These are for Fikse FM5 17x8.5 and 17x10.

Fikse recommends 235/45 for the front and 275/40 for the back, which is available for the Yoko AVS Sports. For the S03s I can get the front size but would have to go with 265/40s in the back.

These rims and tires will be used for the street only, but I drive pretty agressively. I want something with serious grip that will be decent in the rain.

I'm also thinking of running 245s or 255s in front, but then my differential between tire width and rim width will be large in back relative to the front.

Opinions?

 

Rich,

I'd go with the Bridgestone Potenza S-03s in size 235/45-17 for the 8.5 x 17 and 265/40-17s for the 10 x 17s. The 265-mm is quite wide, at 11.1-inches in overall width when mounted on a 10-inch wide rim. The nice part of this fitment is that the overall tire diameters are the same--25.3-inches tall for both tire sizes.

The 275/40-17 rear tire size is actually too tall in IMHO, at 25.7-inches. This is ~1-inch taller than stock. This will increase your rear end gearing and take away some acceleration potential and introduce speedometer error (by underestimating your actual speed).

As for the AVS Sports, I've read great posts from Max Cooper on this tire, but most FD Rx7 enthusiasts wax poetry when posting their reviews of the Potenza S-03s. The Tire Rack's prices are pretty good on the S-03s too. They're certainly less expensive than say, a BFG G-Force KD tire in sizes 245/40-17 fr and 255/40-17 rear!

FWIW, if I had to put road tires on my 8.5 fr/9.5 rr x 17 SSR Comps, I'd go with the suggestion I just gave you on the S-03s

 

S03, I agree. Bang for buck can't be beat.

Sports are great too, heavy, real stiff side walls, and wear ungodly quick.

Rishie

 

Garfinkle put 275-40-17=in the rear and the street radar check machines check within one mile per hr. he has checked at several speeds ,all are within 1.mph. He was going to make a new trans gear to correct but no need now. He has two tires to sell -s02 235-40-17 with 180 miles on them he is in Murfreesboro, Tn

 

Ok, well that's good to know. Still--275/40-17s are too tall, and will raise the ride height of the car by ~0.5 inch...

 

Get the S0-3s. You won't regret it. I have em and they are fantastic. Stick like mad and very progressive at the limit.

I agree on the 265/40s. They will be a better match than the 275s.

 

I've had the experience of having both tires on my car and I would have to agree that the s03's are much nicer than the AVS sports.

 

I have had Yoko AVS, Bridgestone RE71, RE730, and S-03 PP on the car. Without a doubt, the S-03 are the best I have had. Good grip in dry and wet conditions, good feel at the limit of adhesion. Not sure what kind of tread life they will give, but the way I drive, the back tires always wear out first anyway. Wonder why that is?