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Old 12-31-2005, 03:01 PM   #51
nemocity
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Wagon looks great...I miss bugeyes!
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Old 12-31-2005, 06:20 PM   #52
Orson
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Quote:
Originally Posted by westphalia
... 17's will give a bit more of a contact patch, but is 10% make that much of a difference? ....
This is a common misconception. Going to wider tires does not necessarily give you a larger contact patch. Your tire is certainly wider, but your contact patch is not necessarily larger. APPROXIMATELY speaking, your contact patch is primarily a function of the weight on the tire and the tire pressure.

A wider tire changes the SHAPE of your contact patch more than anything else. That is, if you go to a wider tire and change nothing else, the contact patch becomes wider side-to-side, but narrower front-to-rear. This is a gross simplification, to be sure, and the shape of the contact patch is very very significant. But understand - your main improvement is NOT from increase in contact patch SIZE.

For what it is worth, I upgraded from 16" to 17", but for two primary reasons:
1) appearance
2) steering response (aluminum is stiffer than rubber: duh!)
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Old 01-01-2006, 02:49 PM   #53
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Personally, I don't find my 17s to be any harsher than my old 16s. Another advantage to 17s is that the performance tire market appears to have more options in 17 than 16.
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Old 01-02-2006, 01:16 AM   #54
Len
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I'm running PZero Nero M&S's on stock STI BBS's. They are a tad bit harsher than stock, and noticeably noisier. Not enough to bother me in any way at all during the commute, but it gets on my nerve a little on >3hrs trips. But I make that kind of trips less than once a month, so I am happy with my decision. (I won't go into how good these Pirellis are, I'm sure there are more than enough threads on that subject)
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Old 01-02-2006, 01:10 PM   #55
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For anyone really considering autocross, I think 16"s are the way to go. In my opinion.

The 17"s are sexier most of the time.... but typically they're heavier (not always), they almost always cost more, and that translates to the tires too.

With racing it all comes down to weight, and a 16" tire at least will weigh less....

Plus you can fit like a 1998-2001 2.5RS wheel over Subaru 4-pots or Racingbrake calipers (those will fit under 2002-2005 WRX/RS/TS/i wheels too, though). I say 16"s....

=S2=
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Old 01-02-2006, 02:18 PM   #56
breeze04wrx
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I run 16x8 slipstreams with falcon 451- 225/50/16.
It is a daily driven car.
The falcons are MUCH louder than the 92s.
The increased grip transforms the WRX into a real car.
The setup initialy felt slower and heavier but the limits of the car are much higher.
MPG is definately worse.
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Old 01-02-2006, 02:53 PM   #57
03MBP
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Put on my rotas with Falken 451s (same tires I had on my 98RS wheels)...night and day man. The smaller sidewall makes the car react to steering imput so much better. Just my.02
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Old 01-02-2006, 04:01 PM   #58
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Quack
if you are on a budget, here are some light Enkei RP02's for $95 in 17x7.5 (15.2lbs)
http://www.edgeracing.com/wheels/enkei_wheel/

don't know how well they'll hold up in rally-x though
Do these fit on an STi w/ the Brembos?
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Old 01-02-2006, 05:40 PM   #59
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I like my 16's (99-2000 rs wheels) WAY more than my old 17's (konig glides). Ride quality is MUCH better, tires are cheaper and 16's in general are lighter. The 17's did handle better, but the above pros far outweigh the slightly better handling of the 17's for daily driving.

IMO if you dont need the asthetics of 17's or the edge in handling dont bother...

...on the other hand if I had $3K+ to blow on some nice ones, I'd probably go for it
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Old 01-02-2006, 06:01 PM   #60
Quack
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Foxy
Do these fit on an STi w/ the Brembos?
i would say no. if yo search for the RP02, there was a GB a few years back, and they test fit them on a STi and they would not fit.
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Old 01-02-2006, 08:35 PM   #61
Jasper
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i know personally, i'm planning on 16x8 slipstreams and 245/45/16's

i shyed away from 17's because my job can often take me around some semi-rough terrain (constructions sites, mostly)...and i dont want a super low pro tires. a 245/45/16 is only slightly lower profile than the above mentioned 225/50/16's, but is nearly an inch wider
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Old 01-02-2006, 10:26 PM   #62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Quack
i would say no. if yo search for the RP02, there was a GB a few years back, and they test fit them on a STi and they would not fit.



Thanks, though.
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Old 01-03-2006, 12:01 AM   #63
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Grassroots Motorsports Magazine did a test comparing 16, 17 and 18" wheels. The 17 was the best compromise. You won't find any of the top national Solo2 drivers using 16" instead of 17" wheels. Some AX'ers are going to 18" wheels to specifically use the 265/35/18 Kuhmo 710 tire for their R compound class. For non-AWD cars ... some use 18" in front for added steering response but 17" in the back for better accleration with high power cars. The added sidewall heights helps keep the tires from breaking loose to quickly.
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Old 01-03-2006, 07:05 AM   #64
richde
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Quote:
Originally Posted by makofoto
Grassroots Motorsports Magazine did a test comparing 16, 17 and 18" wheels. The 17 was the best compromise. You won't find any of the top national Solo2 drivers using 16" instead of 17" wheels.
I wouldn't expect to, those guys are probably rocking the lightest 17's you can get, not a set of Rota Tarmac's.
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Old 01-03-2006, 08:40 AM   #65
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No, Rota Slipstreams and Torques are the popular inexpensive 17" wheel being used by many top AX'ers
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Old 01-03-2006, 09:22 AM   #66
Butt Dyno
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richde
I wouldn't expect to, those guys are probably rocking the lightest 17's you can get, not a set of Rota Tarmac's.
KC won nationals in STX in 2003 on a set of Rotas, IIRC. trhoppe's car was likely on Rotas too when he won STX in 2004. http://www.tomhoppe.com/car.asp
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Old 01-03-2006, 09:54 AM   #67
BVM
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I am running Potenza S-03 pole positions 215/45 ZR 17 on my EDM 17's. The car has much better turn in and handling is off the scale compared to the stock RE92/16 combo. Of course, thats probably all down to the awsome new tires. One thing to point out though.. Bridgestone isnt kidding about the NOT intended for vehicles that will be driven in the snow or ice disclaimer. OMG! I bet if I covered my self in ASTROGLIDE and jumped down a waterslide I would have more traction! Ok you dirty minded people, get those thoughs out of your head....
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Old 01-03-2006, 10:06 AM   #68
Butt Dyno
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BVM
I am running Potenza S-03 pole positions 215/45 ZR 17 on my EDM 17's. The car has much better turn in and handling is off the scale compared to the stock RE92/16 combo. Of course, thats probably all down to the awsome new tires. One thing to point out though.. Bridgestone isnt kidding about the NOT intended for vehicles that will be driven in the snow or ice disclaimer. OMG! I bet if I covered my self in ASTROGLIDE and jumped down a waterslide I would have more traction! Ok you dirty minded people, get those thoughs out of your head....
They are SUMMER tires. This should not be a revelation
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Old 01-03-2006, 12:28 PM   #69
BVM
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Its not but it is one of those things that you have to try and find out for yourself. Didn't you ever do something your parents told you not to, only to find out they were right? Same thing here.
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Old 01-03-2006, 12:45 PM   #70
Butt Dyno
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BVM
Its not but it is one of those things that you have to try and find out for yourself. Didn't you ever do something your parents told you not to, only to find out they were right? Same thing here.
I didn't jump off a bridge or drink bleach, either
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Old 01-03-2006, 02:14 PM   #71
BVM
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Dude I think you are taking this way too seriously...
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