Well after having almost 100whp more than my car had stock, I felt the car was getting a little squirmy with the stock 235's (I was running Dunlop Direzzas Sport Z1 star specs) so I did some research here online and found allot of people running the 255's. I was hesitant at first because of course you have to think, damn is this going to bog my car down? or what? So this is for the average Joe out there that doesn't race every weekend and mainly just uses their Evo as a daily driver and has aggressive street sessions, or ocasional track days like me. The Tire I did go with was the same tire I had before because I really liked them. 255/40/17 Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Specs. I got them for $175 a tire here in town where I live, and when I first drove off I could tell a difference. Off the line excelleration of course has dropped a bit, as is obvious it would. But its not bad. I mean for you drag racers if would be a big deal, but on those track days run a different tire. For daily driving, its not bad. Braking better, handling seems better too, but the car seems heavier, in a way, its hard to explain, but I think these tires wiegh a couple pounds heavier per wheel than the 235's but when I hit a bump its more solid, car just responds a little different, but not in a bad way. Took it on a local curvy place I love to run, and the car does turn in better, and the steering feels not so twitchy. Now I did go get my car alignment done right after getting the new tires. My front Alignment is -1.5 camber with 0 toe, and the rear is -1 camber with .1 toe. For some reason the guy doing the job would not set my rear tires at zero toe, he stated my tires would wear funny, he put it at zero toe and showed me on the rack, and I agreed...so maybe on a more track used car I would have, but on a daily driven car I went with the .1 toe in the rear. All and all, I am happy, I will keep you posted on wear, and tear, and overall how the car is with this size tire for daily use as the miles add on. Any questions let me know.......

 

so going wider on the tire slows down acceleration?

 

Your alignment is fine the way it is with zero toe. The 255s will be fine. People are always trying to say the contact patch will suck running 255s on an 8" rim but that is simply not the case.

Adding weight to a rotating object will slow acceleration. Also wider tires tend to grab city street ruts more than narrower tires. Unless you do a large smokey burn out or are on uneven pavement a wider tire will not help traction or braking in a straight line. It may even hamper it by collecting/trapping liquids or debris.

That being said.... I think the 255s look much better on an 8" wheel than the 235s do and it offers some curb rash protection as well!

 

Yes I agree the 255's do look better, I would think in theory anyway a larger contact patch on the road would equal more traction due to just more contact with the road. May not notice it under normal conditions, but on a track I am sure its very noticable. My car is mainly a daily driven car and see's ocasional Solo II events, I am planning a Streets of Willows run in a couple of months, will let you guys know how the tires do. I know the Star Specs should be suited for short tracks, but again, the Evo and the Tires are way more capable than I am......at the moment, haha....Thanks for the comments

 

So, are you having to roll fenders to get them to fit, or are you not having clearence issues?

 

I really don't know about the acceleration part, but I can feel how much better it grips and it looks mean baby.

 

No rubbing of anykind, full sweep of the wheel, nothing. Acceleration is down yes, just takes more power to move bigger tires, but like any modification there is always a trade off. You just have to wiegh in what is worth what to you. For me, added rubber to a car that has more HP and TQ than stock is a must, even in daily driving. But that is my opinion. This is the widest you can put on an 8 inch rim. any wider, you will need wider rims, then the rubbing issues may be a concern, but not with these. Any Q's Let me Know.......

 

wouldn't 245/40/17 be a better size???

 

No.

This has been covered - a lot.

 

I was thinking about doing this as well. Do you have any pics of how it looks?

 

I can take a pic on my cell and try to post it on here for you guys tomarrow...the good thing too with the 255's is at 60mph your rolling 60.7 mph meaning going this width with the stock rim does not throw your spedometer or odometer off like some other sizes do. Added Plus.

 

Ive ran this same size on the stocker Enkei rims and tracked 'em several times with no probs. The tires were BFG KDW's and I was lowered on Swift springs at the time...

 

I like that track pic of your car, that is sweet, I want to get on the track, just need to get the time to do it....anywayz guys he has a pic of his car with the 255's so hoe that helps with what it looks like. Man I need to get on a track, haha.

 

255s on the track..... No problems with rubbing at all.

 

I also autox'd my evo with 255 width tires on the stock wheels. On my star specs, they would rub the inner lining at full lock, but nothing serious at all by any means. If I had to do it all over again, I would do the 255's again!!