Wheel and Tire Set-ups

[TrickyDik]

I'm going to be purchasing some summer wheels and tires in the next month or two and have a couple questions since I'm not too fancy on it all.

I've got an '07 WRX and it will have Tein H-Tech springs on it soon. 1.8" drop in the front and .7" drop in the rear.

What should I be looking at for a wheel/tire set-up that will eliminate the wheel well space but still keep drive-ability?

Do I stick with a 17x8 sized wheel and a 225/45 sized tire or 235/40 tire? Will that be a good look or will there still be a huge space in the wheel well?

Or do I go with an 18x8 sized wheel with either a 225/40, 235/40 or 245/40 sized tire? Will that be too big of a wheel and if I hit some bumps/pot holes that are common up here in NH/Maine will I be rubbing and causing some damage?

I'd want a set-up that is suited well as a daily driver since it is my commuter car, but also want it to be able to eliminate the wheel well space as much as possible. I certainly don't want to hydroplain during rain storms while driving to work (obviously I drive slower in rain any way) on the highway.

Probably looking at some Rotas since they're only going to be summer wheels, so if you could suggest a tire from his list on NASIOC that'd be cool, something that will be able to handle some rain like I said above.

Wish I was more Wheel/Tire savy but alas it only confuses me more the more I read about it.

-Nick

[Nate8409]

Any wheel really. As long as it is a 17. If you want cheap go with a 2154517 tire size and a rota wheel.

[TrickyDik]

So don't go with the 18x8 sized wheel with the h-techs? I'm trying to get a pretty good look but not have any danger during rain and what not for the summer. Also don't what the wheel crashing through my wheel well (lol) if I hit a set of train tracks or something.

If 17x8 sized wheels look good then I'll go with that. If there are no worries with 18x8 and the 18x8's look better then I'll go with that. Just need to know what size tire for either one of those wheel sizes I should expect to go with lowered on h-techs.

[f1vlad]

I'd stick with STi specs. Just look at STi BBS, that's ideal I believe.

As far as eliminating wheel well gap, the best set up so far I've seen (conservative, not crazy slammed yet very nice stance) is on Whit's WRX. His scr name here is XS RS. He's from Eliot,ME, he'll come to one of the future meets.

[TrickyDik]

Well I already have the H-Techs and they will be installed. So I just need to know what I asked above. What is XS RS wheel specs?

[ValuePack]

I'd do a 17x7.5 or 17x8 wheel with a 225/45R17. Your speedo/odo/gear ratio will remain correct, you'll have plenty of grip, and enough sidewall to give a moderately compliant ride. If you're daring, you could go to a 235/40R17 or 245/40R17, but you'd need to roll your rear fenders, and I'd think the ride would really suck for NE.

I know you're planning on Tein springs... I'd also suggest that you go with aftermarket struts while you have everything apart. Your stock struts probably won't last too long when you mix the local roads and a 2" drop.

[TrickyDik]

What struts do you recommend?

[Nate8409]

Stock struts if you are never going to take it to the track. Look at my intro thing. This is me on prodrive springs and a 2154517 tire and KYB struts.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w4/Nate8409/DSC00455.jpg

These springs have less of a drop than yours and look at the wheel well gap left.

A 2254517 will fill the gap slightly better and be slightly larger then the calculated overall diameter the speed sensor is calibrated for just to let you know.

[TrickyDik]

Most I'd ever do for track is a couple times at NE Dragway this summer, if that.

My car is just going to be a little mixture of show with some modest performance mods. That is until I get out of the Coast Guard and move closer to where ever I get a job (right now I commute about 800 miles a month for home<->work miles).

Also I don't think on a 225/45/17 will alter the speed sensor too much that I'll be worried.

I'm pretty much decided on some 17" ones, using the stock struts on h-tech springs for my summer mode.

[Nate8409]

No definately not. It is only a tenth larger approx with some more rolling resistance.

On another note. Why are you looking for new wheels anyway?

[TrickyDik]

Just want something different. I'd like to have a summer set and winter set. Winter set will be my stockers so that way when I go out and have some snow "fun" I don't have to worry about them as much so to speak.

Not to mention that I found it's always handy to have a second set around just in case, which is why I'm also going to go with just another 17" size.

[preach]

I got a decent deal on rotas and falkens at www.jaydm.com for my Acura.

Might want to check them out.

[ValuePack]

jaydm.com looks good, subydude.com is another. I don't know how they compare in terms of price or customer service, but at least it's an option.

[TrickyDik]

I'm either going with the 17x8 Rota Torques or the 17x8 Rota GForce. I'd do Steel Grey for either of them or possibly Bronze for the Torques. I'm thinking a 225/45 Falken FK-452 for a tire.

I have a WRB '07 WRX so of those two Rotas mentioned above which would you go with and in what color? Just looking to see what others think look good (my color coordination sucks).

Also does the tire set-up sound good for the wheel? I heard the FK-452 has good water traction and a decent wear rating which sound optimal for the summer up here in NE.

I think it will look pretty good on my car with the h-techs.

[Murphy2012]

I like both torques and G-forces. I'd go with the gold if you got the WRB, IMO it looks beautiful. Also, I think silver would look nice. But, WRB and gold....yummy...~ok~



I have STI springs on my car, and I think it looks pretty nice. I plan on getting Rota Tarmac 3's or Torques this summer in either bronze, gold, or hyper black, it is a much harder decision than I thought it would be. I am open to suggestions on color as well.

[TrickyDik]

I'm not a gold person. I like the look on some subarus but not interested in putting them on mine.

[Nate8409]

I like both torques and G-forces. I'd go with the gold if you got the WRB, IMO it looks beautiful. Also, I think silver would look nice. But, WRB and gold....yummy...~ok~



I have STI springs on my car, and I think it looks pretty nice. I plan on getting Rota Tarmac 3's or Torques this summer in either bronze, gold, or hyper black, it is a much harder decision than I thought it would be. I am open to suggestions on color as well.

I would Vote gold. Make a thread with a poll and pictures of the wheels in their colors. That would work. Back in the day when I made the decision it was either Prodrive P1's or OZ Superleggera's. I went with the cheaper ones.

I'm not a gold person. I like the look on some subarus but not interested in putting them on mine.

I have seen a couple of our cars with chrome wheels that looked nice but that is not rally so I don't condone it. What about some kind of wheel with a polished lip?

If I was you I would go with the BBS RE. It is a beautiful wheel and can be found on the S204 STI. It is Dark Silver/Gray. Or a black wheel.

[TrickyDik]

Alright well my wheels and tires are now mounted and balanced as well as put on my car with an alignment.

The down side is, the Work RS Lug Nuts in Blue aren't on my car even though they came in today from UPS. I went to NTB to get the alignment because I've never had a problem with those guys. They were test fitting everything and it all seemed like it was going to go smoothly until they realized that they can't get the Lugs on. The lugs fit, however they tried a really thin walled socket wrench and could only get a couple lugs hand tightened and then the third lug they couldnt get the socket on good enough.

Seems to not be enough room for a socket to fit in with out tearing the wheel apart.

:(

[Murphy2012]

awww that sucks....pics?