Replacing rear tires - Upsize or stay OEM?

[Tim1137]

I need to replace one rear tire on my 02 boxster. The size is 255/40/17. My question, is if there is a better performing tire that fits on the stock wheel, would I be better off just replacing both rears with a better size? such as 265/40/17? I am more interested in cornering performance than straight line grip

[Ghostrider 310]

It would help to know what's currently on there also the condition of the fronts. IMO, mixing and matching brands front to back is not only shanty it has to have an effect on the driving performance. Having said that, I have Bridgestones and when they are used up pilot sports will be back on my Porsche.

[truegearhead]

Maybe its just because I have a 2.5L but my stock width tires(KDWs) refuse to slip in any situation wether accelerating, in rain, hard cornering, etc. Its always the fronts that give way. While were on the subject though how wide can you go? I would change mine just for the look.

[Tim1137]

I had 275/40/17's on my supra and in my head, those things are HUGE and most likely wouldnt fit under the boxster.

[ekam]

What tires do you have on the car now?

[Tim1137]

Originally Posted by ekam

What tires do you have on the car now?

255/40/17 michelin sport a/s on the back, and 205/50/17 michelin pilot mxv4 on the front.

Im not a fan of either of those tires really, they are both cheap end michelins.

[ekam]

^There's your problem. Just replace all 4 with either Michelin PS2, Bridgestone RE11 or Dunlop Z1 Star Spec and you're good to go.

You can upsize the front to 225/45/17 which a lot of 986 guys do.

[Topless]

Suggestion:
Ditch all 4 "grand touring A/S tires" and put Hankook RS-3 in 225/45/17 F, 255/40/17 R sizes. This will transform your car which is currently riding on minivan tires

This might be the best $600 you ever spent on a car.

[Tim1137]

thanks for the recomendations. My S2000 had star specs and I loved them, I think ill buy those, 225Front/255Rrears

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Topless

Suggestion:
Ditch all 4 "grand touring A/S tires" and put Hankook RS-3 in 225/45/17 F, 255/40/17 R sizes. This will transform your car which is currently riding on minivan tires

This might be the best $600 you ever spent on a car.

Agreed. This is exactly the brand and sizes that I run for my daily street tires.

The PS2's are better in the rain but the Hankook RS-3's are better in the dry and cost a heck of a lot less.

[LAP1DOUG]

Originally Posted by Topless

Suggestion:
Ditch all 4 "grand touring A/S tires" and put Hankook RS-3 in 225/45/17 F, 255/40/17 R sizes. This will transform your car which is currently riding on minivan tires

This might be the best $600 you ever spent on a car.

No doubt - $ 600 for a set of 'kooks is an awesome bang for the buck. I know my 18 inch startspecs were a lot more than that. Definitely a good reason to stay with 17". I would suggest wider and less stagger front to rear - something like 235 front / 265 rear if they come in such sizes.

[DFW02S]

Another Hankook R-S3 believer here.
Bought them for the track but left them on after because I'd miss the grip and cornering too much to go back to Michelin passenger tires (not PS2 or Cups).

[ABQautoxer]

I find the star specs work better than the RS3 on my 02 S. Neither is bad but the Star Spec will last longer and work in a much wider temp range. Plus they are tons better in the rain.

[j.fro]

Put on some Hoosier A6's and go racing!

[Topless]

Originally Posted by ABQautoxer

I find the star specs work better than the RS3 on my 02 S. Neither is bad but the Star Spec will last longer and work in a much wider temp range. Plus they are tons better in the rain.

Both tires will be a complete transformation from the minivan tires he is on now.
My impressions of these two tires from my car and driving other peoples cars:

Dunlop Star Spec- Amazing traction in the wet, maybe the best I have driven. Excellent dry traction also. Some chunking of the outer shoulder if driven hard at AX or the track.

Hankook RS-3 - Good wet traction but not show stopping. Phenomenal dry traction even after continuous lapping with no visible shoulder chunking. So far they seem to hold up well in the heat also.

Both tires generate more road noise and have a firmer sidewall than PS2 or Continental.

[Joel-Box-ster]

I have 215-45-17 in the front came with it when I bought it, perfect width the wheel (7 inches).

[thstone]

In general, to improve cornering performance it would be more advantageous to go wider in the front (from 205/50/17 to 225/45/17) than to increase the tire width in the rear (keep the stock size 255/40/17).

The increase in front width will improve front end bite on turn in and reduce understeer. This is the setup that most of us run.

[black_box]

I went to a 235/40/18 -- 275/35/18 combo on my 2000 S running Pilot Super Sports. The handling went from great with factory sized Goodyear Eagle F1's to simply stunning. Plus, the ride feels softer, less tire noise, and not a bit of slippage even in the rain. They are magic.

Looking forward to setting up for negative front camber to decrease understeer at my next alignment.

[pesticidal]

I just started looking at replacing tires on my '05 S. Currently, it has 235/40-18 and 265/40-18's on it, and my local dealer is trying to get me back to the factory specs of 225/40 and 265/35. I like the idea of a slightly wider front tire, and am wondering about the 35 vs 40 on the rear. As it is, the speedometer reads slightly slower than actual speed. Wouldn't the lower profile make this even more?

[ABQautoxer]

I'm confused. An 05 S uses 235/40/18 front and 265/40/18 rear (different from the 986S). So no, I would not do what they are asking you to do, there is no benefit other than a few more tire choices.