17x8 vs 17x9 - trying to decide - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Racenut · 11-27-2020, 04:03 AM

2013 FR-S. Previous owner put 19x8 wheels on it and just feels bad. Harsh and nervous when pushed on less than perfect roads. I'm going to go to 17x8 or 17x9 and trying to decide what's optimum so figured I'd see if I could get the opinions of people with more miles on this car than me.

Is there a big feel difference between 17x9 with 245/40 tires vs 17x8 with 225/45?

Probably going to put coilovers on it as the stock dampers feel tired after 78K miles. So not too worried about clearance issues.

Plan to keep power close to stock, probably nothing more than exhaust and tune. Have seen some comments that 245's are too much tire for stock power.

Usage will be weekend toy, mountain roads and occasional trackday. My son is a trackday junkie and I wanna go play too. I used to have a WRX that I autocrossed for a few years so I'm not just learning to drive, just learning a new platform.

gen3v8 · 11-27-2020, 05:28 AM

I don`t like 19s period. I have 18 x 8 with 235s and I`m happy.In your shoes by the way

NLSP · 11-27-2020, 06:10 AM

After having tried 17x9 with 245/40 in the past, I'd recommend you go with 17x8 with 225/45. The wider setup makes the car feel less agile and playful, as well as hindering acceleration a bit more.

I run 16x8 with 225/50 now.

DarkPira7e · 11-27-2020, 06:20 AM

I'd also advocate for a 17x7 or 17x8- a 225/45 will be perfect. If you're not going for fitment, stick with a 17x7 and keep the weight down.

Code Monkey · 11-27-2020, 08:51 AM

17x9 and you can run anything between 225 to 255.

Westen86 · 11-27-2020, 10:26 AM

Im currently on 245/40-17. My opinion is that if youre not doing extensive suspension mods, like not more than lowering springs, stick with a narrower tire. 215-225/45 and 225/40-18, or like a 205/55-16 and 225/50-16. The stock suspension cannot support what a large tire can do. The big summer tire I have takes most of the spirit out of the car.

From what you say, a lightweight 17x8 +35 and a 225/45-17 will do everything you want.

TommyW · 11-27-2020, 10:34 AM

If you’re street only then anything more than 225 is just for show.

jflogerzi · 11-27-2020, 10:42 AM

Get the 17x8. I run 245s on the 17x8 rim with no issues. Give you the extra flexibility

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

ZDan · 11-27-2020, 12:45 PM

17x8 with 225/45-17, or 17x9 with 245/40-17, either way is gonna be fine... 17x8 with 225 will be a smidge lighter-weight and also less expensive, will still look and handle great. But I've never felt like 245s on 9" hurt the handling feel on my car. But that might be partly due to -3.4 front camber.

Tire make/model selection is way more important than which size you go with.

jflogerzi · 11-27-2020, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZDan

17x8 with 225/45-17, or 17x9 with 245/40-17, either way is gonna be fine... 17x8 with 225 will be a smidge lighter-weight and also less expensive, will still look and handle great. But I've never felt like 245s on 9" hurt the handling feel on my car. But that might be partly due to -3.4 front camber.

Tire make/model selection is way more important than which size you go with.

I will say this 225s on a NA non track driven car is plenty

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

DarkSideFRS · 11-27-2020, 01:31 PM

I ran 245/40r17 Toyo Proxes Sport on my 17x9. Awesome setup. I actually have a spare set of those tires for sale if u want them. I'm also in Cali

TommyW · 11-27-2020, 03:39 PM

I've run the following
Stock
225 x 17x 8
235 x 17x 8
245 x 18x 8.5

They all have their strong points.

gen3v8 · 11-27-2020, 04:36 PM

I`m using the Bridgestone RE003 or (Firestone indy 500? US) a 235 on a 18x8+48 Enkie. The tires sit nice on the rims and came off my WRX 5x100. Today I`m going to the track and will do just 1 session. New car, new learn and it`s a stock TS setup apart from the Headers tune route.

DarkSunrise · 11-27-2020, 06:34 PM

I've got two sets of wheels that I switch between - 17x8 (225/45/17) and 17x9 (235/45/17). I definitely notice the 17x9 wheels feel a bit heavier and slower in the canyons. But hard to tell whether that's due to the extra weight or sidewall/diameter.

If I were you, I'd get the 17x8. A good 225 will give you plenty of grip at a cheaper cost and with a bit of weight savings. You can also throw a 235 or 245 on if you want to try it out.

Only reason to get a 17x9 is if you wanted to play with even wider tire sizes (255-265).

11-27-2020, 04:03 AM	#1
Racenut Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Drives: 2013 FR-S Location: Santa Cruz, Ca Posts: 39 Thanks: 8 Thanked 82 Times in 24 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	17x8 vs 17x9 - trying to decide 2013 FR-S. Previous owner put 19x8 wheels on it and just feels bad. Harsh and nervous when pushed on less than perfect roads. I'm going to go to 17x8 or 17x9 and trying to decide what's optimum so figured I'd see if I could get the opinions of people with more miles on this car than me. Is there a big feel difference between 17x9 with 245/40 tires vs 17x8 with 225/45? Probably going to put coilovers on it as the stock dampers feel tired after 78K miles. So not too worried about clearance issues. Plan to keep power close to stock, probably nothing more than exhaust and tune. Have seen some comments that 245's are too much tire for stock power. Usage will be weekend toy, mountain roads and occasional trackday. My son is a trackday junkie and I wanna go play too. I used to have a WRX that I autocrossed for a few years so I'm not just learning to drive, just learning a new platform.

11-27-2020, 06:34 PM	#14
DarkSunrise Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 22 BRZ (Previously 13 FR-S) Location: USA Posts: 5,798 Thanks: 2,187 Thanked 4,243 Times in 2,221 Posts Mentioned: 48 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I've got two sets of wheels that I switch between - 17x8 (225/45/17) and 17x9 (235/45/17). I definitely notice the 17x9 wheels feel a bit heavier and slower in the canyons. But hard to tell whether that's due to the extra weight or sidewall/diameter. If I were you, I'd get the 17x8. A good 225 will give you plenty of grip at a cheaper cost and with a bit of weight savings. You can also throw a 235 or 245 on if you want to try it out. Only reason to get a 17x9 is if you wanted to play with even wider tire sizes (255-265). __________________ "Never run out of real estate, traction, and ideas at the same time." 2022 BRZ Build 2013 FR-S Build

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11-27-2020, 05:28 AM	#2
gen3v8 30 minute maintenance Join Date: Oct 2020 Drives: My18 wrxsti Location: Botany Bay Posts: 1,178 Thanks: 769 Thanked 1,236 Times in 631 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I don`t like 19s period. I have 18 x 8 with 235s and I`m happy.In your shoes by the way

11-27-2020, 06:10 AM	#3
NLSP Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Drives: 2014 Ultramarine FR-S Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 520 Thanks: 427 Thanked 558 Times in 246 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	After having tried 17x9 with 245/40 in the past, I'd recommend you go with 17x8 with 225/45. The wider setup makes the car feel less agile and playful, as well as hindering acceleration a bit more. I run 16x8 with 225/50 now.

11-27-2020, 06:20 AM	#4
DarkPira7e Rust bucket enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2017 Drives: 2013 Turbo Firestorm FRS Location: Vermont Posts: 4,072 Thanks: 3,330 Thanked 4,217 Times in 2,121 Posts Mentioned: 33 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'd also advocate for a 17x7 or 17x8- a 225/45 will be perfect. If you're not going for fitment, stick with a 17x7 and keep the weight down.

11-27-2020, 08:51 AM	#5
Code Monkey Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Drives: Subaru BRZ Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 879 Thanks: 985 Thanked 597 Times in 355 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	17x9 and you can run anything between 225 to 255.

11-27-2020, 10:34 AM	#7
TommyW Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Drives: '13 Whiteout Location: San Clemente Posts: 1,493 Thanks: 496 Thanked 1,245 Times in 674 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If you’re street only then anything more than 225 is just for show.

11-27-2020, 12:45 PM	#9
ZDan Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Drives: '23 BRZ Location: Providence, RI Posts: 4,672 Thanks: 1,439 Thanked 4,012 Times in 2,098 Posts Mentioned: 85 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	17x8 with 225/45-17, or 17x9 with 245/40-17, either way is gonna be fine... 17x8 with 225 will be a smidge lighter-weight and also less expensive, will still look and handle great. But I've never felt like 245s on 9" hurt the handling feel on my car. But that might be partly due to -3.4 front camber. Tire make/model selection is way more important than which size you go with.

11-27-2020, 01:31 PM	#11
DarkSideFRS Banned Join Date: Apr 2017 Drives: 2013 pearl white FR-S Location: Socal Posts: 536 Thanks: 39 Thanked 191 Times in 124 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I ran 245/40r17 Toyo Proxes Sport on my 17x9. Awesome setup. I actually have a spare set of those tires for sale if u want them. I'm also in Cali

11-27-2020, 03:39 PM	#12
TommyW Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Drives: '13 Whiteout Location: San Clemente Posts: 1,493 Thanks: 496 Thanked 1,245 Times in 674 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I've run the following Stock 225 x 17x 8 235 x 17x 8 245 x 18x 8.5 They all have their strong points.

11-27-2020, 04:36 PM	#13
gen3v8 30 minute maintenance Join Date: Oct 2020 Drives: My18 wrxsti Location: Botany Bay Posts: 1,178 Thanks: 769 Thanked 1,236 Times in 631 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I`m using the Bridgestone RE003 or (Firestone indy 500? US) a 235 on a 18x8+48 Enkie. The tires sit nice on the rims and came off my WRX 5x100. Today I`m going to the track and will do just 1 session. New car, new learn and it`s a stock TS setup apart from the Headers tune route.

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