Need inexpensive rims and winter tires for STI, what and where to buy ?

[jaytone]

Hi
I live in lower New YOrk and just bought a 04 STI. I will be commuting somewhat in the winter and need to buy a set of wheels and all weather tires for the winter months.
Since I am new to this, can someone recommend,
1. What rims (inexpensive but look good)
2. What size tires and brand
3. Where to get them that is reasonable.

Thanks

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[spool1536]

check tirerack.com

[imprezaf]

I live on Long Island, and my winter rims and tires are STi ver 8's with Falkens

-Mike

[SLKWrx]

Cheapest I can think of at the moment.. go for 17" Rota SDR's (650) + 225/45 Sumi HTR+s (89/tire at the rack). Should last you quite a number of winters.

-- Steve

[The Donnn]

i think thats what i am gonna do...

[z]

or you can get the ASA KA3's at tire tack--$600.

BBS shares R&D with ASA and helped them set up their manufacturing facility.

[G-shock]

...buy an inexpensive car!

[JDMTEG98]

Did we confirm that some of these other wheels fit over the insanely large brembo brakes? I am sure the tire rack one will since they listed it for the car but about the others ?

[jagcars26]

Originally posted by SLKWrx
Cheapest I can think of at the moment.. go for 17" Rota SDR's (650) + 225/45 Sumi HTR+s (89/tire at the rack). Should last you quite a number of winters.

-- Steve

That's the setup i have waiting in the basement fr winter,,two points though;
Contact Subydude about the Rota SDRs they can be had cheaper then $650. The Rota SDRs fit over the STi Brembros,confirmed!I've seen pics on STi's.
Tirerack has a special on the Sumitomo HTR+ A/S 225/45/17=$84 a piece

Ive had Sumitomo's before,,excellent tires fr the money.Check out the reviews on Tirerack.Just remember,it's a ultra high performance all season tire,not a dedicated snow tire so fr me in the mid-atlantic they work fine.Guys in the heavy snow belts may want abit more grip

Rudy

[MontrealSTi]

What is the offset of the rota sdr's? is it a specific model?

[brunetmj]

Here ya go.

What is the offset of the rota sdr's? is it a specific model?

http://www.subydude.com/parts/details.php?107

Does anyone know of another vendor for the Rota? I don't like using paypal for expensive items.

[windmill]

How about a good severe winter snow tire? I plan on doing a lot of driving in the snow and ice (to ski resorts and just normal driving around Idaho mountains in the winter) and would like the little extra grip on the ice that the studs or other winter grip tech. has to offer.

I was considering the Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 tires. A lot of people on tirerack seem to like them. Any other suggestions?

[MontrealSTi]

I used Bridgestone LM22's with my M3 and they were awesome, especially on the highway!

The M3 winter tire setup is an exact fit for the STi (225/45/17) so I will be running the LM22s with the Suby, with 4 wheel drive it should be amazing!

Rob

[jagcars26]

Originally posted by brunetmj
Here ya go.


http://www.subydude.com/parts/details.php?107

Does anyone know of another vendor for the Rota? I don't like using paypal for expensive items.

Try Nino,,hes in Jersey or New York i think.. another good vendor.

Rudy

[dorongo]

is there any reason for switching the rims and not just tires (since we are talking about saving $)?

[Zoso]

Originally posted by zavigm
or you can get the ASA KA3's at tire tack--$600.

BBS shares R&D with ASA and helped them set up their manufacturing facility.

I think Rota SDR's are about 18lbs each, but the ASA KA3's are 22lbs each. Unless I'm wrong I would take the SDRs.

[Zoso]

Originally posted by dorongo
is there any reason for switching the rims and not just tires (since we are talking about saving $)?

If you live where it gets cold you won't be able to clean your rims once a week and they will get ruined. If you don't believe it listen to this story. My last car was a Jetta TDI and I had a nice set of rims for the summer and the stock rims for the winter. Anyway the last winter I had them I was really lazy about cleaning them, not that you want to clean them when it's freezing out. When the warm weather came around I put on my summer wheels and I saw the winter wheels were dirty but I figured I could get them clean since they were off the car and would be easy to work on. WRONG! No matter how hard I tried and what products I used they just would not come out looking clean. Also the metal got all pitted and crappy looking. I'm not going to take that risk with these beautiful BBS rims. When it gets too cold to clean them once a week, they are coming off the car and going into storage untill the spring.

[brunetmj]

I think Rota SDR's are about 18lbs each, but the ASA KA3's are 22lbs each. Unless I'm wrong I would take the SDRs.

Another reason for using the SDR from my point of view is that the SDR's look much easier to clean than the more complex design of the KA3. When it gets as cold, as it does around here, simplicity in cleaning is a real important feature.