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Tire & Wheel Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack |
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10-07-2012, 01:33 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 323203
Join Date: Jun 2012
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
Location: Colorado
Vehicle:2007 Cobalt SS/SC Suburst Orange |
**Winter tire setup help**
Hey everyone !!! I'm about a month away from receiving my 2013 WRB STi sedan . I live in the Fort Collins, Colorado area.
I need some help and advice. I'm in a pickle between getting 18" winter tires or going with a dedicated winter 17" rim and winter tire setup. Which one do you guys recommend ? And if I go 17" route what basic 17" rim would fit and have enough clearance for the brakes ? And what winter tire do you recommend ?? Thanks!!!!! |
10-07-2012, 01:43 PM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280572
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: southern ontario canada
Vehicle:2011 sti sedan plasma blue pearl |
Definitely go with a 17" with a 225/45/17 winter tire but make sure u go with a performance winter tire H rated or better.
It will give u more wheel well clearance for buildup of snow and ice and the skinnier the tire the better grip u will have in snow and ice. For my11 sti I got the phat kat racing 17×7 and will clear your brembo's and also r cheap. They can stand up to the toughest of sand and salt plus u have a choice of gold, gunmetal, and silver. Just make sure what ever wheels u go with will clear your brembo's. Another good thing to do is gets some rally armer mud flaps so u don't sand blast the whole side of your new sti. Hope this helps |
10-07-2012, 01:50 PM | #3 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 323203
Join Date: Jun 2012
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
Location: Colorado
Vehicle:2007 Cobalt SS/SC Suburst Orange |
Thank you!!!!
Where do your get the phat Kathy racing rims at??? I've been a discount tire customer for a long time , but I want to get the best deal! But don't offer much info on there website for winter down sizing |
10-07-2012, 02:02 PM | #4 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280572
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: southern ontario canada
Vehicle:2011 sti sedan plasma blue pearl |
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10-07-2012, 02:21 PM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 323203
Join Date: Jun 2012
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
Location: Colorado
Vehicle:2007 Cobalt SS/SC Suburst Orange |
Lol ha ha ya darn auto correct on iPad !!! Ha ha ok cool!!! Thank you!!!
Ya if you could post pics sometime that would be great!!! Thank you for your knowledge and help!! I really appreciate it!! |
10-07-2012, 02:55 PM | #6 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 305107
Join Date: Dec 2011
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Long Island, NY
Vehicle:2016 GT 5.OHH DIB |
if you are not concerned about looks, just get some 16" steelies with a 215/55 tire. i have a friend hooking me up with some 02 wrx 16s and they do fit the new car
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10-07-2012, 03:21 PM | #7 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280572
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: southern ontario canada
Vehicle:2011 sti sedan plasma blue pearl |
Quote:
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10-07-2012, 03:21 PM | #8 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 323203
Join Date: Jun 2012
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
Location: Colorado
Vehicle:2007 Cobalt SS/SC Suburst Orange |
Ya I defiantly want something that looks good.
I checked out discount tire .com and they have some 17" wheels I like. Drag DR rims DR-33, DR-34, and DR-31. What do you think?? And what color do you think would look good on the world rally blue??? Gold , gun metal, bronze , Matt black, and silver. |
10-07-2012, 03:24 PM | #9 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280572
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: southern ontario canada
Vehicle:2011 sti sedan plasma blue pearl |
Quote:
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10-08-2012, 09:03 AM | #10 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 165744
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Eastern PA
Vehicle:2018 Crosstrek 2005/7 STi |
for easy down-sizing to 17s that will fit, just look up wheels for an 05-07 STi. at least on Tire Rack, that's what you have to do to see 17s. then use a tire size calculator to choose a size or two that would give you about the same overall diameter.
I would go with a dedicated setup just so that you can easily switch between the two in case you need to change back and forth more than once in the changing season. with dedicated performance summers and winter tires, that sometimes is an issue if you don't have another vehicle. either way, not having to pay to swap your tires twice per year will be worth it in the long run. |
10-08-2012, 09:16 AM | #11 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 267996
Join Date: Dec 2010
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: Near Montréal, Québec
Vehicle:2011 Wrx Rallye blue |
I use the oem wrx wheel for winter, the 17x8 dark grey
So far so good, will be the 3rd winter on it |
10-08-2012, 11:50 AM | #12 |
*** Banned ***
Member#: 306139
Join Date: Jan 2012
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Vehicle:2007 evo color of smoke |
for wrx would you go down to 16 inch. or get another 17 inch wheel?
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10-08-2012, 12:10 PM | #13 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 165744
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Eastern PA
Vehicle:2018 Crosstrek 2005/7 STi |
Quote:
The other thing is whether you intend to go with performance winters or full winters. Last I checked for my STi's 17x8s, all but one winter option was performance, which is fortunately what I wanted. If you want a full winter, you're probably better off with narrower 16s (but I haven't looked at the winter lineup in a couple years). |
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10-08-2012, 12:44 PM | #14 |
*** Banned ***
Member#: 306139
Join Date: Jan 2012
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Vehicle:2007 evo color of smoke |
are the tires heavier? with winter tires will you notice a more sluggish feel from rolling around on summers? also. if i do go thr route of getting nicer wheels for the summer will 18 improve the handling being i could ft a bigger and wider tire? would it affect acceleration of the car but improve handling for the 18 in the summer?
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10-08-2012, 02:28 PM | #15 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 165744
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Eastern PA
Vehicle:2018 Crosstrek 2005/7 STi |
Quote:
The only improvement in going to a larger diameter wheel wheel is reducing your sidewall...it's not something you would ever see a racer do unless they need to fit bigger brakes. Going to 18s is about looks, not performance, unless you can find a lighter wheel, but then you can get a lighter wheel in 17s too. It's really about finding something you like and can afford. Unless the weight of your combo is very different, or you have an incredible feel for your car, like a seasoned autoXer/trackie, it probably won't be very noticeable if you're honest with yourself. Obviously, with a wider wheel, you can go to a wider tire and get more grip out of the same model tire, and up to a point, that will improve handling as long as your suspension isn't already too soft. |
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10-08-2012, 01:32 PM | #16 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 332405
Join Date: Sep 2012
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Southern West Virginia
Vehicle:2001 Forester Sedona Red |
Just looking for some insight. Got a 2012 wrx, and have been looking for some winter wheels. Ran across a set of 07 stockers. With some 215/45/17 nexen n5000.
I've got a forester for when winters get really bad, but I would like to enjoy the wrx some. I know the tires will fit, and I'm pretty sure the wheels will. Any suggestions or input? |
10-08-2012, 01:41 PM | #17 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 332405
Join Date: Sep 2012
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Southern West Virginia
Vehicle:2001 Forester Sedona Red |
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10-08-2012, 03:45 PM | #18 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280572
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: southern ontario canada
Vehicle:2011 sti sedan plasma blue pearl |
Quote:
For summer wheels wider is better but depending on what u intend to do with your car like autox.....etc will determine what size of wheel. |
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10-08-2012, 08:27 PM | #19 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 323203
Join Date: Jun 2012
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
Location: Colorado
Vehicle:2007 Cobalt SS/SC Suburst Orange |
I think i will go with the Yokohama W.drive tires on my STi ...
245/40R18 XL 97V BW |
10-08-2012, 08:33 PM | #20 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280572
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: southern ontario canada
Vehicle:2011 sti sedan plasma blue pearl |
Quote:
Winter tires on 18×8 u r defeating the purpose of good grip in slippery conditions not to mention risking damage due to fender well clearance issues from snow and ice buildup Last edited by trev762; 10-08-2012 at 08:38 PM. |
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10-08-2012, 08:38 PM | #21 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 323203
Join Date: Jun 2012
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
Location: Colorado
Vehicle:2007 Cobalt SS/SC Suburst Orange |
What are the advantages of doing a winter tire setup (smaller wheels) vs just swapping out the tires ?
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10-08-2012, 08:44 PM | #22 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280572
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: southern ontario canada
Vehicle:2011 sti sedan plasma blue pearl |
Quote:
Smaller wheel more fender well clearance to allow for snow and ice buildup plus easier to knock off access snow and ice. Much much easier to just have a set of dedicated winter wheels and tires not to mention a heck of alot cheaper between replacing winter tires on a 17" as appose to an 18" tire. |
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10-08-2012, 09:39 PM | #23 | ||
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 165744
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Eastern PA
Vehicle:2018 Crosstrek 2005/7 STi |
you know he started the thread, and that those are winter tires, right?
Quote:
Quote:
Agreed. |
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10-08-2012, 09:55 PM | #24 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280572
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: southern ontario canada
Vehicle:2011 sti sedan plasma blue pearl |
Quote:
As far as a smaller diameter wheel u do get more fender well clearance as I gained about 1" more clreance. I'm running a 225/45/17 blizzak. Anybody running the stock 18" wheels with winter tires all I can say is good luck getting compacted ice out of the fender wells with the end of a broom or scraper lol. Even with the extra clearance can still be a pain and usually will use a power washer to get the compacted ice out from the fender wells but is nice having that extra room to work with and don't have to clear the fender wells as often. Last edited by trev762; 10-09-2012 at 11:32 AM. |
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10-09-2012, 12:29 AM | #25 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 165744
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Eastern PA
Vehicle:2018 Crosstrek 2005/7 STi |
Quote:
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