nikon-man

iTrader: (3)

okay guys I have heard all the pros and cons about why 17" wheels are better than 18" wheels so I have a question.... has anyone got 18" fitted to a hatch and if so do they feel different to drive as in feel etc....

I have been offered a set of 18" but want to know if the benefit is there to take the 17" ones of off my hatch...

thanks in advance

360ste

iTrader: (1)

Got 18's on my bugeye, there were two advantages, less tyre flex due to shorter tyre walls and being able to put a bigger brake setup alround.

domino46

If got 18s on my hatch ,, wider tyre for more grip and also looks loads better as it fills the arches

DaveMK39

if i had a hatch i'd have 19" gt2's

ZANY

I'd be looking at the width of the alloy also

nikon-man

iTrader: (3)

car to show us with a pic or two ??

Gambit

iTrader: (6)

OE hatch 17's are 8inch wide rim (235 tyre), the 18's are 8.5inch (245 tyre)

few pics of mine though i have 15mm spacers on it also as even with 18's they still look lost in the arch due to et55 offset - mine are the BBS forged wheels and are a very light/strong rim

Frisco

Hi guys. I have had 18" wheels on an 09 hatch and had even put them on my old 98 wagon. I have never found any problems with the size and width of the wheels, I did have a lower profile tyre on both sets though, that did make a little difference with uneven surfaces on some roads although nothing worth worrying about.
It all comes down to personal preference.
I knew a guy who worked with subarus in a garage and his opinion was the cars are set up as they should be with ride hight engines and all associated setups. He thought if subaru intended the cars to all be like the prodrive set up then that is what they would have made them all as.
For me it's all about aesthetics. What you personally want your car to look and sound like not forgetting handle like. I prefer a larger wheel so usually fit them. Everyone and their dog can only give you their opinion so just go with what feels or looks right for you, main thing is enjoy your car and have a hell of a lot of fun, just keep safe

plenty

iTrader: (13)

Can’t speak for a hatch, but on my newage I can feel the difference between the OEM 17” Enkeis and 18” Rotas. That’s with the 17s wearing stiff-sidewall semi-slicks versus the 18s wearing soft Goodyear Eagles.

Not sure why to be honest – the difference in the sidewall stiffness I would have thought would have compensated for the 40 profile versus 45 profile, and the 18s/Goodyear combo are actually slightly lighter than the 17s/Federal RSR rim/tyre. But it’s there – just a slight extra harshness on the 18s which I’m sure would be much more pronounced if the tyres were comparable.

Purdy1984

iTrader: (1)

I have a hatch with the 330s 245/40/18 and it feels very planted compared to my blob Sti with 17s.

domino46

245/40/18 tyres , 8.5j

Don Clark

First off the OP is talking about a WRX Hatch so not wide bodied.

Std tyre/wheel combo is

205/50 R17 89V
17 × 7JJ ET 55 5x 100pcd

The WRXs comes with

225/40 R18
18 x 7.5J GT1 alloys (ET48?)

nikon-man

iTrader: (3)

and if that is your how does it feel and drive then on those GT1 alloys ???

Don Clark

Not mine just an example

This is mine

poffer1

Love it......reminded me of an old movie:

ZANY

!!KNIGHT RIDER!!