I have read the Pilot Super Sports run wide, have seen pictures on various other forums they run wide, but none of the section width or tread width measurement seem to indicate they run wider then normal.

Bottomline, I am ordering a set of 18x9.5 +45 wheels...
- dont like a stretch look
- dont want fender mods
- would like to keep the speedo close


-Normally, I would say 245/40 would be noticeably stretched - still the case with the "wider" PSS's?
-I thought 255/40 would be the way to go - but am reading they are too tall even though its almost identical to stock?
-265/35 seems to be a safe bet normally for that wheel spec - however im reading the PSS's will rub?

 

265/35-18 will be spot on.

This is my buddies car on 265/35-18 Pilot Sports on a 18 x 10, it will be very similar.



This is my other buddies with identical wheels but 265/35-18 Nitto's




Their ride heights are different, both have coilovers. You rubbing or not will depend on your suspension setup more than the tires.

 

This is my setup from a few years back, 18 x 9.5 with a 245/40-18, I always hated the slight stretch and planned to run 265/35-18 but then I got my 19" volks.

 

And my 19's

 

OK... So 265/35 PSS's should work as long as my ride height isn't rediculously slammed (I'm about an inch dropped on my PSS9s and factory camber of ~-2 in the rear)

 

One thing that sort of scares me is on the bimmerforums there is a pic floating around that a 245 PSS is the same width as a 255 Continental and many other comment s that say the PSS runs about 10mm wide because of the thick sidewall with built in rim protector.

 

Yes, you should be fine, if anything maybe a possible fender roll (not sure how stiff the PSS9's are) but that is easy to get done.



Tire numbers are more a reference, a lot of people don't get this, they think fro example that every 265/35-18 is the same size and weight. I have a chart here somewhere comparing actual manufacturer specs but you needs to look at each manufacturers actuals specs for the tire you are looking at because one 245/40-18 can vary pretty significantly from one of another brand both in size but more importantly weight.

 

The manufacturers specs aren't even accurate though as the section with is the overall width of the sidewall WITHOUT sidewall rim protectors, lettering, ect

It seems the PSS has a rim protector molded into the sidewall which makes the sidewall extra thick around the rim area but does not show up in their section widths... Or so the conspiracy theory goes

 

Could be, I have never actually measured them myself, but I do know over the years I have had different brands of 245/40-18's (Yokohama S drives, BFgoodrichs, Goodyears eagles, and some cheaper Hercules and another brand I can't remember) and they have varied quite a bit in how they fit both on stock wheels and on other sets I had. I go thru tires pretty quick, about once a year or so usually even if they are not completely worn.

 

This has to be true. Never personally measured but when I ran 245/40 PSS's on a set of 18x9.5 +20 wheels my rears rubbed for days non stop eating up the sidewalls, had to pull, roll fenders and shave bumper tabs.

Funny thing is my buddy with another 8 ran 18x9.5 +15 a more aggressive wheel setup with 245/40 Federal 595 and was much lower than me and barely rubbed tires ever.

 

Right, but you are forgetting about suspension setup, that plays a huge role in whether you rub or not. But yes, different brands vary in actual sizes, just look at the spec sheets for a particular tire size from different brands and you will see.

Fitment is very complicated to many who don't educate themselves on the topic before buying and then are bummed when it doesn't work out. They just look at another car like theirs and pick a tire and wheel without knowing what else they have going on. Everything is a compromise to a point, and for me I would love to have a little less offset at my height and a square setup but I like to drive my car hard so I had to compromise in order to be able to run 19's and actually still drive it hard without destroying it. I still have to be careful and pay attention to where I go and how I enter and exit but it is manageable for me since it is not my daily.

 

I'm really second guessing 265 PSS's now. As I stated, normally I would like 255s on a 9.5" wheel as normally the sidewalls are flush with the rim.

Listed tread widths
Bridgestone S04 255/40/18 - 9.1"
Conti DW 265/35/18 - 9.0"
Michelin 245/40/18 - 9.0"


Our original RE040s had a tread width of 7.5". By the numbers, a 245 PSS could fit on a 9.5" wheel yhe same as stock.

-edited cause I messed up some numbers-

 

You also need to consider overall diameter.

 

So I answered my old question. Yes, a 245 width PSS looks gigantic next to a 245 width Conti DW.

Also, yes there is a slight stretch when mounted on a 9.5" wheel... But not very noticeable

 

Yep, this is why I always tell people to look at actual specs of the particular tire you are looking at, the numbers on the tires don't tell the whole story.

 

So for thread completeness, I will rep0st a pic... 245/40 R18 Michelin Pilot Super Sport on 18x9.5 SSR GTV-02

very slight stretch... no rubz... no fender mods