51 thoughts on “How Wide of a Tire can I Run on my 2005+ Subaru Impreza WRX STi on Stock Wheels?”

1. Just wondering if ill be good with 255/40/17 falken azenis rt615 on stock suspension.. 06 STI by the way.. eventually plan to get RCE yellows.. I read your blog but just double checking.. thanks

2. Assuming you’re on the Stock 17×8 +53mm wheels you’ll be fine with that setup.

   the high offset of the stock wheels allows this width.

3. What about the yokohama S. Drives. seems to be the same price as the rt615 but looks like they wear better.. sorry for being a P.I.A.

4. it is a quality tire, although not as wide as the 615 nor as grippy. You are correct that it will last longer compared to the max performance tires listed above.

5. Hello,

   I have an 05 STI with the stock wheels and Tien Coilovers (sits almost on the tire with the stock 070’s.

   What size should I go with for Falken 615 or Potenza RE-01R?

   Thanks,
   Brad

6. The tire of choice is really dependent on budget.

   both are excellent tires.

   the RE01R does out perform the 615 in a few categories, but it is also more expensive.

   as for what size tire, it’s tough since you’re on coilovers and therefore have less inboard clearance.

   You could easily run a 225/45/17 like stock, and going to a wider 245 may have issues with rubbing on the strut depending on your alignment settings.

   how much clearance do you have now to the strut?

7. I’ll have to check on the clearance, I just bought the car a few weeks ago.

   Which tire will give a better ride? I hear that both are better for comfort than the stock 070’s.

8. if you were to go to a different wheel you could run a wider tire.

   the stock offset is rather high.

   the RE01Rs are slightly quieter, although both are similar in their ride quality (when comparing similar sizes).

9. Thanks man. Both are an improvement in ride quality over the 070’s though, correct?

10. Yes, both are softer sidewall than the RE070s.

11. with a 2005 sti and 17×8 5×114.3 e48 56.1 hb would the Falken Azenis RT615 255/40/17 be ok with stock suspension with no rub on lock out?
    what about if I had lowering springs?

    thanks

12. I’m ready to buy tires. Looks like I’ll be going with the 615’s. Will the Falken 225/45/17’s be taller/shorter/the same overall compaired to the stock 070’s? I don’t want to end up lower to the ground.

    Thanks,
    Brad

13. Hello,

    I am after a good deal on a 19″ Racing Harts Type CR wheels, but the rear tires have mounted a 255/35-19 tire on them and I am wonder if this size is too big for the rear with stock suspension. The front tires have a regular 225/35-19
    Can anybody tell me if this wheels/tire package will work?
    Thanks,
    Carlos

14. Seto,

    with that offset at stock height you should be ok, but once lowered you’ll run into rubbing issues if you don’t modify the rear fenders.

15. Brad, the 225/45/17 RT615s are the same size as stock. so you’ll be the same height as stock.

16. Carlos,

    It really depends on the width and offset.

    Although as a standard rule of thumb for Subaru cars is run the same size tire front and rear.

    the 255/35/19 is 1″ too tall anyway.

    I would look into a different setup.

17. I was looking to run 245/40 neova ad07’s on my stock STi BBS 17×8’s, but i had a few questions. Has anyone actually tried this setup? My car is 100% stock as far as suspension is concerned, will I have any rubbing or need to have spacers/adjust camber? Also, will i see any noticeable increase in grip over the standard 225/45? Any advice would be much appreciated.

18. I personally haven’t seen this exact (AD07s and Stock BBS’s) setup first hand, but you shouldn’t have any issues with the 245/40/17 AD07. (assuming you’re on an 05+ GD chassis)

    especially on a stock STi.

    I ran 255/40/17 RT615s on my stock wheels without issue or needed camber adjustment.

    and yes the 245/40/17 AD07 will be an improvement over the 225.

    there will be a mild bulge but nothing crazy, the 245/40/17 is a good match for the stock wheels.

19. im planning on runnin bf goodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2 255/40/17 on my stock bbs but i was also going to install the BC Racing BR series coilovers….would this be ok??

20. I have a question about tire width.
    I have a mostly stock ’07 STI; camber is -1.5 degrees in the rear, I have front camber plates. No other mods, no suspension upgrade.
    I run 17×8 Motegi Track Lite wheels with +45mm offset. So my wheels are 8mm further out than in stock +53mm wheels, right?
    I’d like to put wider tires on these rims. Instead of 225/45-17 I was thinking 245/40-17 but I’m getting second thoughts because of fender rubbing due to the offset. I run my car hard on track days and competitions. Got any advice???

21. with a stock suspension you shouldn’t have any issue with that setup.

    but if you lower the car you’re going to have rubbing issues in the rear.

    you could do some fender tweaking to avoid it.

    http://t3hclap.com/archives/49

22. what’s the biggest tire size i can use on 18×8.5 trmotorsports wheels for an 05′ sti?
    more likely the only suspension mod would be rce blacks on ohlins fixed perch struts. i really like the stock height, but i am looking to fill in fender gap while maitaining stock to similar stock height. -thanks

23. So I’m in the market to get some nice wide(r) tires on the stock rims (07 STI), stock suspension. I know 255’s are pushing it, but hell, bigger is better, lol. Your list shows the Z1 Star Specs as 245s. Are 255s too wide for that tire, or will it bulge too much? Because I’m torn between the RT615s and the Star Specs. Thanks!

24. What size can I get away with on an 05 with stock BBS’s? I’m running buddy club coilovers and have tophats and camber plates. Any recommendations on what to do?

25. i just order Falken Azenis RT-615 (245 45 17) for 2006 wrx sti with stock suspension. Hopefully i don’t ended with some rubbing issue??

26. Anthony,
    for an 18×8.5 +48mm wheel with your suspension you could run a 235/40/18 with zero issues. a 245/35/18 should work fine as well, going to a 255/35/18 may have some issues rubbing on the fender depending on camber, but with some minor fender tweaks or evening out the camber you could a 255/35/18.

    Joe,
    The reason I don’t suggest a 255 is it is a little wide for an 8″ wheel. the 245 is a better match. Although you can run a 255 on the stock 17x8s with most lowering spring setups. You could run into issues if you had coilovers.

    Alex,
    with the buddy club coilovers you may run into issues with any tire wider than a 245. the high offset of the stock wheels can cause issues when going wider.

    Ricky, as long as you’re on stock wheels you should be fine.

27. thanks t3h_Clap i went with 245 45 17 on 06 wrx sti and they fit with no problem with stock suspension…

28. Will P215/50R17 fit my 2005 STi?

29. Wondering if you can help me with a decision. I am autoxing, so I want to maintain the stiff, responsive tire feel that I have. But, I want to go as wide as I can with wheel and tire, without rubbing, but not have to modify my suspension any. What wheel width & offset should I focus on, and which size tire can I move to without it feeling less stiff from being too big for the rim?

30. Forgot to mention that I have a stock 2005 STi. – Buzz

31. 06 sti with cobb sport springs will a 225 45 18 fit without any problems? thanks

32. I have an 04′ sti (stock suspension) and just traded my bbs wheels for 17×8 work emotion cr kai’s +32 offset. I want to throw on some 245/40/17 tires but I’m worried about them rubbing. I don’t mind if they stick out a bit as I like the aggressive look but need your opinion.

    Thanks!

33. My son is autoxing his ’06 STi (STU class)in Denver area and we just installed the Buddy Club racing spec coilovers this weekend. We also installed the Ingalls camber bolts in both sets of holes in the rear uprights to increase the tire/spring perch clearance. I dont think the stock wheels would have cleared the strut spring perches without using the camber bolts. Now we have about 1/2″ of clearance with stock rim/tire size. Now my son is concerned over the fitment of the Kosei 9″ rims he has for racing.

    I guess we could install shorter springs to raise the spring perch about the tires or we could use some wheel spacers which would probably require changing out the wheel studs which might be easier to do vs changing springs.

34. I have a 06 STI on RCE Yellows, im looking into buying some 18×9 +44mm offset rims. I really dont want to mod my fenders. Will these fit and what tire size will work without rubbing?

    Thanks

35. on RCE Yellows it maybe tough, they are very low and soft for wide wheels/tires.

    you could go with a 235/40/18, it’s a bit of a stretch on the 9″ wheel but you should be rub free at that offset.

    double check caliper clearance as well.

36. Hey, I was wondering on stock sized rims, if it is possbile to run Pirelli Pzero Nero M+S on a 245/45 config, or if I could push Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus on a 255/40 or 255/45, Id like to push the 45 to close some of the wheel gap

37. Ken, I’m going to assume you have an 05-07 STI. If not please disregard and tell me which car you do have.

    17×8 wheels can run a 255/40 but it’s a little sloppy and it is the same overall diameter as the 225/45/17. Opt for the 245/45/17, it’s as tall as you can go without running into fitment issues and it should fit just fine at stock height.

    do not run a 255/45/17 way too tall.

38. hey man, im not sure what tire to get but i was aiming for the width of 245/40. my suspension mods are kw v3 coilovers, and i got 22 sway bars. would i have any issue running a tire that size??
    thanks

39. Thanks for your advice, I appreciate that you took the time to keep up this fitment blog.

40. How can you install anything whider then 245 on 8 inch rims? From what I can see it’s recomended to used a minimum of 8.5 inch rims with 255. The tire must be all stretch?

41. ’05 STi, stock BBS wheels, RCE yellow springs. Will 245/40-17 tires have any rubbing issues? Thinking of doing some autocross & hpde. Thanks.

42. 245/45/17 on tein SS coilovers or Tanabe DFs springs…
    Will this be an Issue with stock OEM 17′ wheels?

43. I have a 2007 sti with Cobb Lowering Springs, and found a deal on tires I just wanted to make sure I can fit without rubbing. I still have the stock BBS’s. Tires I found were the Bridgestone RE01R 255/40/17. Any rubbing issues before I purchase these?

44. It’ll work. They are a bit wide for the 8″ wheel but they work.

45. 2006 STI. I want to run the RPF1 Enkei 17X8 wheel with the 45 mm offset and want to know how much of a spacer is needed to clear 255 Dunlop ZII tires? Thanks! Autocross car. Thinner is better.

46. 17×8 +45mm RPF1 clears the brakes without a spacer. 255 is a pinch on an 8″ wheel and I don’t suggest it (having ran it in the past it’s slower than a 245 on the 8). With a 245/40/17 on a 17×8 +45mm RPF1s you should clear all suspensions, clear the brembos and shouldn’t require any fender work.

    Now, if you mean to say 17×9 +45mm that’s a different story, the 17×9 +45mm RPF1 requires an 18mm spacer to clear the brembos. We can go into more detail if you’d like via Email. Fill out the form here. http://t3hclap.com/clap-consulting

47. Hello,
    I have a stock 2005 sti with 18″ x 8″ OZ Ultraleggera rims. Will a set of 245/40/18 fit without any clearance issues?
    Thanks for the help!

48. hi i have an 06 sti with stock bbs also running a tein mono flex coilovers with about an inch drop. looking for some new tires and im tring to figure out which one to run either a 235/45 17 a 245/40 17 or a 245/45 17. i dont want to roll the fenders and dont want any rubbing. this is my dd and also sees its fair shair of track time

49. With coilovers and stock high offset wheels a 235/45/17 is the best bet unless we get some more detailed measurements about your specific setup.

50. Hello, I have a 07 STI with Stock wheels, Ground control coilovers (Koni w/ Eiback) and camber plates all around. Currently I have installed Bridgestone RE 11 245/40 17. I need to buy new tires and I’m wondering if RE 71s on 255/40 17 will fit? I don’t want any rubbing since I’m planning to lower the car a little more than what it is now. Before I had RCE Yellows with the RE 11 and had not a problem, and currently I don’t have them either.