The Rota Sub Zeros are the lightest 17" rims made for the Subaru by Rota.

FYI - The stock rims and tires you are pulliing off weigh 48 lbs per corner! The Rota's weigh 16.5 lbs each. The tires I bought 17x215x45 weighed in at 19 lbs for a total of 35.5 lbs per corner. A savings of 12.5 lbs PER CORNER!!!

Racers use a formula that says for every pound of rotaional mass saved = 10 lbs off the total weight of the car. This equals a weight loss of 500 lbs!

My car is faster, handles better and looks twice as good as stock!

So, yes... 17's can be a performance gain if done right.

 

which tires did you get? and if you don't mind me asking how much did you pay for it all?

 

Understand I live in Oregon... 'summer' tires are not really an option (I have seen hail in August). I have 3 season tires on the 17's and snow tires on the original 16's.

The tire I got was the General Exclaim in 17x45x215, good wet and dry traction and very quiet. Owner reviews were very high on the Tire Rack site. If I recall, they were about $75 each shipped. Got the Rotas from Oakos.com (Suby Dude was out of stock).

The Rota Sub-Zeros were $650 shipped. I had to mount and balance on my own (two seperate vendors for tires and rims) for $45 and add $100 for Volk lightweight lugs in black. So, about $1100 for all. You can get on my VbGarage and see them on my car!

 

17x8 MB Weapons, 235/40/17's. No issues and my car did not lose low end torque because of wheel/tire application lol

 

Always remember that changing diameter of the tires will make your speedometer misaligned! Other than the change to gearing, I don't know of any other issues, just be aware that you can't use your 16" spare with 17" tires.

FYI: 2.5i and 2.5RS are 16" while WRX up to and including 2005 are 16" while 2006 on are 17".

 

I have a 06 2.5i with Enkei RSF-2 18inch wheels and Fuzion ZRi 40 series tires. Side by side its about half a inch taller than stock and the bare wheel only weighs 17lbs. Drove around all summer didnt notice any torque loss.