STI Wheel Upgrade

Stumpvold

Active Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2017
Messages
142
Location
Norway
wow... well the wheels I was looking at will be way too far out the guards if that is the case...
wheels I was looking at are 18x9 +30

I think stumpvold said he is running 18x9.5 +45 and in his photos they don't seem to be protruding!
Front was protruding a bit before i lowered it. I'm running a couple of degrees of camber inn the front to get them under the fenders, but nothing extreme.
18x9 with 30 offset would come about 9 mm farther out than what I'm running.
 

SkyBeam

Member
Joined
May 2, 2017
Messages
41
I have bought some replacement wheels for mine too. They are Tomason TN17 branded in dimensions 18x8.0 +40.
I can't actually believe that 18x9 +30 will fit. Of course it also depends on the tire dimensions.

On my 18x8.0 +40 I currently fitted the stock tires (225/40/R18). With my wheels it just firmly fits underneath the fender. Note that on the rear fender there is a plastic latch where the fender is bolted-on. This latch arcs to the inside and might collide with your tire. Actually the wheel vendor told me that I need to do fender modifications on my Levorg to use the wheels with 225mm or wider tires. So I used the heat gun to carefully heat the plastic latch and bend it over to the inside to gain a bit more space.
On the front there are no modifications needed.

More modifications would be required with my wheels if I would like to go for 235 or even wider tires. So I guess 225/40/R18 on 8-inch wheels with a +40 offset is as much as you can go. Perhaps a +30 offset can be used with 7-inch wheels without modifications. I believe the OEM wheels were 18x7.5 +55. I am using them in winter now.
 

Stumpvold

Active Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2017
Messages
142
Location
Norway
I have bought some replacement wheels for mine too. They are Tomason TN17 branded in dimensions 18x8.0 +40.
I can't actually believe that 18x9 +30 will fit. Of course it also depends on the tire dimensions.

On my 18x8.0 +40 I currently fitted the stock tires (225/40/R18). With my wheels it just firmly fits underneath the fender. Note that on the rear fender there is a plastic latch where the fender is bolted-on. This latch arcs to the inside and might collide with your tire. Actually the wheel vendor told me that I need to do fender modifications on my Levorg to use the wheels with 225mm or wider tires. So I used the heat gun to carefully heat the plastic latch and bend it over to the inside to gain a bit more space.
On the front there are no modifications needed.

More modifications would be required with my wheels if I would like to go for 235 or even wider tires. So I guess 225/40/R18 on 8-inch wheels with a +40 offset is as much as you can go. Perhaps a +30 offset can be used with 7-inch wheels without modifications. I believe the OEM wheels were 18x7.5 +55. I am using them in winter now.
I run 255/35R18 tires. No modification on 9,5 inch wheels with 45 offset, could probably space it out 3-5 mm also. Front needs a bit of camber to run 9,5, atleast when going as low as I go. With 20mm lowering springs there were no problems with 18x9,5 and 255/35 tires. 5 mm or so poke in the front though.
 

SkyBeam

Member
Joined
May 2, 2017
Messages
41
Well, I wouldn't even be allowed to run anything wider than +15mm on each side. Here in Switzerland it's only allowed to put wheels (or spacers, but for spacers there are even more strict regulations) which widen the car by 1% on each side. The Levorg has a wheel gauge of 1530mm which means I can go for a maximum of 15.3mm on each side. My +40 tires are nos almost exactly at the maximum.
When showing up at the roat traffic licensing department they alreay initially said I can't use those wheels, but then checked again and it was exactly at the maximum allowed range.

Sure this might be different in your country. I know in Germany they are also pretty strict and need to have the tire width being approved with your wheels too. My wheel manufacturer also writes in the general approval document, that you need to modify the rear bumper for 225 wheels and even more modifications for 235 wheels. Here in Switzerland I just modified the latch I referred to and they just went on a test drive trying if anything scratches. If it would, then they don't give approval. But it didn't in my case.

But it's interesting you could even mount 255/35/R18 with 9.5inch and 45 offset. Impressive.
 

AKKO

Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2017
Messages
136
We have similar rules about increasing the track measurements...

Tyres fitted to passenger cars or passenger car derivatives must not be more than 30% wider than vehicle manufacturer’s widest optional tyre. The rim width must not exceed the recommendations for the tyre fitted.

The wheel track of passenger cars (or derivatives) must not be increased by more than 25mm beyond the maximum specified by the vehicle manufacturer for the particular model. This means that the rim offset must not be changed by more than 12.5mm.

Reduction in wheel track must not be performed without approval of the relevant Registration Authority.

Source
https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/pdf/NCOP11_Section_LS_Tyres_Suspension_Steering_Nov_2015_v4.pdf
 
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Stumpvold

Active Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2017
Messages
142
Location
Norway
Well, I wouldn't even be allowed to run anything wider than +15mm on each side. Here in Switzerland it's only allowed to put wheels (or spacers, but for spacers there are even more strict regulations) which widen the car by 1% on each side. The Levorg has a wheel gauge of 1530mm which means I can go for a maximum of 15.3mm on each side. My +40 tires are nos almost exactly at the maximum.
When showing up at the roat traffic licensing department they alreay initially said I can't use those wheels, but then checked again and it was exactly at the maximum allowed range.

Sure this might be different in your country. I know in Germany they are also pretty strict and need to have the tire width being approved with your wheels too. My wheel manufacturer also writes in the general approval document, that you need to modify the rear bumper for 225 wheels and even more modifications for 235 wheels. Here in Switzerland I just modified the latch I referred to and they just went on a test drive trying if anything scratches. If it would, then they don't give approval. But it didn't in my case.

But it's interesting you could even mount 255/35/R18 with 9.5inch and 45 offset. Impressive.
Same rules here. Everything need Tuv approval if it's not original. Carbon fiber hoods needs Tuv too. We follow eu-regulations, even though we are not in the EU. Light bar, air suspension, wheels, and most other things on my car is illegal, and needs to be removed when the car goes to the 4 year checkup (then bi-yearly), or the "TÜV" stops me and asks "nicely" to have a look at my car.
Sweden, wich is a part og the EU, does not have the same rules as us, and does not need Tuv approval.

The tires fits, rubbing wise, but the front ones are around 5 mm on the outside of the car, and would not pass the inspection even with tuv approval.
We are not allowed to change the track more than 15 mm together (7,5mm on each side), and the same goes for spacers, and the spacers must be bolted on, and would need Tuv approval.
The tires needs to be within the limit that STRO says, so so a 9,5 inch rim the tires would need to be between 235 and 265 or so.

So, 255 on a 9,5 inch wheel won't give give you rubbing on the Levorg, but it is not by the book.

I know a guy in Sweden who runs 19x9,5 et42 with 225 tires, coilovers, and as much camber as me on the front, and i guess it does not rub much either.
 
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Leigh

New Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2017
Messages
13
Location
Canberra, Australia
No spacers - can't confirm the ET sorry, can't remember but what AKKO says is probably right. They're not flush but defs look better than the slimmer black Spec-B rims that came with the car...
 

Beau

New Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2017
Messages
6
Location
Bathurst
No spacers - can't confirm the ET sorry, can't remember but what AKKO says is probably right. They're not flush but defs look better than the slimmer black Spec-B rims that came with the car...
Yeah no worries Leigh, do you happen to have a photo from the front or side so we can see how they sit, just out of interest?

We may need to start a dedicated wheel/tyre thread just to share size, width and offsets so people can get an idea???
 

iad

Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2017
Messages
33
Location
Melbourne
That is a good idea. I am in the market for another set of alloy wheels. I know I would like them a bit wider, say 8.5 x 18 like the wrx. Not suref I would want a 19 inch wheel, nor do I have any idea about how different offsets and/or width affects clearance from the guard., or the limits on those dimensions. It would be annoying if they scraped.

Nor do I have any idea which brands are well regarded in terms of quality & which are not. And it would be good to know reputable suppliers & installers people have dealt with.
 

Wilko

New Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2018
Messages
26
Can confirm

Have now fitted Subaru Genuine WRX STI alloys 18x8.5 with 245/40/18 tyres and fit Perfectly and no rubbing or steering issues. Had Bobjanes double check everything before fitting

Car Now Looks more Mean with a wider stance

Also had them painted gloss Black as the std STI grey wheels on Grey was too much GREY ...

Wrapped them with some Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres and so much more responsive

Apparently Subaru had a special on the wheels and offered them up to dealers at a Special price...

Selling the original GTS rims and Michelin PS3's if anyone interested (in another post) tyres only done 4200kms
Mate can I ask what is the offset of these rims?
 
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