I have a set of 215&245 RE-01R's on my new wheels and its a fantastic combo. I didn't bother with a 225 because the OEM 215's are freakishly narrow.

Left: 215 RE-01R on an 8" wheel
Right: OEM RE050 on AP2 v2 wheel

 

That is extremely telling. A lot of the guys in the Racing forum are going with the 225+ fronts. But most of those guys are extremely good drivers that can control the oversteer.

I'm kinda on the fence about going 215/255 (safer???) or 225/255 (faster???) with the Dunlop Direzza Star Specs myself since I do occasionally autox and HPDE.

 

Did anyone consider 225 front/265 rear?

If you simplify things, the greater the contact patch the greater the traction.

Would 265 be too much extra weight to justify extra width for stock motor?

 

I'd agree, and I'd also add that perhaps there's a little bit of subjectivity on tire width, similar to treadwear ratings. That and, OEM's have power to determine tire construction somewhat.

Anyway, I think I'm going to step the fronts up to 225's since I feel like the car (an AP2) doesn't have enough grip up front. I really get hurt on small auto-x courses that require fast inputs. The car just plows.

Anyone know how well the balance of the car is maintained if the tire sizes are upped to 225 F / 255 R?

 

I've been running 225 all around for a few years now (Eagle F1 GS-D3)and I prefer that over the original 205 in the front. I feel that the front feels more stable under cornering. I can't say anything about the AP2 but I think the AP1 would benefit from running equal size on all corners.

Warren

 

I went from OEM 215/245 to 215/255 Kumho MXs and got too much understeer. I then went to 225/255 RE050As and the car still will understeer a bit, but there is more grip than you can use now. I'm thinking of going back to 215/245 with the RE050As because they are great tires, but I want the car to feel less heavy footed.

 

here's what i can come up with:

the 16" S-02 (205, 225)

Front-section width 8.1/tread width 7.1
Rear-section width 9.2/tread width 8.5

stagger of 1.4" tread width, or 20% more in the rear


17" REO50A PP (225, 255)

Front-section width 8.9/tread width 8.5
Rear-section width 10.3/tread width 9.5

stagger of 1" tread width, or 11.7% more in the rear

a bump down to the 205/45 iin the front would yield a 7.3" tread width and 30% more in the rear
if you used the 205/50 in the front you would have more like a 7.6" tread width, equaling about 23% more in the rear


so it looks like a 205/50 (front) 255/40 (rear) would yield the closest match in stagger if you're moving up to the REO50A PP in 17". thoughts?

 

I'm gonna be running 275/35's in the rear, what do you guys think would be better up front, 225/? or 235/?. That and I'm not sure about clearance on the 235's. I was thinking of 225/40's or something but IDK. Any help?

 

What are your wheel widths?

 

They're 8.5 up front, 9.5 in the rear.