Impreza RB5 - 17" alloys

[Lefty 200 Drams]

I've got a 99MY Impreza Turbo with some rather scabby OE 16's and some crappy tyres on it.

Do RB5-spec 17's make much difference to the ride/handling? I'll be getting the car in for a geo setup in the next week or two so if they're worth getting I'd like to do it before I get the alignment done.

Cheers
Iain

[Jonny_693]

I have RB5 wheels on mine and have just swapped back to them after being on OE 16" wheels with snow tyres, its so much nicer to drive! When I bought the car it had wrongly fitted 205/40/17's on and the ride was poor. IIRC the suggested size by subaru is 205/45/17 but many people including myself run 215/40/17's and the difference between the 2 is night and day. Much nicer ride and they feel a lot grippier and planted despite the slightly higher sidewall. Certainly worth the upgrade IMO.

[Lefty 200 Drams]

Thanks for that

What are the exact size of the alloys?

Cheers
iain

[Jonny_693]

They are 17 x 7 inches, some more info here for you :

http://www.rb5ownersclub.co.uk/techspec.asp

[acf8181]

Jonny_693 said:

I have RB5 wheels on mine and have just swapped back to them after being on OE 16" wheels with snow tyres, its so much nicer to drive! When I bought the car it had wrongly fitted 205/40/17's on and the ride was poor. IIRC the suggested size by subaru is 205/45/17 but many people including myself run 215/40/17's and the difference between the 2 is night and day. Much nicer ride and they feel a lot grippier and planted despite the slightly higher sidewall. Certainly worth the upgrade IMO.

That doesn't make sense.....the 215/40 is less sidewall height than 205/45

i got 17" wheels on my subaru, but am thinking of going back to 16"s as the ride quality isn't as good as i'd like...i do have the prodrive suspension mind

[DocJock]

I prefer the handling on 205.50.16s to 215.40.17s.

More supple and less tendency to tramline with a larger envelope at the limit of grip.

[dnb]

I find it depends more on the make of tyre than the difference between 205/45 and 215/40.

[Jonny_693]

acf8181 said:

That doesn't make sense.....the 215/40 is less sidewall height than 205/45

i got 17" wheels on my subaru, but am thinking of going back to 16"s as the ride quality isn't as good as i'd like...i do have the prodrive suspension mind

Ok I'll give you that its badly worded. What I meant was the 215/40 are much better than the 205/40. I can't vouch for 205/45 because I've never driven on them.

[Lefty 200 Drams]

Missed that set of genuine RB5 alloys.

BUT, I thought they were just Supertourismos?

This website says that the 17" alloys won't fit over the 4-pot calipers fitted to the MY99

http://www.iwoc.co.uk/prodrive2.html

[rb5230]

i have 205/45/17s on mine and next i will be going for the 215/40/17s in a Toyo T1R as i dont find the ride too hard and would appreciate the extra width, many brands are actually cheaper in this size too.

[markCSC]

Lefty 200 Drams said:

Missed that set of genuine RB5 alloys.

BUT, I thought they were just Supertourismos?

This website says that the 17" alloys won't fit over the 4-pot calipers fitted to the MY99

http://www.iwoc.co.uk/prodrive2.html

IIRC The oringial Speedlines don't fit over 4pots. RB5 wheels are slightly different so do fit.

[Lefty 200 Drams]

Ahhh, thanks. I didn't realise the rb5 alloys were different.



Anyone know if 17" Speedline Corse will fit over the 4-pots?

[chippy17]

afaik the only thing Prodrive changed on the RB5 (other than the engine upgrade) was the wheels which transformed the handling apparently, nothing else was changed suspension wise

[ST170Bird]

I have an RB5 now, and the wheels are different - they were specially picked for the RB5, and fit easily over the standard 4 pots, and also the big brake (Alcon/Prodrive) upgrade. I have 205/45/R17 on them, and still run with Pirelli PZero, which were the original spec.

Edited by ST170Bird on Sunday 23 May 10:26

[Lefty 200 Drams]

Dammit. So the rb5 alloys are definitely not oz supertourismo.

I'm going to get the 16's refurbed and get some winter tyres for them. I really don't want to go as big as 18 so will keep trying to find some genuine rb5 17's. Unless anyone knows what 17's will fit over the 4-pot calipers?

Ta!

[ST170Bird]

Definately not oz, the P1 had oz wheels, but the RB has speedlines.
Good luck finding some - very hard to come by.

[Lefty 200 Drams]

To further complicate matters I've just bought 4 gravel spec 15x7 rallly wheels from a friend of a friend who had them on an old group n car.

Now, whether to keep them for winter tyres or to get some sticky tyres for these?

I'd really planned on getting some 17's for the summer and track use and keep the 16's for winter tyres but the 15's were such a good price I couldn't help myself

[rb5230]

Lefty 200 Drams said:

To further complicate matters I've just bought 4 gravel spec 15x7 rallly wheels from a friend of a friend who had them on an old group n car.

Now, whether to keep them for winter tyres or to get some sticky tyres for these?

I'd really planned on getting some 17's for the summer and track use and keep the 16's for winter tyres but the 15's were such a good price I couldn't help myself

any pics?

[Lefty 200 Drams]

I'll be collecting them this weekend so will put some pics up. White, 5-spokes.

I'll probably go ahead with 17's for road-use and try to sell the 16's, they won't be worth much I daresay.

I've been assured the 15" rally wheels will fit over the 4-pot calipers. Don't know if they'll restrict my choices when i come to upgrading the brakes. Anyway, I got the 4 for £100 which I thought was a decent price so, if it comes to it, i hope I'll be able to get the money back by flogging them on.

[rb5230]

got the wheels on?

does anyone know if 17inch wheels from a bug eye impreza fit on a classic impreza without any sort of mods to make them fit? i know they do go as i have seen them but do i need to use spacers? i was thinking about getting a set to put on my car while mine go to get refurbed and then maybe keeping them as a winter set.