WRX Wagon - Wheel / Tire Help

[Steve in Minnesota]

Looking for some Suby wheel / Tire sizing help for next season.

I intend to purchase a set of Rota wheels and Falken Azenis RT 615's before next season. I'm open to suggestions on the tires if there is another brand with a more appropriate size.

Looking for some sizing recommendations / help from the Suby crowd.

Here are the facts:

-2004 WRX Wagon - This is my daily driver.
-Running in STX
-STI Wagon Springs - Less than 1" drop from stock
-Helix Sways / Endlinks
-Front Alignment as negative as it would go....which ain't much.
-Rear Alignment slightly more positive than stock. Can't produce the darned alignment specs right this minute.
-I've got winter tires on my stockers and want to leave them that way. Means I may need to run these tires daily until I can swing another set of wheels / tires for everyday use.

What width in a 17" wheel?
What size tire?
What, if any, STX legal modifications might be necessary to cram your recommendation under my wagon?

Any constructive input would be much appreciated.

Steve

[esper]

245 is the widest wheel allowed in STX. it would work well for that car, and 17 inches is probably the best diameter for a racing subaru wheel. Rota sells several wheels in the 17/225 range for subarus that would work well and are decently light.

New struts or coilovers and camber plates adjusted to allow caster will be the biggest help for the suspension, adjustable rear control arms will help adding/subtracting toe in the back end. Other than that, a crank pulley can get a tiny bit of weight off of the driveline and a header and TBE would bring out the power a lot more with appropriate tuning. Not sure if downpipes or turbo porting are allowed in STX but those will help with power as well

[MNbiker]

What width in a 17" wheel?
What size tire?
What, if any, STX legal modifications might be necessary to cram your recommendation under my wagon?


Wheels
17" x 7.5" (the lightest Rotas are Attack & Subzero)
You can probably get by without rolling the fenders, if you run 225mm tires.
Anything wider will probably require rolling the fender lips.

17" x 8" (my favorite Rota is the Boost)
You will probably need 5mm spacers in back, to clear the suspension.
You will likely need to roll the fender lips.
8" is the widest wheel allowed in STX, and will help responsiveness a bit.

I'm a big fan of Rota's bronze finish - looks great & hides brake dust. 8)

Tires
Falken Azenis RT-615 in 225/45-17. Should fit your car on a 7.5" wheel without rolling the fender lips. The best rubber compound, but not quite the perfect size for STX. This is pretty much the de-facto standard for wagons.

Hankook Z-212 in 235/40-17. Perfect size and good tire. May require you to roll the fender lips. I think this particular tire will be faster than the 225 Azenis on most courses. Very inexpensive as well ($112 each at Discount Tire). I'd be real tempted to go this route, if you're OK with rolling the fender lips.

Advan Neova in 235/40-17. Better tire than the Hankook, but EXPENSIVE.
If I still had my wagon, I'd probably be on these tires with 17 x 8 wheels for Nationals.


-Steve

p.s. Get some adjustable camber plates for the front! You need more camber, especially with the soft springs.

[Steve in Minnesota]

Wheels
17" x 7.5" (the lightest Rotas are Attack & Subzero)
You can probably get by without rolling the fenders, if you run 225mm tires.
Anything wider will probably require rolling the fender lips.

17" x 8" (my favorite Rota is the Boost)
You will probably need 5mm spacers in back, to clear the suspension.
You will likely need to roll the fender lips.
8" is the widest wheel allowed in STX, and will help responsiveness a bit.

I'm a big fan of Rota's bronze finish - looks great & hides brake dust. 8)

Tires
Falken Azenis RT-615 in 225/45-17. Should fit your car on a 7.5" wheel without rolling the fender lips. The best rubber compound, but not quite the perfect size for STX. This is pretty much the de-facto standard for wagons.

Hankook Z-212 in 235/40-17. Perfect size and good tire. May require you to roll the fender lips. I think this particular tire will be faster than the 225 Azenis on most courses. Very inexpensive as well ($112 each at Discount Tire). I'd be real tempted to go this route, if you're OK with rolling the fender lips.

Advan Neova in 235/40-17. Better tire than the Hankook, but EXPENSIVE.
If I still had my wagon, I'd probably be on these tires with 17 x 8 wheels for Nationals.


-Steve

p.s. Get some adjustable camber plates for the front! You need more camber, especially with the soft springs.

Steve

THANK YOU!

I'm going to take a look at the Hankook tire in the 234/40-17 size on a Rota Sub zero in the 17x7.5. Do you think that rim width will be okay? I'm really not too keen on wheel spacers. I don't have a problem having the fender lips rolled.

Steve

[shane86]

Ready for a fight next year steve?
wait and see what i've got in store for you....

[MNbiker]

Steve

THANK YOU!

I'm going to take a look at the Hankook tire in the 234/40-17 size on a Rota Sub zero in the 17x7.5. Do you think that rim width will be okay? I'm really not too keen on wheel spacers. I don't have a problem having the fender lips rolled.

Steve

Steve,

I wouldn't recommend running the 235/40-17 on a 7.5" wheel. Hankook recommends a minimum 8" wide wheel for the tire. Here are the specs:
http://www.hankooktireusa.com/pdf/uploads/Z212.pdf

With stock struts, you MIGHT be able to get by without the spacers. But the spacers are really not a big deal. I got a pair for $20 from TireRack. I found the stock Subaru lugs were long enough that I didn't even need to install longer lugs. Neat trick: I put a small amount of Permatex high-temp RTV on the back of each spacer, to keep them in place when changing wheels.

-Steve

[Steve in Minnesota]

Ready for a fight next year steve?
wait and see what i've got in store for you....

Shane.....

Planning on learning to drive your car over the winter? :flame:

Steve

[Steve in Minnesota]

Steve,

I wouldn't recommend running the 235/40-17 on a 7.5" wheel. Hankook recommends a minimum 8" wide wheel for the tire. Here are the specs:
http://www.hankooktireusa.com/pdf/uploads/Z212.pdf

With stock struts, you MIGHT be able to get by without the spacers. But the spacers are really not a big deal. I got a pair for $20 from TireRack. I found the stock Subaru lugs were long enough that I didn't even need to install longer lugs. Neat trick: I put a small amount of Permatex high-temp RTV on the back of each spacer, to keep them in place when changing wheels.

-Steve

Thanks Steve....I'll look at a 17x8 then. I hadn't looked at the Boost wheel before....kinda sharp looking. I might just have to check them out.

Are the spacers just thick washers? I've never seen one before.

Steve

[MNbiker]

Are the spacers just thick washers? I've never seen one before.


Yes, they're aluminum and look like this:
http://www.maximummotorsports.com/images/large/MMWSsm.jpg

[Steve in Minnesota]

Yes, they're aluminum and look like this:
http://www.maximummotorsports.com/images/large/MMWSsm.jpg

Aaaah! I was picturing individual washers.

Thanks!

Steve

[shane86]

Shane.....

Planning on learning to drive your car over the winter? :flame:

SteveYou're going to regret that one.
:gunnin: :bash:

coughcoughbeatyoubyfoursecondsatmowogeightcoughcou gh

[Steve in Minnesota]

You're going to regret that one.
:gunnin: :bash:

coughcoughbeatyoubyfoursecondsatmowogeightcoughcou gh

Yeah! Yeah! I'm always quick with the smartass comeback. When I was a freshman in college many moons ago a guy that lived on my dorm floor said my smart mouth was going to get my ass kicked one day.....try as I may....it hasn't happended yet! :D

What kinds of fun stuff do you have planned?

All I've done since the end of the season was Bosal uppipe....and obviously by this thread I will have done wheels and some real tires. I think with some real tires I would have closed that 4 second gap at M8 a little. 8) Most of my efforts this winter are concentrating on my driving skills....that's where I fall short the most.

I plan on giving you and Tim a run for your money.....we'll see this spring!


Steve

[shane86]

Well, the list of wants vs gots is kind of big, but i've got the two biggest bits.
JIC FLT-A2 Coil-Overs
17x8 Rota Boosts With 245/45-17 Falken Azenis RT-615s
Helix End-Links (Christmas Present)

Probably Coming Soon (Planned in this order):
Sway Bars (Front and Rear)
Whiteline Lower Links
PDE Camber Plates

[Steve in Minnesota]

Well, the list of wants vs gots is kind of big, but i've got the two biggest bits.
JIC FLT-A2 Coil-Overs
17x8 Rota Boosts With 245/45-17 Falken Azenis RT-615s
Helix End-Links (Christmas Present)

Probably Coming Soon (Planned in this order):
Sway Bars (Front and Rear)
Whiteline Lower Links
PDE Camber Plates

Didn't you have the Boosts at M8?

Steve

[shane86]

Didn't you have the Boosts at M8?

Steve
Yup. God i love those wheels.