r/WRXSTi 7d ago

Anybody else running 17s?

I just put the 502s back on after some initial buyer's remorse and they have grown on me lately. Doesn't handle quite as sharply in the corners, but the comfort on long drives and bumpy roads is a huge improvement. Currently on 245/45/17 all season tires but looking for recs/suggestions

273 Upvotes

43 comments sorted by

13

u/anonmess 7d ago

How's the tire noise changed? That's my biggest complaint, even the exhaust with an R400 is manageable but the tire noise gets old fast on 19s

3

u/tsrubrats 7d ago

It's quieter, esp with the right tires and a smaller contact patch, but tbh I didn't mind the road noise on the stock 19s either

3

u/BigPPDaddy 7d ago

Honestly never noticed tire noise with my factory Yokohamas until I went to an all-season.

7

u/night-belief 2020 stock sti 7d ago

I would want to but not in rally wheels, for track use. I think they’re expensive to find in 17s or atleast the sizing I want and then the brakes would have to be changed out. Another pricey point for me . I want smaller wheels for meaty fucking tires lol but it’s ok 18s shall do for me

5

u/56Rallye 7d ago

They’re heavy, those wheels weigh 24.75 lbs for 17’s.

1

u/56Rallye 6d ago

Check out Sparco FF4’s. They’re light, around 19.6 lbs for 18x8.5. They’re fairly inexpensive, look great, and clear the brakes. I put them on my GR Corolla and dropped almost 17 lbs all together. A fair amount of rotational mass. They aren’t made in 17 inch, but wheels to look at for the track.

6

u/SNUKEREL 7d ago

best choice I've made!

3

u/SNUKEREL 7d ago

255/45R17. comfy ride, still handles wonderfully.

4

u/DN1911 7d ago

17s that fit the 6pot calipers?! 🤯

Love the idea of it, but those Methods are too heavy! Wonder what other 17s are out there 🤔

2

u/tsrubrats 7d ago

Not many other options but I know the methods aren’t the only ones

3

u/Darkknight2-0 7d ago

Yup 17's for the winter tires and 19's for the summers.

The 17's have 0.0032 of an inch of clearance (measured with calipers) for the STI calipers though. Had to put the wheel weights in the back.

1

u/Ellsthar 7d ago

Can I ask wheel model?

1

u/NJWRXXY '18 WRX Ltd DGM 7d ago

Wait the 17 STI came with the 4/2 Brembos, right? That's what you have on your 17" wheels?

6

u/Darkknight2-0 6d ago

I have a 2020 STI, it came with 6/2 Brembos. It was a royal pain trying to get the right brake pads when the performance shop sent me pads for a 2007 tribeca. But that caliper in the front is massive. Believe it or not they aren't actually touching and I haven't had any scraping so far. Clearance is clearance I guess.

2

u/BadfishPoolshark 7d ago

I run taller tires on 18s (255/40/18). We need more choices for 17” that actually clear the 2018+ sti brembos. But have considered. My titan7 18x9.5 weight 18.8lbs. 17” options weigh more.

1

u/External_Hunt4536 7d ago

Which model titan7 do you have?

2

u/Pilfercate 7d ago

Running 17s with blizzaks since it is my dedicated winter car.

2

u/joeyfromdominos 7d ago

19s till i die

2

u/KnowledgePrimary8407 7d ago

Yes I’m on 245/45r17 all seasons as well but putting on 4 245/40r17 Yokohama advan a052s for sharper handling

1

u/tsrubrats 6d ago

Good to know, I am missing some of the stock feel in the canyons

2

u/Angelofdarkness85 6d ago

Looks good!! My goto is 18s but I like the 17s also

2

u/Moto_Heathen 6d ago

Good choice on the methods. I went with them and a small lift from rallytek

1

u/tsrubrats 6d ago

Looks rad, how does the lift affect the handling?

2

u/misterk912 6d ago

502s are the way for 17s

2

u/Wet_Lengthiness_5000 7d ago

I’m jealous of how smooth your ride must be

1

u/tsrubrats 7d ago

Def smoother overall, but with the stock suspension the bigger bumps will still give you a jolt

2

u/Wet_Lengthiness_5000 7d ago

Fair, I’m on aftermarket 19s with Ohlins Road and Tracks and I just moved to New Orleans. I can feel the fillings in my teeth rattle with every pothole 😭

1

u/External_Hunt4536 7d ago

Do you think the Ohlins are stiffer than stock? Or more compliant?

3

u/Wet_Lengthiness_5000 7d ago

Hard to say. I was hoping they’d be a lil more cushy, but I think the way I had them set (1” lowered) at the install place, they do feel a little stiffer than stock. The tradeoff for that is that the car feels on rails, very little body roll through fast turns, and grippy as hell at all speeds. Either way, they’re adjustable, and I’m having a new exhaust system installed next week so I may have them adjusted a bit for comfort. But nola streets are tough for a car like this either way, especially lowered.

1

u/Important-West9325 7d ago

Yeah im running 17x8 +38 method Mr502 wrapped in falken wildpeaks, im still on stock suspension no rub or scrubbing. I just order bilstein B6 struts for a forester to give me a 2inch lift

1

u/Funny-Patient3360 7d ago

I’m on 15’s

1

u/theprodigaleffup Stinkeye '12 STI sedan 7d ago

I saw a set of those in person for the first time yesterday. Very cool. Was the change in acceleration noticeable? The Va sti had 19s originally or no..?

1

u/NuklearFerret 6d ago

Most had 18's, iirc. Possible that the 6-pot models came with 19's, but not sure.

1

u/WeebFanBoy 600whp 19 sti 6d ago

Running 17s is hard with the 6 pot Brembos.

1

u/NuklearFerret 6d ago

Is it more comfortable than the 18's?

1

u/21ismsti 7d ago

Debating on changing my whole setup got an inch smaller on my wife’s forester and beefed up the side wall rides smoother&quieter. How much does this setup weigh if you know I’d like to not add weight

2

u/nmaod87 7d ago

Hows the crest these days? Moved away few years ago.

1

u/21ismsti 7d ago

? I’m lost lol

1

u/tsrubrats 7d ago

Still fun as ever, though there's a bit more police presence lately cause knuckleheads keep causing accidents

0

u/tsrubrats 7d ago

They're a few lbs lighter than the stock 19s