Best tyre size for 17,s/classic
 

Currently running 18,s on my classic,but find it tramlines a lot and not the comfiest ever it has 225/35/18.I,m seriously considering going back to 17,s so whats the best tyre size?Dont do trackdays or anything,just normal driving with an odd blast now and again.Got 18,s on this car basically because they look better and supposedly handles better,but on day to day driving i,m not finding any improvement,in fact just the opposite.Would 225/45/17 be any good,reasoning for this size is the fact that they should still fill the arches nicely,or is this wrong?

hi steve i just put perrill rossos on my halkeye size 225/45/17 and the car drives excellent my only concern is that on full lock i get a little rubbing but ive also just put coilovers on as well and these might be set too low hence making rub on full lock. i think the original tyre size for subaru is 215/45/17 and you wont have no issues with these tyres

215x45x17 is ideal I have 40 profile falken 452's on 17" superleggrass . 18's for show 17's for go get rid of the 18's mate cheaper on tyres with 17 's anyway

Had a look on camskill before for an idea of prices,they are much cheaper,but sooo much more choice as well.How do you rate the Falkens,they seem like a really good tyre for the price by all accounts

Hi. I've had 225/45/17 on my classic and they were rubbing so swap to 205/40/17 and running on these with no Issues but I've heard that best tyre size for 17's is 215/45/17.
Hope this will help.

I have used the falkens for about 4mths through dry,wet and icy weather and they seem like a good allround tyre for a price of £300 for 4.

Like you said there is more choice for the 17" rim and better prices too !

Classics came with 205/45/17 when new but most swapped these for 215/40/17 as this size was way cheaper.

215 40 17 on my classic, they will be replaced with 215 40 17 or 215 45 1 when they are dead.

I would go with 215/40/17 with stock suspension and 215/45/17 with coilovers etc. Otherwise you may find your at the dentist often :D

ive 215/40/17 on my classic

Phew, where to start?

Firstly, who told you a classic on 18's would handle better? It's nonsense. Prodrive themselves, you know, Prodrive who do the rally cars?), say no more than 17's.
Remember that classics were on 15's until 1998 when they went onto 16's, on which they continued until the car was discontinued. Only the P1, afaik was actually delivered with 17's although they were an aftermarket option.

Now, do you want the car to look good or handle well?

If it's the former, you put on what you like. I've seen one on 19's but tbh, to me it looked like a Mattel Hotwheelz car:rolleyes:

If it's the latter, no more thasn 17's and the accepted tyre size is 215/40 17, in order to give you the same rolling radius and therefore keep the speedo as near correct as you can.

I'm assuming you already HAVE the solid droplinks and uprated rear arb that will REALY alter the handling in a good way?

I actually prefered the feel of my Classic with 18's on. The 17's had too much roll in the side wal. I don't care what prodrive say - they don't do my driving :p

Correct tyre size for 17 inch wheels on a classic is:

205/45/17
OR
215/40/17

The people who say it handles better on 18,s is Autocar,They compared the P1 to the P1 WR,and said the WR was far superior with the 18"wheels,and it seems most people on the P1WOC tend to agree with this.
Prodrive(yip,i know Prodrive,them who done the rally cars and the P1).
The car is a P1 by the way,the one Prodrive made 17"wheels standard on,and made the exact same wheels in 18" for the WR upgrade,that they obviously decided was a worthwhile upgrade,so they kind of contradicted themselves there a little bit if as you say they stated "no more than 17"wheels",as a large percentage of the cars were ordered with 18" wheels as a dealer fit.
Prodrive(yip,i know Prodrive,them who done the rally cars and the P1),would have sold the car with 18"wheels,but couldnt because for the P1 to pass EU regulations it had to be able to wear snowchains,which wouldnt fit over 18,s,hence why they opted for 17,s.
Anyway,smart a*se bit over,i agree with you,having had several impreza,s over a ten year period,that 17,s are far better,and for that reason i,m going to go back to that size,i just wondered what tyre size was best,thanks for all the replies,i think going by all the answers that i,ll opt for the 215/40/17
Steve