So I've not had good luck with tires for my 08 GXP since I bought it a year ago. The stock tires made it feel like a marshmallow on all four corners. Front wheel spin was retarded, so I bought a full set of BFG KDW's.

The front KDW's were the stock size, but the rears were a bit wider/taller, because I couldn't get the rear stock size in the KDW. Those tires were decent for traction up front, but not great. However, it always felt the rear end of the car was just totally disconnected....kind of like a trailer following the front tires after a few seconds. Just horrible handling. The rear tires lasted about 9 months, before the insides had belts showing, and the outsides still looked almost brand new. Guess I should have installed the rear camber kit. Maybe that's why it handled so badly?

Since I had to replace the rears before the fronts were ready, I bought a cheapo pair of stock sized Goodyears for the rear. In January this year, the fronts were bald, so I had to replace them too. I installed stock sized Goodyear F1's up front only, since the rears were new. The F1's have horrific traction! 1/4 throttle off the line, and they're already spinning. It's plain goofy! And still, the car handles like complete and utter crap. Nobody else can even stand to drive the thing... Active Stability control comes on daily, when I push it around any corner.

I type all of that out to paint the picture of where I am at now, and what I'm going through. I want to replace all four tires with a complete set of the absolute best handling and best traction tires I can get for it. Would wider 275/40/18's up front that I've read about, better help with the horrible traction while taking off? If so, great....but what will they do in the handling department? If I run the 275/40's up front, what would the best tire size be to compliment the rear?

I push this car hard daily, that's why I bought it. I like to drive hard. I need a tire that will give the absolute best handling first and foremost, and best traction when taking off, second. I sincerely appreciate any feedback! Thank you. Btw, I posted this on GMLS4, but thought I would post here as well for more input.

 

more input there already

http://gmls4.com/index.php?topic=609.0

 

You're not gonna get sticky, fun tires that last a long time, just not how it works, you gotta compromise. That said, my Hankook V12s handle great, but I got them in March and they're already more than 50% more. I had Riken Raptors that were pretty good for the first few weeks then traction got worse, 6 months with a bad alignment, they would've lasted 2 months longer likely. Both were 275/40s, which handle better in my opinion.

EDIT: And 245/45s are great in the back. I'm gonna try stock rear size with 275s when I need new rears.

 

Sweet! I've just been lurking the threads for a good while, and have yet to really see what the best tires & sizes are for the GXP for true performance.....not just mileage or cool looks.

 

I fully understand that compromise is necessary. This gets tricky with the GXP due to the staggered sizes, and is why I'm researching it.

Do the 275/40's handle better or worse due to the extra width on a narrow rim? Do they actually offer more traction over the stock front tire size?

If the 275/40's are run up front, are the 245/45's the preferred rear size to match the front?

Thanks again guys for the help. I really do appreciate it!

 

In my experience, it's better. Too little air and they roll, however. 40 or so psi works well. I do 42 for autocross.

245/45s are what everyone runs, but like I said when the time comes I'll try 225/50 paired with the 275s.

 

So it sounds like the common setup that works well is 275/40/18's up front, and 245/45/18's in the rear.

Also suggested are Hankook V12's. What other brands of tires have a great balance of handling & traction in these tire sizes?

Doing the math, the stock are 27"s tall up front, and 26.9"s tall in the rear. The new proposed tire setup would reduce the height a small fraction to 26.7" front & rear. Would this make much of a noticeable difference with the speedometer or more importantly, the odometer?

 

Both of mine are both still accurate. Dunno about other brands, I need to start searching for my next pair.

 

I had the same thing last time I got tires. 4 wheel aliment cleared it up.

 

That's my plan. Get it aligned right, then put a new set of sticky wide shoes on her. After that, I'll most likely install the STB's front & rear to further stiffen it up.

Still out on which brand of tires would be best for traction & handling, in a 275/40 front and 245/45 rear. So far I've heard the following:

1.) Hankook Ventus V12
2.) Michelin Pilot Sport A.S Plus
3.) Pirelli P Zero Nero

I'm tempted to run another set of BFG KDW's, but in the new wider sizes...

 

I had the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S plus last time with stock size, and I really liked them. I’ve got Continetal Extreme Contact DWS 275 40 18 front 245 45 18 in the back. If it wasn’t for getting stuck in the snow I would have went with the Pilot Sports again. If your in Texas why are you looking at all seasons?

 

I just priced out the 275/40 & 245/45 BFG KDW's for $1105 out the door from my Discount Tire guy (road warranty & all). There's also a $50 BFG rebate, so that kinda sweetens the deal. The KDW's are a summer tire, not an all season. The Michelin's are $50 more per tire, so I'll not be getting them.

 

I'm not reading that good of reviews on the BFG KDW's by many hardcore driving enthusiasts. Might have to rethink the best tire choice again. I've heard nothing but rave reviews on the Michelin's.

So I got my car aligned this morning. The camber wasn't that far off from spec, but the toe was horrendous on the rear. While we were under there, we discovered that all my hub bearings are tight, but the rack & pinion has a LOT of play in it! Not good, and I hope it's covered under the GM 100k Powertrain warranty. That would explain why it has always felt like the steering has a mind of it's own. Even scary to drive at times if the pavement is rutted.

The passenger side lower motor mount has a lot of movement in it, and the upper dog bone mount is fawked. The tranny whines nicely when it gets warmed up, and the bottom end still sounds like it's gonna fall out when I crank it....at least twice a week. Ugh. New tires may be on hold for awhile, until I can get all the warranty crap handled. I can't stand dealing with the dealership.

 

Cooper is coming out with an extended line up for there Zeon RS3 tires.. These tires "RS3" stands for Roush Stage 3, they were only offered for the rousch mustangs at first. they have an RS3-S and RS3-A they look really good.
http://www.coopertire.com/html/produ...age=zeon_rs3_s
http://www.coopertire.com/html/produ...age=zeon_rs3_a

 

I run Falken 275/40/R18 upfront and rear some cheapo goodyears 225/45/R18. Cars 1.6 inches lowered,strut tower bars, camber kit and 5mm spacers All around. It handles great on all corners.

 

Do the 275s/245's rub???

 

275s do not rub.

 

Does anyone have any input on the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11? Tirerack rates it at the top for Extreme Performance Summer tires: CLICK

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

this is the tire i am going to next

 

Just an update to this thread. I decided to go back with 275/40/18 KDW's up front. When I can afford the rears, I'll swap out the el-cheapo's for some 245/45 KDW's to match. Here's a pic of the wide 275's! Love em so far. They handle much better than the former set. Traction seems to be drastically improved!