Hey all,

I just bought a 2005 Acura TL, high miles from a younger guy, got a good deal atleast i hope. Anyways, I noticed that he was running 245/45/17 on the front two tires and 235/45/17 on the rear. I have never heard of bigger tires in front. Any clue why he would have done this. This is the current setup, and the tires are bald so I am looking to get a nice set. I like the staggered look so would be open to suggestions, but also wondering if anyone has a theory why he wouldve had the bigger ones in front. Let me know! Thanks

 

The two in the front were probably worn out and he just had them replaced with the wrong size. Don't be like him, he was an idiot. We can advise you on a new set, but you need to figure out if you're going to have a Summer and Winter set, or if you need an all-season tire.

 

I would love to do an all season, as I live in Wisconsin and would prefer to have one set of tires get me through all the different seasons. However, I still would love the sharpest look possible with the all seasons. Staggered in back would also look nice. Thanks!

 

Pilot Sport A/S 3 or Continental DWS.

As for the incorrect tire size, maybe he was running an aftermarket wheel setup, who knows. but it would make no sense for the front to be wider.

It is FWD, so technically, if you want "more" traction, you would go with a bigger tire in the front.

That's why some RWD cars have bigger rear tires (by 20-30mm), or staggered, as they call it.

 

continental dws06 are a great choice for all season tires. they have great grip (not like a summer tire but still very good) and handle well in the winter (supposedly). they do amazing in the rain.

they are a new improved version of the continental dws which got great reviews all around for years.

i would stay away from a staggered setup on a FWD

 

Conti DWS for all-season

Or

Conti Extreme DW for Summer
Pirelli Sotto 3 for Winter

Staggered is generally a bad idea on a FWD car.

 

It's not completely unheard of to have bigger tires on the front of a FWD car... GM did this from the factory with the LS3-V8 powered Grand Prix GXP for example. It came with 255 mounted on 18x8 on the front and 225 mounted on 18x7 on the rear... The purpose was to make the handling more neutral, since it was a front heavy, V8 FWD car.

 

But there is no such need for this with the TL. Besides, GM sucks, and the Grand Prick is, well, dead.

 

Thanks for all the great input. I am thinking about staying with stock rims so i appreciate the advice. the next thing i will ask is what specs should i get on the tires. I want to go staggered, and want a wide look in back, nothing outrageous but some poke and i also want decent drivability as this is my commuter. How have people with 255/45/17 handle? what do you suggest for rear and front tire specs going with all seasons and having the staggered look?

 

Since you're going staggered I'll opt out of this conversation, other than to say that you should be fine as long as the OD front to rear is the same or nearly the same.

 

You're looking for staggered with larger rear tires?

Regardless, have a look at this thread for fatter tires all around:
https://acurazine.com/forums/tires-w...m-rims-595122/

 

OP As everyone has already stated, NO, don't get a staggered set up. If you have lots of $ to throw around, go for it! But going with a staggered setup means CAN'T ROTATE TIRES. Thus you will be having to buy new tires more often and last time I checked, quality tires ain't cheap! Why are you so set on a staggered set up?? Wanting a flush look? Throw some spacers on and call it a day!!

The only reason to rock a staggered setup is if you have aftermarket wheels with aggressive widths/offsets. Absolutely no reason to do a staggered setup on stockies.

 

OP I live in WI (moving to MI soon) and my is don't get staggered tires, get a good set of all seasons or winter tires. With the way winters been so far you could get away with all seasons. What part of WI? I ask because if your in the north, I would go with winter tires, I have General Altimax Artic 's on a $200 set of rims ($115.20/tire). They are a little loud but the grip on snow and ice is great!