Ok so I was trying to budget some new rims and tires but it's just not gonna work out anytime soon. My question is if I replace my RE92's with something like S03's or maybe a high performance all season tire, how much of an improvement will I see over the stock tires? Also if at some point down the line I DO get new 17" rims, how big of an improvement would this be over the 16" stock rims with good tires? I've searched but no one seems to have really commented on these comparisons. I understand the benefits of larger rims (smaller side wall, "stiffer" tire, possibly wider tires) but I'm just wondering how big of an improvement this is over the stock rims with GOOD tires. See most people upgrade both their rims and tires and say "It's like a night and day difference!" What I'm trying to find out is, how much of that improvement is tire and how much is wheels? Thanks in advance for your replies!

 

bump

 

The improvement is significant. The OE tires are a giant compromise in all senses of the the word. A tire like the S-03 will offer dramatic improvements in cornering and responsiveness with a small increase in noise and small decrease in longevity. You would even notice a great improvement with an ultra high performance all-season tire like the Conti Extreme Contact or Yokohama AVS DB S2.

I also recommend going with the 225/50 instead of the original 205/55 because I think it looks better with no side effects.

 

Sweet, that's just what I wanted to hear. Guess I'll make the upgrade to 17" rims sometime in the distant future... For now I'm just gonna get some nice tires. So what about the performance differences between the 16" and 17" rims? Huge difference?

 

bump on the 16" vs. 17" performance comparison question... How big of a difference is it? Assuming the 16' stock rims were fitted with sticky rubber...

 

The performance difference with same width/outer diameter tires of the exact same model is not dramatic. It exists, but it is not dramatic. For those on a budget, the 225/50 on the stock wheels has proven itself a wonderful upgrade.

 

If you get S03s, I'd stick to 205/55 or 205/50, because they are always wider than the indicated size. They have the proper diameter for it though. Dexter, do you think the 225/50R16 S03s would be okay on a WRX wheel?

I had 205/50R16 S03s on my stock RS wheels, and they were very obviously wider on the car than the RE92s, by .9" according to the specs listed on TireRack. I don't think 225s would even fit, because the 215/45R17 S03s I have on my RS now rub like crazy if I didn't have 2.5 degrees of camber in the rear.

 

It specs out with a 6 - 8" wheel, so it'll fit fine. Good idea? I say yes. Section width of 9.1 on a 6.5" wheel - which has a lip to lip measurement of about 7.5" means 3/4" to 1" overhang on either side. That's good in my book - but it's very subjective. I like the overhang for rim protection and lateral traction from the wider tire. Wha'da you think BAN?

 

heh, rim protection- good point. I scrubbed about 90% of both my right side stock wheels, and I already have a 6" rash on one of my Gram Lights. My only concern is the possibility of the tread bulging and losing a little bit of grip on the shoulders during hard driving. I don't know if that's an issue with a stiff tire like the S03 though. And that's really the only tire, along with maybe Kumho MXs, that this is really an isue with. Pretty much any other 225 should be okay, IMHO.

 

That's a good point - however, in these types of performers the belts under the tread don't allow for significant deformation within the recommend rim width range.

 

Kumho MX's would offer similar performance at a lower cost.

 

In the dry, yes. But in the rain, S03s OWNS j00! Right now though, based on the feedback from friends, I would rate the MXs as the best autocross/second set of tires deal out there, better than the Falken Azenis.

 

The differences are a little more than I expected, the 16 has a taller sidewall, so theres a little more tire roll which translates to slightly less precise turn-in, and a little less distinction in feel near the limits of adhesion.
But they are a little less prone to pulling on crowned roads, and are considerable smoother over bumps, potholes and RR tracks.

The lower profile 17s ride a bit harsher, but are noticably more responsive to driver input.

Another thing to consider carefully- not only is there the one time cost of the wheels, but tires cost more for larger diameters, and some specialized tires like gravel rally tires or really serious snow tires can be hard to find in 17" sizes.

I'm at the point where I have 1 set of 17s pretty much only for summer driving, and like 3 and a half full sets of 16s, 5 gravel tires, 5 old Yoko intermediates a bald set of 4 re92's that will be getting snow shoes soon.

 

You'd have to be pretty nutz to find that very small difference in the wet....

 

Well, I found it, as did JoltdudeUC when he droe my car on some pretty sweet roads in the rain this august.:banana: