Help a newbie with stock rims decision please!!

Hi all,

I'm looking to make the '04 WRX my next car, but I am unsure about what direction to go with the wheels/tires. The car will be used primarily for common/everyday uses, highway speeding, zipping around town, that sort of thing. I live in NY, so I need to be able to handle snow driving too, and potholes are occasionally a factor. Should I stick with the stock 16's, or upgrade to the 17's (of the 2 Subaru options, I prefer the 5-spoke), and if 17 is the way to go, should I get the OE that they offer for $1300 extra, or buy aftermarket?

I've also read that many don't like the tires that come on the 16's (the RE-92's I think), are the ones that come on the 17's any better, or are they the same?

Also, I can't really afford to have two different sets of wheels/tires, so if you can, please make suggestions with that in mind. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks !!

glad i can help a guy out here. I suggest aftermarket. And you can make the desicion early. you can go here (http://www.tirerack.com) . well you can see how the rims look on the car

Hope i was a good help :biggrin:

Very helpful, much thanks. That website is great, always looked at pictures of rims elsewhere and wondered what they would look like on the car.

Much appreciated, thanks again.

Can't help you with your rim choice, but as far as tires go, your tires are the most important part of you car. If you have crap tires it doesn't matter how much HP you have or how good your suspension is, you won't be able to use it. All-season tire are not great in summer or winter, they are a compromise for both. Also, one set of summer tires and one set of winter tires should last you as long as two sets of all-seasons, so in the long run they are really not more expensive, except for the cost of the extra set of rims and the cost of changing them twice a year. If your getting after-market rims anyway put the winters on the OE rims.

ADR makes a nice set of BBS style rims.
http://www.racerwheel.com/wadr-pkg-mclassic.html I also have bfgoodrich g-force kdw's on my car, great ZR tire and very inexpensive too, about $120 a tire depending on size.