17/17 and 17/18 Tire Choices - not much left.
- Thread starter stuntman
- Start date
THIS IS BAD ADVICE!!! - but unfortunately all too common.
Most NSX street tires lose grip above 36-38psi when hot, and loose a massive amount of grip above 40psi. If you set the rears at 36psi cold, you can easily get some heat in them in the canyons and find yourself losing rear grip, stability, and safety.
Most street tires on NSXs will make the most grip around 30-35psi HOT. Because of this I'd suggest 33psi to 34psi cold FRONT AND REAR for street use. This will mean the front and rear tires will get to the point of losing grip much more evenly.
I really don't like the idea of tire pressure stagger.
Well... Honda/Acura manual and door stickers say 33/40 PSI street tire pressure 
... I decreased that to 33/36 because R888R recommended hot tire pressure below 40 PSI to have best grip. On a semi-slick tire like R888R, when driving on the street, you don't get close to the temperatures you get on a track where you would need to be checking pressure and adjusting pressure on all four corners of the car to get optimum grip. But Billy, you are the one to listen, so I will decrease my pressure a bit more in the rear as advised by you :wink:
... I decreased that to 33/36 because R888R recommended hot tire pressure below 40 PSI to have best grip. On a semi-slick tire like R888R, when driving on the street, you don't get close to the temperatures you get on a track where you would need to be checking pressure and adjusting pressure on all four corners of the car to get optimum grip. But Billy, you are the one to listen, so I will decrease my pressure a bit more in the rear as advised by you :wink:
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I also have gone with what is on the door jam since having my car. It is only street driven and sits on Direzza Z11's. I've not had the rear step unexpectedly. I expect Billy would still recommend decreasing the rear tire pressures a few pounds?
used to use 38 psi rear... lost grip one... recovered car, but barely avoiding massive collision... severe soiling.... subsequently lowered psi.
Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk
If you run OEM size and OEM tires on the street without performance driving on the track or canyons, then sure. But if you start to push you car, those rear pressures are too high.Well... Honda/Acura manual and door stickers say 33/40 PSI street tire pressure
On the track, cold pressures will be in the 20's and then build to low-mid 30s. For the street, where you won't get much heat in the tires, you'll run closer to the ideal 'hot' pressures -hence my 33-34psi recommendation.
Give it a try and report back on the feel after a canyon run.
It depends on your tire size. If you're using 225 rears, then maybe try 37-38psi in the rear. But if you have 265-275 rear tires, try 34psi.
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Thanks Billy, my 03 rims and tires are stock sizes, so I'll go down a few pounds in the rears and give it a try! I always figured you guys talking about lowering pressures were only doing so when heading to the track.
Thanks for your advise Billy! I will! :wink: BTW I'm runing 205/40/17 F and 255/35/18 R
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It's been a few years but this thread needs an update. There really aren't a whole lot of options for 17/17 and 17/18:
Front - 17x7.5 - 17x8
215/40-17:
Yokohama Advan A052
Yokohama Advan Fleva V701
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08R
Dunlop Direzza ZIII
Falken Azenis RT615K+
Falken Azenis RT660
Kumho Ecsta PS31
BFGoodrich G-Force R1S
Kumho Ecsta V700
235/40-17:
Yokohama Advan Fleva V701
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08R
Dunlop Direzza ZIII
Falken Azenis RT615K+
Falken Azenis RT660
Kumho Ecsta PS31
Toyo Proxes R1R
Toyo R888R
Toyo RA1
Toyo RR
BF Goodrich G-Force R1
Rear - 17x8.5 - 17x10
255/40-17: (tons)
Hankook Ventus RS4
Yokohama Advan AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
Bridgestone RE71R
Falken Azenis RT615K+
Kumho Ecsta V720
BFGoodrich G-Force Rival S 1.5
Falken RT660
Nexen N Fera Sur4G
Toyo Proxes R1R
Continental ExtremeContact SPORT
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
General G-Max RS
BFGoodrich G-Force Sport Comp 2
Dunlop Direzza DZ102
Toyo RA1
Toyo R888R
Toyo RR
Michelin Cup 2
Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
265/40-17:
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
Bridgestone Potenza S007A
275/40-17
Falken RT615K+
Toyo R1R
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
General G-MAX RS
BFGoodrich G-Force Sport Comp 2
Continental ExtremeContact SPORT
Michelin PS2
Toyo RA1
Toyo R888R
Toyo RR
BFG G-Force R1S
Hoosier A7/R7
Rear - 18x9.5 - 18x10.5
255/35-18: (lots)
Yokohama A052
Hankook RS4
Yokohama AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
Bridgestone RE71R
Falken RT660
Nexen N Fera Sur4G
Toyo R1R
Michelin PS4S
Michelin PSS
Continental ExtremeContact SPORT
Bridgestone S04
.
.
.
Toyo R888R
Hoosier A7/R7
Toyo RR
265/35-18: (lots)
Yokohama A052
Hankook RS4
Yokohama AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
Bridgestone RE-71R
Falken RT615K+
Kumho V720
Bridgestone S007A
Michelin Cup 2
Michelin PS4S
Michelin PS2
Continental ExtremeContact SPORT
Bridgestone S04
Nexen N Fera Sur4G
Toyo R888R
Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
Goodyear Eagle F1 Super car 3R
275/35-18: (lots)
Dunlop ZIII
Bridgestone RE71R
Falken RT615K+
BFGoodrich G-Force Rival S
BFGoodrich G-Force Rival S 1.5
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar 3
Bridgestone S007A
Nexen N Fera Sur4G
Michelin PS4S
Michelin PSS
Continental ExtremeContact SPORT
Bridgestone RE050A
Bridgestone S04
Toyo RA1
Toyo R888R
Toyo RR
BFGoodrich G-Force R1
Hoosier A7/R7
Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R
295/35-18:
Yokohama A052
Michelin PSS
Continental ExtremeContact SPORT
Michelin PS2
Bridgestone RE050A
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Here are the commonly used combinations below, roughly from best to worst:
215/40-17 & 255/40-17 (Factory sizes, no rubbing)
Yokohama Advan AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
Falken RT660
Falken Azenis RT615K+
215/40-17 & 255/35-18 (no rubbing)
Yokohama A052
Yokohama AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
Falken RT660
215/40-17 & 265/35-18 (no rubbing, more rear grip, better for track)
Yokohama A052
Yokohama AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
215/40-17 & 275/35-18 (no rubbing, even more rear grip even better for track)
Dunlop ZIII
Falken RT615K+
235/40-17 & 275/40-17 (Track sizes, front rubbing at full lock, lasts longer before overheating)
Falken RT615K+
Toyo R1R
Toyo RA1
Toyo R888R
Toyo RR
BFG G-Force R1S
235/40-17 & 265/35-18 (rubbing up front, more front grip)
Yokohama AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
Falken RT615K+
Toyo R888R
235/40-17 & 275/35-18 (rubbing up front, Common track setup, good wear/balance)
Dunlop ZIII
Falken RT615K+
Toyo RA1
Toyo R888R
Toyo RR
BFGoodrich G-Force R1[/QUOTE]
Front - 17x7.5 - 17x8
215/40-17:
Yokohama Advan A052
Yokohama Advan Fleva V701
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08R
Dunlop Direzza ZIII
Falken Azenis RT615K+
Falken Azenis RT660
Kumho Ecsta PS31
BFGoodrich G-Force R1S
Kumho Ecsta V700
235/40-17:
Yokohama Advan Fleva V701
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08R
Dunlop Direzza ZIII
Falken Azenis RT615K+
Falken Azenis RT660
Kumho Ecsta PS31
Toyo Proxes R1R
Toyo R888R
Toyo RA1
Toyo RR
BF Goodrich G-Force R1
Rear - 17x8.5 - 17x10
255/40-17: (tons)
Hankook Ventus RS4
Yokohama Advan AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
Bridgestone RE71R
Falken Azenis RT615K+
Kumho Ecsta V720
BFGoodrich G-Force Rival S 1.5
Falken RT660
Nexen N Fera Sur4G
Toyo Proxes R1R
Continental ExtremeContact SPORT
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
General G-Max RS
BFGoodrich G-Force Sport Comp 2
Dunlop Direzza DZ102
Toyo RA1
Toyo R888R
Toyo RR
Michelin Cup 2
Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
265/40-17:
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
Bridgestone Potenza S007A
275/40-17
Falken RT615K+
Toyo R1R
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
General G-MAX RS
BFGoodrich G-Force Sport Comp 2
Continental ExtremeContact SPORT
Michelin PS2
Toyo RA1
Toyo R888R
Toyo RR
BFG G-Force R1S
Hoosier A7/R7
Rear - 18x9.5 - 18x10.5
255/35-18: (lots)
Yokohama A052
Hankook RS4
Yokohama AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
Bridgestone RE71R
Falken RT660
Nexen N Fera Sur4G
Toyo R1R
Michelin PS4S
Michelin PSS
Continental ExtremeContact SPORT
Bridgestone S04
.
.
.
Toyo R888R
Hoosier A7/R7
Toyo RR
265/35-18: (lots)
Yokohama A052
Hankook RS4
Yokohama AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
Bridgestone RE-71R
Falken RT615K+
Kumho V720
Bridgestone S007A
Michelin Cup 2
Michelin PS4S
Michelin PS2
Continental ExtremeContact SPORT
Bridgestone S04
Nexen N Fera Sur4G
Toyo R888R
Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
Goodyear Eagle F1 Super car 3R
275/35-18: (lots)
Dunlop ZIII
Bridgestone RE71R
Falken RT615K+
BFGoodrich G-Force Rival S
BFGoodrich G-Force Rival S 1.5
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar 3
Bridgestone S007A
Nexen N Fera Sur4G
Michelin PS4S
Michelin PSS
Continental ExtremeContact SPORT
Bridgestone RE050A
Bridgestone S04
Toyo RA1
Toyo R888R
Toyo RR
BFGoodrich G-Force R1
Hoosier A7/R7
Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R
295/35-18:
Yokohama A052
Michelin PSS
Continental ExtremeContact SPORT
Michelin PS2
Bridgestone RE050A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the commonly used combinations below, roughly from best to worst:
215/40-17 & 255/40-17 (Factory sizes, no rubbing)
Yokohama Advan AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
Falken RT660
Falken Azenis RT615K+
215/40-17 & 255/35-18 (no rubbing)
Yokohama A052
Yokohama AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
Falken RT660
215/40-17 & 265/35-18 (no rubbing, more rear grip, better for track)
Yokohama A052
Yokohama AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
215/40-17 & 275/35-18 (no rubbing, even more rear grip even better for track)
Dunlop ZIII
Falken RT615K+
235/40-17 & 275/40-17 (Track sizes, front rubbing at full lock, lasts longer before overheating)
Falken RT615K+
Toyo R1R
Toyo RA1
Toyo R888R
Toyo RR
BFG G-Force R1S
235/40-17 & 265/35-18 (rubbing up front, more front grip)
Yokohama AD08R
Dunlop ZIII
Falken RT615K+
Toyo R888R
235/40-17 & 275/35-18 (rubbing up front, Common track setup, good wear/balance)
Dunlop ZIII
Falken RT615K+
Toyo RA1
Toyo R888R
Toyo RR
BFGoodrich G-Force R1[/QUOTE]
Adding to this...
I'm on my 3rd set of Maxxis tires for the NSX. I skipped them 2yrs ago when I went with the Michelin PSS in 18/19. I've had one set of the "DOT slick" RC-1 track tire 235/40-17 & 275/35-18) and 2 sets of the VR-1 UHP in 17/17 & 17/18 (popular sizes). They don't show up at many dealers like tire rack because I believe they are direct to consumer only (maybe some dealers carry? Don't know... I buy from them direct).
I think they are a good alternative to the AD08R, ZIII, and 615K+. I prefer the VR-1 over these last two for sure but it's a better value than the AD08R, which is a great tire. Love the ZIII but too noisy on the street/hwy and it's a firm sidewall, too firm. The previous 615K got too greasy too quickly at the track and sidewall a bit soft. VR-1 gets up to temp quickly for my early morning canyon drives. It's ok in the wet (not as good as the PSS, but acceptable and not dicey like some other UHPs). It had a bunch of grip at the track in 100+F ambient. Also quiet on the hwy, though in fairness, my car is kind of loud.
Anyway, not many tires out there for NSX sizing so I wanted to make sure this gets thrown in the pool.
I'm on my 3rd set of Maxxis tires for the NSX. I skipped them 2yrs ago when I went with the Michelin PSS in 18/19. I've had one set of the "DOT slick" RC-1 track tire 235/40-17 & 275/35-18) and 2 sets of the VR-1 UHP in 17/17 & 17/18 (popular sizes). They don't show up at many dealers like tire rack because I believe they are direct to consumer only (maybe some dealers carry? Don't know... I buy from them direct).
I think they are a good alternative to the AD08R, ZIII, and 615K+. I prefer the VR-1 over these last two for sure but it's a better value than the AD08R, which is a great tire. Love the ZIII but too noisy on the street/hwy and it's a firm sidewall, too firm. The previous 615K got too greasy too quickly at the track and sidewall a bit soft. VR-1 gets up to temp quickly for my early morning canyon drives. It's ok in the wet (not as good as the PSS, but acceptable and not dicey like some other UHPs). It had a bunch of grip at the track in 100+F ambient. Also quiet on the hwy, though in fairness, my car is kind of loud.
Anyway, not many tires out there for NSX sizing so I wanted to make sure this gets thrown in the pool.
[/QUOTE]
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I did some reading at the start of this thread and 205/40/17 for the front and 255/35/18 for the rears seems okay from the TCS point of view. I don't track and only occasionally drive a 2004 NSX. Curious if this set of tires would be okay compared to other tires out there. Low noise level and decent grip are probably my preferences. Not longevity and I'm fine with only driving in +40F and dry conditions. (Firestone Firehawk Indy 500)
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...R8FHI5XL&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...R8FHI5XL&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
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I think you should be ok on the TCS. The Indy 500 tires are the current hot ticket for HDPE. Everyone thinks they are junk because they are Firestone tires, but they are actually re-badged Bridgestone Potenza RE-003 for the US market. Amazing dry grip, a very stiff sidewall (which the NSX likes) and much better tread wear than the 200 UTOG track tires. These are very popular for the S2000 and Miata track guys, since they are so much less expensive than the RE-71R but offer similar dry performance.
Thanks for the comment Honcho. That's good info. I thought there was some resemblance to the Bridgestone Potenza. If I get new wheels this Spring, this tire selection is on the list. I've been a Firestone customer for decades. And one of their stores is the only place in town that has no-contact tire installation. I had to take my wife's P-718 OEM rims there to have tires installed.
I had the Indy 500 tires on my E39 M Sport Wagon. Totally different car all together but they were pretty sticky. I wish I had spent more time on them. I wouldn't mind trying them on my NSX someday but still pretty darn happy with the Maxxis VR-1's.
I was going to get a set of Z3 to replace my worn out Z1, but America’s/discount tire wouldn’t install them because the front load rating wasn’t good enough for our car!? It’s the same 83W as my Z1 but they said it needs to be 87.
Oh and they offered two alternatives, AD08 or a Nexen nfera-su1. Sizes 215/40R17 and 265/35R18
Oh and they offered two alternatives, AD08 or a Nexen nfera-su1. Sizes 215/40R17 and 265/35R18
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Thanks for posting this. I have had my car for ages - always with OEM wheels and tires using the tire pressures shown in the door jamb and have had a couple of times when the backend got loose going over a road with relatively mild dips and rises. I just tried 34 psi all around and found the car less nervous ( very comforting since my eyesight and reflexes aren’t what they used to be ). It makes me wonder why Acura recommends 40 psi for the rear tires?
I just ran 28 psi cold and 33psi hot front AND rear on 215/40-17 & 265/35-18 Yokohama A052 tires at the track. Turned the best times i've done, tire wear was excellent with -2.3* front camber and -2.0* rear camber, 0 front toe and 2mm toe in at the rear.
I have been using YOKOHAMA ADVAN FLEVA V701 for the last 6 months (215/40ZR-17 and 265/35ZR-18). Overall, I like them a lot as street tires. I don't drive during wet days, so I cannot comment on wet traction. However, their dry traction is surprisingly great. Their sidewalls are hard and help instill confidence during spirited mountain drives. Very quiet as well.
Good feedback- as you know, I'm a big fan of this tire line for the NSX.
After re-reading [MENTION=16531]stuntman[/MENTION] 's review and impressions, I pulled the trigger on a set of Continental Extreme Contact Sport. 205/45/16 and 245/40/17. Billy, any recommended pressures for this setup? I was thinking 36/36. But reading the above, maybe 34/34?
That's a good ballpark to be in.
After two sets of AD08R, decide to try something different and went with A052. The A052 run wide but I am stock height so hopefully it won’t run. I did not know there is V701 as someone suggested. I might have to try that next time because I almost never track my car. Just a few canyon here and there. I heard the AD08R is getting discontinued. Is that true?
It has more to do with the setup of the factory suspension and the design of the original Yokohama AO22 tires. Honda wanted the car to feel a certain way- instantly responsive with a light, carefree character. The spec'd pressures help deliver that feel when used on the original tires with the original suspension. However, as many early press reviewers discovered, it also contributes to rather dangerous behavior (sudden oversteer) near the limit of traction. Generally speaking, using higher pressures in the rear will increase oversteer (less grip relative to the front tires).
thanks! I am going to try something closer in ratio like 32 F and 33 F
I did a test drive at ACH, the A052 feels like its grippier than the AD08R. A052 stops better. AD08R has sharper turn ins (probably from the stiffer side walls). Hopefully they will last for a reasonably long time (mileage).
Is there any harm in remounting the tires left and right, to get more life out of the tires? Or is that general not advisable?
Is there any harm in remounting the tires left and right, to get more life out of the tires? Or is that general not advisable?
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