285/30-18s on an STI for Autocross...
 

OK, I don't quite know how they are fittng them in to the wheel well, but it appears that the new tire of choice at least for STIs is the 285/30-18s.

I can't verify this, but in an email from Sam Strano, he mentions that Joel Fehrman is using 285s, and I can only assume that is a 285/30-17...

The challenge has got to be figuring out what rim/offset works for that. And of course, perfectly rolled fenders.

There's a few guys in the Motorsports forum on nasioc who've been running 275s all year. I wonder what the physical gain is from 275 17s to 285 18s. Would be taller and heavier I would think.

If by "perfectly rolled fenders" you mean "cut to hell", then yeah, I see those working out. :lol:

Actually, a 285/30-18 is smaller in circumfrence then a 225/45-17

That is part of the reason why they chose that size as 275s are typically taller.

I'll dig for more info.

ESP STI, so yes, you can modify the fender for tire clearance.

Ah, nice. What was Allon running at Hawthonre, 275s?

Don't know, but he was in AS, so I doubt he was on much over a 245.

I think I remember seeing a car with 285's and they stuck out about 2-3" from the car.............LOTS of cutting to get them not to rub

That had to be on bad offset wheels. a 245/40 fits pretty easily with the correct offset, and a 285 is only 4cm wider, or a less than and inch and a half wider. I agree that wont fit under an unmodified fender, but again, with the right offset, it would not require that much of a hack job. Especially if your suspension has the 32mm hollow front sway bar they top guys are running, and fairly stiff springs. They ain't going up very far anyway...

yah I take that back i cant find the picture, and now I'm reading of people thinking 315's are the nexted step

i think at this point i have done more research than most about what fits and what doesnt.

the perfect size that will fit without roll is 265 40 17 on a 9 inch wide rim on et40.

at et35 you get protrusion and need to be back at stock height to prevent rubbing.

http://www.tomhoppe.com/pictures/05%...m%20and%20TNT/

275 /17 /50 et 35

http://www.subrew.com/library/24july05/P1010001.JPG

275 /40 / 17 et35

http://www.subrew.com/tmp/nats3.JPG

thats same car at infamous nationals pic.

NOONE i have contacted by PM runs over 255 on the street. not saying it isnt being done, just noone admits it ;)

I think Allon was on 275/40s on stock 17x8s. It looked ridiculous, but apparently function>form on an 05.