Hi!

I have a stock 16" rims on my WRX 2002. Stock tire size is 205/55R16. I do have a set of not bad tires left from my another car, but the size is different. They are Michelin Pilot Alpin 225/50R16. Accordingly to Tire Size Calculator from http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html this new tires are almost exact match for the old ones. The difference - new ones are 20mm wider.

Will they fit on stock rims? Or is it just a bad idea?

Thank you!

 

They'll fit perfectly. That's a very popular thing to do on the WRX. It would be a great move.

 

Thank you, Dexter! I'm glad to hear that they will fit fine!

Oh, by the way, speaking about rims. What will be better - to put this Michelins on stock alloy rims or to buy a set of regular, not alloy wheels? Last winter I had a nasty problem while playing on snow - the snow and ice were kind of plugging the rims, and on speed 30+mph there was huge vibration. Supposedly, regular rims should be better - they are not flat on inside.
So, am I just imagining the possible impovement?

Thanks!

 

I'd put the snows on the alloys, unless you plan on putting summer tires back on them in the Spring. They're very durable and look/work well. Snow will build up on any wheel. At least with alloys you can see it compared to it building up under a hubcap.

 

Dexter,

Won't the 225 tires cup on the 6.5 inch wide wheels?
Thanks.

psycho

 

No - they are designed to perfectly fit 6 - 8 inch wheels.

 

Here's a .pdf of the application guide for those tires (tire size & wheel widths):

http://www.michelinman.com/assets/pd...pilotalpin.pdf

- Kean

 

.....I'd like to see a picture of that. That tire is way too big for a 6.5" wheel.

 

How is the crowning?
I'm really concerned about it, and I'm just gonna go with 225s.
Thanks.

psycho

 

Would a set of 17x7.5 48 offset w/ 225/45/17s fit on a 04 WRX wagon without any rubbing on the inner rear fenders. I don't want to have to modify anything.

 

I'm pretty sure that 225s will rub on a wagon. 215 is the widest that I've heard of on a wagon.

 

It all depends on the specific tire. I'm sure you can find some 215s that won't work, but likewise you can find some 235s that will. Look at the technical specs on tirerack or the manufacturers website, thats what really matters.

 

It depends on what kind of drop you're gonna go with. On a stock suspensioned 02 wagon that my mom has, we put 225/45/17 S0-3's on a set of 17' P1's, there's no rub whatsoever.