Questions about tires.

I have stock 08 wrx rims, Tire size is 205/50-17. I want to know if i can use any tires size for my 17" rims and if it's a bad or good thing to put different tire sizes on it and if it would effect my driving. Looking to buy some used winter tires and it's hard to find the same tires.

 

1. It's recommended you keep to the same outer diameter of tire. you can change widths at will, but changing the OD will affect your gearing and spedo readings.

2. You can not put mismatched sizes on a subaru. all four tires must be the same OD within a very slim margin of error, as any mismatch will cause your center differential to explode. Not a cheap fix.

3. I'd suggest against used tires unless they came off another AWD vehicle, or you can measure them to within the acceptable tolerances of the subaru tread depth differences (1/32nd if i recall). But you should measure them either way. A tread depth tool is $5, a center diff is $700. in parts.

Do the math. paying more up front, will save your ass on the backside.

 

This is your new best friend:

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Enter your stock size, and then you can also check out sizes that will work. Anything more than 3% either way should be considered a no-go.

 

Thanks for the much needed info.

 

You may want to consider buying a set of 16in wheels/tires if your brakes will clear them. 16s are cheaper and will give you more sidewall height, which is a good thing in the winter. Winter tires are the exact opposite of summers, narrower/taller is better.

 

I am 100% positive your stock tires should be wider than 205. I would look into that ASAP!

 

I know that's the stock tire size on my OBS. That is also the correct stock size on the 08 WRX as well, according to: http://www.cars101.com/subaru/impreza/wrxsti2008.html

OP, I run 225/45-17 in winter tires, for example. You can get away with some width and height differences as long as they aren't dramatically different. As Shorten posted above, use the tirecalc and compare prospective sizes.

Just make sure they are a true matched set in all aspects. Brand, wear, etc. if buying used.

If these fit over your brakes, look here as it's well within acceptable size difference: http://www.mnsubaru.com/threads/winter-tires-general-altimax-arctic-205-55-r16.47368/#post-778903

 

That is scary because my 06 Forester runs wider tires and so does the 07 WRX...

 

Well, if you follow the link and look around, you'll see that it only lasted one year. The 09 WRX has 225 width tires.