Perhaps my use of the word crazy was inappropriate, so apologies for that.PeteH wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2019 11:53 pm
You seem very sure about this, but you are not correct. Yes, Mazda got some things wrong, and for certain parts we recommend buying better, or different, components to Mazda's OE fit. For no components that I can think of do we recommend worse components. You might think a 225/40 is almost the same as a 225/45, but it has over 10% less air in it. And that is crucial in ways that only tyre physicists properly understand.
Describing my view as "crazy", given that I do actually know exactly what I'm talking about, isn't well appreciated. Your continued insistence that an inappropriate tyre will be just fine, despite having no knowledge, experience or training to make such assertions, is also not appreciated. I don't tend to give opinions on here unless I know what I am talking about, and I'm always keen to learn from those that known more than I do about a subject. It's a good philosophy to live by.
Now, I have to go to Barcelona to run the tyre tests for the McLaren F1 team. Perhaps I should ask the Pirelli head of R&D for his view about amateur "experts" on forums making random recommendations on the fitment of inappropriate tyres?
Ultimately I have run multiple tyres, including ad08r (with a lower load rating than pilot sports) in 225/40r18 on an rx8 to great effect. So whilst I don't have experience of the theory, I do have experience of it to some degree.
I know of many other owners using 225/40 track tyres on rx8s and heavier cars besides.
I don't claim to be an expert, I am giving my opinion on something that I have personal experience of. OP (and everyone else) is obviously free to make their own decisions based on their research, comments from others and the experiences of themselves and others.