A light weight 17x9. But you still will be hurting gearing.

Everything has a cost.

 

Getting to this level of analysis in tires is getting pretty deep. Using basic numbers provided by the tire manufacturer isn't going to help you make the decisions you need. You are right to look for someone with experience with your selection. A very easy (and too simple) way is to look at tires like springs; stiffer responds faster.

If you want to get into it, you can start herehttp://www.amazon.com/Tire-Vehicle-D...0772981&sr=1-2

 

LOL :] Havent seen a REd-Green ref. in years!

Definitely you are being helpful.

So after all this, I would like a NT05 245/40/17 Unfortunately, this does not exist ;]
So, I think I am down to the 235/40/17 NT05 or the 245/40/17 Starspec .

The 235/40/17 will probably look ridiculous, but I imagine they will be very responsive turn-in wise and be lighter weight, helping with responsiveness. Again, I will be using the stock wheels. I am wondering if tere will be any adverse effects of running a shorter tire (other than looking like a dork) Again, i am not worried about gearing.

I like the idea of the 245/40 size as being a good compromise of everything, as I am not worried about gearing wit te 40 series. Again, though, that is a ratio, so the sidewall will be even shorter on the 235/40 vs the 245/40

Just concerned about the weight and I like what I have heard about the behavior of the Nitto.

With the Nitto 255 being an XLoad tire, on an 8 in. rim could it possibly have as good of turn-in as the 245 Starspec (which weighs 26 lbs. I found out)? but at that point, I would be fighting the extra weigt of the 255,yes? Found out the 255/40 NTo5 17 weighs 25.75 lbs. so maybe takes extra weigt out of te equation between Nt05 255/40 and Starspec 245/40... just now need to figure side wall issue, Section width 255 nitto = 10.12in. 245 Starspec 9.8in.

hey look.. a mouse turd. Where'd I put down that pole...

Don't think i am wanting R-comps just yet, So stickiest Street compound I can reasonably get. The rim weight is a given (stock, though I am not sure what that is, but it is a constant in my equation, Enkei evo 8 rims).

Good lord...:]

Thanks again for all your input Smike

 

Are you planning on DD'ing on the tires too? You may already know the following info since it looks like you're certainly doing your research.

Keep in mind the NT05's only start with just over 6/32nd's tread depth. The star specs are at 10/32nds to start, thus the price difference IMO. I've used both at autox's and on the street, and if I had to pick one again, I'd go back to the star specs. I think Dunlop is also offering a $50 mail in rebate right now as well. (Every penny counts, right?)

I ran 255/40/17's for each tire (nt05 and star spec), and compared to the 235/45/17 the loss of steering response is minimal IMO (I've autox'd a buddy's evo on 235/45/17 star specs). The car still has better steering response than any other car I've driven, even with the 255/40/17's.

IMO, the evo could lose some of that quick response, because it's almost too responsive for it's own good sometimes.

 

I feel like I am just starting to get a handle on this stuff.... until I read a review on the book from someone who purcased it...I barely recognized the comment as English :] You are right, though, a bit more knowledge of the forces involved would be most helpful.

Thanks fror taking an interest.

 

YEp, I was aware of the tread depth differences. Still real good info to bring up. Thanks for the heads-up on the rebate from Dunlop!

The direct input is great. Very helpful that you have used both tires. IF you had to put your finger on it, What would it be that would bring you back to the Starspecs?

Nice to hear not as much loss in Turn-in. between 255's you had and the 235/45's. Is it accurate to say You could sense a bit less turn-in response though? Trade-off for increased grip was worth it in your opinion?

I agree with you on the responsiveness of the car to begin with, I must admit to enjoying a really quick turn initiation

Sometimes a little bit too much research! I gotta get to bed!

Thanks again for the input. REALLy good to hear from someone who has used two of the sizes/tires I have been ruminating over

 

I think for a DD, thread depth is really important in my book. I have run 245/45, 255/40, and 235/45. I went though a ton of tires on my Evo. Lots of manufactures too. My favorite was always the 245/45 Z1* for HPDE, DD, AX. But the Sumitomo ZIIs cut the best 60'. RT615s where ok, blown away by the original Z1 compound and even more so by the Z1*.

I ran the 255/40/17 RT615s back when they were new. OK at full thread, bloody scary after half a season in any wet conditions. The NT05s are much like that. They wear down to almost slick like tread patterns. This is where the Z1* have the advantage for me (and I have a set of NT01s for racing, getting Z1* for my summer/DD). I tend to push tires to their limits, shear and ultimate grip. Thats where you really notice all the tires bits.

Man, I have odd obsessions

 

If you want quicker Turn In get an alignment with a tiny bit of toe-out. That will help in addition to tire selection.

 

Reasonings why I'd go back to the Dunlops.

1 Overall grip of the Dunlops felt better to me. But, the sidewall may be a TAD softer than the NT05's from what I gather.

2 The extra tread depth to begin with (for DD'ing/rain/etc). Star specs were great in the rain, even at the lower tread depths. NT05's are good but really lose confidence in the wet when you are getting down on tread depth (not much to begin with either).

3 The Star Specs lasted surprisingly long for the abuse that they were put through. 8 autox's + plus a day long training event that I put them through hell(I was VERY hard on them since I was new to the sport) and 10,000+ street miles and they were just getting to the wear markers. I've only autoxed the NT05's one time, and had a very low amount of street miles on them, and they are getting VERY close to the wear markers.


It is accurate to say I lost a bit of turn in response, but again, IMO, I was completely fine with that. Having too much response isn't necessarily the best thing IMO, just because if you overreact, you can easily upset the balance of your car going in/through/out of the turns. But the overall grip level difference from the 235 to the 255 was what stood out most to me.

 

Thanks again for your follow-up. Again, it is great to get a bit more 1st hand experience.

 

By mitsu which size are you going to go with?

 

I beg to differ, when both wheels are facing in and you slightly put more weight on the outer tire by turning the wheel slightly, then that outer tire takes control and starts to travel the direction it was already facing in with very little steering wheel movement as the inner tire slips. A toe out situation will mean you need to turn the wheel more to point the outer tire at the same angle as above.

You want toe out because you want that inner tire to grab and pull in the front of the car at a more aggressive angle than the outer one. This is not initial turn-in, but mid corner.

 

Maybe I missed something in the thread. I get that the OP is looking for the best steering response he can find, but why? What is the car going to be used for?

 

This is incorrect. With both tires toed out, there is a slight slip angle generated between the tire and surface. With equal toe out on both tires, these slip angles total zero while traveling in a straight line. At turn in the slip angle on the outside tire is reduced, while the slip angle on the inside tire is increased. The net effect is that the car turns in more quickly.

If the OP is looking for quick steering response, a little toe-out would help (at the cost of tire wear and some high speed instability).