[tphss]

I'm in the process or purchasing new wheels+tires.
I was thinking: Since my STI (04 no DCCD) is set to distribute 65% power to rear and 35% front, won't installing wider rear tires be good?

Will having let's say 235/45R/17 or even 245 at the back and 225/45R/17 at the front be good? (might be 18inch, not that it matters for this question).
Since more power is being sent to the rear, the rear might as well have more grip, like a Carrera 4, Audi RS4, Murcielago...

Is this a good idea? if so how come I don't see people doing that?

[spazegun2213]

normally the reason behind larger rubber in the rear is to get the power to the ground better. Since most cars on drive 2 wheels, the other two can be smaller. This however brings up other handling problems.


as for on an sti, i have never seen it done.

[La Mer]

it sounds like you will be gaining traction in the back allowing for understeer. our cours don't need more understeer.

[Ver7wannabe]

The closest I have seen done like that was on an EVOs built by some Japanese tuning houses. They do the opposite though and put narrower RIMS(not tires) on the BACK of the car to try an get more oversteer out of the car.

As far as staggered width tires on any AWD car, you must make sure that they have the same diameter on all four corners or else your diffs will be very unhappy and can fail.

[tphss]

Originally Posted by La Mer

it sounds like you will be gaining traction in the back allowing for understeer. our cours don't need more understeer.

On a stock STI, ture.

But theoretically, on a suspension tuned STI. With struts, sways, Coilovers lowering the front, basically as little understeer possible, it can work out good - wider tires at the rear.
I think..?

[T3h_Clap]

are you having oversteer issues?

[lackskill]

Originally Posted by tphss

On a stock STI, ture.

But theoretically, on a suspension tuned STI. With struts, sways, Coilovers lowering the front, basically as little understeer possible, it can work out good - wider tires at the rear.
I think..?

I cant see any reason to take the chance for the little bit that you would gain and the potential headaches you could run into...

[jph]

you probably want to rethink your sizing.
make sure that both front and rear tires have the SAME outside diameter. you don't want to break any diffs.

225/45R17 and 245/40R17 are pretty closely matched, i think you can get away with it.

are you planning to run different wheel sized also, or just different tire sized on the same wheels ?

ps: if it was me, i'd just put 245/40/R17 on all four corners, instead of just in the back. wait a second... i did


J.

[flatthump]

Wait. Do you have some horrible traction problem?

And wheres that thread that preaches that thee contact patch does not increase with a wider tire

[T3h_Clap]

Originally Posted by flatthump

Wait. Do you have some horrible traction problem?

And wheres that thread that preaches that thee contact patch does not increase with a wider tire

at least not in a straight line

[flatthump]

Originally Posted by T3h_Clap

at least not in a straight line

But you rears break loose before the fronts in a turn?

[tphss]

I talking ofcourse only on changing the WIDTH of the rear tires, not anything else.

So Ver7wannabe and jph, I mean using the same diameter rims all around. Only having bit widers tires mounted at the rear.

[dailydriversti]

Originally Posted by tphss

I talking ofcourse only on changing the WIDTH of the rear tires, not anything else.

So Ver7wannabe and jph, I mean using the same diameter rims all around. Only having bit widers tires mounted at the rear.

but tire width affects tire diameter too.....

[La Mer]

Originally Posted by dailydriversti

but tire width affects tire diameter too.....

[tphss]

Originally Posted by T3h_Clap

are you having oversteer issues?

For now, understeer. But i'm buying Sways, endlinks, Whiteline ALK or Perrin PSRS and Prodrive or Tein springs that will lower the car (front more then rear), that will have a great effect on the understeer I assume.