Hoosier A7 tire size on flared car Options

[PlaysWithCars]

I've been running 225/45R15 on 7" and 8" wheels and they worked fine. But now that I need new tires I'm going to 8s all the way around and debating about stepping up to 245/40R15. Anyone have experience with 245 on 8" wheel? It's within spec from Hoosier for that tire and through email correspondence with Hoosier they said it would work fine. I also asked them about building heat in the tire since I struggle with that on the 225s already. They said that yeah I would build less heat but the cooler 245s would generate more grip than slightly warmer 225s.

[PlaysWithCars]

The car is flared and by all measurements the 245s should fit. I've had 245s on 16s on the back of the car before and they fit fine. The bigger question is about 245s on 8" wheels and if ther are compromises to sidewall stiffness to consider. On my previous narrow body car I had 205 series Victoracers mounted on 5.5" wheels and they worked fine, but when I moved to 6" wheels and put the same tires on them they performed a lot better.

I reached out to Hoosier and to our local private tire mounter that installs tires for the local racing crowd. Both said that 245s on the 8" wheel will be fine because Hoosier has a stiff sidewall construction on the A7s; different that what I experienced with the Victoracers. They also said that I would benefit more from the additional rubber than I would loose from generating less heat in them.

Pulled the trigger and ordered 245s this morning. Will be confirming fitment in a couple of weeks and performance when it dries out here in the Pacific Northwest in August. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)