.. if you're measuring 10ths on a track or autocross.
You are not going to get some amazing handling transformation with wider tires. Yes, I have wider wheels and tires, that's strictly because I got a deal from someone on wheels I liked, that happen to be wider. If I was motivated enough to buy them new, I wouldn't go wider than stock. There's no useful benefit on the street. In fact, I'd say it's a detriment, because if you do use up that extra few % of grip, you're that much closer to very bad things happening if you hit a spot of oil or gravel.
I will be autocrossing again this year, but I don't care enough about my times to even record them. My daughter and I just like to have fun.
I’m running 245/35/19 on the front & 275/30/19 on the rear & I have definitely noticed the footprint on the road has increased, but when you talk about grip many factors come into play, most importantly is the quality of tyre, suspension set up, braking capabilities, the road surface & weather conditions.
I find the setup I chose perfect for the look I was after & my driving style. With wider tyres up front I do notice in low speed turning (ie: parking lots) there seems to be increased resistance in the steering so any wider upfront could also have an adverse long term effect on the steering.
