225/45/16 on wrx with prodrives - Looks stupid?

[BzY]

just wondering if anyone has 225/45/16 on a wrx sedan. is it going to look stupid because of the smaller tire?

any info apreciated.

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[tora]

Do you have any suspension mods done? The amount smaller that the tire is will be pretty minimal visually...I think it should look alright. I've got 225/50R16's on my Legacy wagon with no suspension mods yet and it looks nice and chunky...I think WITH lowering the 45 series tire should look just find.

[BzY]

yea, im on prodrive springs/stock struts.

anyone else have anything to add?

[Thumper23]

not of any significance, no

[mch]

the 225/45/16 is an inch smaller (diam) than the 225/50/16

aside from aesthetics - speedo and gearing are affected.

[Jimbaru]

Originally posted by Thumper23
not of any significance, no

lol, I needed a good chuckle

Yeah, I don't think 225/45/16 is a good choice. I know many have 225/50/16 and they say it is fine. However, 215/50/16 is the safest choice for stock WRX wheels

[Gonz]

I agree 225-45 not a good choice.

I've seen 215-50 also, mounted on 16x7" RS rims on a WRX wagon, and it looked noticeably too small.

Why not just get 225/50-16 ? i've got a set in that size on Stock WRX rims for auto-x. they fit fine.

G

[BzY]

so why wouldnt 225/45 be a good choice other than speedo.
with that size gear ratio will be ausome and the thinner side walls will be added stiffness. i guess the only reason i want this size is because i dont want to put a tire size that will fit on my stock wrx wheels.

[DrD]

Originally posted by mch
the 225/45/16 is an inch smaller (diam) than the 225/50/16

aside from aesthetics - speedo and gearing are affected.

stock is 205/55/16 - if you go with 225/50/16, the size difference is something like a tenth of an inch on the circumference - should be fine (if that's what you meant - sorry! )

[Luke@tirerack]

cut and paste from the Tire Tech thread

So, let's look into the issue of shorter tires for AutoX ......

The Facts:

A P-Metric tires max load is achieved at 35 psi and a Euro metric tires max load is achieved at 36 psi adding more air pressure will not increase the tires load capacity but, lowering it will reduce the load carrying ablility. When increasing pressure all you are accomplishing is a lower rolling resistance, quicker steering response, stiffer ride and contact patch reduction.

Based on a WRX:
the OE tire is a 205/55-16 89V
max load capacity is 1279 lbs.
load capacity at recommended pressure (which we will call PLC for placard load capacity at 32psi) = 1213 lbs.

so the minimum load capacity for a WRX is 1213 lbs. according to the PLC

now if you look at the optional tire "OK'd" by Subaru
215/45-17 87W
max load is 1201
PLC = 1135

so in reality the minimum load capacity is 1135 lbs.

now lets consider the idea of running a capacity that is too low .... what happens:
the tire is put into a condition where it can support the car at a static rest point but, when driven aggressively the sidewalls are so over worked they can not properly control the contact patch of the tire allowing for excessive sidewall roll-over, irregular wear tread block and contact patch flex which robs the tires performance ability and grip. also the added flexing of the tire will increase the heat it generates which can make a tire feel really slippery .... better gear ratio is achieved but if you can't utilize the power it doesn't matter ....

A good way to understand this is: let's say I just put a 100lb. back pack on you .... you can stand there for quite a while (that's your car sitting in a parking lot) now go run up and down some stairs with that back pack .... that's normal driving and you can't do that very well, nearly as fast or for very long before your legs give out .... after you've recovered enough to walk (let the car rest once you arrive at the venue for your autoX), take a 500 meter sprint through deep sand, that's your autoX and you will most likely not make it to the finish without falling atleast once if you can finish at all.

there are possibilities for a shorter tire though

alternate tire sizes that would work on the WRX while maintaining load capacity (these may or may not be all of the sizes that could work and some of these may not even fit)

235/45-17/1135 PLC
225/45-17/1250 PLC
245/45-16/1235
215/45-16/1168 **** minimum 36 psi
195/55-16/1168
225/50-15/1246 PLC
215/50-15/1157 PLC
225/45-14/1168

all of these tires would be acceptable as long as at least 35 psi was run in them except where noted