What tire for an 18" wheel has comparable side-wall stiffness, traction, and overall performance than the stock RE070's on the STi? This is strictly a dry summer performance question. I’m not concerned with how loud the tire is or how it performs in the rain. Experience?

Thanks

 

I cut the sidewall on my old tires off the STI just for giggles. Man ive never seen a side wall that thick for a performance summer tire. Good luck in finding one.

 

Next best thing:

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...10&rd=18&ar=40

 

And the other 3 I would also strongly consider:
TireRack comparison of S03s, KDs, and MXs

 

I got an extra set of wheels and tires with the intent of using the stock bbs for a winter setup. My new setup was 18" SSR comp with an Kuhmo MX. Man, it sure was not the performance i was expecting. It was deffinently a down grade. I would consider keeping the wheels if i could get something as good as the RE070's with the larger size wheel but now i am back to square 1. I also am considering a dedicated summer set up with the possible purchase of a commuter car.

Thanks for the feedback, keep it coming please.

 

I heard the Azenis RT615 even in a plus size can't match the RE070.... dunno. Anyone test these?

I run PS2s but im considering getting a set of re070s for track tires.

 

Curious what pressure you were running on the MXs? I have the 225 45 17s and run them around 40 PSI cold all of the time. My car's a driver mostly, with some road fun on weekends. The MXs are a lighter tire than RE70's and I'm guessing a lot of that has to do with the sidewalls. I noticed a huge difference in stiffness on the MXs though, just in the difference between 35 and 40 PSI. I know 40 and 45 profile tires are two different critters w/different handlling characteristics, but do you think the sidewalls on the MXs limited the performance or was it the tread? MXs have been favorites of quite a few autocrossers and at AA traction it's considered amoung teh grippenmeisters. Other factors to consider are the performance effects of the 18" vs 17" wheels, even with the excellent SSRs.

 

Yzercyber,
Funny you would mention tire pressure. After i got home from work yesterday I added some more air to the rears making it an even 41 all around from about 36. It already seems a little better but I wont be able to make a guestimate until my commute home. It still feels like it was such a dramatic change from the RE070's, meaning I remember them feeling so much more stable. One thing im noticing the more I get feedback on the subject is people are saying how the RE070,s are noiser and you can feel the bumps more. My interpration on that is, yes I can feel the road much better and am more at one with the car. Cheesy, I know. At this point I could be over thinking it but like I said it was a much bigger change than anticapted. When you say performance effect of the 18 vs 17, do you mean that I would loose performance with a larger wheel or gain it?

 

There are trade-offs for going larger in diameter. A little will be lost due to increased rotational mass, slowing you down a little. I moved up from stock 16" wheels to SSR Comps 17X7.5 and noticed a slight reduction in acceleration and gas mileage. As you know, the Comps are very light and do a lot to minimize the undesirable side effects of a larger wheel. For me, those differences were outweighed by the benefits from the wider footprint and stiffer handling of the MX 225 45s.

When tires are still new they may feel a little "wiggly" compared to your RE070s, especially if the RE070s are worn down. I think tires feel at their best when they are starting to approach the wear bars. They ride harder and there is little give off of the short tread blocks.

I drove Goodyear Eagle GT +4s about ten years ago. Those had a very strong sidewall, so stiff that the tire would run flat. They also were so stiff that the car would crab across little road bumps in a curve rather than flex a little and maintain grip.

My MXs have a max cold inflation pressure around 51 lbs, if I remember. If you got the tires from Tire Rack, give a Luke a call and ask him what he recommends for your 18" tires. The MXs like the higher pressures. I drive mine 39-41 lbs cold and your lower profile tires may like more than that.