'05 Sti dirt tires and fitting.

[Bampalo]

I've been reading around about dirt/rally tires for my Sti, but seeming to still have a few questions. Most of the tires i've run across are naturally for smaller rim sizes which don't fit my car because of the obnoxiously large brakes :)

So basically I'm looking for some advice on some dirt tires that will fit the stock 17" wheels and not rub.

[sebhockey]

Most people run Mud/Snow tires which will fit on 17" rims. It's not until we get serious and more experienced that we change over to 15" rally tires. A search on tire rack for a snow tire for a 17" rim will lead to several results.

[BlackParis]

If snow tyres ARENT enough grip on really large loose Gravel you can modify them with a Heated Tyre Knife... Open up some spaces between the lugs... though experience in doing so will really show in the functioning of the modification... Better call Colin Mcreas' pit crew :twisted:

[409industries]

Yeah for now if youre running 17's (like i am for rallycross) you are essentially limited to M+S tires or winter tires for more grip in the dirt.

The smaller 15 gravel wheels are designed for use with the group N braking system, and therefore will not work with the stock STi Brembos. The majority of the rally specific tires will be in 15's and sometimes 16's.

[Bampalo]

I figured that all seasons/winter tires would be my only option. Oh well, I apprecaite the helpful info though, time to get looking for some good mud/snows!

[409industries]

Yeah unfortunately the 17" wheel keeps you away from rally tires (unless you can find em!) ha!

Lots of people rock these for rallycross:

Bridgestone Blizzaks
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+WS-50

Winterforce M+S
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Winterforce&tireModel=M%2BS

I personally have been running these this season (simply because they were really cheap and i just beat on them... theyre pretty good, but have a decent amount of sidewall flex)

General Exclaim UHP M+S
http://www.tirerack.com/tire-12/General/Exclaim+UHP.shtml
(you can see em on the car here: http://a860.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/13/l_aecdc798d0976c14ee735849f1d69c03.jpg

[BlueREX04]

Yea I prefer the Bridgestones myself.. I am going to try out the Perelli snow tires that I picked up on ebay last month.. not as aggressive as the Blizzaks but look like they will give a great bite.

The only problem that I had when I was running the BS were that they were a little too soft at times.

[JacksonRally]

I don't have the pics but my bro does (I'll call him and have him post them up) but I did a conversion on his '05 STI to fit/clear a 15'' wheel which he uses for rallyx. What you need is '06-'07 wrx 4 pot front calipers, pads and I make the rest: custom rotor and brake "hat" then just bolt it all on and go. Well thats just the front, now the rear I make a new caliper mounting plate and you can use the Brembo caliper in the rear, also the O.D. of the rear rotor needs to be turned down.

[409industries]

I don't have the pics but my bro does (I'll call him and have him post them up) but I did a conversion on his '05 STI to fit/clear a 15'' wheel which he uses for rallyx. What you need is '06-'07 wrx 4 pot front calipers, pads and I make the rest: custom rotor and brake "hat" then just bolt it all on and go. Well thats just the front, now the rear I make a new caliper mounting plate and you can use the Brembo caliper in the rear, also the O.D. of the rear rotor needs to be turned down.

Its sick... ive seen the setup :)

[subyspawn]

here is the setup..

http://dirtyimpreza.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1145

[FutureSubieDriver]

I have a question... what surface are the stock STi tires ment for? Are they street tires?

[subyspawn]

I have a question... what surface are the stock STi tires ment for? Are they street tires?

Yes, they are dry season road tire.

[Bampalo]

I did a bit of dirt driving this past weekend to sort of get a feel for how the car operates on dirt (first time) and having the street tires out there was interesting. I'm going to be all over the place at the upcoming rally-x out here haha.