Ride comfort between stock 17" and upgraded 18" wheels & best wheel offset for Blob?
 

Hey guys,

I'm considering some new wheels in the future and wondered whether anyone could advise on a couple of things please:

Is there much different in the ride quality when going from 17 to 18?
What is the ideal offset for the Blobeye WRX too please?

I'll be lowering the car on PCA dynamic springs next month, so it should be near enough stock ride quality (albeit a little firmer) in regards to the suspension, as clearly this will have an impact too.

The wheels I'm looking at are Speedline Turinis... as a side note, does anyone have pictures of a Blobeye on 17" Turinis please?

Thanks very much!

Matt

I have the PCA Dynamics springs on my blob wagon and love them. I have also just taken my 17" winter wheels/tyres off this week and put my 18" Revolutions back on and to be honest I don't think I can tell much (if any) difference in ride quality at all.

Does feel sharper though!

That's great, thanks for the input dude!!

Out of interest, what size etc tires do you have on your Revolutions please? Currently my 17s are on a 45 profile which isn't too harsh...

And do you have any pictures of your car on the PCA springs with the 17s and 18s please? Just looking to see what it could look like with the smaller/bigger wheels on the PCA springs!

Thanks very much!

my 05 Blob WRX is currently sat on Pedders EZ Fit suspension which I believe gives a slight drop, i'm currently on the stock 17's but i'm going to changing to 18s soon in this size
18x9 et35 with 225/40/18 tyre

This is how it currently sits
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...56958782_o.jpg

I found that after lowering it made the standard front 17x7" wide wheels too narrow, the 17x7.5" std STi wheels should improve on that. My Revs are 18x7.5 ET48 with the correct 225x40 tyres (same sizes etc as on the GB270). Another thing to look out for is the tyre load rating, try and get it as close the the std 215x45 tyres (around 88) the greater the load rating the stiffer the side walls which will also ruin ride quality. I have 92Y extra load on the REVs which are in theory over rated but these came with the wheels. I've seen some Impreza wheels with 94Y XL tyres which won't help ride quality at all.

here's mine with 17s & 18s on the PCA Dynamics springs:

Attachment 34852

Attachment 34853

Attachment 34854

and my thread: https://www.scoobynet.com/1004847-fo...l#post11522073

That looks awesome! Thanks very much to both you guys for the pictures etc... Definitely a good few things to take in to account (I hadn't thought of the load rating).

PCA springs seem a definite good buy, and 18s suit the ride height perfectly too. Ultimately I think I'll end up going for 18s, just a case of when... I'd be curious to see what those ET35 wheels look like on your 2005WRX too Dan_Turism0! They sound like they'd be a good offset all round. However, it looks like ET48 fits your arches nicely too Modrich?

Thanks again!

9" wide wheels with ET35 means that the face of the wheel is a massive 32mm further out than my 18s and with 225 wide tyres...not sure that would work?

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...79f15d744.jpeg

9" et35 225 40 18 sit flush with arches

Hmmm, not into the stretched tyre look, must ruin ride quality. I take it the stretched tyres mean you don't need the arches rolled? I'd prefer narrower wheels with some descent rim protection from the tyres but each to their own:thumb:

awesome, i'm going to be running Nankang NS2R's so the sidewall is slightly chunkier on the track day tyres thus meaning the stretch isn't as obvious. The NS2R is also quoted as being able to fit a 9J rim in 225 fitment.

Have you had to do any arch rolling/pulling?

Modrich,

Can you help me out please - I also have a Blob wagon, and have just received my PCA springs. Next job I am looking at is wheels - I will be staying with 17"s, but would like your advice on tyres as I am looking at the following 2 options:

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asym 2 in 215/45/17
or
Vredestein ultrac Sessanta in 225/45/17

Both tyres seem to get good reviews on here, with the goodyears being about £30 more for all 4 corners.

Which would you go with??

Cheers,
Paul

Paul, any reason why the Vreds are in 225width? 215 is correct for std 7" wide wheel but 225 prob give abit better rim protection, but will have slightly higher profile. Not had any experience with Vreds, but we have F1 assym 2s on our Mazda5 and is a good tyre, there is an assymetric 3 out now so should be even better. I'd go for the Goodyear. What load rating are those tyres you've been quoted on?

Cheers for the swift response:thumb:

I was looking at the 215's first - but the sessanta's dont seem to be available in that size anymore - so then looked at the 225s as another option.

I am hoping to get some 7.5J wheels - so I think 225 will be the better option is that correct?

The Goodyears were 87 load, and the Sessantas were 94.

Goodyears are also available in 225/45/17 with 91 load?

Thanks again,
Paul

yep 225s are correct for 7.5in width. I'd go for the Goodyear 225 91s, 87 is a bit low.

Thanks:thumb:

Last question, promise!

Goodyear 225 91 'normal'
or
Goodyear 225 94 xl 'reinforced'


Cheers,
Paul

my turn :D Modrich did you have to do any arch work to get the 18x9 et35s under? Has your Blob been lowered at all?

91 normal as 94 XL effectively makes it a 96/97 load rating which is way too much

Not guilty, not my car, mine's the blob wagon:D

You are a star:thumb: - thanks very much for your help bud.

Paul

damn it lol, do you know whose it is?

This is the way I understand load rating:

The maximum weight that the tyre may carry, at its maximum inflated psi.

The tyre manufacturer's particular tyre construction, dictates sidewall stiffness.

Load rating doesn't effect the ride - it's not a measure of resistance to compression. It's a measure of the tyre's capacity to contain the higher air pressures required, on heavier vehicles.