[blksubie]

I asked this question on NASIOC as well, just hoping that someone will help. I've E-mailed all of the Manufactures and one response. I'm hoping some is running or has the ability to test fix these rims....

I don't under stand way more people are not getting wider rims?? I want to get 17X9 for my 05 STI.... But no one is running them. I think the widest rim I hear any body is running is an 8.5in. If I'm going to spend money on new rims I want a bigger size.


I want to know what works with the following rims. These are all sizes that they currently sell in Japan, and in the US.

-Volk CE28N in a 17X9
-Gram Lights 57F 17X9.5
-5zigen GN+ 17X9.5
-5zigen RN01R-C 17X9
-Advan RGII 17X9 and 17X9.5
-Advan RS 17X9 and 17X9.5
-Advan TCII 17X9.5

I understand some fender rolling or moding may be needed, but if I'm going to get bigger rims I'm going BIG and not the same size of the 05 STI BBS which are very good rims in my eyes and would be hard to replace if I got the same size rim.... If someone can help clear this up I would be very happy.....

Originally Posted by T3h_Clap

Alright I'll go into a little more detail on these specific wheels.

First MY04 STi (5x100) (these are offsets that will clear the brakes, fitment depends greatly on suspension setup and desired tire size.)

-Volk CE28N 17X9 +43mm is the only offset for these that makes sense for a MY04 STi or WRX (MY02-MY06)

-Gram Lights 57F 17X9.5 Doesn't exist in 5x100

-5zigen GN+ 17X9.5 Doesn't exist in 5x100

-5zigen FN01R-C 17X9 Doesn't exist in 5x100

-Advan (there are no 17x9 or 17x9.5 5x100 wheels).


MY05+ STi (5x114.3) (these are offsets that will clear the brakes (unless otherwise noted), fitment depends greatly on suspension setup and desired tire size.)

-Volk CE28N 17X9 +40mm* and +35mm**. +40mm is the only offset for these that makes sense for a MY05+ STi

-Volk CE28N 17X9.5 +40mm and +47mm. These will clear the calipers, but due to strut clearances you would be limited in tire size

-Volk TE37 17x9 +40mm* and +35mm**. Same as the CE28Ns the +40mm is best.

-Volk TE37 17x9.5 +40mm* and +35mm** The +40mm maybe too high of an offset to run a tire designed for the wheel. +35mm would be a better option, especially for a Autox/Track car.

-Volk TE3706 17x9 +40mm*

-Gram Lights 57F 17X9.5 +38mm. This isn't a terrible offset for a 9.5" wheel, but it will not fit under stock fenders (without some serious camber/roll/pull).

-5zigen GN+ 17X9.5 they have a +43mm but I'm not sure those will clear the calipers, and even if they did the offset is too high.

-5zigen FN01R-C 17X9 +43mm this is the ideal 9" wheel for someone on stock struts***, fits with most coilovers as long as you're not running larger than 255s. Fits with some coilovers with 275/40 17 V710s

-5zigen FN01R-C 17X10 +35mm and +25mm these wheels are not for street what so ever. Autox/Track only, and coilovers are needed.

-Advan RGII 17X9 +45mm is available, I'm searching for confirmation on if they clear the calipers. If they do this could be a very good wheel for the street, although you'd still be limited in tire width if running coilovers. Also, it wouldn't necessarily work with all suspensions.

-Advan RS 17X9 Read Advan RGII

-Advan RGII, RS, TCII, RCII 17X9.5 +35mm once again I have no confirmation that these will clear the calipers, but if so the offset is pretty good for an autox car running coilovers.


A few things to note, It is possible to upgrade your Hubs from 5x100 to 5x114.3 using the trackmonkey.com hub conversion kit found here http://www.6gunracing.com/products.asp

this isn't the end all INFO post by any means, please before spending 2500 on wheels be sure they fit, and will work with your desired setup for your desired needs.



*+40mm may still be to wide/low for a street car, I personally wouldn't put these on a street car.

**+35mm may be needed to clear some extra fat coilovers and wide (275) tires. These are not for the street!

*** this doesn't mean it'll work stock struts and any springs (if wanting a setup that can run these with stock struts PM me).

[BoostJunkie]

8.5" width is much safer but with a +42 or +43 offset you might be able to fit a 9". I would try it but I don't want to risk ordering wheels and mounting them only to discover they don't fit.

[Blacktooth]

Originally Posted by BoostJunkie

8.5" width is much safer but with a +42 or +43 offset you might be able to fit a 9". I would try it but I don't want to risk ordering wheels and mounting them only to discover they don't fit.

[evilSTi7]

its because any tire that you can run on the sti without rubbing can be run on an 8.5'' rim.

[TampaSTI]

was told 17x9 would be hard to make work on the STI, they recommended going with a 17x8.5 or 18x8.5

[blksubie]

So here is the Thread that is on NASIOC that we are talking about 17X9+ will work on a 05-06 STI....http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=946327

Here are som cliff notes from that thread on NASIOC

Originally Posted by Prestige Motorsports

At stock or close to stock ride height a 17x9 +43 or less will fit on the 05 and 06 STi with 275 40-17. You can probably run a higher offset if you only run 255 width tires.

Originally Posted by funsti

I am leaning towards some 17x9 5zigen fn01r-c wheels in either the +35 or +43 offset. I have seen many highly competitive autocross STis and Evos using them.

ScoobySouth has 245 r-comps on the +43 offset 17x9 fn01r-cs on his 05 STi without fender rub issue. Right now I have 245/45/17 RT615s on 17x8.0 +43 Rotas without fender rubbing but with slight fender liner rubbing. I am limited to 245 width for STU and the 17x9 should slightly stretch the tire and give me more tread width. I was thinking of possibly doing the 17x9.5 GN+ wheels and stretching the 245/45s even MORE but Falken's approved range is 7.5-9.0. The 235/40/17 Hankook r-s2 z212's approved width range does go to 9.5 but their 245/45/17 only goes to 9.0. Maybe the new 235/40/17 RT615s that are coming out will also have a 9.5" wide wheel listed as their max. But even then the 235/40 may only stretch out on a 9.5 width rim to what a 245/45/17 already is on a simple 17x8.0 wheel so the benefit will only be steering feel and gearing and not grip.

The size I really want is 245/40/17 or maybe even 245/35/17 but I don't think there are any competitive dry tires in that size. The very nice Yokohama Advan Neova AD-07s do come in a 245/40/17 and are listed with a 9.5 width wheel max. I think they may be the ticket.. has anyone used them on those wheels yet? Did you rub fenders? Stiff suspension? I think I saw someone say the 235/40 Yokos were wider than the 245/40 Yokos but the specifications show otherwise. Interestingly the 235/40 Yokos are spec'd with a tread width equal to the 245/45 Falkens of 9.1 inches. The 245/40 Yokos are spec'd at 9.4 inches.


-JWM

Originally Posted by Prestige Motorsports

Well, first I think it would depend on what tire width you wanted. I think with a 245 or 255, it would probably be ok, but let's take a look at it.

The factory 05-06 STI wheels are 8 inches wide with a 53 offset. This means that the factory wheel has 6.08 inches of backspacing.

A 9 inch wide wheel with a 43 offset has backspacing of 6.19 inches which is very close to stock. You probably want to stay pretty close to stock backspacing because you are going to fill any of the extra space with the wider tire.

A 9.5 inch wheel with a 43 offset has backspacing of 6.44 inches, which may be cutting a little too close, but a 9.5 with a 38 offset has 6.24 inches of backspacing which is probably ok...again, depending on the tire choice.

If there is more to add to what some of the guy's on NASIOC that I'm talking to has missed...

[Chayse]

So, Has anyone picked up the 17x9 43 offset FN01R-C wheels from Edge Racing? I was thinking of getting them later this year.

[BrianGT]

Originally Posted by Chayse

So, Has anyone picked up the 17x9 43 offset FN01R-C wheels from Edge Racing? I was thinking of getting them later this year.

I am curious about this also. Anyone?

--
Brian

[Thor RagingThunder]

man, i'd love to see a 17 x 9 wheel work on a d.d. sti!

[sciolist]

Originally Posted by TampaSTI

was told 17x9 would be hard to make work on the STI, they recommended going with a 17x8.5 or 18x8.5

And yet you show a picture of Stompy with his 10.5's on.

The issue is not the wheels, it's the tires. People are currently using up to 285's on 10.5" wheels. I'm sure there will be some experimentation with 315's this season.

For the street, I can't see why you'd want more than a 255. 235's work just fine. A 255 works great on an 8.5" wheel. A 235 would probably be optimized on an 8.5" wheel for track purposes, but you won't have any rim protection for the street.

For autoX, a 275 works well enough on an 8.5" wheel. It would work better on a 9.5" or 10" wheel, but then you're into special order wheels, and the 285 /10.5" setup starts looking attractive.

Just get 8.5" wheels for the street and save your bearings.

[BrianGT]

I love my 17x9 wheels on my evo running 255/40-17 tires and wanted to do the same for the sti. I don't like the idea of running 255/40-17 tires on 17x8 wheels. I doubt that the extra width would be rough on the wheel bearings.

--
Brian

[dailydriversti]

Originally Posted by BrianGT

I love my 17x9 wheels on my evo running 255/40-17 tires and wanted to do the same for the sti. I don't like the idea of running 255/40-17 tires on 17x8 wheels. I doubt that the extra width would be rough on the wheel bearings.

--
Brian

maybe not the width, but the lower offset, which is still debateable.....

[sciolist]

Originally Posted by dailydriversti

maybe not the width, but the lower offset, which is still debateable.....

Exactly, which brings us back to the question of why one needs to use a 9", 10", 10.5" or whatever wheel on the street.

If you're going to be tracking the car a lot you're going to be replacing bearings. If you're going to be autoXing on 285's over 10.5" wheels with -3.5 camber, you're going to be replacing bearings.

I guess it all depends on the results you're trying to get. The 5/114 hub is certainly an advantage, but I would still prefer not to waste my time and money on "bling".

[STI-Man]

its prob for show. so it seems like no one really is answering this guys question and just suggesting he runs 17x8.5's

[sciolist]

Originally Posted by STI-Man

its prob for show. so it seems like no one really is answering this guys question and just suggesting he runs 17x8.5's

For Pete's sake... I said: It depends on the TIRE.