Wheel and tyre advice please

[LordGrover]

Car is a 2012 GT86 - all standard so far. No plans to track, just fast road and fun.

Stock wheels
17" diameter
7" width
48mm offset
5x100mm PCD
9.1kgs

Stock tyres
215/45R17 Michelin Primacy HP


Currently leaning towards Rota Torque in silver, sticking with 17" dia but 7.5" width. These are slightly lighter at 8.2kgs, which is a good thing.

Now... tyres. I'm keeping the stock rims with Nexen winter tyres so a proper summer tyre is fine.
I've been told that Michelin Pilot Super Sport is an excellent tyre (for those with 18" rims).
Doesn't seem right going for a wider wheel and narrower tyre, but the only 17" tyre they offer is 205/45R17. Will the slightly narrower tyre have much if any effect or maybe I could go for Continental Sport Contact 3 or Toyo T1-Sport Proxes at 235/40R17 to take advantage of the wider rim and potential extra grip?

I will be upgrading springs and adding anti-roll bars in the near future too.

[Bill]

Have you got the turbo yet?

[LordGrover]

Let's get it in order... wheels, tyres, suspenders, brakes and st before we can fly.

[Bill]

FWIW I like T1Rs and have had those and the Contis on the Rover. I found the T1R gave more gently (reputed to have a softer tyre wall) but the Contis probably had more ultimate grip. But this is on a far heavier and more powerful car...

[Orangecurry]

I would fit 225/45/17 as there is more choice, is a perfect fit (on the rim) but doesn't go wide enough to screw things up.

Yes I know the circumference is slightly less.

215/45 (and 215/40/18) are some kind of mad japanese size that nobody makes good tyres in.

I've done this change on my mad japanese car.

[pti]

I've got Yokohama AD08s on my car. Grip wise I cannot fault them at all, even in the wet though you do have to be mindful. In the dry they offer up unbelievable amounts! Is that in keeping with the ethos of the GT86 though...?

They do wear like buggery but are reasonably priced (on my 16"s of course )

[Orangecurry]

LordGrover said:

I've been told that Michelin Pilot Super Sport is an excellent tyre (for those with 18" rims).
Doesn't seem right going for a wider wheel and narrower tyre, but the only 17" tyre they offer is 205/45R17.

Why are you going for wider 7.5J rims? I would think that will mess with the 'handling' more than going for 18x7 rims, then you could fit 225/40/18 and the choice is huge?

[LordGrover]

pti said:

... Is that in keeping with the ethos of the GT86 though...?
...

Probably not, but grip is poor once you get past the it's fun going sideways grin. Pressing on in my short commute means I have to be pretty cautious in anything less than perfect conditions.

Orangecurry said:

Why are you going for wider 7.5J rims? I would think that will mess with the 'handling' more than going for 18x7 rims, then you could fit 225/40/18 and the choice is huge?

I think the wheels look good.

---

Speaking to Ben at Rarerims, they recommend Yokohama Advan Neova AD08R 225/45R17 - at a decent price too. They have existing customers on same car and rims who report very happy.

[LordGrover]

Virtual gallery

[Orangecurry]

LordGrover said:

I think the wheels look good.

But, Shirley, you can get the same wheels in 17x7 or 17x7.5 or 18x7 ?

[LordGrover]

Nope. Click.

[FD3Si]

doogz said:

I wouldn't put 205's on a 7.5" wheel.

I'm not into 'stretch'

It's really not a stretch at all TBH.
In fact, it's well within a lot of manufacturer's recommendations (Falken, for one).
As above - 225/45/17 is common as muck - so cheap, and lots of choice.
T1rs are OK, as are Falken 453s but I wouldn't rate them as brilliant. The Eagle F1 Assymetric 2s get rave reviews everywhere. I guess if you want to keep the slightly lively character you could intentionally go for something like that for a little less grip [canoworms.open()]

Important thing is the offset - you need to see how much clearance you've got. I wouldn't have thought that the extra 5mm wither side would be an issue on the stock wheel, but the offset of the new one will dictate how much arch clearance you have.

For reference, this is a 225/45/17 on an 8 (on the front, ignore the rear - that's the same size on a 10...) I believe some OEMs use similar fitment.

[Orangecurry]

What is the centre bore? Personally I'd find some 18x7 wheels.

For instance Subaru wheels are (mostly) 5x100 and offsets of around 48-52, and there's plenty of choice. As long as the CB is the same, you are laughing.

Buy an OE set off someone, get them refurbed in the colour of your choice, everyone is happy.

[LordGrover]

Centre bore is 56.1
Offset 48

Not a fan of big wheels so 18" no-goer.

[Orangecurry]

I understand completely that with every car, there is an inch-too-far.

As the CB is the same, there are a few nice 17x7 Subaru wheels around, so there's an option for you.

Here are mine with 225/45s fitted so you can see how well 225 suits and protects the rim on a 7J