Ok so im finally going to replace the RE040s that came with the car. Going to be purchasing GoodYear F1 All Seasons from TireRack

The dilemma is what size to get. stay with the OEM 225/45/18 or move to 245/40/18? We do get allot of rain here which is most of the reason to get the F1 all seasons.

your thoughts?

 

my personal experience is that, going from 225/45/18 to 245/40/18 reduced my overall gas mileage by about 1mpg (and regained back that 1mpg after i switched back to 225/45/18).

The question for you is, are you ever gonna need that extra 20mm tire width for your driving?? If not, then stay w/ 225's IMO

 

If you like performance go with the 245/40/18, if you just want something cheaper keep the stock size.

 

I'm torn on this as well. But I keep coming back to the stock size being designed to optimize the overall handling. Tires are a major component of the suspension system and as such altering it, by decreased treadwall height in this case, will undermine that to a degree.
For the track I would definitely go with the wider/lower profile however - and for pure aesthtics.

btw: I was considering Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3's for rain, but as they don't come in the stock size that might make the counter-decision for me.

 

Yeah good points guys- h thanks for the mpg note.

huey i like the d3s as well but i think the F1 all seasons will do better for that one time or 2 during the winter when its snows a little while im at work. we rarely get multiple inches here but the occasional half inch or so. the re040s did "ok" the once or twice i rode them home after a small dusting. The F1as will give me less white knuckle moments.

 

Yessir, in your case all seasons are the way to go zoom44.

Keep in mind that narrower are better for snow, perhaps another reason to stay stock?

 

I made the switch to the 245's mostly for looks and a bit of performance. If you can get a good price on the 245's, I say go for it.

 

172 per/688 total for 245s at tirerack with a 40 cash card which basically covers shipping
161per/644 total for 225s

 

Didn't someone report that the 225/45s offered better steering feel and crisper response than the 245/40s on 8" wheels? Was that you ZoomZoomH? The increased responsiveness convinced me to get 225/45 Advan Neovas instead of 245/40 RE-01Rs and since performance seems to be less of a priority for you than for myself, I wouldn't have any problems with 225/45s.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if it was indeed me, because that's what I've noticed when I went back to 225 from 245 as well.

I think a 9" wide wheel would really serve 245's much better than the stock 8" wheels

 

I have to correct you just a little bit. Narrower is better in deep snow. This is to allow you to knife through it better. To get down to the pavement and not ride on top of the snow I would say on a inch or less this wouldn't apply. On ice, I would think wider (M&S tire) would be better.

 

True. I got a great deal when I called discounttire.com I have 40 and love the feel in the rain with my kumho's.

 

235s

245s have too much mushiness at normal pressures.

 

^Will that throw off your speed o?

 

I live in New England and have driven my car year round. I got Toyo proxes 4 tires with the stock size..

I have been in the multiple inch snow storms... and the tires were fine as long as I didn't go faster than 35-40mph..

The Toyo's have good tread wear and have a great tread pattern...

You can check those out also...

 

Concur. I now see Zoom cited an inch or less.

But nothing is 'good' on ice (other than generally outlawed studded tires). Ice = Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

 

I like Bridgestone RE960 A/S Pole Position

Never disappointed me. Stock size.

 

I can't say I noticed any real difference going from 225 to 245, certainly nothing negative regarding steering feel, ride or responsiveness. They look better, FWIW. My MPG has been the same - around town 15.5 and highway 22-24 depending on speed. I've driven the car much harder on the 245's (Dragon & auto-X), so I can't be sure about a significant change in grip. I went from the 040's to 050 PP's. The 050's are much quieter than the OEM's, good in water, probably just as evil on snow.

 

Staggered set up with RE060 Potenzas. Huge improvement over Pirelli PZeros. Complements the RX8s handling well in an all season package.

If you stay with the stock rims (18.5X8.5), I can tell you that when I had the Pirelli PZeros 245s on the stocks all around they were really nice. Light to moderately heavy rain handling was much improved in that set up over the stock 225 size with the Bridgestones. Snow not so much.

The Potenzas are even better in the rain. Overall the Potenzas have been a huge improvement over the Pirellis with 245s in the front and 275s in the back.

 

are any of you guys running the 245 with the 35 aspect ratio on the stock wheels?