AD08 235-45-17 is your best bet
its dangerous to drive A048 on the street if theres heavy rain

 

Some of us do run RA-1s on the street, for an R compound they are quite streetable. I'm not made of money, so I'd personally run a street tire like the AD08 or A048.

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=118
Can't belive no one mentioned the RE-11s, winner in the test, but virtually the same overall rating as the AD08. Check the test results charts page, the AD08s were best on a dry track, but a bit noisy. Weight is the same as the OEM tires on the AD08s, two pounds more for the RE-11s as they have a higher load rating I guess.
Price is about the same for both, Stars are the tite budget pick but are two pounds heavier than OEMs too.
The OEM tires are probably the best as they have the softest compound, stiff sidewalls and are light weight, the downside is the steep price.
Wear Ratings aren't perfect, but are the best indication we have of how sticky a tire compound is:
A048: 60 (when properly heat cycled and brought up to operating temp)
A046: 160 (SCCA limit, less than 160 they consider an R-Comp)
RE960AS: 400
All the rest: 180


As always, you get what you pay for...
money is no object= A046

money is really no object= two sets of wheels,
street: Potenza RE960AS Pole Position (would double as track tires on a rainy day)
track: Advan A048

cost vs performance= AD08s

budget performer=Star Specs

Note: The results of the test above are really quite close with the exception of the Ecsta XS which blows in the wet. O.P. stiff sidewalls are not the be all end all. Read all three pages of the test and watch the vid.
BTW, my pick is the AD08, but the OEM A046s are really a great tire and I'd buy them again (I'm on my third set) if the price wasn't so high.

 

I have always been a fan of the Advan racing type tires. I run the A048R's and the A032R's and i love them both. They are pretty "noisy" but well worth the money IMO. Good luck.

Aaron

 

After a long time waiting the Neova arrival, I finaly tested four brand new 235/45/17 Advan Neova with stock rims.

My initial impressions vs Advan Sport:

There is no comparison. That's it.



My initial impressions vs A046:

Steering wheel response. A little bit slower, but still fast.

Grip on low/med speed corners. Ok, similar to A046

Braking, OK.

High speed light corner, Ok, similar to A046.

After some miles of use I will test up to the limits vs A046 and come back here.


Obs: I had a horrible rear end feeling with Advan Sport tires, a gelatin feel.
With Neovas evething came back to normal (A046 ride).