FocusCanada Forums

Subject line says it all folks. I've picked up a set of 17" rims which are off getting cleaned up and powder coated.

I know the tire size I need to avoid rubbing or speedo issues (205/40/17 IIRC)

But what I'm lacking is knowledge about which tire to shop for based on my needs:

Spring/summer/fall driving, mostly city & some highway

Wet/dry traction a must (Hey, I may have ABS/TCS but that only goes so far)

Must be able to handle the occasional lap at a track or night at the dragstrip without falling to bits.

Must be reasonably priced and long lasting (Or supercheap if the suckers are only going to last a year)

Must be easy to source (I'd like to use the place I'm going to be storing the Nokians, Kal Tire)

Any suggestions?

NefCanuck

Update

I've just found out that the rims I bought require something called a "hub centering ring" to run them on the Focus. Where do I get a set of those things and how much will it run me?

falken azenis, and I think you be good with a 45 profile tire. i ran 40, on my old 17's and the ride sucked.

Falkens, definitely. Look at 912's

205/45/17 are a good choice for sizing.

205/40/17 will give you a rougher ride and will also look like you need more of drop because the overall diameter is slightly smaller than stock.

I picked up these when my original summer tires wore out, Kumho Ecsta SPT:



I only had them on for about a month before switching to winters, but they were pretty grippy even in the wet.

NefCanuck,Feb 29 2008, 08:58 PM Wrote:Spring/summer/fall driving, mostly city & some highway

Wet/dry traction a must (Hey, I may have ABS/TCS but that only goes so far)

Must be able to handle the occasional lap at a track or night at the dragstrip without falling to bits.

[right][snapback]259103[/snapback][/right]

kumho MX, azenis sport, bridgestone re-01r are all great tires for what you are looking for.. personally i went with the kumhos cuz they were cheapest. i wouldn't consider any other summer tires

wet traction is fine as long as you have tread on the tires.. avoid standing water and be smart on the highway.. dont believe everything you read on the web about how these tires are bad in the rain

i've tracked the MX as well they are fine (obviously not as good as an r tire though)

dBlast,Feb 29 2008, 04:51 PM Wrote:205/45/17 are a good choice for sizing. 

205/40/17 will give you a rougher ride and will also look like you need more of drop because the overall diameter is slightly smaller than stock.

I picked up these when my original summer tires wore out, Kumho Ecsta SPT:



I only had them on for about a month before switching to winters, but they were pretty grippy even in the wet.
[right][snapback]259110[/snapback][/right]

So the 205/45/17's won't cause speedo issues? (I'm already dropped, using the SVT suspension kit)

NefCanuck

NefCanuck,Feb 29 2008, 06:03 PM Wrote:So the 205/45/17's won't cause speedo issues? (I'm already dropped, using the SVT suspension kit)

NefCanuck
[right][snapback]259115[/snapback][/right]

if you're really worried about it you can get the car speedo adjusted, IIRC you have an xcal2. also you can do a 215/45/17 tire, thats what im getting, basically the stock SVT wheel setup. as for tires, im still debating...im looking at the Goodyear Eagle F1 tires and BFgoodrich ones as well.

if 215/45/17 is the stock svt focus size, can you fit 225/45/17? that would open up a lot of tire choices i think.....

NefCanuck,Feb 29 2008, 08:58 PM Wrote:Update

I've just found out that the rims I bought require something called a "hub centering ring" to run them on the Focus.  Where do I get a set of those things and how much will it run me?
[right][snapback]259103[/snapback][/right]

Usually tire shops can get them for you. They are fairly cheap. I think i paid 24$ for a set. They are just this hard plastic piece that go in the centre. if your tire shop can't get them, then you might need to go to a specilty tire shop to get a set. They need to know what kind of car and rims you have in order to order them.

naz,Feb 29 2008, 09:30 PM Wrote:if 215/45/17 is the stock svt focus size, can you fit 225/45/17?  that would open up a lot of tire choices i think.....
[right][snapback]259131[/snapback][/right]

i havent heard much on those, the guys who did it say there was a bit of rubbing (since 90% of people with low-pro tires cars are lowered) so they had to roll the inner fender a bit. but im sure it'd work without a lot of hassle. stock focus ride height it may be fine, lowered im not so sure.

NefCanuck,Feb 29 2008, 06:03 PM Wrote:

dBlast,Feb 29 2008, 04:51 PM Wrote:205/45/17 are a good choice for sizing. 

205/40/17 will give you a rougher ride and will also look like you need more of drop because the overall diameter is slightly smaller than stock.

I picked up these when my original summer tires wore out, Kumho Ecsta SPT:



I only had them on for about a month before switching to winters, but they were pretty grippy even in the wet.
[right][snapback]259110[/snapback][/right]

So the 205/45/17's won't cause speedo issues? (I'm already dropped, using the SVT suspension kit)

NefCanuck
[right][snapback]259115[/snapback][/right]

205/45-17 at 24.2" diameter is identical to either 15" or 16" stock OE size in diameter. The SVT with their larger sizing probably has different speedo gearing.

175/70-14...23.8"
185/70-14...24.3"
185/65-14...23.5" OE size
195/65-14...24.0"
195/60-14...23.2"
205/60-14...23.7"
215/60-14...24.2"
195/60-15...24.2" OE size
205/55-15...23.9"
205/50-15...23.0"
215/50-15...23.4"
215/55-15...24.3"
225/50-15...24.0"
195/50-16...23.5"
205/45-16...23.4"
205/50-16...24.2" OE size
205/55-16...25.0"
215/45-16...23.7"
205/40-17...23.5"
205/45-17...24.2"
215/40-17...23.9"
215/45-17...24.6" OE size
215/35-18...23.9"
215/40-18...24.6"

Tires..... Summer only tires I would recommend on the cheap side the falken azenis line of tires , they are excellent I think the azenis RT615's are the ones .... They are an excellent tire in the dry , better than their price suggests , however in the rain especially if they are slightly worn , the wet traction is a little lacking and treadwear is a little low too..... Something else that would be excellent , but a bit more money is a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 tires , they are an excellent tire, great traction and grip , excellent wet traction throughout the wear life and of course great in the dry. Road noise is also not so bad either.

Take a look at some khumo ecsta SPT's they are decent for the price and lots of guys use them ...
Most youll get outta a set of tires like the azenis are a good summer and half a summer of fading performance as they are on their way out. The gsd3's will wear longer and better and i dont have much info for ecsta spt's on how they wear ... but yeah

high performance and long life dont usually go hand in hand .... Stay with an OE size if you want to avoid speedo and rubbing problems ...

Happy tire shopping !

Mike,Mar 2 2008, 07:57 PM Wrote:however in the rain especially if they are slightly worn , the wet traction is a little lacking and treadwear is a little low too.....

Most youll get outta a set of tires like the azenis are a good summer and half a summer of fading performance as they are on their way out.

[right][snapback]259196[/snapback][/right]

any tire with worn tread (getting close to 2/32) will be dicey in the rain.. close to full tread azenis are fine in the wet.. also its standing water that's the issue, not wet pavement...

i have 15k daily driven miles and 1 hpde day on my kumho mx still at 6/32" tread

my old azenis RT215..15k daily driven miles plus a season of autoX.. were at around 5/32" still

azenis sport, re01r, kumho mx, etc.. they aren't hard to live with at all, and the performance advantages are nice

Falken 912s!! FTMFW!!

I gotta add a recommendation for the Goodyear F1 GS D3 as well; awesome grip in the wet stuff, awesome traction when launching, very quiet at speed, a tendency to pick up loose gravel in the treads. Pricey but worth it; I run a 215/40ZR17 and they are noticably harsher than the winter tires; no rubbing issues with a 1.5" drop and a 42mm offset.