THE Wheel & Tire Thread

[Tamra]

We got our 818 got R-Comps on our new race wheels today.

We searched for awhile to find race wheels. We wanted 15x8, 5x100 in the front, which is not easy to find unless you go to a fully custom 3 piece ($$$) wheel.

We wanted the 1" drop in wheel size, plus a lower diameter tire, in order to get about a 1" drop in ride height for racing. We are at 4" with the street wheels/tires (17x8 et 45 Enkei PF01 with Direzza Z2's in 235/40/17 and 255/40/17), and about 3" with the race wheels/tires (some rake as the front is lower).

We found some Axe Wheels, 15x8, 5x100, et 25, and ordered a set of 4. Despite being relatively cheap wheels ($600 for the set of 4), they feel like they are of pretty good quality. They're not the lightest or the heaviest at 16lbs each.

We did not think the 15" wheels would fit over the WRX brakes, but we lucked out! Perfect fit. Now to order some EBC Yellow brake pads, since we've confirmed we do not have to order new brackets/rotors.


Clear on the suspension as well:


We have two sets of tires for the front wheels - Hoosier A7's in 245/40/15 ($$$ and therefore saving for big clubs), and Hankook Ventus C71's in 225/45/15 (used, cheap, and will be used on our rough, local, small lot). Pictured are the C71's, with plenty of clearance at full lock.


The Axe Ex-8 wheels next to our Enkei PFO1's.


The rears are Drifz in 16x8, et 25, wrapped in Hoosier A6's in size 245/45/16 (bought on sale from Hoosier for $90/each!!!). They're not a perfect match to the Axe Ex8 wheels (aside from the color), but they are similar enough. We could not find a matched set of fronts and rears in the sizes/offsets we wanted. The Driftz wheels weighed in at 19 lbs.



Plenty of clearance:



Side by side:



We know that the A6's on the rear with the used C71's on the front could create some odd handling characteristics due to the tire differences, but our small local lot is very rough on tires and we will not be using it for set up anyway. For the bigger lots (NNJR and NER), we will run the Hoosiers all around. Since we bought 8 wheels total, we will have one "local" set, and one "big event" set. Eventually, we will run larger tires on the rear, but we are running square to start at the events that matter, and this staggered set locally.

Now to decide to stick with silver or black and paint the other half to match...

[Tamra]

FYI, our 17x8, et 45 Enkei PFO1's with 255/40/17 Direzza Z2's rub on the stock rear trailing arms under heavy cornering. If anyone were to plan to use this size for track days or autocross, a spacer would be required (or Wayne's wide tire trailing arms). For regular putting around, they don't seem to rub.

[Wayne Presley]

The front on my car has 235's on it with rack limiters

[TouchStone]

I trying to get a set of wheels and tires that will work rack to rack without spacers. I'm fairly confident I've got something that will work but I'm still not sure if the fronts are too big. Please comment on my selection:

Front:
Wheel: 17x7.5 40mm offset
Tire: 225/45ZR17

Rear:
Wheel: 18x8 40mm offset
Tire: 245/40ZR18

Thanks

[JeromeS13]

I trying to get a set of wheels and tires that will work rack to rack without spacers. I'm fairly confident I've got something that will work but I'm still not sure if the fronts are too big. Please comment on my selection:

Front:
Wheel: 17x7.5
Tire: 225/45ZR17

Rear:
Wheel: 18x8
Tire: 245/40ZR18

Thanks

Depends on the offsets.

[TouchStone]

Depends on the offsets.

Updated: That would be important. I'm looking for 40mm offsets, maybe 50mm offsets.

[JeromeS13]

Updated: That would be important. I'm looking for 40mm offsets, maybe 50mm offsets.

Front may be a bit tall and rub on the firewall. Also, inside of the tire may contact the swaybar on the passenger side (mine does).

Rears may hit the top of the fender well on bumps.

[JAubin]

Touchstone, I've been having similar thoughts (ie a no hassle wheel/tire combo) and I've been considering 17x8 et40 front with 17x9 et35 rear, with 205/40 17 on the front and 245/40/17 rear, my biggest issue vs the standard 215/255 combo is tire selection, just way more 100-200 treadwear options on the wider combo.

[TouchStone]

Touchstone, I've been having similar thoughts (ie a no hassle wheel/tire combo) and I've been considering 17x8 et40 front with 17x9 et35 rear, with 205/40 17 on the front and 245/40/17 rear, my biggest issue vs the standard 215/255 combo is tire selection, just way more 100-200 treadwear options on the wider combo.

Selection/avalibility is a bit difficult. I mounted my donor wheels 205/55R16 et55 on the front and they don't even work lock to lock, so 16 inch wheels don't work?. Maybe 205/45R16 et45 will work. Here is a set I put together, http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_gara...icleid=5499430. I'm probably going to make some cardboard wheels to test if these will fit.

[Pearldrummer7]

Selection/avalibility is a bit difficult. I mounted my donor wheels 205/55R16 et55 on the front and they don't even work lock to lock, so 16 inch wheels don't work?. Maybe 205/45R16 et45 will work. Here is a set I put together, http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_gara...icleid=5499430. I'm probably going to make some cardboard wheels to test if these will fit.

24.878" is your outer diameter. I think that's your issue. From what I've read, you want to be just under 24.0"; since 205/45/16 is 23.2638", you'd be in the clear in terms of frame clearance (from a diameter standpoint...not to mention offset!).

For reference, my 215/40/R17's are 23.7717" and clear the body fine in a straight line. Wheel offset and width (plus how wide the tire actually is....since a 205 isn't always the same size) will determine frame clearance during turning.

[Harley818]

I've heard that the 45 series tires are a problem. As pearldrummer says and further back in this thread, you need to stay below 24.0 inches diameter to clear with an offset of around 35-40. in the front.
I have 235/40-17's with XXR530's and 33 offset on the front. Fit is great but I haven't driven it yet so not sure about fender clearance under compression.
Rears I have 255/35-17 with 33 offset. They are OK too although they are only 3/8 clearance to my trailing links and under load may touch. I can modify if necessary.

[TouchStone]

I have 235/40-17's with XXR530's and 33 offset on the front.

Can you measure the clearance you have between the wheel and the frame when fully turned? I got a set of the FFR wheels and they have a 40mm offset.

[Harley818]

Check my thread with this link.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...y-s-818S/page3

I show top view and side view of the clearance from the tire to the frame on the fronts in Post 94, rears on post 93.
If you have any other questions let me know. They fit great.

[Hindsight]

So heard from my friend BStuke that he is running 295/something/18 Hoosiers on the back of his R and they don't poke out the fender. ~45 offset wheel with a small spacer to keep from rubbing on the inside and Wayne's offset rear trailing arms.

This was news to me.... I haven't heard of anyone running tires that wide without flares. Thought I'd share, and maybe get the discussion going to see if anyone else has had luck with tires this big in back. I'm getting close to being ready to pull the trigger on some wheels and tires and want to go as big as possible. Still struggling between 17 and 18 in the back. I feel like 17 will offer better performance but if you go much over a 255, tires are hard to come by in 17" width.

[Kurk818]

The upper trailing arms tends to be hindering factor on tucking the wheels further inside, followed by the springs. In curious to see if any modifications were done to that. Im running 295 as well with 10.5" rims. Im within an 1/8" of the upper trailing arm and approx 1" wider than the out fb lip.

Credit to Canadian818



You can see how much they stick out in this photo

[xxguitarist]

We will be doing some exploration of wider rears (and fronts), stay tuned

[Hindsight]

Andrew, I'm always tuned into your channel!

Kurk, thanks for sharing pics. Refresh my memory.... I think the upper arms have two spacers.... did you put both spacers on the outside in order to move the heim joint all the way to the inside for extra space? I believe that is a tip Wayne has provided in the past.

Tires are poking a bit but also looks like you have some positive camber there. And I think Bob is running a 9.5" width rim.... not sure how much impact that has on effective tire width vs your 10.5".

[Kurk818]

Andrew, I'm always tuned into your channel!

Kurk, thanks for sharing pics. Refresh my memory.... I think the upper arms have two spacers.... did you put both spacers on the outside in order to move the heim joint all the way to the inside for extra space? I believe that is a tip Wayne has provided in the past.

Tires are poking a bit but also looks like you have some positive camber there. And I think Bob is running a 9.5" width rim.... not sure how much impact that has on effective tire width vs your 10.5".

I have spacers installed one on each side.

[Scargo]

We will be doing some exploration of wider rears (and fronts), stay tuned

I imagine you will. If you want to play around with what I have you are welcome to come over and borrow them...

I may need to revisit my wheel setup. My first (and my gut instinct) thought is there is no way a 295 will clear anything that is stock from FFR.
I think I've said this already, but I took one of my 18x10.5" Enkei RPF-01's (38ET) and 285X30 Hoosiers (similar to a 295)wheel/tire combo off my STi track car and tried it on the 818. Things may have changed a bit since then for me but it did not fit when I tried it. I have fully adjustable control arms. I could not get the camber I wanted either. So, I'm a bit puzzled but the statement about 295's fitting.

[Hindsight]

I imagine you will. If you want to play around with what I have you are welcome to come over and borrow them...

I may need to revisit my wheel setup. My first (and my gut instinct) thought is there is no way a 295 will clear anything that is stock from FFR.
I think I've said this already, but I took one of my 18x10.5" Enkei RPF-01's (38ET) and 285X30 Hoosiers (similar to a 295)wheel/tire combo off my STi track car and tried it on the 818. Things may have changed a bit since then for me but it did not fit when I tried it. I have fully adjustable control arms. I could not get the camber I wanted either. So, I'm a bit puzzled but the statement about 295's fitting.

Do you have the control arms that are inset to allow wider wheels? Do you have both spacers on the outer side on both the upper and lower control arms and lateral links? That's about all I could think of. He's running Enkei Kojins with Hoosier slicks. I haven't seen it in person but when I do I will take a pic. He has been auto crossing like that all year.

[Scargo]

See http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...l=1#post181710

245 X 45 X 17 on 17 X 9.5, +32 rims is about all I can fit in the rear. Perhaps he has his body jacked way up in the back?

[Bob_n_Cincy]

See http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...l=1#post181710

245 X 45 X 17 on 17 X 9.5, +32 rims is about all I can fit in the rear. Perhaps he has his body jacked way up in the back?

Are you guys talking about Bob Stuke's car?
Here is an old picture.
bs.jpg



Scarco, My tires sizes are very similar to yours.
255 X 40 X 17 Toyo R888 on 17 X 9, +33 rims
I'm running oem LTA and everything else adjustable swaged bars set to stock length. no rub but close everywhere.
rear.jpg


Bob G

[Hindsight]

Yes, it's Bob's car.

[Hindsight]

From Bob:

So I have the offset trailing arm. You have to mount it for clearance on the inside of both mount points, then shim the outer part. I got away with about an 1/8 inch spacer so it had good room to rotate if needed.

The wheel I used is an Enkei Kojin 18X9.5 +45 5x100. I have ARP studs, and had to use 2 10mm spacers to get it back out off the trailing arm, but still under the wheel well. The tire is actually a 285/30ZR18 Hoosier A6.

[Hindsight]

So now that I know 285s will fit in back, I am wondering about the combination of 285 in back and 215 in front. I think I read that FFR felt four sizes between front and rear was the ideal balance for over/understeer. So I am wondering if a 285/215 combo is going to cause understeer?

[Tamra]

That seems like a really big bias to the rear. For street it really wouldn't matter much either way, but if you are going for performance then you'll need to figure out a way to get larger than 215's in the front. More tire is always better!

Considering no other factors, in a steady state cornering situation that sort of rear tire bias would tend to cause the car to understeer more (less grip in the front than in the rear so naturally the front will let loose first)... but there are so many other factors involved (spring rates front to rear, running a sway bar or not, alignment, etc.) that there is no easy answer. If you had crazy high rear spring rates and a rear sway bar, your car could oversteer like crazy with that tire setup. It just all depends.

[Hindsight]

Thanks for the input Tamra. I may just get a 9.5 wheel in the back so I can experiment with both 255 and 285.

[Hindsight]

Is anyone running wider than 215 up front on a 17" wheel without rubbing?

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Is anyone running wider than 215 up front on a 17" wheel without rubbing?

Yes, I'm running toyo R888 235/40-17 on 9" rims with 48 offset and 40mm increase track width, no steering limiters and no rubbing.
I also increased camber gain to tuck tires under the body during compression.
My son Michael tested R888 255/40-17 on 9" 48mm rims on the front. But the rubs the lower frame bar at full lock.
Bob
sideview.jpg

[Hindsight]

Thanks Bob - So the 235/40/17 should probably be over 24" diameter which, I thought, was the limit for front tires before rubbing on the firewall frame tube. I wonder how much over 24" it is safe to go? Do you know if you HAVE to run a lot of camber on the 235 to get them to tuck? I've been considering 225s up front...... I ordered my wheels today. Need to make tire size choice soon.

[STiPWRD]

If you can find 225/40/17's (that aren't slicks) I'd like to know where, cuz I can't find any. It's either 215/40/17 or 235/40/17.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Thanks Bob - So the 235/40/17 should probably be over 24" diameter which, I thought, was the limit for front tires before rubbing on the firewall frame tube. I wonder how much over 24" it is safe to go? Do you know if you HAVE to run a lot of camber on the 235 to get them to tuck? I've been considering 225s up front...... I ordered my wheels today. Need to make tire size choice soon.

My inflated Diameter is 24.6"
My static camber is only -0.5 but I pick up 1 degree per inch of travel in bump.

align.jpg

I did a lot of suspension stuff to make mine work.
Go smaller if you want to play it safe.
Bob

[Hindsight]

Slava, I have noticed that as well! I think I'm going to have to go up to 235 if I don't stick to the 215.

Bob, thanks for the notes. I like to play things safe, but also like traction :P Still on the fence. I saw Jerome ran 235/40/17 up front and he said there was just a touch of rubbing.

[Innkeepr]

Little help here guys.

I need new wheels for the donor ( the boys is still driving it ) - and have looked for something we can use on the 818C. TireRack shows everything at 45 offset. both 17x7.5 and 18x8.
Now just because TireRack says they will fit the car - will they transition over to the 818 when ready ?
Was going to purchase 4 of the 17x7.5 and then pick up 2 of the 18s when ready.
Suggested size on the 04 RS is 225/45ZR17 - so will I have to replace these on the front as FFR is showing 215/40s ?

Thanks for the input.
"E"

[Pearldrummer7]

Little help here guys.

I need new wheels for the donor ( the boys is still driving it ) - and have looked for something we can use on the 818C. TireRack shows everything at 45 offset. both 17x7.5 and 18x8.
Now just because TireRack says they will fit the car - will they transition over to the 818 when ready ?
Was going to purchase 4 of the 17x7.5 and then pick up 2 of the 18s when ready.
Suggested size on the 04 RS is 225/45ZR17 - so will I have to replace these on the front as FFR is showing 215/40s ?

Thanks for the input.
"E"

E-

There are a few concerns here. First of all, the front tires likely won't fit at 225/45/R17. As Harley said before:

you need to stay below 24.0 inches diameter to clear with an offset of around 35-40

That tire is 25" in diameter. I would recommend having something like 215/40's instead (what many are running on "stock" suspension). I have a +35 offset on my 17x8" front wheels with a 215/40 tire and they fit fine (rub at nearly full lock, but who needs full lock).

The other problem is the offset. +45 works well for a WRX, but not for the 818. I couldn't even get a nut threaded with my +48 offset 17x8's (from my daily driver WRX) in the front. They hit like everything.

To me, it seems that the wheels aren't as transferable at the manual makes it seem. Maybe get some used ones for the donor for now to tide the donor over until it's 818 time, and re sell them?

[Hindsight]

High offsets are fine but you need to use spacers and that requires longer wheel studs. I prefer going higher offset than you need because you can always push the wheel out more as required, but you can't pull it inward.

[Innkeepr]

Pearl - thats kind of what I thought. I am in the middle of rebuilding the ej207, just trying to save some time/money and kill 2 birds with 1 stone.
If I can use the 35mm offset on both, thats a winner.

Hindsight - I really dislike using spacers. Maybe I am wrong, but I thought spacers transfer where the weight was hung on the mounting surface. Increasing the outward pressure on the studs vs the hub.
If I have to use spacers on the Impreza, I can - the car is just a local commuter, not a rally/race car.
I sent an email to Wayne, waiting his reply also as he is a dealer for the wheels I am looking at.

Thanks for your replies, anyone else want to chime in ?

Be safe,
"E"

[Hindsight]

Spacers do that, but no differently than wheels with different offsets do. Take a 10" wide wheel with a high offset. The mounting point is going to be close to the face of the wheel. Now take the same 10" wide wheel with a low offset. The mounting mounting point is going to be close to the center of the wheel. Taking a high offset wheel and adding spacers accomplishes the same thing as swapping out the wheel for one with a lower offset. There is no difference.

The only spacers I would be cautious of are the kind that bolt on. I would use the kind that just slide on and try to find some that are hub-centric.

Spacers really allow you to fine tune your fit. With an 818, you don't have the benefit of tens of thousands of people having already tried what you are thinking of doing. It also widens the selection of wheels, and ensures if you order a set that end up rubbing, you aren't up a creek because you can just space them out a bit to get it perfect.

I sound like a salesman for spacers here

[Innkeepr]

Hindsight -

So if I pick up 17x7.5 ( or 17x8 ) with a 40 offset and use a 5mm spacer it should be fine on the 04 RS. Seeing that FFR sells their wheels with a 40 mm offset, I accomplish the same.
Dont think I need to worry about studs with this set up.

[Kurk818]

This is my clearance to the lower trailing arm with 295's in the rear.







+20mm offset