AcidHorse

Has anyone have 245/45/17 on their stock wheels? I was thinking of getting this size for my 08 TLS.

Any issues at all in noise, fitment, rough ride, tire wear, etc?

Bearcat94

Lots of people.

No issues. It one of the two popular alternate sizes. The other 255/40-17.

You should search "245/45" and "255/40" - LOTS of threads; pics too.

BigTone

I'm very close to ordering the Continental DW 245/45s for my 05 stock TL. Liking the reviews/price on them. Will definitely post my reviews on them once I get a few 1000 miles. Check tirerack.com for sizes but you'll see they're so similar to the OEM 235/45s.. especially the EL42s that came on my TL.

ch1zo

iTrader: (1)

thats what I just ordered to give it a more aggressive look than stock size.

AcidHorse

Where are you getting Conti DWS'? Everyone locally here and Tire Rack says it's backordered nationally for 6-8 weeks.

AcidHorse

Can you tell any differences on the road? Increased stability, braking, etc?

pohljm

think he was getting the DW, not DWS

Deep n TX

I got my DWS on Wednesday from Discount Tire. They had to order them and it took just a few days to come in. They are 255/40/17 so the size difference may have some to do with it. If so, just get the 255's, they're healthier btw I used to live in north Austin around Parmer Ln

ch1zo

iTrader: (1)

I havent installed them yet, as in Canada its still winter

BigTone

I'm looking at the Continental ExtremeContact DW not DWS. Size 245/45/17. Most likely ordering through tirerack in the next week or two.

taker777

I got 4 continental sport contacts 245/45's for about 500$ amazing tires. They grip really hard on the road, and long lasting.

lumyeinjun

iTrader: (1)

I got Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus in 245/45/17 on my stock type-s installed a few months ago. In the rain, I feel much more confident in these things compared to my stock Bridgestone Potenza summer tires (expected... it's a summer tire). In dry weather these tires are definitely a DOWNGRADE in performance. The 245/45 tires are too big in diameter and the sidewall has too much flex to allow me to take corner as well as I used to. My mpg went down ~1mpg and I believe my car is a bit higher than it used to be. This is only speculation, but I believe that the higher center of gravity + the taller, less stiff sidewall are the two things contributing to my loss of performance.

245/45 tires are great for those of you who aren't performance mind oriented, but keep in mind that my tires DO rub on wide turns (Keep in mind that i'm lowered 1.4" on H&R sports + Koni SP3s). The tires touch the inner plastic of the backside of the plastic fender lining. If you're looking to retain good handling, I'd suggest going with a 245/35 or 235/45.

Bearcat94

What pressures are you running?


FWIW, the Bridgestone 235/45 you were running is only 1/10 inch (2.5mm) different in radius than this 245/45. IOW - the sidewall is only 0.10 inch shorter on the OE tire.

DMZ

From the specs I've read (at least on brands other than Bullshitstone), the difference between the 235/45/17 and 245/45/17 sizes is 3/10" on both width and diameter.
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05AcTL

iTrader: (15)

im running 255/35/18 on my aspecs with no problems

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

OE Michelin HX MXM4
235/45R17 25.6"

BS-Not certain of the exact summer tire that was the option, but the RE030 93W is 25.5"

A 245/45-17 is 25.7", so looking at the sbove numbers, this would add .1" or .2" to the diameter when compared to stock dimensions, or only .05" or .1" to the radius. If the 245 rubs, I'd say there is another problem as we're only talking about a 1.3 mm difference.

The section width on the Pilot A/S 245/45-17 is 9.6", the same as the OE HXMX4 and only .2" over the RE030, or .1" more inner and .1" more outer.

Bearcat94

You have to look at the specific tire.

lumyeinjun says he was running OE summer tires (BS RE030 235/45-17). Diameter = 25.5". (Section width 9.4")

He's now running Michelin Pilot Sport AS+ 245/45-17. Diameter = 25.7". (Section width 9.6")

So 0.2 inches on the diameter is 0.10" on the radius, which is the sidewall difference.

I'm just not sure 1/10th of one inch on the sidewall accounts for all the difference lumyeinjun says he feels. Maybe it does. But maybe tire pressure is also a factor.

I also note lumyeinjun says the RE030 are poor in the rain which is "expected <because> it's a summer tire." But my experience is that "good" summer tires grip in wet and dry.

lumyeinjun

iTrader: (1)

I'm running 40psi in the front and 38 psi in the rear (cold temps).

I've actually hyrdroplaned in the rain over here in So cal a few times . Bearcat, are you running the OE summer tires? Any problems in the rain?

The Michelins definitely fill up the wheel gap more, but I've found that the tires tend to chirp when taking corners the way I used to with my factory Bridgestones :/

I'll try to get a picture of my wheel/tire setup up later this week.

lumyeinjun

iTrader: (1)

Sorry for kinda hijacking your thread OP, I forgot to mention that it'll probably depend on which specific tires you go with if you decide to get 245/45/17. I went with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus and there is a noticeable reduction in road noise when compared to my worn OE Potenzas. However, my Potenzas were pretty quiet before ~20,000 miles and I haven't driven very much on the Michelins yet so it's hard to say. Theoretically, the bigger size should be less bumpy because you have a bit more rubber to absorb road imperfections. Ride feels nice and comfy to me Too early for me to make a comment on your other concerns though, only thing I have to complain about is the slight rubbing during wide turns (probably not an issue if you're not lowered) and my wheels chirping when taking turns that I used to take without having my wheels chirp.

Bearcat94

Well, you're definetly running enough pressure. For autox, SCCA recommends about 5psi over normal.

I didn't mean the summer OE tire specifically, but summer tires in general. The BS RE030 are generally poorly rated all-around. I'd rather run a summer tire - Michelin PS2's or maybe Conti DW, maybe even GY F1.

My Michilen's are "chirp-y" too. But noise, in and of itself, doesn't mean less traction.

I thought the 245's looked tall too when I first put them on. Then I realized I had run about 8/32nds of tread off the previous tire. That's a quarter inch on the radius (1/2 inch overall). So of course the new tires looked bigger - compared to what I'd been seeing the previous several months.


Regardless, hope you find a balance you're happy with.

lumyeinjun

iTrader: (1)

That IS true... the RE030 Potenzas do have a pretty bad overall rating. I think i'll try a better summer tire next time. And I don't understand why a tire would chirp if it's still gripping the road you do make a good point about the diameter of fresh tires vs. worn ones though haha

sodaks2k

iTrader: (4)

FWIW, there are 30k miles on the pilot sports A/S on my car (came with them) and they are quite noisy; more one some surfaces, less on others.

lumyeinjun

iTrader: (1)

sodaks2k

iTrader: (4)

I need to get the alignment checked since none of the paperwork I have on the car shows that it was ever done. Although the tire wear is quite uniform.