I am considering getting some wider tires.

Wider Is Better.

I have a set of Winter Tires that I would like to put my stock wheels on and keep them there. The new tires don't need to be all season tires. They can be strickly summer tires.

I would like maximum cornering capability. If I could get 1g, I'd be more then happy.

What are you thoughts on these tires?
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Eagle+F1+GS-D3&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=54YR8F1GSD3&fromCompare1=yes&place=10


For wheels, I like the silver painted five/six spoke design. Much like the stock wheels. Some of the ones where the spoke spreads into two also can look good. Chrome is too much bling for me though.

I like these, but they cost too much
http://www.tirerack.com/servlet/CallJsp?target=wheelSearchCloseUp&wheelIndex=16&sizeIndex=0&showRear=no&setIndex=3&filterSize=18&filterFinish=Painted&filterSpecial=Pricing

These are also nice
http://www.tirerack.com/servlet/CallJsp?target=wheelSearchCloseUp&wheelIndex=4&sizeIndex=1&showRear=no&setIndex=0&filterSize=18&filterFinish=Painted&filterSpecial=Pricing

Light weight is good, preferably less then stock, 17lbs would be best but I haven't seen anything that ligth.
TPMS is also good.

I don't know too much about those brands. Do you guys have any insight? Any other recommendations?

Thanks

I just put the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3's on my car last week. I haven't had them on 500 miles yet so I haven't really pushed them. A couple things to consider with smaller diameter tires (40 vs 45): your speedo will be about 3% too fast and your odometer will rack up the miles 3% too quickly as well. You'll also be lowering the ride height .5" and you'll gain .5" of wheel gap, making the gap pretty nasty without lowering springs. If you have an 05 or later the ecu can be reprogrammed at the dealer to make up for the size difference. Nobody at the dealerships I've called seem to know if they can adjust the 04 model. Hope that helps!

Go with the Kumho's.

245 width is fine.

A couple things to consider with smaller diameter tires (40 vs 45): your speedo will be about 3% too fast and your odometer will rack up the miles 3% too quickly as well. You'll also be lowering the ride height .5" and you'll gain .5" of wheel gap, making the gap pretty nasty without lowering springs. If you have an 05 or later the ecu can be reprogrammed at the dealer to make up for the size difference. Nobody at the dealerships I've called seem to know if they can adjust the 04 model. Hope that helps!

Hmm... This is very interesting. Currently I have an 04 that came with the bridgestone potanzas @ 225/40/18. I thought that since I currently have 40/18 the width of the tire wouldn't affect anything.

I will definatly call my local dealer about getting my speedo calibrated before ordering.

can you run 245 45 18 ?? without rubbing or loseing turning radius????

I just put the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3's on my car last week. I haven't had them on 500 miles yet so I haven't really pushed them. A couple things to consider with smaller diameter tires (40 vs 45): your speedo will be about 3% too fast and your odometer will rack up the miles 3% too quickly as well. You'll also be lowering the ride height .5" and you'll gain .5" of wheel gap, making the gap pretty nasty without lowering springs. If you have an 05 or later the ecu can be reprogrammed at the dealer to make up for the size difference. Nobody at the dealerships I've called seem to know if they can adjust the 04 model. Hope that helps!I got the Goodyears too, about 2 months ago, and I'm very pleased with them. That's the first I've heard about reprogramming the ECU - good news. Thanks.

Also consider getting the Falken Azeni RT-615. Compared to the Goodyears, they corner better and are cheaper, but aren't as good in the rain and don't last as long.

EDIT: One correction though - with the 255/40/18 like he mentioned, he won't have the smaller tire problem. The 225/45/18 comes out to about 25.97 inches in diameter, and the 255/40/18 about 26.03 inches. The difference (0.06 inches) is negligible.
.

I just called my local dealer... I must have spoke to someone who didn't know anything.

He says that you can't calibrate the speedometer on any RX8s and you can't increase the width by anything without causing rubbing.

I thought I have read on here that you can go 255 with no rubbing or clearance issues. Is this Correct?

The first dealership I called confirmed they could adjust the revolutions per mile on 05 and later but they weren't sure about the 04. I tried a different dealership this morning and they didn't even ask what year I had before they told me it wasn't possible. Then they went on to scold me for using smaller tires. So at this point I'm not 100% it is adjustable. I've heard this can be set with an aftermarket ecu, does anyone know if this is true?

Whoops, missed the 255! Hope I don't cause any confusion for you!