Hey All,

I've got a few tire questions and need input. I've done searches, most of what I'm finding is on the RE01Rs or Yoko Neova Advans, not the new Dunlop Direzza Star Spec.

I'm entered in a local Time Attack (full road course) in June and I may dabble with local Auto-X and RallyX, but my primary focus is open track days + typical daily driving and canyon carving.

My car is a 2006 STI on stock OEM BBS 17x8 rims.
My fenders are not rolled.
My suspension is still stock.

Over the last two summers of events, I've run through 2 sets of OEM RE070s, 2 Yoko Advan Neovas, and one set of BFG KDs, all in 225/45/17.

FWIW, the Neovas were my favorites. They had the best fit to my driving style, performed consistently, and provided excellent grip. They seemed slightly sluggish at turn-in, with some softness to the sidewall, but they never got greasy when pushed or hot and overall I still preferred them to the BFGs or RE070s.

I was going to get RE 01Rs, but the Direzza is just too cheap to pass up.


I'm being encouraged by friends to go for a larger contact patch and lower/stiffer sidewall, but I need specific input/feedback to decide what other size to run for Dunlop Direzza Star Specs on stock BBS (17x8) rims.

I've used:
http://tinyurl.com/3tha45

I'm considering:
1. 235/40/17
2. 235/45/17
3. 245/40/17

with #3 or #1 being my current favorites.

Here're the tire stats from TireRack:
(might be easier in the original table: )
http://tinyurl.com/43htgj

225/45ZR17
Tire Weight 26 lbs.
Rim Width Range 7-8.5"
Meas.Rim Width 7.5"
Sect. Width 8.9"
Overall Diam 25"
Revs Per Mile 834

235/40ZR17
Tire Weight 24 lbs.
Rim Width Range 8-9.5"
Meas.Rim Width 8.5"
Sect. Width 9.6"
Overall Diam. 24.5"
Revs Per Mile 851

235/45ZR17
Tire Weight 27 lbs.
Rim Width Range 7.5-9"
Meas.Rim Width 8"
Sect. Width 9.4"
Overall Diam 25.4"
Revs Per Mile 817

*245/40ZR17*
Tire Weight 26 lbs.
Rim Width Range 8-9.5"
Meas.Rim Width 8.5"
Sect. Width 9.8"
Overall Diam 24.7"
Revs Per Mile 844


The industry rule of thumb is that for every 1/2" change in rim width, the tire's section width will correspondingly change by approximately 2/10".


So, on an 17x 8" OEM BBS rim these should be the approximate Section Widths (right?):
225/45/ZR17 9.1" Section Width (Diam 25")
235/40ZR17 9.4" Section Width (Diam 24.5")
235/45ZR17 9.4" Section Width (Diam 25.4")
245/40ZR17 9.6" Section Width (Diam 24.7")

The Other tire calculator has:
225/45 Section width: 8.86 (Diam 24.97")
245/40 Section width: 9.65 (Diam 24.72")


Other than the much larger section width, the 245/40 seems like the closest fit to the OEM 225/45s. The 235/40s seem rather "short" and the 235/45s are slightly taller than stock (but they're still closer to OEM spec than the 235/40s).

SO, Questions (especially to anyone running these tires):

1. What will fit without rubbing?

2. What's the trade-off in traction Vs turn-in across the sizes?

3. Is the relative "gearing" across the tires noticeable (and worth going to a 40-series for)?

4. How do these tires, in general, compare to the Advan Neovas or RE 01Rs?

5. ...I dunno, anything I'm missing? Thoughts/Opinions/Experiences? :confused:

TYIA!
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im rocking 245/40/17 direzza star spec z1 sports on my cusco coilovers:

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd92/johnny_j5/DSC01060.jpg

As you can see im dumped. No rubbing at all DD and at the auto-x. Go for it!
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Lol, that looks incredibly low. No rubbing even Auto-Xing, eh?

Guess I might try 245/40s then...Thanks!:D

(Edit: And is that a CF wing? Who makes that?)

Anyone else?
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yep no rubbing even during auto-x. Ive only run one course with these tires but it was a 2nd gear course that had some good hairpins...

I havent rolled/pulled my fenders, those are completely stock.

Its a Replica Syms CF adjustable wing. I loove it :devil:

Heres another pic of it:

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd92/johnny_j5/DSC01063.jpg
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As for the tires:

1. What will fit without rubbing?
No rubs

2. What's the trade-off in traction Vs turn-in across the sizes?
I really dont know. Traction is pure tire patch on the road. Suspension setup can greatly affect this. Turn in is also affected by suspension setup. I think the rule of thumb is the harder teh sidewall the better the turn in....someone correct me if im wrong.

3. Is the relative "gearing" across the tires noticeable (and worth going to a 40-series for)?
I need a GPS to verify my speedo. Ive tried to check using those live speed traffic signs and im usually 5mph off...but i hear those are horribly inaccurate anyways.

4. How do these tires, in general, compare to the Advan Neovas or RE 01Rs?
Never ran either of them so i cant say. I do like these tires, not too noisy, very grippy, i still havent made them squeal!

5. ...I dunno, anything I'm missing? Thoughts/Opinions/Experiences?

From the regional auto-x level, times were not drastically different between all the street tires. Im not really a good enough driver to tell....im happy with them :banana:
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I just ordered 235/45/17 star specs yesterday for my 17x8 Works on my 2004 STi.
I had 235/40/17 falkens on it, and I went with a taller tire to lower the engine rpms on the highway and to lift the car higher by 1/2" off the ground (needed more clearance), while also filling up the upper fender wheel gap by 1/2" (1" taller tire overall).

Ill let you know how they are
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it is too bad that so many here slam their cars which kills the ride and handling and then try to make up for it by putting sticker tires on :(
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^^:lol: yes its too bad.....

I think my car rides great and handles even better. But hey what would i know :rolleyes:

I must be one of those idiots with too much money to spend, right?....Posters like you really rub me the wrong way. Yea im sure you know something about cars, great. I just dislike it when you come into threads like this and post something that doesnt add any value...you just want your opinion to be heard. Thanks for your thoughtful insight bud.
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I just ordered 235/45/17 star specs yesterday for my 17x8 Works on my 2004 STi.

Ill let you know how they are

Excellent, thanks!
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Anyone running a 235 on stock suspension?

Wondering if I'll be ok w/ a 235/40/18 on my 05 STi... Don't really feel like rolling the fenders or any crap like that
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you won't have any issues with the stock suspension.
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JDM Pinks RCE lowering plates and 245/40/17 Advan Neova AD07s... so they're a bit wider than some other 245/40s, and no issues road and track whatsoever.

http://www.scottandtemphotography.com/subaru/sti/jdmpinks_rceL/R20070710-183411.jpg

245/40 gets my vote
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