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Old 01-20-2024, 10:43 AM   #1
TheOriginal.Driver72
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 536751
Join Date: Jan 2024
Vehicle:
2023 WRX Premium 6MT
Silver

Default "Downgrading" tires

I have a 2023 WRX Premium 6MT with the stock Dunlop tires on stock wheels.
For the first time in my life, I'm looking at downgrading the tires (and getting different wheels in the process).
I just turned 4k miles on the car. I've had dozens and dozens of performance cars in the past, but I got this WRX mainly for commuting and wanting an AWD car with a manual transmission.
I don't need the max performance tires, and to be honest, don't really want them. I live in Atlanta and the roads here are not great in many place (rough, beat up, etc).
I used to race cars at tracks and also canyon carve when I lived in Los Angeles, but I just don't do that anymore, but still enjoy driving.

So who here has downgraded their tires to 17 inchers?
I want a bit more sidewall to take the edge off of the bumps of the rough roads here and give the suspension a bit less work to do.
Instead of Max Performance tires looking at UHPAS (Ultra High Performance All Seasons). Rains a good amount in Atlanta so having all seasons that work in the rain and can handle cold is needed.

To keep the same Overall Diameter so my speedo is correct would mean going to one of these:
225/50/17 tires a measly 4mm TALLER, sidewall would be 15mm thicker
245/45/17 tires a measly 1mm SMALLER, sidewall 12mm thicker sidewall
235/50/17 tires are 14mm TALLER, sidewall is 20mm thicker.

I think the 235's would be too tall and not only throws off the speedo a bit too much but would likely look a bit goofy, but maybe I'm wrong, 14mm taller is just over 1/2" taller, not a huge amount, but will likely be noticeable and don't want them to look too tall. I like the idea of 235mm tread width though as it splits the difference between the stock 245's and the 225's.
The 245's are a tiny bit smaller than stock, but closest to stock height, but the sidewall isn't that much thicker.
The 225's are barely taller than stock, won't even be noticeable, and gets a decently thicker sidewall, but questioning if the 225's will look too skinny. On a side note though, 225's are what the early WRX STi's had on them.

I'm leaning towards the 225's as the best of both worlds, but kind of desire the 235 widths so the tires don't look notably skinnier. I would sell my stock wheels and tires if I did this change too.
Let me know what you all think, TIA.
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Last edited by TheOriginal.Driver72; 01-20-2024 at 10:50 AM.
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Old 01-24-2024, 04:34 AM   #2
krzyss
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 8365
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Massachusetts
Vehicle:
2019 Mazda MX-5 RF
Machine Grey

Default

Basic question:
Do 17” wheels clear front brakes?

Krzy***347;
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Old 01-25-2024, 01:45 PM   #3
AcquaCow
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 36838
Join Date: May 2003
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Reston VA
Vehicle:
2001 B50 RSTi Sedan
2011 DGM WRX hatch

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by krzyss View Post
Basic question:
Do 17” wheels clear front brakes?

Krzy***347;
Hundreds of options clear the wrx brakes, and even the STi brakes. But yes, that needs to be considered when wheel shopping.

I've personally been driving on 04 STI wheels on my hatch the last 4 years.
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Old 01-26-2024, 02:36 AM   #4
GoFrogs
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 507317
Join Date: Oct 2019
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: SW Ohio
Vehicle:
2019 WRX
Pure Red

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOriginal.Driver72 View Post
I have a 2023 WRX Premium 6MT with the stock Dunlop tires on stock wheels.

Let me know what you all think, TIA.
What is the stock tire size on the 2023 WRX?

My 2019 VA base has 235/45/17 (with the ugly 10-spokers). The Premium/Limited VA came with 245/40/18.

I can go up to a 235/40/18, and keep the same circumference IF I go with a 18x8 wheel.

I can go up to a 265/35/18, and keep the same circumference IF I go with a 18x9.5 wheel.

If I went with the other stock Subaru fitment (245/40/18 on a 18x8.5 wheel, the over tire circumference would be taller by 1.4% or something.
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