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HONDA CIVIC TYPE R & ACURA INTEGRA TYPE S FITMENT
The FK8 and FL5 Civic Type R, along with the DE5 Acura Integra Type S, are the world's best front-wheel-drive performance cars. Honda's engineering philosophy of maximizing mechanical grip through lightweight construction and precise suspension geometry means that wheel selection has an outsized impact on performance. These cars use a 5x120 bolt pattern with a 64.1mm center bore — notably the same as many BMWs, but with significantly higher factory offsets that are critical for the FWD suspension geometry.
Quick Reference
Bolt Pattern: 5x120 | Center Bore: 64.1mm | Hub Type: Conical Seat | Lug Torque: 108 Nm (80 ft-lb)
Important: The FK8/FL5 CTR and DE5 Type S use 5x120 / 64.1mm CB. This is NOT the same as standard Civics (5x114.3). Do not cross-shop wheels between these platforms.
19x9.5 Square — Street Standard
The factory FL5 Type R ships on 19x9.5 wheels, and maintaining this diameter preserves the carefully engineered ride height, speedometer calibration, and ABS sensor accuracy. On a FWD car, a square setup (same size all four corners) is the natural configuration — there's no benefit to staggered widths when the front axle handles both steering and power delivery.
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19" Flush Square
Matching factory rolling diameter while maximizing the front-driven contact patch.
- Recommended Size: 19x9.5 ET45 all around
- Street Tires: 265/30R19 Square (factory spec)
- More Sidewall: 255/35R19 Square (taller sidewall for better ride quality and pothole protection)
- Offset Range: ET42–ET48 is safe. Going below ET38 risks inner fender liner contact at full steering lock.
Why this setup: The Type R's suspension geometry is optimized around a 9.5" wide wheel at ET45. This offset places the center of the tire contact patch in the exact position Honda's engineers designed the front suspension to work — deviating significantly from this changes the scrub radius and can introduce torque steer and steering kickback under hard acceleration. A forged 19x9.5 wheel can weigh under 19 lbs — compared to the FL5's factory 22 lb forged wheel, that's a 3 lb per corner saving that directly improves the car's famously sharp turn-in.
18x9.5 Square — Track Weapon
Dropping to 18 inches is the preferred choice for serious track use. The smaller diameter reduces unsprung and rotational mass, provides more sidewall for curb compliance, and opens up significantly wider tire options in the 265–275mm width range — the sweet spot for FWD grip on track.
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18" Lightweight Track Square
The ultimate HPDE and time attack setup for the world's best front-driver.
- Recommended Size: 18x9.5 ET45 all around
- Track Tires (200TW): 265/35R18 Square
- Aggressive Track: 275/35R18 Square
- Brake Note: Confirm spoke clearance with the factory Brembo front calipers. Our GT-02 and GT-03 designs clear with proper spoke geometry. ET45 is critical — the factory high offset must be maintained for the front suspension to work correctly.
Why this setup: On a FWD track car, the front tires are handling steering, braking, AND power delivery simultaneously — they work harder than on any other drivetrain layout. The taller 35-series sidewall at 18" (vs. 30-series at 19") provides a more compliant tire carcass that absorbs mid-corner bumps without unsettling the front end. The wider 265–275mm tire width also creates a larger contact patch for better front grip under combined loading — the critical scenario on a FWD car. A forged 18x9.5 at ET45 can weigh under 17 lbs, which on a 3,100 lb car creates a massive improvement in steering response and braking feel.
Recommended Tires by Use Case
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Type R / Type S Tire Selection Guide
FWD track cars are more tire-sensitive than any other layout. The right compound transforms the car's personality.
- Street Performance: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (265/30R19 or 255/35R19) — the daily benchmark. Low noise, excellent wet grip, and a progressive breakaway that works beautifully with the Type R's limited-slip differential.
- Street/Track Hybrid: Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 (265/30R19) — slightly firmer sidewall than the PS4S, which improves turn-in. Excellent value and strong dry grip.
- Track Day (200TW): Yokohama Advan A052 (265/35R18) — the highest grip 200TW tire available. Transforms the Type R into a genuine time attack contender. The front tires will understeer on inferior compounds before they understeer on A052s.
- Budget Track: Hankook Ventus RS4 (265/35R18) — consistent, affordable, and durable. The perfect tire for HPDE events where you're building seat time rather than chasing ultimate grip.
- Autocross: BFGoodrich Rival S 1.5 (265/35R18) — massive grip with fast warmup. Dominant in SCCA FWD classes.
FWD-Specific Offset Considerations
Unlike RWD and AWD cars, the front wheels on a FWD car handle ALL of the power delivery AND all of the steering. This creates unique offset constraints:
- High offsets are mandatory (ET42–ET48): Honda engineers designed the front suspension geometry around a specific scrub radius. Running low offsets (below ET38) moves the tire contact patch outward, increasing the scrub radius and creating torque steer under hard acceleration — the steering wheel will pull left or right as you apply throttle.
- Full-lock clearance: The Type R's front suspension geometry allows significant steering lock for tight autocross courses. Running wheels with low offsets or wide widths reduces the clearance at full lock, potentially contacting the inner fender liner during aggressive maneuvers.
- Square is king: There is zero performance benefit to running staggered widths on a FWD car. Run the same size at all four corners — it simplifies tire rotation, extends tire life, and maintains balanced grip.
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