It looks like 18" x 10" wheels, with 285/30 tires is about the maximum which will fit on a stock sprung, but lowered FD.

While this seems like the ideal set-up for autocross, what's this going to be like to live with when driven on the street? Am I better off with 17" wheels, something like 8 1/2" wide in the front, 10" in the back? With 245/40's on the front, and 255 or 275/40's in the back?

 

On a previous set of wheels I ran a 18x10 +45 on a 295/30/18 without any issues on the street, it was actually quite comfortable.

Bryan

 

Hey Bryan what kind of suspension set up were you running? Did the 295 sit flush with the lip of the rim or was the tire streched? I am looking at 18" x 10"s all the way around, did you have rubbing issues with the fronts? Also want to know what tire size were you running on the front or did you have the 295's all the way around? Sorry for all of the ?'s but just want to know. Don't mean to thread jack you hadavette, just curious of Bryans experience.

mark

 

I had 18x8.5 +38 Volk SE-37a's in the front with 245/40 18 and had minor rubbing at full lock. The rear was 9.5 275/35 18 and fit VERY well. I had aftermarket tie rod's and could easily fit a 10" rim with 285's as long as I added a tad more offset. Maybe +40 to +45. If you wanted to go same size all round then I'd probably suggest 18x9.5 + 45ish with 275/35 tires.

275/35 outter Dia is also .5% smaller than a 245/40 tire. You CAN tell when its on the car. It bugged me a little.

 

Get as much tire as you need. Do you need 285s? Are you competitive and running for a trophy?

 

I figure more tire is better for autocross, so I was leaning to the 285's. I autocross mostly with a local club, where we don't run SCCA classes, so I am reasonably competetive. My prior "R" tires were 245's on the stock 16" wheels, and I couldn't quite keep up. No trophies - just stories!

It's encouraging to hear that the 18" wheels seem fine for the street too. One consideration is to go with sticky street tires (Yoko AD08's?), and just use them all the time. That way, I don't compete directly against people with 710's or real race rubber, but then I won't go as fast either. Decisions!!!

Thanks for all the inputs!

 

Gotta love decisions.

I don't remember if the 10" rims and 285 tires require the smaller diameter race springs commonly found in coilovers to fit. Might want to research that. They do require appropriate offset to work and maybe some fender rolling. Try searching on posts by ptrhahn and amrx7.

 

For the street, I'm a fan of the 17 inch staggered setup. It also looks killer as well:
[apologies for the large pic]



I run Toyo RA1s in 255/40 and 275/40 and there is mucho grip, even running 20 psi boost in the lower gears.

For roadrace/auto-x, more rubber is better, but you'd have to be pretty serious about it in order to run 285s on the street IMHO, it seems to require a pretty high ride height which looks like poo (again IMHO)

 

Goodfella,

Your FD looks great, esp with the large picture!
I do like the look of your tire wheel combo, nice tire sizes.

Why Fikse and not CCW? Fikse's look a bit cleaner, CCW's cost much less...I'm torn. I think the CCW classics look good in 17", not as good in 18".

Why do the 18's require a higher ride height? The OD of the 285-30 tires are very close to stock, so I wasn't expecting any ride height changes. My car is also low, similiar to yours, judging by the picture.

 

Probably due more to width than overall height of the tire. Your tire no longer has the full inner shell of the fender to travel in anymore, it will probably hit the fender edge w/ the 18's.

 

There's no comparison between Fikse and CCW when you see them in person. Pics don't tell the whole story.......nothing wrong with CCW, esp for the track, but IMO with the Fikses when you're up close and personal you definitely know where the extra money went.

Nateness is correct about the wide 18s, to avoid rubbing on the inner fender liner in the front you typically need monster truck height, at least from the setups I've seen so far.

 

Care to list your wheel sizes and offset? I like how your rears sit.

I assume the fronts are around 17x9+45ish, and the rears a 9.5'' possibly?

 

They're 17x8.5 +37 and 17x10 +43. They're also for sale, if interested shoot me a PM