George W Bush

As above really...need to get rid of my gold wheels and am fed up waiting for my PFF7S which wont be here until after christmas

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Get your own wheels refinished in a different colour?

I've not managed to find any others either, the offset seems rather large. ET53?

Mo

Compomotives can be had in any offset but would suggest if it's not purely cosmetic that you stick with 17s.

George W Bush

Andy, had thought of that but means it will be off the road...Are you happy with yours so far??

Mo, 18" are better on the newer cars?

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

My wheels? They're round, they hold the tyres in place... sure I'm happy

They seem pretty strong too, I've hit one or two potholes hard and there's not a mark on them or the tyres.

Why not have a word with a company like Wicked Wheels, they have a mobile service and might be able to do all four in a day. Not sure if they do tyre removal/refitting though.

George W Bush

Not your wheels...your 05!

Mo

Why are 18" wheels better?

What size wheels are on the new Impreza that laps the ring in under 8 minutes?

George W Bush

Mike Wood advises 18" that all Im going by...I am not an expert...

austen_wrx

if your anywhere near birmingham give these a go,
http://www.sweeneysherlock.co.uk/alloy.htm
they will do all 4 including a fitting and removing in a day. I think they are open on a saturday aswell. They did mine for me (didn't need them quickly though) and did a top job for a greta price (£80 for 4!!!!)

Mo

George not trying to be pedantic, just going on recommendation. I've spoken at length with Compomotive who suggest 17s.

I'd like to see a WR1 and a JDM STi lap the ring together; it'd make a good comparison, Prodrive v STi, 'similar' outputs, similar set-up.

(And this isn't another my ones better than yours thread before anyone starts)

jasonius

iTrader: (1)

The recent evo 25 artical thread (I think it was arron bird) said that the WR1 is better on 17's!

Anyone know why- Arron maybe you could enlighten us?

http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthrea...=385612&page=2 Post #33

ARRON BIRD

Its called common sense mate really try some and you will see

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

It's OK - though the hard suspension is really starting to grate. A set of adjustable shocks is a 'must have' early next year, I feel.

Mo

Andy,

I had an extensive drive in a new JDM STi at the weekend and found the ride very compliant and amazingly comfortable which surprised me after what I'd read on here. Do you think yours is hard due to the Eibachs??

When changing to Eibachs on my classic I found it improved the ride somewhat.

Perhaps it's just everyones interpretation of 'hard'. My classic on AVOs was hard and awful, it would feel like the struts were about to come through the the top yet my classic on Leda is hard but rides quite well; the dampers actually work

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

It shouldn't be - I test drove cars ('04 models) on both the standard springs and the Eibachs, and I specifically bought the Eibachs because the ride on the standard springs was so hard.

MikeWood

Mo

One of the benefits of fitting the 18" wheels and tyres we have developed for the 05MY STi is that the ride improves when compared to the std RE070's. There is also less tramlining. This because the tyres have a more compliant sidewall but it does vary from one tyre to the next and even in some cases between tyres from the same manufacturer, in the same size with the same tread pattern and the same load index but a different construction.

On a track the std RE070's may work very well but this isn't where most of a car's mileage is completed. There are one or two tyres available that are much better on the road, particularly with respect to ride, noise, tramlining and wet grip.

Mike

MikeWood

Andy

The right 18" tyres will improve the ride but you may be struggling as there is less bump travel at the front on an 05MY STi, hence it could be sat hard into the bumpstops at rideheight with springs designed for the earlier cars.

Mike

p1doc

what tyres would you recommend mike?
martin

ARRON BIRD

Get Michelin Pilot Sport 2`s

B16 POK

I am still awaiting delivery of 18 inch prodrive alloys for my 05.

Need to get them soon i am lending it to a performance magazine for testing.

sadam

I've been following the thread and if you think an 05 Sti has hard suspension try an 04 Spec C ltd!!!. I've just got to the point where the standard RE070's are shot, so what would be my best combination of wheels and tyres? Presently i'm thinking 18 inch multi spoke Speedlines with Toyos T1S, Goodyear F1, or Pirelli P Zero - any advice would be appreciated.

George W Bush

Thanks all just have to wait.

Reference the ride I have no complaints at all with my type UK in fact the compliant ride is the reason I bought it over the evo.

DaveW

sadam,

Going for 18s will only make it harder.

If it was me then I'd go along to Litchfields and try one of their cars with the AST suspension.

Dave.

MikeWood

Dave

I'm sorry to disagree, but that is not the case. You would be amazed how much better the ride gets with a properly specified 18" wheel and tyre package when compared to the OE 17" Bridgestone tyres.

Mike

DaveW

Mike,

Oh ok, I stand corrected. I thought that with the smaller side walls of 18 inch wheels then you would get a harder ride. Although I suppose if you go for tyres with softer side walls then that would offset the difference.

Dave.

MikeWood

Dave

That's pretty much the case. The OE tyres tend to have really stiff sidewalls with very little vertical compliance, hence a hard ride on some surfaces and tramlining on others. Fitting a tyre with different characteristics, even if it has a smaller sidewall can make a huge difference to ride and handling.

Mike