Tire sizing, need hive-mind validation...

... or tell me I'm a doofus, whichever is applicable

Situation: STi needs tires. Summer performance tires are on sale because it's winter. Michelins have a $70 mail-in rebate on Tire Rack until December 8, on top of the sale price. Thus, I am going to order some Pilot Super Sports for DD-and-occasional-track-day use

Issue is tire size. OEM is 225/45R17. I plan on getting 17x9s to replace the factory 17x8s within about 6 months (maybe a year), so I figure go ahead and run a 245/40R17 now, that way I won't need new tires when I get the new wheels. Problem is, I had the same idea 3 yrs ago Other stuff happens and I never got the wider wheels, and ran 245/40R17 on OEM 17x8 for 3 yrs. Clearance was fine and grip was still good, but to me a 245 really belongs on an 8.5" or 9" wheel rim.

So: my current idea is get the 245/40R17 at about $130 more for the set than the 225/45R17s, since I'm running that size right now already, and even if it takes a year to upgrade the wheels, I'll still have a year or two of life left on the 245s. Or do I save the dough and get OEM sizing and not worry about wheels for a while?

Or am I thinking too much and just need to grab a beer/etc?

If you are really gonna buy wheels get the wider ones, if not get the oe size.

I have 255/40/17 on my 17x8 wheels just so you know. They fit fine. 235/45/17 on 17x7.5 front. On a Nissan. You know it as well obviously.

No point upgrading unless you want to get a forged wheel or something. I like OEM STI wheels so I wouldn't mess around.

Pocket the wheel money for when you need new tires or other mods.

Upgrade would likely be the SSR GTV-02 in 17x9 +45. I like the OEM BBSes also but I want more width You have a point though: go OE tire size and use wheel money for shocks/coilovers...

jsquared wrote: Upgrade would likely be the SSR GTV-02 in 17x9 +45. I like the OEM BBSes also but I want more width You have a point though: go OE tire size and use wheel money for shocks/coilovers...

Oh if you don't have suspension yet I would DEFINITELY go that route instead of wheels. It's like anight and day difference where you won't really feel the new wheels.

I have suspension mods, but not the most important one! I have Prodrive springs/bumpstops, Whiteline ALK, Q-Rack, Whiteline roll-center correction kit, some chassis bracing (TiC fender braces, X-brace that isn't installed yet), Whiteline rear lateral links... but OEM dampers I think I'd be happy with RCE Black springs, but with 105k on the OEM dampers already I think I'd be better off getting a mid-pack $1300-ish set of coilovers.

I would definitely feel the suspension mods more than the wheel width. My breakpoint is when I can expect to get wheels wide enough to justify the tires. Year and a half from now, not worth it, buy 225s and get 245s when I get the wheels. Six months, get the 245s since they'll still have a year plus of use left.

Buy the shocks, not the wider tires!

The Pilot SS are nice - I just put a set of them on my Solstice (245x45-18)

And found out about the rebate by chance after the fact so also put in for that.

Tires ordered, going with the OEM size and future funds will go towards dampers instead of wheels.

Gracias, collective

Personally I'd stay with OEM size until I actually had the wider wheels.