I am getting some new wheels, 17x17.5 +48 are the specs. Car is a 2002 WRX (non wagon) with stock springs, but I will change them out soon.

I am mainly wondering what I should get in tire size. The wider the better but I really just want what is best for the car. I don't want rubbing, wont do anything to the fenders.
Springs will probably be Tein S-Techs with the rest stock until down the road.

Any and all recommendations in size would be great. If you feel like recommending a specific tire go ahead.

TIA

235 40 17 would be the best size for you. S techs will be the worst springs for you.

My purchasing is going like this: Buy wheels (without tires), buy tires, put them on the car. Get sick of the look, by new springs. So I have time to research springs but I mainly said the S-Techs because it gives people an idea of the ride height I want.
Feel free to recommend away, and thanks for the reply.

I though 235 45 17 was strecthing it, why 40?

s-tech's are horrible.. i have them on my car and i can't stand them... the ride is VERY stiff... if you had the money and want the drop s-tech's give.. i'd go for some coilovers.. i hear megan coils are pretty good, and are fairly cheap...

I run 215/45/17's on my 17x7.5 +48 rotas because the overall diameter is closer to stock and just slightly smaller, but 225's would be good too only slightly bigger than stock overall diameter.

Also, everyone always says don't get the s-techs. I had neuspeed race springs on my last car that were a big, stiff drop like that too and they sucked. I have Tein H-Techs on my wrx right now with Tokico struts and they are freaking awesome. If price is an issue for you, I paid $225 for the struts and $208 for the springs and put them on myself. Then just $60 for an alignment gets you going straight.

I run 215/45/17's on my 17x7.5 +48 rotas because the overall diameter is closer to stock and just slightly smaller, but 225's would be good too only slightly bigger than stock overall diameter.

Also, everyone always says don't get the s-techs. I had neuspeed race springs on my last car that were a big, stiff drop like that too and they sucked. I have Tein H-Techs on my wrx right now with Tokico struts and they are freaking awesome. If price is an issue for you, I paid $225 for the struts and $208 for the springs and put them on myself. Then just $60 for an alignment gets you going straight.


$255? used right? on a wrx or sti? which model tokicos too?

$255? used right? on a wrx or sti? which model tokicos too?
nah they were $225 brand new in the boxes off of eBay, Tokico HP struts for 02 WRX.

I have 235/45/17 fk451's on 5zigen super six rims with perrin springs/tokico struts. the perrin springs drop the car pretty damn low but no rubbing at all. It fills out the wheel wells nicely.

225/45 is the "best" size according to tire manufacturers. This is the size I run on my 17x7.5 +48 rims. Stock springs and STi Pink springs...no rub (Tires I had were Toyo T1-s and Azenis RT-215). I wouldn't recommend the Toyo's.

235/40 is wider than mfr's recommend for 7.5" rim, but many run them with good results.

235/45 is too tall of a tire and not recommended for a WRX.

215/45 is also recommended for a 7.5", but I'd go 225/45.

for non-wagon WRX owners we put 99.9 % 225/45/17 tires... there are some customers who DEMAND 235/40/17 or some who get winter setups w/ 215/45/17.

i'd stick to 225/45/17 myself.

i Got a pretty simlar setup Tein Stechs on a 2003 wrx sedan with rota boost wheels and am running 235/45/17 toyo T1r s with no rubbing at the track and love the setup let me know if you need som i can hook you up. I just had them at the track and they kicked ass in sthe snow and rain and dry/ cold the next day truly awesome tire

Will Olivier
Mach V Motorsport
703 435 5000

My purchasing is going like this: Buy wheels (without tires), buy tires, put them on the car. Get sick of the look, by new springs. So I have time to research springs but I mainly said the S-Techs because it gives people an idea of the ride height I want.
Feel free to recommend away, and thanks for the reply.

I though 235 45 17 was strecthing it, why 40?

17x7.5 +48mm offset are Rota Dimensions. I had Rota Subzeros in my car in 17s and I slapped them 235/45/ZR17s Falken Ziexs. They fit perfect, handled like a dream if I may add. Lowered on Progress springs. Tires never rubbed on me even at hard cornering.

I really like the 235/40's for a 2.0 wrx.......and skip the green springs....deyz junk.

a 235/45 is too tall for a 2.0 WRX...kills acceleration

I really like the 235/40's for a 2.0 wrx.......and skip the green springs....deyz junk.

a 235/45 is too tall for a 2.0 WRX...kills acceleration

Kills acceleration :confused: , 45s in 17s is staying with the stock wheel and tire diameter. Going with 40 tall tires is gonna throw your speedometer off. I know not by much, but I'd rather have thicker tires to protect my wheels ;) .

I know that 235/45/17 is supposed to kill acceleration, but I really can't tell any difference at all. I am sure I will get blasted for saying that.

I know that 235/45/17 is supposed to kill acceleration, but I really can't tell any difference at all. I am sure I will get blasted for saying that.

look at the post #14 man :huh: .

Kills acceleration :confused: , 45s in 17s is staying with the stock wheel and tire diameter. Going with 40 tall tires is gonna throw your speedometer off. I know not by much, but I'd rather have thicker tires to protect my wheels ;) .


You obviously know nothing about tires or their sizing.

I know that 235/45/17 is supposed to kill acceleration, but I really can't tell any difference at all. I am sure I will get blasted for saying that.

swap on a set of 235/40's and you WILL notice the difference....or ya should be drivin an '80's Oldsmobile ;)

You obviously know nothing about tires or their sizing.

Are you serious! I am an Engineering Major. Here's a dummy proof way to find out how to stay in the same stock wheel diameter. TIRERACK :rolleyes:

info taken directly from the site.

The Tire Rack
ORDER TRACKING | MY ACCOUNT | WISH LIST| CART / CHECKOUT Cart

Gram Lights 57C
Finish: Bronze Painted
Bolt Pattern: 5x100

17x7.5 $255 each
** Lightweight: 15.5lbs. **
Availability: 02/23/06

Recommended Tire Size:
225/45-17

and just for good measure, here's a spreadsheet about Wheel/Tire Weights and Rotational Inertia. :furious:

http://www.mazda6tech.com/files/wheel_inertia.xls

swap on a set of 235/40's and you WILL notice the difference....or ya should be drivin an '80's Oldsmobile ;)

And if you're telling me you can notice a difference in speed between 45s and 40s, then you need to find something better to do than hang out here and be a GURU. And don't you have an 06? They come with 45 size tires in 17s :huh:

geez wonder why guys with 18in wheels use 40 tires :rolleyes: .

Gram Lights 57C
Finish: Gold Painted
Bolt Pattern: 5x100

18x7.5 $298 each
** Lightweight: 17.5lbs. **
Availability: 05/10/06

Recommended Tire Size:
225/40-18

Hey GottaREX, go re-read your original reference in post #14. I can see why Uncle Scotty corrected you since you were referencing 235-width tires and commenting on 40/45 series sizes. THEN, you went to Tirerack to prove you know about tire sizing and referenced 225/45/17 for their recommendation. Did you look at the formulas in your spreadsheet to figure out what the numbers mean and how to calculate overall diameter? Then you'd see the taller tire requires more torque to rotate, right.

Engineers like you are why NASA crashed that Mars lander about 5 years back. They messed up their unit conversions in the software. Make sure you pay attention to details and you'll have a great career.

There's also a huge difference in ACCELERATION, not speed, between 235/40/17 and 235/45/17. Good thing you aren't driving much...study up on your uber-physics. Don't apply to NASA, either.

Hey GottaREX, go re-read your original reference in post #14. I can see why Uncle Scotty corrected you since you were referencing 235-width tires and commenting on 40/45 series sizes. THEN, you went to Tirerack to prove you know about tire sizing and referenced 225/45/17 for their recommendation. Did you look at the formulas in your spreadsheet to figure out what the numbers mean and how to calculate overall diameter? Then you'd see the taller tire requires more torque to rotate, right.

Engineers like you are why NASA crashed that Mars lander about 5 years back. They messed up their unit conversions in the software. Make sure you pay attention to details and you'll have a great career.

There's also a huge difference in ACCELERATION, not speed, between 235/40/17 and 235/45/17. Good thing you aren't driving much...study up on your uber-physics. Don't apply to NASA, either.

First off, who in the right mind would want to ACCELERATE faster in their Subarus anyways just so they can throw off their speed meter :confused: . You've already got AWD to give you traction. If you ask me, I'd rather have the top end than neck-snapping bottom end. And like you said 40 and 45 series tires will make a big difference. RIGHT :rolleyes:

I'm not driving much!!! I've learned to drive 12 years ago when I was still 14yrs old in my country where most of the cars have Standard Transmissions. My car is an 02 VF22d WRX with 60k daily driven miles, stock clutch and stock tranny and you're telling me I can't drive :furious: . Dude, I've tried 5 different sets of wheels and tires on my car already and I've also tracked my car, I was merely suggesting a good tire size for his wheels and you nerds like Uncle Scotty, has the nerve to tell me I know nothing just coz he is a GURU. Dude you all need to GROW UP :rolleyes:

The discussion was between 45 and 40 series tires. The original poster even mentioned he wanted the best tire and size for his size wheels. He also mentioned that the wider the better. I've already clarified that there won't be any rubbing 235/45/zr17 tires, I ran that same combo before. He might even drive these wheels on a daily basis and I noted that not only a 45 series tires recommended on 17s, you'll also have a softer ride than series 40s.

There's also a huge difference in ACCELERATION, not speed, between 235/40/17 and 235/45/17. Good thing you aren't driving much...study up on your uber-physics. Don't apply to NASA, either.

There is about a 4% difference in both acceleration AND speed between those two sizes. 235/40R17 has a theoretical diameter of 24.40". (That's 2% shorter than a stock 205/55R16, by the way.) 235/45R17 has a diameter of 25.33" (2% taller than stock). Running the taller tire will give you slightly slower acceleration, and higher speed for a given rpm. Running the shorter one will give you slightly better acceleration, and lower car speed at a given rpm. (Gas mileage would probably be better with the taller tire.)

I'd probably go with the 235/45R17, myself. I like the look of the tire filling the wheel well. It fits fine on a sedan. And I don't really care about the 2% loss of gearing vs. the stock tire -- I'll make it up with mods. :)

--Dan
Mach V
FastWRX.com (www.fastwrx.com)

There is about a 4% difference in both acceleration AND speed between those two sizes. 235/40R17 has a theoretical diameter of 24.40". (That's 2% shorter than a stock 205/55R16, by the way.) 235/45R17 has a diameter of 25.33" (2% taller than stock). Running the taller tire will give you slightly slower acceleration, and higher speed for a given rpm. Running the shorter one will give you slightly better acceleration, and lower car speed at a given rpm. (Gas mileage would probably be better with the taller tire.)

I'd probably go with the 235/45R17, myself. I like the look of the tire filling the wheel well. It fits fine on a sedan. And I don't really care about the 2% loss of gearing vs. the stock tire -- I'll make it up with mods. :)

--Dan
Mach V
FastWRX.com (www.fastwrx.com)

Acceleration is unnoticeable afterall.

Well, I am happy with my purchase and whatever the difference in acceleration is, it isn't noticable to me. It fills the wheel well, it is quiet and rides much better than the azenis sports I had.

I didn't feel a differance when I went with 235/45's from 225/45/17's last year.

Are you serious!yes I am an Engineering Major = proof
......

First off, who in the right mind would want to ACCELERATE faster in their Subarus anyways just so they can throw off their speed meter :confused: . You've already got AWD to give you traction. If you ask me, I'd rather have the top end than neck-snapping bottom end. And like you said 40 and 45 series tires will make a big difference. RIGHT :rolleyes:

I'm not driving much!!! I've learned to drive 12 years ago when I was still 14yrs old in my country where most of the cars have Standard Transmissions. My car is an 02 VF22d WRX with 60k daily driven miles, stock clutch and stock tranny and you're telling me I can't drive :furious: . Dude, I've tried 5 different sets of wheels and tires on my car already and I've also tracked my car, I was merely suggesting a good tire size for his wheels and you nerds like Uncle Scotty, has the nerve to tell me I know nothing just coz he is a GURU. Dude you all need to GROW UP :rolleyes:

The discussion was between 45 and 40 series tires. The original poster even mentioned he wanted the best tire and size for his size wheels. He also mentioned that the wider the better. I've already clarified that there won't be any rubbing 235/45/zr17 tires, I ran that same combo before. He might even drive these wheels on a daily basis and I noted that not only a 45 series tires recommended on 17s, you'll also have a softer ride than series 40s.

:lol: :lol: :lol: ....man....ya need ta stay on the farm with ma and pa....'cuz ya don't know jack.

...Engineers like you are why NASA crashed that Mars lander about 5 years back. They messed up their unit conversions in the software. Make sure you pay attention to details and you'll have a great career....


Wasn't that specifically a hardware error in the cpu's floating point processing?

rofl @ gottarex. Dude, the '45' doesn't mean that the tires have the same diamater. A 235/45 is clearly taller than a 225/45.

This is funny! We went from tires to NASA!