Please check my wheel/tire calculations for 2001 sedan

[wanghoeby]

Okay, so I just finished my first track weekend, and am out looking for a cheap setup of new wheels to put on my completely stock BE.

Here's my intentions:

Use a pair of 16x6.5 +55mm WRX wheels.
http://images.craigslist.org/01010301020601040720080707269ae4804c0c5fe04c00ae08.jpg

Use a pair of 40% used Falken Azenis RT615 225/50/16 on above rim. These are currently on RSX stock rims and will have to be removed and I'll probably sell the RSX rims.


I've done a good amount of reading and am pretty sure this will work, but please let me know what you think.

Thanks

[AussieDan]

They're the same rolling radius as a stock 205/55R16, but 225 is too wide for a 6.5" rim imho.

I ran 225/50R16 on 16x7 rims on the Impreza for a while and they had a decent sidewall bulge.

According to the falken rt615 page (http://www.falkentire.com/xhtml/tires.php?category=2&tire=2) they recommend a rim between 6 and 8 inches wide, so I guess you can always go for it and see how it turns out. The sidewalls on the 615 are stiff enough that you may still have decent steering response even with the bulge.

They'd fit much better on a 16x7 or even 16x7.5 rim though.

[wanghoeby]

I was kind of worried about that too. However, I'm trying to stay as cheap as possible. What stock rims come 7 inches wide? Are there even any stockers at 7.5?

Also, I know 17's would give more responsive handling but would they actually increase my traction?

[Huffer]

Stock rims that come in 16x7:
Any Impreza RS rim. "goldies" and "6 spokes".

[Mr. Sociable]

Stock rims that come in 16x7:
Any Impreza RS rim. "goldies" and "6 spokes".

The "goldies" also came in silver :grin: .


For a track wheel, that stock WRX one is going to compromise some things. I run them for my stock class autocross, but given the option I'd move to 17x8 or wider. With price being a concern however I would suggest selling the stock RSX wheels/tires (since you were going to take the tires off anyway), looking for some stock subaru 17x7" wheels (newer WRX, JDM BE, etc) or even a set of V7 STi wheels (17x7.5") and getting tires for those. Cheap but still a marked performance increase.

[wanghoeby]

Stock rims that come in 16x7:
Any Impreza RS rim. "goldies" and "6 spokes".

The "goldies" also came in silver :grin: .


For a track wheel, that stock WRX one is going to compromise some things. I run them for my stock class autocross, but given the option I'd move to 17x8 or wider. With price being a concern however I would suggest selling the stock RSX wheels/tires (since you were going to take the tires off anyway), looking for some stock subaru 17x7" wheels (newer WRX, JDM BE, etc) or even a set of V7 STi wheels (17x7.5") and getting tires for those. Cheap but still a marked performance increase.

Can you be a little more specific in what they will compromise?

[wanghoeby]

I'm having a tough time finding anything other than the wrx rims from above. Is it really that bad?

Basically, I just want to maximize my traction at the cheapest possible. Unless it will seriously harm how well the tires stick to the road, I don't think I'll mind.

[Huffer]

www.rs25.com (http://www.rs25.com) - check the classifieds section for 16x7 wheels.

www.discountiredirect.com (http://www.discountiredirect.com) has plenty of 16x7 wheels too.

MB Gears look pretty nice.

[rougeben83]

wrx stockers are 16x6.5". You'll be fine running the 225 azenis on them. Plenty of people that autocross do.

The used 225 R compounds I picked up were on WRX stockers as well.

[wanghoeby]

Hmmm... these people don't seem to think there's anything wrong with the setup.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-345461.html

I think I'm going to pull the trigger on the RSX's (if they're still available) and buy the next cheap set of WRX's (lost the last set).

Thanks again for the help.

[rougeben83]

Hmmm... these people don't seem to think there's anything wrong with the setup.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-345461.html

I think I'm going to pull the trigger on the RSX's (if they're still available) and buy the next cheap set of WRX's (lost the last set).

Thanks again for the help.

Well, Im looking to unload my WRX stockers for the price of dismounting/mounting them since I'm mounting the R compounds on my autocross wheels, but I don't think you just want a set of rims to beat around on a course or track...(lots of cone scuffs)...

[Mr. Sociable]

A smaller, narrower wheel will sacrifice grip compared to an appropriately sized wider wheel (good luck trying to fit 24's under your car though :lol: ). For example, a 17x7" stock Subaru wheel will provide more grip not only from the additional width, but because the tires will have less of a sidewall. This effectively reduces sidewall flex and provides crisper, faster, and just overall better turn in feel. The width is the key difference here however.

I'm not saying the stock WRX wheels won't work, I and many others run them in various high preformance driving situations, just keep in mind that you might be able to find a set of wheels for the same price that will give a noticable increase in the levels of grip you have.

[rougeben83]

A smaller, narrower wheel will sacrifice grip compared to an appropriately sized wider wheel (good luck trying to fit 24's under your car though :lol: ). For example, a 17x7" stock Subaru wheel will provide more grip not only from the additional width, but because the tires will have less of a sidewall. This effectively reduces sidewall flex and provides crisper, faster, and just overall better turn in feel. The width is the key difference here however.

I'm not saying the stock WRX wheels won't work, I and many others run them in various high preformance driving situations, just keep in mind that you might be able to find a set of wheels for the same price that will give a noticable increase in the levels of grip you have.

You're not going to find a "better" rim for $50-200, which is the average price for four WRX stockers :wink:

The key is whether youre even maxing out the tire that you already have. It's pointless to drive bling lightweight rims on R compounds when you can't drive for diddlysquat.