 on an 8" wheel, you can do a search in the Wheel forum area for using them on larger wheels

 

I love my 225/45/18 Neovas. Don't get the comments, elsewhere, about being too aggressive for street, etc. Got almost 50K on the OEMs, but the Advans look like they may be wearing a bit faster. Being lighter and a tad larger in diameter than isn't noticable. $244/ea was a bit pricey, but I'm easy on treads, so...

 

They wear out rather fast, are quite pricey, and can be quite scary in the wet. Other than that they're very good tires...

 

Scarey in the wet? I think you have the Advan Neova confused with one of the other ST tires. They are pretty awesome in the wet from all accounts I've heard and seen. A BMW 330i ZHP running STX on them in the wet at the Toledo Tour thumped BS and the BS winner was on Hoosier Wets they ran in the same heat

 

Actually you're right, I do have it confused... I totally spaced and was speaking of the RE070.

 

well I'm off base on the above too, that was the Hankook Ventus Z214 not the Advan Neova, another street tire I recommend, but the only 18" size available is 225/40-18, only $148 ea from Discount Tire though

the Tirerack has some comparative tests on their website using the Advan Neova, it was clearly a good wet weather performer

 

um, if you are serious about autox, the only good class for the 8 is b stock right now. Get some used stock wheels and kuhmo v710's in 245, and some SA Koni's. If you're not really serious, then get whatever sticky non-r-compounds you like, but keep in mind that you will not be competitive with r-compound drivers of at least average skill in your class. Remember if you stay in b-stock, rules say you must use stock sized wheels, both dia. and width.

Running the 8 in an ST-class right now seems like a bad idea, as do SM-classes. There are too many fast evo's and wrx's. Running street tires in a stock class and loosing for a while is a good idea if you don't have many events under your belt. After a few events or an Evo school, you'll probably want to get r-compounds, if only to make your times more meaningful in comparison (esp. in pax). The r-compounds have quite different characteristics than street tires, and I think its a good idea to start getting used to them sooner rather than later, if you are into autox.

 

A lot of regions just have a general street tire class where they group a bunch of classes together and just use pax times. I don't see why the RX-8 couldn't do well there.

 

If your region has that, then great. But if your region follows national classes/rules, the ST classes are NOT good for the RX-8 given that we can't pick up power as easy as the FI cars.

 

well a Stock Rx-8 will thiump a Stock E36 M3, and the M3 seems to be the car for STU, which BTW the AWD cars are limited to a max 245 tire size, there's no reason for a well prepared and driven RX-8 not to do well in STU, emphasis on well driven which is where the majoity of drivers are outpowered, easier to blame it on the engine though ....

 

Agreed...

Stock 040 (225/45-18)
------------
Weight: 28lbs
Measured Rim: 7.5"
Section Width: 9"
Tread Width: 7.5"
Diameter: 25.9

Falken Azenis 615 (275/40-17)
-----------------------
Weight: 28.0lbs
Measured Rim: 9.5"
Section Width: 10.8"
Tread Width: 10"
Diameter: 25.6"
(Slightly better gearing, much better contact to the surface)

Falken Azenis 615 (255-40-17)
-----------------------
Weight: 26.5lbs
Measured Rim: 9"
Section Width: 10.3"
Tread Width: 9.4"
Diameter: 25"
(MUCH better gearing than stock by almost an inch, 1.5lbs LIGHTER than the 275s, and down a half-inch contact patch each tire. This seems like the best combination for STU... a great mix of lower gearing and tread width)

If you wanted a good 'Wet' street tire and a good dry tire (shaved)

Falken FK451 GRB (255/40ZR17 )
-----------------------
Measured Rim: 9.0"
Diameter: 25.0"
Section Width: 10.2"
Tread Width: 9.0

(They also have these in 265/40-17 and 275/40-17.. the Subarus/Evos would be running 245/35-17 for great gearing)

These are the tires I'd go with at this point in time if I was making a run at STU.. along wth some nice wide, light 9.5 or 10" wheels.

--kC