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View Poll Results: Tire & Wheel Road Map
205 Snow / 245 Summer (Buy winter wheels) 4 50.00%
225 Snow / 265 Summer (buy summer wheels) 3 37.50%
225 Snow / 245 Summer (Switch Each Season) 1 12.50%
Voters: 8. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 11-09-2012, 04:40 PM   #1
blehhh
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Default Need Tire & Wheel Width Advice: Snows & Summers

I know that I want to run General Altimax Arctic snows, and Michelin Pilot Super Sport summers... I've made up my mind there, but I need help making up my mind about tire widths, and consequently what to do about wheels, because it impacts what I do right now.

I love my OEM wheels, but I feel that a 235 snow tire might be too wide, (not enough downforce), and a 235 summer tire might be too narrow, (not worth the money).

I used to run 205 snows, and I hear 265 summers are optimal. Neither work with the stock 8" wheels. So I feel like I have to compromise on one of them. Granted, I only DD my car. It has RalliTEK solid sways (22F 19R), but stock springs and struts, and I don't realllly see that changing.

Does it make more sense to buy narrower wheels for narrower snows, wider wheels for wider summers, or compromise on both and get 225 snows and 245 summers and switch each set on and off EVERY year for like $80/yr.

So confused...
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Last edited by blehhh; 11-09-2012 at 04:46 PM.
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Old 11-09-2012, 05:01 PM   #2
sc00by4life
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Either a 205/50 or 215/50 for winter, or a 235/40 or 245/40 for summer.

the stock 235/45's are a bit squishy and soft, using a slightly smaller sidewall really improves the feel of the tire.
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Old 11-09-2012, 08:13 PM   #3
OBP WRX
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Since you love your oem wheels, i would go 245 summer and 205 winter and since you only DD, I would think 245 pilot ss would be plenty.

Saw some 255 pilot super sports today and they looked pretty dang wide, 265 would look sick, but would probably be overkill
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Old 11-10-2012, 02:55 AM   #4
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get winter wheels and put the snows on them and get the 245/40's on the stock wheels

or get some 235/40 595RS-R's for summer and save enough to pay for the winter tires
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Old 11-10-2012, 03:22 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty View Post
get winter wheels and put the snows on them and get the 245/40's on the stock wheels
I'm definitely liking this idea. Might pick up a set of these for $103/ea and try to use my old 205 Altimax Arctic studded snow tires on them. (They wouldn't fit on the stockers)

Then in the Spring, or just after my oem tires wear out, I can get some 245/40/17 PSS and still enjoy my OEM wheels.

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Old 11-10-2012, 03:42 AM   #6
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245 width is optimal for summer for the GDAs and GDBs...but I think in the GR chassis you need to be at least 265 but ideally 275.

But since you love your stock rims so much, I guess you are stuck at 245 for summer so that's what I voted.
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Old 11-10-2012, 05:49 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bpang1 View Post
245 width is optimal for summer for the GDAs and GDBs...but I think in the GR chassis you need to be at least 265 but ideally 275.
optimal tire width has absolutely nothing to do with chassis size or style or what you can physically fit in the fenders. if that's how you are buying tires, you're misinformed.
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Old 11-10-2012, 09:30 AM   #8
BigRob74
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try and pick up some 1st gen wrx wheels. i mounted a 205/60/16 altimax on them
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Old 11-10-2012, 01:19 PM   #9
blehhh
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I think these are the only thing I would let upstage my OEM wheels, but they are insanely rare, expensive, and even if there are some in 5x100, I doubt the offset would really cause the wheels to sit further out than the OEMs.\

Overall, I'm just a big fan of the straight, flush, gunmetal 8-12 spokes, and so few people make something like that. It's like trying to find a case for a gaming PC; all of the cheap ones are covered in lights and chrome and BS, while the simple, sleek, unlfashy ones are $$$$$.


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Old 11-13-2012, 02:11 AM   #10
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Look at Enkei RC-T4
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Old 11-13-2012, 07:12 PM   #11
blehhh
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I think 15 spokes is a little too many, but other than that, that's exactly the style I'm talking about. Especially the flush spokes; none of this bent, curvy BS.

The Rota Gravel is a replica wheel to the one I posted, but I'm still not sold on anything yet.

I did pull the trigger on a set of General Altimax Arctic studded snows for the OEM wheels though. Worst comes to worst, I'm out $40 in the Spring and I just remount my summer tires.
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Old 11-14-2012, 04:45 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sc00by4life View Post
optimal tire width has absolutely nothing to do with chassis size or style or what you can physically fit in the fenders. if that's how you are buying tires, you're misinformed.
Uhm...ok.

Its the typical width for those seeking performance without having to do "too much" (fender flares, crazy offset or extensions) to get larger widths to fit.

So for instance, on the GDA-GDB, you can easily get 245-40-17 to fit in the wheel wells without hitting the struts. Just get a +35 offset 17x8 wheel and get the fenders rolled. Anything more is a little more tricky...as such 245-40-17 is the optimal width for those looking for performance without having to do anything extreme.
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Old 11-14-2012, 04:55 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by bpang1 View Post
Uhm...ok.
lol. keep thinking what you want.

"what fits under the fenders" doesn't mean its an "optimal" size for the end-user's power levels/driving conditions/etc.
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Old 11-14-2012, 11:57 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bpang1 View Post
Uhm...ok.

Its the typical width for those seeking performance without having to do "too much" (fender flares, crazy offset or extensions) to get larger widths to fit.

So for instance, on the GDA-GDB, you can easily get 245-40-17 to fit in the wheel wells without hitting the struts. Just get a +35 offset 17x8 wheel and get the fenders rolled. Anything more is a little more tricky...as such 245-40-17 is the optimal width for those looking for performance without having to do anything extreme.
nah....ya dont know ****

really

+35 is wrong and a 235/40 is better for the wrx as it lowers gearing a bit and makes the car accelerate better and there are a good few 235/40 s that are as wide or wider than most 245's too
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Old 11-15-2012, 12:44 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty View Post
or get some 235/40 595RS-R's for summer and save enough to pay for the winter tires
Do this, you won't be disappointed with these tires. The 595s will be my next set, although the pricey set of Star Specs I currently own have a few seasons left (and two years later are by far the most reliably fun purchase I've made for the WRX )
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Old 11-15-2012, 12:55 AM   #16
blehhh
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PlasticFoamMan View Post
Do this, you won't be disappointed with these tires. The 595s will be my next set, although the pricey set of Star Specs I currently own have a few seasons left (and two years later are by far the most reliably fun purchase I've made for the WRX )
Some RE-11's are also looking pretty choice...

I think I'll end up going with some 18x8.5 Rota Gravels with 245s either way. I dunno if I wanna be 'that guy' with the WRB & goldies, but hyper black looks nice too.

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