|  |  Wheels and Tires
Factory WRX wheels are very narrow – as skinny as six inches on earlier cars. As you may have noticed, the stock 205-width tire bulges out from the narrow wheel. A wider wheel will give you much better turn-in response as a result of the wheel matching the tire width better. A wider wheel means you can also increase the width of the tire.
While you are upgrading wheels, you may want to increase the wheel diameter by an inch or more. A larger diameter wheel means a tire with a lower aspect ratio, and a shorter sidewall. The thinner sidewall can have some drawbacks in decreased ride comfort, and if you live in an area infested with potholes, you may not want to get too extreme. But a shorter sidewall gives more responsive handling on the track, and it really improves the looks of the car.
Options for GD WRX models include 17x7.5” or 17x8” wheels with 225/45R17 or 235/45R17, and 18” wheels with 225/40 or 235/40R18 tires; for more aggressive fitment, 245/35R18.
(Wagon note: The narrower fendered GD wagons will require slightly narrower tires, to avoid fender rubbing.)
Later GH WRX models have a taller stock tire, and in 2011 the WRX got the wide fender flares of the GR STI, so the tire width can get much wider -- as wide as 275. We've got a pretty extensive thread on NASIOC detailing our experiences with tire fitment on the 2011+ WRX and 2008+ WRX STI.
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