From what I understand, it's not so much the width of the tire that determines traction as it is the compound. In other words, a 215 section width vs a 245 - if the 215 is a DOT legal track tire and the 245 is rock hard, long wear, all season, the 215 will give you more traction in a straight line and in lateral g's.
That being said, what's the consensus comparing the rather sticky 140 tread wear rating, stock Bridgestones to a tire with a higher treadwear rating of say 240, still with a traction rating of AA, but in a wider section width?
What I'm getting at is it would seem Mazda decided to equip our cars with super sticky, relatively narrow section width tires. This gives you the advantages of lower rolling resistance and therefore better mileage with great traction and handling at the expense of rapid tread wear.
When looking at replacements, if you want to increase the section width and sacrifice some rolling resistance for more traction, how much trade off is there in the compound? At what point are you loosing traction to the stock tires even though your section width is wider?
I'm specifically looking at 235/40/18 for RX8 rims in the spring. I would run an all season if somebody told me I'd give up nothing in traction and handling to the stock tires due to the increased width, but I just don't know if that's the case.
Perhaps just a tire below the Extreme performance level is the limit. Something like the ultra high performance level and that's it. Anything longer wearing and you're giving up traction compared to the stock tires.
Anybody have some experience with this they care to share?
TIA
That being said, what's the consensus comparing the rather sticky 140 tread wear rating, stock Bridgestones to a tire with a higher treadwear rating of say 240, still with a traction rating of AA, but in a wider section width?
What I'm getting at is it would seem Mazda decided to equip our cars with super sticky, relatively narrow section width tires. This gives you the advantages of lower rolling resistance and therefore better mileage with great traction and handling at the expense of rapid tread wear.
When looking at replacements, if you want to increase the section width and sacrifice some rolling resistance for more traction, how much trade off is there in the compound? At what point are you loosing traction to the stock tires even though your section width is wider?
I'm specifically looking at 235/40/18 for RX8 rims in the spring. I would run an all season if somebody told me I'd give up nothing in traction and handling to the stock tires due to the increased width, but I just don't know if that's the case.
Perhaps just a tire below the Extreme performance level is the limit. Something like the ultra high performance level and that's it. Anything longer wearing and you're giving up traction compared to the stock tires.
Anybody have some experience with this they care to share?
TIA