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Tire & Wheel Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack |
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12-31-2005, 03:01 PM | #51 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 98686
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Durham, NC
Vehicle:2005 Impreza 2.5RS The dark blue one |
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12-31-2005, 06:20 PM | #52 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 25254
Join Date: Sep 2002
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Livonia, MI
Vehicle:2003 WRX wagon |
Quote:
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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01-01-2006, 02:49 PM | #53 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 35421
Join Date: Apr 2003
Vehicle:2003 WRX W R Blue |
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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01-02-2006, 01:16 AM | #54 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 39937
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SF Bay Area
Vehicle:2011 328i 6MT LMB |
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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01-02-2006, 01:10 PM | #55 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 1134
Join Date: Mar 2000
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA
Vehicle:2015 Outback H-6 White |
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= |
01-02-2006, 02:18 PM | #56 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 69682
Join Date: Sep 2004
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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. |
01-02-2006, 02:53 PM | #57 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 32460
Join Date: Feb 2003
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Staten Island, NY
Vehicle:2005 Forester XT OBP |
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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01-02-2006, 04:01 PM | #58 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 33069
Join Date: Feb 2003
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Vehicle:2008 STI WRB |
Quote:
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01-02-2006, 05:40 PM | #59 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 72630
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: CA
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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 |
01-02-2006, 06:01 PM | #60 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 57264
Join Date: Mar 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Aurora, OH
Vehicle:2004 18g Wagon - WRB PDX Tuned - 329whp/315wtq |
Quote:
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01-02-2006, 08:35 PM | #61 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 80136
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Saugus, MA
Vehicle:2006 Ford F-150 Black |
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 |
01-02-2006, 10:26 PM | #62 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 33069
Join Date: Feb 2003
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Vehicle:2008 STI WRB |
Quote:
Thanks, though. |
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01-03-2006, 12:01 AM | #63 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 25243
Join Date: Sep 2002
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: South Pasadena, CA
Vehicle:2006 Legacy Outback Blue |
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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01-03-2006, 07:05 AM | #64 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 79498
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Disdain, NV
Vehicle:2020 XV |
Quote:
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01-03-2006, 08:40 AM | #65 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 25243
Join Date: Sep 2002
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: South Pasadena, CA
Vehicle:2006 Legacy Outback Blue |
No, Rota Slipstreams and Torques are the popular inexpensive 17" wheel being used by many top AX'ers
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01-03-2006, 09:22 AM | #66 | |
Street's closed, pizza boy
Member#: 17301
Join Date: Apr 2002
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: NoVA
Vehicle:2018 Focus RS 2006 Evo #17 STU |
Quote:
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01-03-2006, 09:54 AM | #67 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 41049
Join Date: Aug 2003
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Panama City FL (Tyndall AFB)
Vehicle:2010 Impreza WRX KTM 250sx |
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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01-03-2006, 10:06 AM | #68 | |
Street's closed, pizza boy
Member#: 17301
Join Date: Apr 2002
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: NoVA
Vehicle:2018 Focus RS 2006 Evo #17 STU |
Quote:
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01-03-2006, 12:28 PM | #69 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 41049
Join Date: Aug 2003
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Panama City FL (Tyndall AFB)
Vehicle:2010 Impreza WRX KTM 250sx |
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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01-03-2006, 12:45 PM | #70 | |
Street's closed, pizza boy
Member#: 17301
Join Date: Apr 2002
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: NoVA
Vehicle:2018 Focus RS 2006 Evo #17 STU |
Quote:
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01-03-2006, 02:14 PM | #71 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 41049
Join Date: Aug 2003
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Panama City FL (Tyndall AFB)
Vehicle:2010 Impreza WRX KTM 250sx |
Dude I think you are taking this way too seriously...
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