17/18 tire choices

[solidol]

I can't keep high jacking 18/19 tire choices thread any longer :smile:

So here we go.. Let's discuss realistic tire options for 17/18 combo.

So far looking at tire rack for 215/40/17 and 255/35/18 there are quite few tires to choose from. Anything from grippy starspecs, yoka ad08 to kdw2 and ecsta le sport.

I'm basically deciding between last two ones. I can tolerate lower thread wear but high grip and low noise level are my two main requirements.

Does anybody have any feedback running either tire? (Kdw2/ecsta le)

 

[v8killer]

I would go with the Star Specs. Awesome grip for the street and occasional track use. They wear very well and price is great.

 

[BATMANs]

I would go with the Star Specs. Awesome grip for the street and occasional track use. They wear very well and price is great.

+1


I would go in this order:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireS...&rearRatio=35&rearDiameter=18&wtpackage=false

 

[Boostedtaco]

Hi jack question! Would a custom offsetted front wheel make fitting 225 or 235 possible?

 

[junior40er]

Plus 1 for star specs. I will always go with that.

 

[etang789]

I can't keep high jacking 18/19 tire choices thread any longer :smile:

So here we go.. Let's discuss realistic tire options for 17/18 combo.

So far looking at tire rack for 215/40/17 and 255/35/18 there are quite few tires to choose from. Anything from grippy starspecs, yoka ad08 to kdw2 and ecsta le sport.

I'm basically deciding between last two ones. I can tolerate lower thread wear but high grip and low noise level are my two main requirements.

Does anybody have any feedback running either tire? (Kdw2/ecsta le)

You should look into these threads,

http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152169

&

http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/839178-hankook-rs-3-vs-dunlop-z1ss-vs-federal-595-rs-r-vs-bridgestone-re-11/

 

[ekhonda87]

How many miles are you guys getting out of the front and rear star specs?

 

[junior40er]

Didn't log my miles but not that good as all seasons. Its a trade off I'm happy to take.

 

[Moses]

Discount Tire made a hole in my F1, which they no longer make in our size so today I'm getting them replaced with the KDW. Hopefully I like them. :frown:

 

[BATMANs]

How many miles are you guys getting out of the front and rear star specs?

I remember changing my rears when I change my oil, which is every 10k miles. Fronts last 2-3 times longer.

 

[Hapa88]

I have the Star Specs on my NSX and love them as a street/occassional track tire.
I have a set of Federal 595 RS-Rs on my Mazdaspeed3 as my track set and am absolutely amazed at the grip they provide and would consider them too on the NSX. Based on multiple reviews on this tire it should be great for the street too, because it doesn't need to "warm-up" unlike the Star Spec to get reach excellent grip levels. Price is supposed to be much cheaper too, but I haven't looked at them yet in the NSX sizes.

http://www.federaltire.com/en/products_detail.php?class=Federal-Motorsports&products_detail_sn=5

Size guide
http://www.federaltire.com/en/images/products/20120711232529671.pdf

It's available in NSX sizes:
215/40/17 (Street-front)
235/40/17 (Race-front)
255/35/18 (rear option 1)
265/35/18 (rear option 2)


EDIT: Just looked up the price difference and the Federal 595RS-R in 215/40/17 (x2) and 265/35/18 (x2) would be less <$490 a set

The Dunlop StarSpec on the otherhand is around $980 a set. You could therefore get 2 sets of Federals for the price of 1 set of StarSpecs... I may have to consider this after I finish my StarSpec set. :smile:

 

[Coconut]

I went with Star Specs. 17x8, 215/40/17, 18x9.5 265/35/18. Very happy with them so far and they look nice too.

 

[Hapa88]

I can't keep high jacking 18/19 tire choices thread any longer :smile:

So here we go.. Let's discuss realistic tire options for 17/18 combo.

So far looking at tire rack for 215/40/17 and 255/35/18 there are quite few tires to choose from. Anything from grippy starspecs, yoka ad08 to kdw2 and ecsta le sport.

I'm basically deciding between last two ones. I can tolerate lower thread wear but high grip and low noise level are my two main requirements.

Does anybody have any feedback running either tire? (Kdw2/ecsta le)

Lots of people like the KDW2 here on Prime for some reason, but they don't test very well according to TireRack's test. They are also an Ultra-High Performance Category tire, so they are a blend of dry traction, wet traction, & treadlife. The biggest complaint of the KDW2 is their noise because of their big tread blocks. Based on your main concerns, I would skip this tire.

If you want better dry grip and a much better price, it seems like the Kumho LE lines up well. It's a Max Performance tire, so it should have better dry grip than the KDW2 and still good treadlife.

If you want ultimate Dry grip go with the StarSpec or AD08. The AD08 tests better overall according to TireRacks tests, so it might be good to check them out, but I haven't heard to many people with them here on Prime.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=118

How many miles are you guys getting out of the front and rear star specs?

I got 3000-4000 miles on my rears (fronts are fine) but I tracked mine 4 or 5 times and I have the 1991 rear toe spec.

 

[BATMANs]

I had the AD07 on my NSX and ran Nexus back in the day on the RX7.

Dunno if the AD08 are similar in the dry to the AD07, but when Yoks are not warmed up and/or if they start to wear down they just don't grab as good as Dunlops, Bridgestones, Michelins and a few other tires I've used in the past/current.

AD08 looks sexy, but for that sorta $$$ the grip needs to be solid from cradle to grave.

 

[solidol]

EDIT: Just looked up the price difference and the Federal 595RS-R in 215/40/17 (x2) and 265/35/18 (x2) would be less <$490 a set

Where did you price them? I like them but seems like it's very hard to find them in stock.

 

[Hapa88]

Where did you price them? I like them but seems like it's very hard to find them in stock.

I found the rears 265/35/18 and 235/40/17s at OnlineTires.com... so I guess I haven't found the 215/40/17s yet...

 

[Kouki Monster]

I am going with r888's 235/40/17 and 265/35/18

 

[Hapa88]

I am going with r888's 235/40/17 and 265/35/18

For Street or track? Plan on lots of rubbing if you have stock fenders.

 

[Kouki Monster]

track set up DF fronts and Taitec Rears / 17x9 18x10.5

 

[nsxtasy]

You probably don't care if it's a track setup, but just so you know, in addition to rubbing, you'll probably encounter TCS problems with 235/40-17 and 265/35-18 on a '91-93 NSX - if not when they are brand new, then as soon as the wears start to wear.

 

[Kouki Monster]

Do you think I will still see rubbing with a +25mm front fender?? TSC is not an issue for me. I would like to not worry about rubbing, even if only under compression it is somewhat unsettling.

 

[Hapa88]

Do you think I will still see rubbing with a +25mm front fender?? TSC is not an issue for me. I would like to not worry about rubbing, even if only under compression it is somewhat unsettling.

You'll probably be ok with the larger fenders and the 17x9 front since it'll probably stretch a 235/40/17 tire.

 

[angus]

Although it'll still require "massaging" the inner fenders.

 

[Vi3tBoy]

I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on wheels and tires.

I'm pretty much settled on enkei rpf1
17x8+35 w/215-40-17 (Seems pretty standard setup)
18x10+38 w/ 265-35-18

Will I be running into any issues whatso ever on my 91? Any issues if I wanted a hair wider rear. like a 275 instead?

Thanks guys

 

[nsxtasy]

I'm pretty much settled on enkei rpf1
17x8+35 w/215-40-17 (Seems pretty standard setup)
18x10+38 w/ 265-35-18

Will I be running into any issues whatso ever on my 91? Any issues if I wanted a hair wider rear. like a 275 instead?

I'd stick with the 265 on a '91. The handling tends to suffer if you run with the "stagger" any higher (that's the difference in tread width between front and rear).