Hello,
I'm looking to buy tires soon and I was wondering if there's a major difference between 235/45/17 and 245/45/17. I know the tire is wider and a bit taller but my main concern is, is it worth the extra money? Is it noticeable when driven? I don't drive it everyday but I do plan on tracking it once in a while this year. I have stock suspension but am planning on going with swift springs. The price difference is about 100 bucks. I rather put that 100 bucks else where if I could. The size currently on the car right now is 245/45/17. It has aftermarket 17x8 MB wheels on them currently but I don't know the offset. Is there any other size you guys would recommend? I've been researching and it came down to 235/45/17 or 245/45/17, just enough meat to look good and wide enough to perform is what I'm looking for. Thanks for your help.

 

The 245's are about a half inch wider/taller than the 235's. Honestly won't feel a difference between those two sizes. If you want to track the car a taller tire isn't the way to go as it will take away from steering response. A 245/40-17 would be a better option.

 

I was thinking about that size also but I didn't want it to look like a low profile. The tire I've been looking at is Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Specs.

 

I ran 245/40/17 on mine and it held up nicely, the 245/45/17's I had on before those had some noticeable sidewall roll.

 

Why not run a 255/40/17?

 

+1

This is the tire I run personally and I love the extra grip.

 

It's a great size for the evo and closer to stock diameter than 245/45/17 or 245/40/17 so your speedo will be closer to accurate.

The problem with 255 width is it's the ideal size for a 9" wheel not an 8". On an 8" wide wheel depending on the tire there's a less than ideal sidewall stretch where the tire bulges out from the wheel a little. That adds to sidewall roll in corners.

225-245 on an 8" wheel, 245-265 on a 9" wheel makes for a nice fit.

Many people do run 255/40's on evo stock 8" wheels and like them though.

 

Well I guess since my rim is only an 8" I'm going with the 245/40/17. I don't want to bulge and I've been reading that the 255 doesn't perform any better then the 245 on 8' tires.

 

Pretty sure there are a lot more options with the 255 size and they only bulge a little. Less than these.

 

i run 245/40/17 on extremecontact dws and am happy with them. soft sidewalls anyways but not too much flex in corners

 

One cool thing about 255/40/17 is usually there's a better selection of tires for better prices. Anyone who has spent a good amount of time tire shopping has noticed that if you change the sizing just a little suddenly the price and selection can change drastically.

There's good deals and lots of tires in 255/40/17. Not so many in 245 and the prices aren't usually as good. 235/45/17 is a more popular size than 245 as well so you usually find better deals and selection there.

Surprisingly the actual width of a 255 tire can vary significantly between brands. You might find one that's a little less wide and doesn't bulge as much. I have to get new summer tires next year. I wore my Falken Azenis rt 615's completely out. For what it's worth I was quite happy with that tire. It seems to be cheap and have a nice stiff sidewall. I hear often that there's better options now days but that tire was an old favorite.

 

255 is section width. Taken mid-sidewall to mid-sidewall. It is not tread width; which is not regulated beyond physics and mold design (fitting in between section width).

255 weigh more. I prefer keeping corner weights down.