GAG

i have a 98 import sti
will i be able to put 18inch prodrive or wr1 wheels stright on
and will it handle worse like ive heard some people say?
im running standard sti suspension?

evil.soup

iTrader: (1)

I put 18" WR1 replica wheels on my 06 WRX and it did change the handling. The car was a little more bouncy through the corners and not as positive on turn in. Grip was good though but the car didnt look right sitting up high, it looked seriously stupid to tell the truth. A set of springs had to be fitted to sort it out and you will probably have to do the same with yours.

Hope this helps

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

I found 18"'s improved handling on a newage but on a Classic the car got a bit "skittish" so I much prefered 17"s on a Classic. But this is my personal view on how I like the car to handle

IIRC The newage 18"s tyre 225x40x18 and classic 18"s should be 215x35x18 or something like that, so Newage wheel may not be quite so bad due to the higher profile tyres.

Tony

GAG

think i will put em on once i get a coilovers then i can set it up right or i might just go to 17s ????????????

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

If you got some, just try them on and see what you think of the handling difference, afterall it's what like and not "others"

Tony

SetoN

I think a lot of people would tell you the only thing 18" wheels are good for is increasing the looks of your motor. Cant see them increasing the handing, if anything they would handle worse

a_fisher

I was told the biggest wheel to get and keep good handling 17s.

These all have near enough the same rolling radius: 205/45/17, 215/40/17 and 215/35/18. but guess you need a bit of side wall for the corners

cos500

Dont some p1's come from the factory with 18" wheels, funny that, im sure its a classic shape, have just changed my 17's to 18's and have not noticed a great deal of difference, i have coilovers and now a 35 profile as opposed to a 45 so its a little more bumpy but on the track its just as good if not better through the corners.

turbogav

[QUOTE=cos500;7397739]Dont some p1's come from the factory with 18" wheels, funny that, im sure its a classic shapeQUOTE]

Think 18's were an option on P1's. Had 18" Superleggeras on my old classic, and had the option to swap them onto my P1, but after driving the car, decided i preferred the handling and ride of 17's. 18's are probably better for looks though.

MikeCardiff

iTrader: (2)

One thing to be careul of is that the tyres dont rub - I've got Prodrive suspension on my car, and 17's and if you put tyres on that have quite a square profile on the corners, they can rub on the strut where it curves outwards - doesnt happen with tyres with rounder profiles.

Obviously will depend on the suspension, tyres and wheels in each case, but something to check before shelling out your money.

Untitled

i know that prodrive recommend the fitting of 18's if you have the PPP fitted they say it is to take advantage of the increased torque!

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

That is correct for Newage Cars but the Poster of the original Thread was asking about his MY98 Classic STi which has different handling and lighter than a Newage

IMHO

Tony

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

18"s do get a bit skittish on a classic, and tend to tramline worse too.

I've got 17"s on mine, gunmetal WRX02 ones.

Alcazar

GAG

think i will get some 17s and play safe thanks all big GAG

Hepy

When I had my P1 it came with 17's. When I fitted the upgrade P1 18's to it with the correct tyre size (225/35/18) I felt the handling/grip improved.

Shark Man

17"s do work well in comparison over 18"s on a classic shape. Less jiggly ride and more stable and settled at speed on bumpy roads imo.

Sure, they don't look as sweet, but you have to compromise somwhere.

Az Sti Type R

My type r came with 215/35/18's on it and I thought they might be the wrong size tyre?They seem too low profile for a car that size IMO? They are brand new tyres so I'll wear them down, but when it comes to changing them I was thinking of repplacing them with 225/40/18 tyres, would that be a recommended size or should I stick to 215/35's?

(sorry to hi-jack! but thought I'd ask whilst we're on the subject.)

RB5_245

WR1 wheels won't fit on a classic I think, sometime around the introduction of the newage the pcd changed, on the STi at least dunno about the wrx, but that would be irrelevant .

turbogav

Had 215/40/18 on my classic and they rubbed on the rear with people in the back even on the standard suspension. I had planned to go to 215/35/18 until i sold the car.

cos500

Mine are a 40 offset and dont catch atall, your wheels may have a 45 offset like my old 17's and they rubbed on the arches. With the 40 offset the wheels sit further into the arch and shouldnt rub especially with uprated suspension.

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

The correct size to keep the rolling diameter simular on a Classic is 215/35/18's and the correct size for a newage is 225/40/18 or 235/40/18

Although using a 40 series tyre would put your speedo sligtly out it will give more feel and not so skittish IMHO

IIRC The WR1 althoug an 05 Car it was a 04 model and wheels are PCD 100 the Sti 05 is PCD114

Tony