lookinco

Hi, do you guys think it would help performance with wider tires in front than the rear?

Since the front tires is responsible for all of the accelrating and more then half of braking, it would make sense to use wider tires to increase contact patch with the ground.

Also, with a wider tires up front with more traction, would that help decrease understeer?

ACTROS

iTrader: (7)

This make sense since the front wheels doing all the work. I think that current V8 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP and other powerful GM front drivers use similar set up with great results, surely got to check more into it.

kjelly

That's exactly what the GTP does to handle their 300+ HP. I think it's a great idea, minus the non-standard tire rotation...

ACTROS

iTrader: (7)

Pontiac website: http://www.pontiac.com/grandprix/specs_viewall.jsp

Accord. to the specs, Grand Prix GXP - 5.3L 5300 V8 SFI, (303 HP [226 kW] @ 5600 rpm, 323 lb-ft [438.0 N-m] @ 4400 rpm) comes with P255/45R18 front, P225/50R18, rear tires. Weight- 3600lb.

Also from the website for GXP model: Wider Front-to-Rear Track Design

GXP’s nearly two-inch wider front-to-rear track is the first of its kind in a production FWD car, matching the contact area to weight distribution for superior control. The increase is due to 18” forged flangeless alloy wheels with an extra inch of width per side, and GXP-specific fenders radiused to accommodate the aggressive P255/45ZR18 performance tires.

Front track width, inches 61.6(Sedan) 61.6(GT) 63.5(GXP)
Rear track width, inches 61.3 (Sedan) 61.3 (GT) 61.7(GXP)

Acura site: http://hondanews.com/CatID3014?mid=2...56021&mime=asc

TL's Track, Front/Rear, in. 62.1/62.0

chill_dog

The difference between 245 and 235 is only half an inch...you're not going to notice any difference.

ubnpast

Please do not do this. I have learned my lesson on tire sizes from having an AWD car. The sidewall of a tire is a certain % of how wide it is (think of it like a 235-45-17, this is not true but to give you an idea the sidewall is 45% if 235). The tl's active handling system will detect that something is wrong and it will not work correctly.

DMZ

3/10 of an inch actually ............. on both width and diameter

realfresh

wow, that pontiac is ug

papiowhisperer

Is this saying that the GXP is first of it's kind with a two inch fr track or the first of it's kind with a fr track wider than rear? The reason I mention this is that the Honda Insight, the first Gasoline-Electric hybrid vehicle to the USDM also had a track wider in front. This was done to improve the aerodynamic drag co-eficient, and fuel mileage. I spent three years in auto purgatory driving that little cartoon car. Yet, it was one of the best financial decisions I ever made. I wish I still had it. It would be fun to do a 'monster garage' build on it.