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Post by subbus on Jul 21, 2014 11:29:52 GMT -6
I really enjoyed the Sunday's cruise but I think our 2.0i can do better with dedicated summer tires. It is my wife's daily driver but I want occasionally do the cruises and autocross.
It currently has 195/65 R15 all-season tires on 15 x 6.0-inch steel wheels. I am thinking about getting some cheap and lightweight rims online with tires from the so called 'Max Performance Summer' category (one step up is Extreme Performance Summer which I think would not be suitable for the double-duty of this daily driver) .
For a reference higher trims of Impreza 2.0i come standard with 16 x 6.5 or 17 x 7.0 alloy wheels.
Which rim size would you recommend? 16" as balance between performance and comfort?
Any thoughts?
How to change my avatar?
Thanks! OZ
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Post by memmek2k on Jul 21, 2014 14:54:48 GMT -6
What year do you have? You could probably get 8" wide, or even 9" without much effort if you choose the offset wisely. Specifically if you are autocrossing, you should look in the rules for the class you'd like to be in. STX for example will limit you to 8" wide wheels and 245 mm section width.
The 02+ WRXs all have 17" wheels and are typically still reasonably comfortable. The ride doesn't get wheel-harsh to me until 18" on 08-14 Subaru. 17" seems to be a sweet spot for tire availability as well in Subaru fitments.
If I were you, I'd maybe look for some Enkei or Gramlight wheels in 17x8 and look for tires that are 225-245 mm section width at the same or slightly smaller overall diameter as stock (assuming you have a 5 speed). Don't buy Rota/XXR/Varrosten, they're not very good quality imo.
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Post by memmek2k on Jul 21, 2014 14:55:23 GMT -6
You can change your avatar by clicking anywhere your screen name is hyperlinked (this thread, for example), then picking "edit profile." Should be pretty self explanatory from there.
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Post by subbus on Jul 21, 2014 15:07:18 GMT -6
It is 2014 2.0i non-turbo 5-speed manual. I would like to leave the summer tires on during the warm months and then swap to OEM all-season for winter.
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Post by subbus on Jul 21, 2014 20:04:17 GMT -6
Where would you put weight limit for the rims? I see 17x8 rims from under 16 lb to 24 lb.
Other than the obvious big tire online places is there any local rim/tire shop you would recommend?
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Post by memmek2k on Jul 22, 2014 14:17:34 GMT -6
Lighter is better, basically. Unsprung weight (weight not supported by the suspension) makes a big difference.
Surprisingly you can find a reasonable assortment of wheels on Amazon if you know exactly what you are looking for. Buying used on nasioc or local forums is also a good way to save money.
Gateway Tire downtown (http://www.gatewaytirestl.com/) does good work.
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Post by subbus on Jul 22, 2014 20:50:55 GMT -6
Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
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Post by crazytaxi on Jul 23, 2014 20:38:48 GMT -6
I'm running 17x9s on my 03 with Toyo Proxes R1Rs at 245/45/R17 for my summer tires.
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Post by subbus on Jul 23, 2014 21:57:46 GMT -6
Thanks. I have decided to go with 17x8 245/40/17. In general, do I use the same air pressure as recommended by the manufacturer (OEM size is 15x6 33/32 PSI front/rear) ?
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Post by memmek2k on Jul 24, 2014 17:15:30 GMT -6
Yes.
Though if you autocross, the easy rule of thumb is you want the pressure that keeps all the tire wear on the tread (and off the sidewalls). When I'm testing new tires, I start at around 45 psi and start bleeding down until the wear is just at the edge of the tread.
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Post by subbus on Aug 19, 2014 7:38:38 GMT -6
I went with 245/40/17 Michelin Pilot Super Sport. The first drive on the local 35mph road vividly demonstrated even at such low speed that this is a different car. It goes where I point it with no hesitation.
It is so much fun to drive through suburb curves with much higher speeds without sliding or tire noise. It is unbelievable how much better the car performs.
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Post by memmek2k on Aug 21, 2014 7:17:31 GMT -6
Tires make a huge difference, for everything. It's the only point your car contacts on the ground, and a lot of people underestimate how important tire choice is, especially on low-friction surfaces. Glad you're happy with the purchase!
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