I m pretty sure you can't run staggered set ups. Has to be equal front and back.

 

Sigh. For the millionth time, you can run a staggered width setup on an AWD. What you can't do is run different diameters front and back. I have Coupe 18's, so I could run 225/45 F and 255/40 R because the tires are the same diameter (or extremely close). Someone on here is running his X with 350Z Track Edition wheels, which are 18x8 F and 18x8.5 R, with 235/45 F and 265/40 R with no problems.

For the Coupe 19's on an X, these "staggered" setups that have very similar diameters:
225/40-19 F, 255/35-19 R (both about 26.0"-26.1")
235/40-19 F, 265/35-19 R (both about 26.3"-26.4")*
225/45-19 F, 255/40-19 R, (both about 27")**

* A 265 width tire on an 8.5" wheel is a bit squeezed, but it will work.
** Pushing the upper boundary as far as the VDC is concerned, close to 3% larger than stock.

If you want to run the same size front and back (better for rotating), then 235/40's or 245/40's are probably your best bet.

 

Buckeye,

Have you considered these? I know 2 people here that run these tires and LOVE them. Other than that, I don't know much about them except they look sick!!!!!


http://www.performanceplustire.com/p...ireDataID/5685

I'll be looking at tires the end of this year probably, and have begun the search. Enjoying your thread, very informative. Too bad some people just rehash the SOS.

 

Yes, I looked at 'em. But from what I've read they're kinda loud and only get louder as they age. And they tend to spin/slide in the rain when you hit a painted section of pavement, like at a crosswalk. And if you hit it at an angle while moving, the car can slide a little sideways until they grab again. They do come in 235/45-18, but I really didn't want to get a directional tire. The only 235/45 I was considering was the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus, but at $950 installed for 4 tires, ... no thanks.

I'm going with these instead, 245/45-18's all around. Just waiting for them to come in at the tire store a few blocks from where I work.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....za+RE760+Sport

 

^ nice those were one of my possible selection, same sizing as well.

 

How did you end up liking your 245/45's? I'm in the process of getting Coupe 18's and will be needing tires in the near future. I had been looking at the Toyo Proxes though so I could go with a 235/45 or 245/45.

 

Does anyone have a pic of 225/45-18 all around? I might do this, because I put so many miles on the car and need to rotate tires.

 

If you put a lot of miles on your car, then get something that's stock size or larger, not smaller like the 225/45-18. No point in making your car work any harder to get the same distance.

There are some good options for you in 235/45-18 that weren't there when I bought my tires. You're also probably looking for a longer tread life than I was. I know the UTQG rating can't really be trusted, but these tread life warranties at least let you know what the company thinks of their life.

Tire - Size - LoadSpeed - UTQG - Years/Miles - Tire Rack Cost
Continental ExremeContact DWS - 235/45 - 98Y - 540 - 6/50K - $172
Continental ExremeContact DWS - 245/45 - 96Y - 540 - 6/50K - $149
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus - 235/45 - 98Y - 500 - 6/45K - $198
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus - 245/45 - 96Y - 500 - 6/45K - $227
Yokohama AVID ENVigor - 235/45 - 94W - 560 - 5/45K - $173
Yokohama AVID ENVigor - 245/45 - 96W - 560 - 5/45K - $172
Goodyear Eagle GT - 235/45 - 98V - 440 - 6/50K - $141
Michelin Primacy MXV4 - 245/45 - 96V - 620 - 6/60K - $212
Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum - 245/45 - 100W - 600 - 6/60K - $153

The last 2 are classified as Grand Touring All-Seasons by TR, but I included them anyway because of their high mileage treadlife warranty. I don't recommend either one. I'm also not a fan of Yokohama, and considering the Conti DWS has gotten great reviews and it's comparably priced, I'd buy the Continentals over the Yoko's.

If you've got the money, the best tire on here is probably the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus in either size. It's arguably the best All Season on the road. The Conti and the Yoko might be better, but they don't have the proven track record of the Michelin because they're both pretty new tires to the marketplace. I'm not a fan of how the Conti DWS is built, with 3 separate layers of tread material, but considering how cheap they are in 245/45-18 right now, and their great reviews, that's hard to pass up at just $600 for 4 quality tires with a long tread life. Some people, howver, don't like the look of a 245/45-18 tire on the Coupe wheels. The Eagle GT is also a very nice tire and might be the sleeper at 235/45 considering it's low cost.

 

Sorry, didn't see this before. I LOVE the 245/45-18's. I love the aggressive look they give the car. I went with Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sports and they were awesome last summer. Very quiet, very sticky. I've been very tempted lately to swap out my winters since we had a very mild winter and mild spring so far, but I have to remember it's still March in Michigan. We had snow last year in May, so I'm still waiting.

 

No problem. I think I actually PM'd you the same question after I had posted that anyway. I think I'm going to go with 235/45 and am still undecided between Toyo Proxes 4's and Goodyear Eagle GT's. The GT's have a UTQG of 440 and a treadlife warranty while the Toyos are only 300 with no warranty.

I'm leaning towards the Goodyear's, but of course they are on backorder right now. I don't know what it is with this size, but they are always on backorder.

 

The Eagle GT's were definitely in the final mix for me, but I think they were closer in price to the RE760's back then (June '09). In looking at the surveys on Tirerack, I made a good purchase. The RE760 is #1 among Ultra High Performance Summer tires.