Cheap way out, or pay up?

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2012 11:11 pm

So the 245s on the S2000 have a lot of tread and are still pretty soft, and I am thinking of moving them to the new-to-me 9"wheels. StarSpecs are on closeout at TR, but only in the 255/40/17, no 245/40 available. From what I gather, the 245s are measured on an 8 inch wheel, and based on the TR FAQ, putting them on a 9-inch rim will expand the section width to 255 (5mm per 0.5" of wheel width change) but an unknown tread width change. Minimal change in overall tire height, maybe 1/4". On the plus side, I get my tires squared away next year for half price. Or, should I just go with all new tires for 2013, but pay double?

What is the downside? I figure I will still get crushed by Zach, James and Jeremy so how bad can it be, right?

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Steven Carter wrote:

I figure I will still get crushed by Zach, James and Jeremy so how bad can it be, right?

You forgot the North Carolina STR champ also there. . .

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2012 9:20 am

sorta, but Noah is in STX next year with his RX-8. He'll own me in PAX for sure, though, but then again a lot of people do that :roll:

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2012 9:31 am

Between the 12/2 Danville event that we're probably going to get a ton of runs at and the test & tune you can plan to just finish them off. Before the first March event you can take the plunge into 255 land with the new StarSpecs all the way around? Or at least that's what I'd probably do...

JamesShort · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2012 10:48 am

$185/per isn't exactly closeout. That was the normal price earlier this year. Then they jumped to mid/high 190s/per.

I'd buy the square 255s and wait to have them mounted on the new 17x9s till after the TnT. Wear out what you have.

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Steven Carter wrote:

sorta, but Noah is in STX next year with his RX-8. He'll own me in PAX for sure, though, but then again a lot of people do that :roll:

PAX SUX.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2012 1:16 pm

JamesShort wrote:

$185/per isn't exactly closeout. That was the normal price earlier this year. Then they jumped to mid/high 190s/per.

I'd buy the square 255s and wait to have them mounted on the new 17x9s till after the TnT. Wear out what you have.

definitely not closeout pricing, you're right about that. I was angling for the "only buy a pair vs whole set" thing, given how much tread is left on my 245 rears.

On a side note, anyone interested in a lightly used set of rear 245/40/17 StarSpecs for $100? Still with 6/32 tread remaining....

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2012 2:59 pm

go for the hot setup. And own the track.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Steven Carter wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

$185/per isn't exactly closeout. That was the normal price earlier this year. Then they jumped to mid/high 190s/per.

I'd buy the square 255s and wait to have them mounted on the new 17x9s till after the TnT. Wear out what you have.

definitely not closeout pricing, you're right about that. I was angling for the "only buy a pair vs whole set" thing, given how much tread is left on my 245 rears.

On a side note, anyone interested in a lightly used set of rear 245/40/17 StarSpecs for $100? Still with 6/32 tread remaining....

Please put my name on those...

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2012 8:38 pm

Mike, I will keep you in mind. No decision until after the Dec 2 autocross, though. Thanks!

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Wed Nov 21, 2012 6:02 pm

Hmph. Not how I expected this to go, but will have to get the 255 StarSpecs and use my current 245s in the front. Bad phone call from accountant FTL...

Sorry, Mike.

noahfleming · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:52 am

What about RS3? They are substantially cheaper than the star specs in 255/40/17.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:18 am

Very true, Noah. The RS3 and StarSpec behave so differently from what I understand, and since I am still using the 245 SS from this past season I wanted to keep the same brand/type of tire. I could only afford 2 tires going into next season, so I just went with 255 StarSpecs.

{fingers crossed} I will hopefully be in a better position to re-up on tires next August or so, and the testing on the new crop of tires will surely be done by then so I'll have a better idea of what to get at that point.

BTW, the durometer reads 78 on the brand-new tires, likely from the mold release compound.

noahfleming · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:09 pm

Steven Carter wrote:

Very true, Noah. The RS3 and StarSpec behave so differently from what I understand, and since I am still using the 245 SS from this past season I wanted to keep the same brand/type of tire. I could only afford 2 tires going into next season, so I just went with 255 StarSpecs.

{fingers crossed} I will hopefully be in a better position to re-up on tires next August or so, and the testing on the new crop of tires will surely be done by then so I'll have a better idea of what to get at that point.

BTW, the durometer reads 78 on the brand-new tires, likely from the mold release compound.

Good call Steven, I understand and mis-read your OP about needing just two.

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