17" Tires: People's experiences..

[McDub]

good to hear they're the goods, i'm pretty much sold on these now.
did you go the 225 or 235? because 235 would have given you a bigger OD...
and how much you end up paying?

i wish tyre places would just list their prices so you don't have to call them up all the time, makes shopping at home after work for tyres impossible!

[Manaz]

I was in goodfella's car recently, he has the KU31s on, and they stick like [smelly brown stuff] to a blanket!

235/45R17 will be cheaper than 225/45R17 because it's a more popular size (common on Falcons fitted with 17" wheels from the factory for instance). The difference in rolling diameter is minor, nothing you'd need to be concerned with.

Check out Option1Garage's prices on Kumho tyres, they're pretty damned competitive, even after shipping. There are some other places I've heard of quoting one price on the phone and then demanding more money when you actually turn up.

Also, no matter where you buy, check the age of the tyres - learn to read the markings on a tyre, and don't accept old stock. Rubber goes "off" with age, and anything too old could give you bad grip.

[gavs]

I went with the 235/45 R17 for 3 reasons, in their following relevance:

1) Cost. The difference between 235/45 R17 and 225/45 R17 was on average 20% more for the 225s.

2) Footprint. That extra 10mm of width just adds that extra bit of grip and looks fatter!

3) Speed correction. My speedo was waaaaayy out! I put the 235/45 R17s on and it's now only 2 kph out at 100, compared to 7.5 kph!

To tell you the truth, I still haven't found the limits of adhesion with these tyres, I feel that on public roads it's going to take someone far braver (or far stupider!) to find that limit because it's so high. Like I said, I've pulled 1g of lateral acceleration on mountain hwy (an awesome, if not short stretch of road in the dandenongs!) and I know that road pretty well. That was still with no hint of understeer! I will only explore the limits further if the road is clear (hardly ever) or on a race track...

[McDub]

option 1 garage quoted me 138 for 225.45.17's, not bad. Plus 40 delivery to syd for a set.

Im alo thinking of getting 18'' arisros replicas from tempe for 1500 with tyres, but they only come with KU23's apparently. Wonder if its worth paying extra to change them to 31's.... Hmmm. Anyone know aboit the ku23's?

[Manaz]

option 1 garage quoted me 138 for 225.45.17's, not bad. Plus 40 delivery to syd for a set.

Im alo thinking of getting 18'' arisros replicas from tempe for 1500 with tyres, but they only come with KU23's apparently. Wonder if its worth paying extra to change them to 31's.... Hmmm. Anyone know aboit the ku23's?

Be aware that 18" wheels on Sydney roads will cause some level of ride discomfort, and tyres are more expensive in that size too.

$1500 is too expensive for reps IMHO.

[McDub]

Be aware that 18" wheels on Sydney roads will cause some level of ride discomfort, and tyres are more expensive in that size too.

$1500 is too expensive for reps IMHO.

yeah true about the discomfort, but if my dad is fine with 18's on his new S3, surely i can manage it (even if my car is obviously older, flimsier, more rattles... etc...)

and yeah i wouldn't pay 1500 just for rims, but really 600 of that is tyres so you're only paying 900, so not toooo bad...

[Manaz]

yeah true about the discomfort, but if my dad is fine with 18's on his new S3, surely i can manage it (even if my car is obviously older, flimsier, more rattles... etc...)

and yeah i wouldn't pay 1500 just for rims, but really 600 of that is tyres so you're only paying 900, so not toooo bad...

If you're paying $150 a corner for KU23s...

[McDub]

If you're paying $150 a corner for KU23s...

yeah i'm very sus about those wheels, can hardly find a thing about them, and they appear to only be in three sizes, with the only 18 a 225/45, which would give you about 3.5% too much tyre OD...
plus its the only tyre without ratings on this page... http://www.kumho.com.au/passenger.htm

[gavs]

I did have a brochure from Kumho when I was looking for mine (god knows where it is now though!) and from memory the KU28 is the entry level performance tyre. If I was you, only look at the KU31 or even the KU36....

[McDub]

If you're paying $150 a corner for KU23s...

i emailed them, they were happy to put KU31's instead cos i complained about the ku23's. so the ku31's which are about 200 a corner at that size, means the wheels are only about $700. no brainer if you ask me!

[Manaz]

i emailed them, they were happy to put KU31's instead cos i complained about the ku23's. so the ku31's which are about 200 a corner at that size, means the wheels are only about $700. no brainer if you ask me!

As long as you're happy with the quality of the wheels, and you're sure you're not getting old tyre stock, that sounds reasonable.

[McDub]

yeah i'm gonna have look at them in the flesh first.
one thing i picked up on though, they are advertised as 18x8 EXACT replicas.
well the aristos are 18x7.5!
So i emailed them assuming it was a typo, and i got the reply "They are not made exactly we have made them a little wider"
a little strange but probably just to do with how they probably make all their 18's 8 wide because it makes production cheaper, less dies or whatever process wheels are made with... either way i don't mind a bit of extra width!