dabiscuit

In all seriousness, will I be missing a trick if I don't go for 18s?

Some say that it makes the car look like its on stilts, but this can be cured with lowering springs and still no need for arch cutting.

I am erring on the side of caution and looking at 17s and will then lower the car anyway, but will I miss out on a better look and feel if I don't go for 18s?

What are people's thoughts?

Anyone got pics of Hawkeyes on either size? I'd be very grateful to see.

Edit: Also I understand the when it comes to tyre size the second number is the profile, but that is the percentage of the width of the tyre is it not? So would a 215/40/17 be of smaller profile than a 225/45/17? I can't figure it out!

spender(again)

iTrader: (1)

40% of 215 is 86mm
45% of 225 is 101.25mm so the former would have a lower profile

dabiscuit

Cheers. I guess I could have done the maths, but I'm lazy

Some alloy wheel sites offer different width tyres for the same width wheel. Does that mean they'll be stretched?

For example I am looking at 17x8 Rota Boost alloys. I'd like a fairly low profile, but not so much that I don't have any tyre! The best options offered are the ones mentioned above. Should I go for 215/40? Seems better option.

urban

iTrader: (1)

I would stick with 17's.

Tyres will be cheaper too
I tried 18's on a previous blob STI, but I found they made the car "twitchy", and it certainly followed the camber of the road more.

dabiscuit

I know how you feel, I stuck on some 18s on from my old wrx sti with some spacers and it was a bit wayward.

17s it is.

Next question.

I going to be getting 17x8 on 215/40/17 wheels, I've seen these on similar scoobs as mine, but wanted to be sure they'd fit and clear the stock brakes. They will be on 5mm spacers.

Anyone know the width of the stock wrx wheel?

The Pink Ninja

iTrader: (23)

you want to go wider with an 8j wheel, I`d say 225 as a minimum or 235

The OEM wheel was either a 7 or 7.5 i cant remember

Brun

Are we talking Classic here?
Without a shadow of a doubt I would fit 18's if I had another!

Brun

Just noticed we are talking Hawk - 17's look lost to me on a Hawk - surely the debate should be about 18's or 19's?

dabiscuit

Well I'll be lowering it anyway.

I genuinely don't know, but why would 225 be better than 215? Would the 215 be too stretched?