245/40WR18's?
#1
"...I'm a Dapper Dan man"
Thread Starter
245/40WR18's?
Any problem running the above referenced size? I am planning on getting some Sumitomo HTR+ Ultra high performance All season radials for my 8 so I do not have to swap tires every year. They have a treadwear rating of 360, AA, A.
I ran these on my '02 Passat W8 and they were a great tire. Very quiet and smooth running with great grip.
The speedometer diference is only .6 mph as they are running at 59.4 mph compared to 60mph indicated. I think this is a null issue.
Tire Rack has them listed for $114+shipping.
I ran these on my '02 Passat W8 and they were a great tire. Very quiet and smooth running with great grip.
The speedometer diference is only .6 mph as they are running at 59.4 mph compared to 60mph indicated. I think this is a null issue.
Tire Rack has them listed for $114+shipping.
Last edited by Rotary Nut; 12-12-2003 at 10:00 AM.
#4
Registered User
I think 235 is about as big as you want to go without getting the "fat tire" look on your stock 8" wheels.
Of coarse the problem with 235 is that 235/45 is too tall and 235/40 is too short of a tire.
I might consider the 235/45 Continental 2 it is 793 rotations per mile versus 804 for the RE040 that comes with the car. That is a little over 1% change in diameter, would only raise the car by less than .2 inches, would also help the speedometer misreading (the car reads 61-62 when it is only going 60), and would help to hill the wheel wells a little better too with the slightly extra width.
I will probably go that route when I finally need new tires.
-Mr. Wigggles
Of coarse the problem with 235 is that 235/45 is too tall and 235/40 is too short of a tire.
I might consider the 235/45 Continental 2 it is 793 rotations per mile versus 804 for the RE040 that comes with the car. That is a little over 1% change in diameter, would only raise the car by less than .2 inches, would also help the speedometer misreading (the car reads 61-62 when it is only going 60), and would help to hill the wheel wells a little better too with the slightly extra width.
I will probably go that route when I finally need new tires.
-Mr. Wigggles
#5
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Originally posted by MrWigggles
I think 235 is about as big as you want to go without getting the "fat tire" look on your stock 8" wheels.
I think 235 is about as big as you want to go without getting the "fat tire" look on your stock 8" wheels.
#6
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Re: 245/40WR18's?
Originally posted by Rotary Nut
Any problem running the above referenced size? I am planning on getting some Sumitomo HTR+ Ultra high performance All season radials for my 8 so I do not have to swap tires every year.
Any problem running the above referenced size? I am planning on getting some Sumitomo HTR+ Ultra high performance All season radials for my 8 so I do not have to swap tires every year.
Regards,
Gordon
#7
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What's with the tire manufacturers?
Now that the RX8 is here, why don't tire makers respond to the obvious market for all-season tires that fit the stock wheels? Tens of millions of RX8 owners live in the moderate climate belt, where you don't need heavy-duty winter tires but can't get along with the hot-weather-only 040s. Many of us, IMO, would prefer not to pay for an extra set of wheels, plus either a second set of sensors or transfer costs each season, or remounting tires on the stock wheels every season. Mazda has already messed up by not seeing that an all-season option was available this year, so we have had to commit to one of the more expensive solutions. Still, the tires will wear out one day -- pretty soon, according to the 040 wear rating -- and it would be nice to have an all-season choice then. Those who bought 17" wheels may not care, but many of us using the stock wheels, as well as future 8 owners, will.
#8
"...I'm a Dapper Dan man"
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Exactly my point. I ran these same tires on my Passat W8 and that was pushing 270HP on a 4000lb chassis with AWD and they handled great in the snow and on the dry pavement. I ran them for over a year and barely showed signs of wear.
That is why I am going with these. I too do not want to go thru the added hassle of needing a second set of wheels/TP sensors or having to go thru the problem of having tires mounted and worrying about some minimum wage punk screwing up the rims or possibly damaging the TP sensors. I would rather deal with the compromises that present themselves. I do not race or autocross so running tires such as these is not an issue with me. Snow on the streets rarely last more than a few days. and is never more than a few inches deep.
All I need is a little piece of mind that if it gets a bit slick out here I won't have to go running home to change tire/rims and that I have a set of tires that will be able to handle it.
That is why I am going with these. I too do not want to go thru the added hassle of needing a second set of wheels/TP sensors or having to go thru the problem of having tires mounted and worrying about some minimum wage punk screwing up the rims or possibly damaging the TP sensors. I would rather deal with the compromises that present themselves. I do not race or autocross so running tires such as these is not an issue with me. Snow on the streets rarely last more than a few days. and is never more than a few inches deep.
All I need is a little piece of mind that if it gets a bit slick out here I won't have to go running home to change tire/rims and that I have a set of tires that will be able to handle it.
#9
Registered User
I have had no problems with the RE040's in the rain. In the snow I'm guessing that they stink.
A summer tire with a 220 or so wear rating might not have the optimal thread pattern for rain, but its 220 (ie. usually softer) rating versus say a 400 or so for an all-season tire, will overcome most if not all of the thread patterns defciencies.
To me the trade off between a harder all-season tire versus a softer summer tire is tread-life versus dry traction performance. The rain performance is often a wash.
Regardless, I too don't understand why there isn't an all-season tire for this car for those who want it.
-Mr. Wigggles
A summer tire with a 220 or so wear rating might not have the optimal thread pattern for rain, but its 220 (ie. usually softer) rating versus say a 400 or so for an all-season tire, will overcome most if not all of the thread patterns defciencies.
To me the trade off between a harder all-season tire versus a softer summer tire is tread-life versus dry traction performance. The rain performance is often a wash.
Regardless, I too don't understand why there isn't an all-season tire for this car for those who want it.
-Mr. Wigggles
#10
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While we do get some moderate snows here, the snow removal is decent, and I rarely need to travel beyond city streets or local highways, so I opted for the ultra high performance all-season route with Continental's ContiExtremes in the 245/40 ZR18 size. The were just mounted Friday, and Saturday we got some snow (only about 1"). The car did great, even with the wider tires.
The ContiExtremes are definitely much grippier in cold weather (even dry cold) than the RE040s, of course. Initially the felt a little soft, but that was at the 32psi the tire shop put in them. I like to run my tires a little higher on psi, and once I got them up to 40psi (where I had the RE040s) I no longer noticed any extra softness in cornering, but they do seem to absorb bumps a little better. No problems with rubbing at that size either, as others have posted. One other unexpected benefit, although totally aesthetic, these tires at this size look outstanding on the 8. I'll hafta take some pics & post em' soon, but they just look like the rims were made for them. The rims and tire shoulders line up with no "fat tire" look at all.
I'll obviously have to wait for Spring to test the warm weather dry traction, but I'm hoping that the wider tire will help to compensate for the difference between all-season and summer only. So far, though, I'm thoroughly pleased with the switch, and I'm actually happier with these tires than with the stock. I don't feel like there's been any compromise at all.
Also, I traded in the RE040s, and got about $40 per tire for 'em, so when all was said and done, I paid around $800+, with a free lifetime road hazzard coverage, rotation, and balancing. That's much less than what I would have paid up front for a new set of rims and winter tires (especially if I'd included the monitors), and in the long run, even better since I won't have to swap back and forth.
Sorry for the long rambly message, but there's my 2c.
The ContiExtremes are definitely much grippier in cold weather (even dry cold) than the RE040s, of course. Initially the felt a little soft, but that was at the 32psi the tire shop put in them. I like to run my tires a little higher on psi, and once I got them up to 40psi (where I had the RE040s) I no longer noticed any extra softness in cornering, but they do seem to absorb bumps a little better. No problems with rubbing at that size either, as others have posted. One other unexpected benefit, although totally aesthetic, these tires at this size look outstanding on the 8. I'll hafta take some pics & post em' soon, but they just look like the rims were made for them. The rims and tire shoulders line up with no "fat tire" look at all.
I'll obviously have to wait for Spring to test the warm weather dry traction, but I'm hoping that the wider tire will help to compensate for the difference between all-season and summer only. So far, though, I'm thoroughly pleased with the switch, and I'm actually happier with these tires than with the stock. I don't feel like there's been any compromise at all.
Also, I traded in the RE040s, and got about $40 per tire for 'em, so when all was said and done, I paid around $800+, with a free lifetime road hazzard coverage, rotation, and balancing. That's much less than what I would have paid up front for a new set of rims and winter tires (especially if I'd included the monitors), and in the long run, even better since I won't have to swap back and forth.
Sorry for the long rambly message, but there's my 2c.
#11
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Yes please post some pics especialy of the sidewall profile. I will be buying a set within the next 2-3 weeks in the same size. I am itching to see what this size will look like when mounted on the stock wheel. Thanks for taking the plunge.
#12
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My 8 only has 500 miles, and though it is very premature to think about a replacement set of tires, I will be buying those Sumitomos when I replace my current set. All seasons are beter than these summer only RE040's.
#13
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Originally posted by Rotary Nut
The tires' total tread width only increases by 3/4 of an inch so I dont think that rubbing would be that much of an issue.
The tires' total tread width only increases by 3/4 of an inch so I dont think that rubbing would be that much of an issue.
No rubbing problems, even at about an inch lower on jic coilovers.
I'm running falken GR Betas.
#14
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Originally posted by Rotary Nut
The 225's already place the shoulder of the tire inside of the bead. Meaning the distance between the inner and outer bead is greater than the width of the shoulder of the tire. So an increase of just 3/4 of an inch would place the shoulder right under the bead and also offer better protection against curbage!
The 225's already place the shoulder of the tire inside of the bead. Meaning the distance between the inner and outer bead is greater than the width of the shoulder of the tire. So an increase of just 3/4 of an inch would place the shoulder right under the bead and also offer better protection against curbage!
#15
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Originally posted by NAVILES16V
All seasons are beter than these summer only RE040's.
All seasons are beter than these summer only RE040's.
Regards,
Gordon
#16
"...I'm a Dapper Dan man"
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The way I see it is that "optimal tire performance means it will be able to perform in all our real world evironments, i.e. all seasons! Have you driven in the Sumitomo's. Probably not well I have. I drove them here in VA for well over a year. They are a very good tire. I think that if one wants to enjoy thier car year round then it should have year round tires.
So no one is "cheaping out" from what I have seen and read that the 040 are crappy in very wet conditions so what happens if you are driving on a nice spring day and encounter a sudden down pour and your tires start to slip? You will wish that you had the all seasons on!
Try explaining to the police or the judge for that matter that the reason you slid into the back of the other driver was that the tires on your car could not handle what was thrown at them.
So no one is "cheaping out" from what I have seen and read that the 040 are crappy in very wet conditions so what happens if you are driving on a nice spring day and encounter a sudden down pour and your tires start to slip? You will wish that you had the all seasons on!
Try explaining to the police or the judge for that matter that the reason you slid into the back of the other driver was that the tires on your car could not handle what was thrown at them.
#17
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LoL, that's the most unresponsible post i've seen in a long time!
Know your tires, get what works for you, but know the limits of those tires! Any given tire can be the best at any given situation, but do you have the right tires for your expected situation?
That's the million dollar question!
Know your tires, get what works for you, but know the limits of those tires! Any given tire can be the best at any given situation, but do you have the right tires for your expected situation?
That's the million dollar question!
#18
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Originally posted by Rotary Nut
from what I have seen and read that the 040 are crappy in very wet conditions so what happens if you are driving on a nice spring day and encounter a sudden down pour and your tires start to slip? You will wish that you had the all seasons on!
from what I have seen and read that the 040 are crappy in very wet conditions so what happens if you are driving on a nice spring day and encounter a sudden down pour and your tires start to slip? You will wish that you had the all seasons on!
Further - let's say you're driving along one nice winter day and a sudden winter storm hits, first freezing rain, then 3 inches of snow. What happens with your too-wide, less grippy all-season tires? You will wish that you had real winter tires on! (But not really , that's serious)
Regards,
Gordon
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#21
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Originally posted by RX8on19s
THe perfect tire size is 245/35/19 in the front & 275/30/19 in the rear
THe perfect tire size is 245/35/19 in the front & 275/30/19 in the rear
#22
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jdaled
They look just right! I hope to be ordering my tires within the next two weeks. Hopefully the snow will hold out!
Again thanks for the pics they sold me on the size I had settled on. You are right they do not give it the fat tire look and do looke like the rims were designed for them! How do they ride so far?
They look just right! I hope to be ordering my tires within the next two weeks. Hopefully the snow will hold out!
Again thanks for the pics they sold me on the size I had settled on. You are right they do not give it the fat tire look and do looke like the rims were designed for them! How do they ride so far?
#23
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Originally posted by RX8on19s
THe perfect tire size is 245/35/19 in the front & 275/30/19 in the rear
THe perfect tire size is 245/35/19 in the front & 275/30/19 in the rear
Regards,
Gordon
#24
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Originally posted by jdaled
I like to run my tires a little higher on psi, and once I got them up to 40psi (where I had the RE040s) I no longer noticed any extra softness in cornering, but they do seem to absorb bumps a little better.
I like to run my tires a little higher on psi, and once I got them up to 40psi (where I had the RE040s) I no longer noticed any extra softness in cornering, but they do seem to absorb bumps a little better.
In this case overinflation, would cause them to wear in the center of the tread much more than on the outsides, right ????
rx8cited
#25
with the stock tires I don't have any problems in rainy conditions. but I do respect anyone who want to get their specific tires. so they don't have to go through all the hassles of changing it.