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Originally Posted by Dean
Actually, 225/45-17, and 245/40-17 have almost the same circumfrence. OK, there is about an inch difference which corelates to less than 1% difference in speed.
Here is a really great tire calculator for this stuff.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
And actually, it is the 245/40-17 that Falken doesn't make. I think you have to go to the Kumho to get a 245/40-17.
The big tire/gearing advantage is in the 16" race tires for the WRX. If I am not mistaken Hoosier makes those 215/40-16s which have a diameter that is almost a full two inches smaller than the stockers or the 17"s above. |
Woops, I read over your post too fast, I thought you were looking for 225/40's, not 245/40's.... 'Course Falken makes neither of them.
I think the reason KC didn't go with a 240/45 is that the wagon doesn't have the fender flares the sedan has. On a lowered wagon a 225 is already close to, if not occationally, rubbing. Plus, the Falken Azenis Sports are the best STX tire IMO, they're stickier than tires costing 2 and 3 times as much, but there's only like 3 sizes IIRC, and have a 9" width even tho they're technically a 225 width tire. You could go with a Kuhmo in a 245/40, but you'd pay more, have a less sticky compound, barely more footprint width, no gearing advantage over 225/45, and would rub on a wagon, and almost rub on a sedan unless you roll the fenders and/or run very stiff struts.
Phew!