Winter Time Tire Fitment

[Bg8780]

Looking at picking up WS80 Blizzaks for my stock wheels.

What is the skinniest tire with the highest sidewall I can run without rubbing?

I am on an Eibach Prokit and a STi front lip, so I'm looking to run something like 205/55/17. I'm trying to run a higher sidewall measurement to gain some ground clearance. Would something like 195/60/17 even be a possibility?

Thanks in advance!

[Shark_Bait88]

That's going to be a very tall setup, much taller than stock. I can't say from personal experience, but I would expect it to rub; especially with the 1" drop from the ProKit.

I definitely wouldn't go narrower than 205 on the stock wheels. I went through winter in Chicago on stock wheels and stock sized WS80s this past winter, and the car performed amazingly. This year I decided to downsize to 16x6.5" wheels with a set of 205/55/16 WS80s. The setup is just slightly taller than stock, and I expect it to work even better.

If you want to go that narrow and tall, I'd downsize your winter wheels. I suppose that defeats the intended purpose to really raise the car up, but with such a mild drop you should be fine. Plenty of people out here ran lower than that last winter. Only one cracked STi lip, and that's because he went deep into some snow after spinning off course during a rallyx in the middle of a frozen lake.

[Bg8780]

Originally Posted by Shark_Bait88

That's going to be a very tall setup, much taller than stock. I can't say from personal experience, but I would expect it to rub; especially with the 1" drop from the ProKit.

I definitely wouldn't go narrower than 205 on the stock wheels. I went through winter in Chicago on stock wheels and stock sized WS80s this past winter, and the car performed amazingly. This year I decided to downsize to 16x6.5" wheels with a set of 205/55/16 WS80s. The setup is just slightly taller than stock, and I expect it to work even better.

If you want to go that narrow and tall, I'd downsize your winter wheels. I suppose that defeats the intended purpose to really raise the car up, but with such a mild drop you should be fine. Plenty of people out here ran lower than that last winter. Only one cracked STi lip, and that's because he went deep into some snow after spinning off course during a rallyx in the middle of a frozen lake.

Exactly the info I was looking for! Thank you! I'll pick up some 215/55/17 for the stock wheels and see how it goes.

Thanks again!

[adamg]

i had my car on stock series.blue wheels and 215/45/17 winter tires last year and lowered about 3" with sti lip, skirts, and rear splats.

had no problems

[frslee]

You can go with tirerack's recommendation of either 215/45/17 or 205/50/17.

[churchx]

.. i'd go for something like 205/50R17. It's just +2% so no much gains in ground clearance, bet it also will mean that it will be similar to stock 215/45/R17. 195 might be overkill, but 205 of just one step narrower sounds fine on stock wheels, especially because those will be winter tires, that benefit from narrower contact patch/higher weight/pressure per area.
At least that would be my choice for next winter, for this i'll burn stock-sized free winter tires that dealer had thrown in due car purchase being in late last autumn

[Shark_Bait88]

Originally Posted by Bg8780

Exactly the info I was looking for! Thank you! I'll pick up some 215/55/17 for the stock wheels and see how it goes.

Thanks again!

I'd go 215/45/17 or 205/50/17, per what other people have said. The 215/55 will still be pretty big.

[Vten]

I'm using blizzaks lm60 235/45/17 , no rubs ,17x9.25 et36 wheels, max drop on tein street flex coils.

[gravitylover]

I run 205/50/17 Conti EWC's on Outback wheels. Quite a bit more comfy ride than stock, phenomenal bad weather traction (wet or snow) and predictable cold pavement handling at all speeds. I do 110 miles a day five days a week with ~95 miles at highway speeds and the rest in NYC and the neighborhood I live in.

[cjd]

I have 205/50/17 on a 7.5" (yes, wider than ideal) wheel and it's not bad at all.

I admit I'm very tempted to sell these (Pirelli Sottozero 3) and update to slightly wider Nokian WRG3, since that would fill the seasonal gap when my summer tires aren't up to snuff a bit better... The Pirelli is actually rather decent all around, but is softer feeling than the WRG3 - probably better in actual deep snow, but it's more sub-freezing temps and slush/wet/dry that I see here in Chicago.

I'd have preferred a 7" wheel but also wanted to have the option of leaving the BBK on the car with the intent to drive it only in an emergency... I really need a 3 car garage, but that's not happening in the city easily!

[Shark_Bait88]

Originally Posted by cjd

I have 205/50/17 on a 7.5" (yes, wider than ideal) wheel and it's not bad at all.

I admit I'm very tempted to sell these (Pirelli Sottozero 3) and update to slightly wider Nokian WRG3, since that would fill the seasonal gap when my summer tires aren't up to snuff a bit better... The Pirelli is actually rather decent all around, but is softer feeling than the WRG3 - probably better in actual deep snow, but it's more sub-freezing temps and slush/wet/dry that I see here in Chicago.

I'd have preferred a 7" wheel but also wanted to have the option of leaving the BBK on the car with the intent to drive it only in an emergency... I really need a 3 car garage, but that's not happening in the city easily!

Hell, I'd be happy with a one car garage! Even that's a lot to ask around the city. haha

[cjd]

Originally Posted by Shark_Bait88

Hell, I'd be happy with a one car garage! Even that's a lot to ask around the city. haha

It's easier if you somehow swing a single family house... I don't have room for a lift though, so not all dreams become reality. I also only drive because I want to, though... Something nice about that.