17x8 w/48 offset. what tires that wont hit the struts?

[azn2nr]

like the subject says. i want 17x8 torques but im afraid that they will hit the strut perch. im on agx's with whitelines. if need be i could probaly get 5mm spacers and new studs but would rather not. i know that ill need to roll the fenders.

any possible tire recomedations would be very helpful.

thanks in advance

[BAC5.2]

The rim will be SO close to rubbing the strut, I doubt you'd be able to fit any decent tire on there.

Hell, a 17x7.5 +48 has about 3/4" clearance on the strut body itself.

With .5" of clearance, you'll be HARD PRESSED to fit a tire that won't rub.

On a 225/45/17, I am ~10mm from the spring perch.

A 225 sits perfectly on a 7.5" rim, so I don't know what you are shooting for on an 8" rim, but I don't think anything wider than a 225 will clear the strut OR the fender.

Picture of the clearence:



Picture of the flushness of a 225 on a 7.5" rim:



Picture of width:



Picture of a 225 sitting on a 7.5" rim. Can't ask for a better fit:



What are your plans on going with an 8" rim?

If you had coilovers, then you would do a little better if you had a higher offset wheel.

Space it out, and you'll have to FLARE your fenders, not just roll them.

[azn2nr]

well with the spacers putting the offset at 43 thats only 5mm extra so the fender clearence doesnt worry me as much as the strut clearence.

what im shooting for is somethin that will handle realy good. ive had 7.5 on a civic hatch and that handled like a dream. i figure that this is a bigger car so a wider wheel would do better to balence the car thourgh turns. i enjoy mountain touge grip more than anything so thats what they would be for mostly

[BAC5.2]

Fender clearence SHOULD worry you.

Even rolled, I still rub on hard bumps when the strut bottoms out.

5mm might clear you on the strut, but even still, your on a wider rim, and it might not be enough.

A 225 fits perfectly on a 7.5" rim. I doubt anything wider than that will fit with a strut and that high an offset.

If you had coilovers, and lower offset wheels, then it might work.

The torque's come in 17x7.5, what's wrong with them?

I'm not saying NOT to do it, I just don't know that it would fit that well with a strut. Bump it out 5mm, and it would clear the strut (maybe, and that's with a 225), but you'd have fender clearence issues then.

Seriously, how wide a tire are you thinking of running? Forget rim width, how wide a tire do you want to run?

[azn2nr]

im not sure what tire i want to run. i was thinking 245/40 but im thinkin thoes would be pushin it a little too far.

theres nothing wrong with 7.5 but a bigger car needs wider wheels. i mean anything is better than what i have i just want the best instead.

if it wont fit ill get the 7.5 i just reall wanted 8.

[BAC5.2]

A 245 won't fit with struts and stock fenders.

Seriously, 225's push it IMO. They are still pretty close for comfort.

The Legacy is big, but not THAT big.

Just run a sticky 225 and live happily knowing your $200each tire isn't going to get Shreaded by the fender.

If you REALLY want 17x8's and a 245, then go for it. I think one required mod would be coilovers, and a lower offset wheel, and perhaps flare your fenders.

[scottzg]

Just keep in mind that a wider tire is going to encourage understeer, have less feel, and be louder.

Understeer is found because the tire contact patch cannot deform as much, less slip angle.

Less feel because they generate more resistance when steered. Some folk feel resistance created by the effectively wider front track and think "wow! my car handles great now!" but this is an illusion.

I remember that the change in the shape of the contact patch makes the car a bit harder to control in a slide, and obviously increases your chances of hydroplaning (although i can't cite a reference)

Extra noise is created by the obvious extra surface on the road, along with the lower profile that doesn't absorb minor bumps. Also worth consideration is the extra unsprung weight, which would ideally have harder struts and springs to keep it in check. The unsprung weight and added wear also slows you down and harms mpg (albeit not very much)


Ususally the reason for going to a wider (and or larger) rim and tire is because the new tires are a much softer compound. Style has taken the same route; much like the aluminum wing.

[evolutionmovement]

Bump steer and tramlining will also be worse. My car even tracked straighter with the skinnier tires (and I only went up to a 205). The extra wheel/tire unsprung weight won't help response either, but if that's what you want ...

The only way to fit something that big is to flare the fenders (think 22B maybe) and I would get the wider track control arms to the WRX sedan possibly to push the wheels out more. Coil overs would also buy you some space.

Steve