Master Performance Tires Thread for 18" Wheels

[idragmazda]

Hey all - so I've seen a few big threads about 18" wheel options, but I didn't see a mega-thread that discuss performance tire options for 18s (not winter tires or track-only tires).

I have a 4-5 month wait until my set of 18x9.5 +42 arrive, so I thought I could use this time to do some detailed research on tire options and also create a master thread we can use as a reference guide.

I was hoping people could share some or all of the following information on their setups:

1. Tire brand and size
2. Wheel specs (width and offset)
3. What lowering springs (if any) and if any rubbing issues (bonus points for pics)
4. Daily driven or not
5. Your thoughts on the tires for street performance / handling / acceleration
6. Your thoughts on the tires for driving in the wet
7. Your thoughts on how many miles you expect to get out of them
8. Do the tires run wide (for example a 255 width in the Federal 595 is more like a 265 width in all other tires)

From what I've gathered on this site, common tires that CTR owners have been running for 18s (255/35, 265/35, and 275/35) are as follows (note: this is not a full list; just what I've found):

Performance Summer Tires
Bridgestone RE-71R
Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS
Dunlop Direzza ZIII
Falken Azenis RT615K
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
General G-Max RS
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S* (seems to be super popular)
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
Michelin Pilot Super Sport
Nanking NS-2R
Pirelli P Zero Nero GT
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08R

All Season Tires
Continental Extremecontact DWS 06
Hankook Venus S1 Noble2
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+

Streetable Track & Competition Tires
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
Federal 595RSRR
Nitto NT-01

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[iLovePho]

1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S - 265/35/18
   
2. 18x9.5 +45 Volk TE37 SAGA
   
3. Eibach Pro-kit, no rubbing
   
4. Weekend car mainly
   
5. For street driving, it's great in both wet and dry conditions. Far more comfortable for street driving (vs stock 20s), feels like it handles and accelerates much better due to the wider track and lighter wheels
   
6. As said above, great in wet conditions too.
   
7. Not sure, but Michelin has a 30,000 mile limited warranty on them, I most likely will sell the setup way before I get to that point
   
8. Not sure, no experience with other summer tires of this size

 

[idragmazda]

1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S - 265/35/18
   
2. 18x9.5 +45 Volk TE37 SAGA
   
3. Eibach Pro-kit, no rubbing
   
4. Weekend car mainly
   
5. For street driving, it's great in both wet and dry conditions. Far more comfortable for street driving (vs stock 20s), feels like it handles and accelerates much better due to the wider track and lighter wheels
   
6. As said above, great in wet conditions too.
   
7. Not sure, but Michelin has a 30,000 mile limited warranty on them, I most likely will sell the setup way before I get to that point
   
8. Not sure, no experience with other summer tires of this size

How's traction in 1st and 2nd and any performance mods? My Conti all seasons are completely useless up to about 50mph if I mash the throttle. I need to refine my boost by gear settings a bit more but I'd like my 5-60 time to be much quicker than it is today with the 20" conti all seasons.

 

[iLovePho]

How's traction in 1st and 2nd and any performance mods? My Conti all seasons are completely useless up to about 50mph if I mash the throttle. I need to refine my boost by gear settings a bit more but I'd like my 5-60 time to be much quicker than it is today with the 20" conti all seasons.

Traction was good on warmer days, but when it got colder, traction suffered. My performance mods: Ktuner V2 w/ Stage 1, Mishimoto intake, PRL intercooler, PRL front pipe, and PRL catless down pipe. I did have the Greddy HG tri-tip catback with the above setup, but took it off after less than two months since I couldn't stand the drone. I plan on replacing the catless down pipe with a catted version and installing the Remus exhaust in the Spring. Also plan on getting a separate set of wheels + RE71Rs for a track day / AutoX setup.

 

[MackingFK8]

Is this a Face 3?

 

[iLovePho]

Is this a Face 3?

Yep

 

[Frackz]

id put the re71r for track tires thats all i run on the track.. i swap to p4s for the street.

 

[Fk8tjt]

Traction was good on warmer days, but when it got colder, traction suffered. My performance mods: Ktuner V2 w/ Stage 1, Mishimoto intake, PRL intercooler, PRL front pipe, and PRL catless down pipe. I did have the Greddy HG tri-tip catback with the above setup, but took it off after less than two months since I couldn't stand the drone. I plan on replacing the catless down pipe with a catted version and installing the Remus exhaust in the Spring. Also plan on getting a separate set of wheels + RE71Rs for a track day / AutoX setup.

Why are you getting rid of catless dp?

 

[iLovePho]

Why are you getting rid of catless dp?

The smell is getting old. I always have the recirculation mode on (climate control) now because of the smell.

Slight update to my original post, I'm no longer planning to get a separate track wheel+tires setup this year, going to get more driver mods (aka seat time) first before I do any more handling mods to the car.

 

[tinyman392]

BUMP: Anybody running Continental - ExtremeContact Sport ?? Pros? Cons? Pics? PFA..

Like the stock SportContact 6?

 

[fiend busa]

1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S - 265/35/18
2. 18x9.5 +45 Volk TE37 SAGA
3. Eibach Pro-kit, no rubbing
4. Weekend car mainly
5. For street driving, it's great in both wet and dry conditions. Far more comfortable for street driving (vs stock 20s), feels like it handles and accelerates much better due to the wider track and lighter wheels
6. As said above, great in wet conditions too.
7. Not sure, but Michelin has a 30,000 mile limited warranty on them, I most likely will sell the setup way before I get to that point
8. Not sure, no experience with other summer tires of this size

How is handling with the TE37's and perf tires compared to the stock FK8 setup? Do you lose a lot of the "sharp" handling feel?

 

[un1coRn]

Like the stock SportContact 6?

nah the ExtremeContact Sports. SportContact 6 doesn't come in 265/35/18 or at least its not on TireRack. No worries though I got Michelins

 

[fiend busa]

How do the Michelin PS4S feel just above freezing? One of the big reasons I went with UHP A/S is that I hate how squirrelly 200TW tires get in the 40F zone and didn't want that on a daily.

That only happens for about two weeks of the year here in Austin, but I didn't want my car to be undriveable two weeks of the year.

Put it in comfort mode and you'll be fine.

 

[fiend busa]

An elegant solution from a source I trust: a leaf poster

Lool

It was 0c here and I was on the stock Conti tires. It's fine along as you dont floor it in the lower gears.

I tried WOT with Hondata TC and my car was just popping an banging from all the ignition retarding due to little traction lol.

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