i have come to the understanding that the OEM ap1 16 tire size is 205/55/r16.

say if i wanted some more grip in the front with out rubbing, and im at stock height could i get away with a 215/55/r16?

i want NO rubbing and i want to retain my fender liners and i DONT want to have to roll my fenders...

any help is appreciated.

please and thank you :-)

 

205/55-16 is the front size, 225/50-16 for the rears.

If you want ultimate grip from a street tire, those are the sizes you're going to end up with. Not too much selection in 215/55-16 (only Conti ExtremeContact DW in Max or Extreme Perf categories at TireRack), and you'd end up with front tires visibly taller than rears.

For max grip in a street tire, I think you're best bets are:
Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 StarSpec
Bridgestone RE11
Yokohama AD08

With any of those, you'd be looking at the stock sizes. The only wider alternative would be to run 225/50s at all four corners.
That's definitely a possibility, although the Dunlops recommend 7" minimum rim width for their 225/50-16 (6" minimum for the Yok and B'stone 225/50s).

 

I'm running toyo r888, 225 in front and 245 in back. Obv. they are a bit wider than the rim but I like the look.

I'm on stock height so obviously no rubbing what so ever. Track the car at least once a month.
KW v3's are on the way so that might change things but I'm not worried. Will be nice to get rid of that 4x4-look that the extra profile that the toyo's adds

 

STAGGERED?????

 

You'd be best buying a high traction tire and not worry as much about sizing . Saying that you can also check the specs of various tire manufacturers, my rear Bridgestone 225 S0-2's are wider than most other 225 tires, I'd say they are comparable to many 245's out there in terms of rubber meeting the ground. I've got Bridgestone RE760's on the front in ap1 sizing and those tires are wider than many other tires in the same sizing, so you can get wider tires without necessarily changing sizes, couple that with a good traction tire and you can get the best of both worlds.

 

now remember this...with more front end grip, that translates into more oversteery handling. If you want to maintain balance, a stiffer front bar- and there are many choices out there- will be needed.

If your goal is to solely increase front end grip reducing understeer- at the expense of everything else- your car will oversteer more.

if you want to keep the stock feeling AP1-ness, then keep the staggered fitment in those R888's as suggested above.

another option would be to put on more sticky front tires than the backs. So say a 140 UTQG Front and say 200 rear UTQG for eg. Expect some unpredictable changes with this.

I love the feeling of my '03 with CR front bar, z2 dunlops in stock sizing for regular driving.

good luck
darcy