I know what it is!!1 Well, I sorta have insider info so I won't spoil it by guessing but the rim size narrows it down to only a few cars.

For one, I would always go with the better compound over a wider contact patch. It would be nice to have both but the tire compound, design, sidewall stiffness, etc is #1 250% the most important factor here over another inch or so of rubber on the ground. Basic physics will tell you that the coefficient of friction is more important by orders of magnitude than the contact area to the point that the contact area is unimportant. Basic physics also don't come near to describing tire physics but the same idea applies.

Now, as far as widths go, yes, you can run a 245 on an 8" wheel, but it's toward the small side of the wheel widths recommended for that section width. If you're talking about a fun handling/twisties car, you want to be toward the maximum wheel width for the tire size you're running. It gives the sidewalls better support for less deflection (more stiffness) and makes a better-shaped contact patch with less deformation. A 225 on an 8" wheel is just about right from that perspective, since I believe 8" is the max recommended width for most 225 tires.

I have Hankook Ventus Z212 RS-2s on my 16x8 rims in a 225/50/16 and I have very little sidewall bulge. These tires tend to run wide, more like a 235. When I had Falken Ziex ZE-502s on there there was no bulge at all; they were perfectly straight up and down. I'd recommend the Z212s if you're looking for a less expensive, more autocross oriented tire and don't mind 10-15k mile tire life. You seem to be going more for a touring/open track day tire with a bit more life. I think the Z212s would heat up too much on serious road course stuff but that's just from what I've read. For what I do I love them. Great grip, communicative feel and sound when they're on the edge, cheap price, big meaty tread blocks that don't chunk even at full tread depth. Very conveniently, they have them in both 225/50/16 and 245/45/16, but as I said they run wide. Just remember that when you go wider on the same size rim, you may gain a bit of steady-state grip (constant curve, skidpad stuff) but you lose more steering feel and stability (more "wobbly" through the corners because the tire isn't being supported fully by the rim and can move back and forth more.) Edgeracing has a good price on the Hankooks if you're interested.

Johann (you may not remember him- kid with the White SR20 240) has the ES 100s and he's disappointed with them. They didn't have the kind of grip he was hoping for and while the tire life is good, I believe he said they were getting noisy as they aged. I'll see if he wants to respond to this.