Subaru GD WRX STI Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide

If you’re looking for fitment advice for your 2005 - 2007 Subaru GD WRX STI, you’ve come to the right place. Our GD WRX STI Fitment Guide contains tailored information for a wide range of wheel and tire setups specific to the WRX STI. Featuring popular fitments such as our 18x9.5” ET40, we’re certain that our GD WRX STI fitment guide has a solution for you. As enthusiasts ourselves, we’re mindful of the unique needs that each chassis presents when attempting to optimize wheel fitment and this vehicle is no exception. All of our Subaru WRX STI wheels are designed to clear the factory Brembo brakes as well as a variety of aftermarket big brake kits. Our Subaru GD WRX STI Fitment Guide goes into great detail on exactly what modifications are needed to achieve the exact fitment you’re looking for. We have a wide variety of strong, lightweight wheel designs to choose from. Interested in Forged Wheels? Our VS-5RS and SM-10RS are popular with street and track drivers alike! Our Flow Formed EC-7 is also a fan favorite. If you’re for fitment notes for a GD WRX, check out our Subaru GD WRX Sedan Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide!

Brake Clearance Information

In the engineering phase of wheel development we 3D scan factory brakes and review 2D aftermarket brake templates in order to optimize our barrel profiles and spoke curvatures. As a result, our wheels offer massive brake clearance so you can run the smallest possible wheel diameter.

*All of our WRX wheels clear the factory Brembo brakes, as well as a variety of aftermarket BBKs.

These wheel and tire configurations are best suited for hardcore track junkies and club racers competing for a spot on the podium. Everything from Extreme Summer tires to full Racing Slicks are commonly used depending on your experience behind the wheel, class rules, etc.

These aggressive wheel specs will require supportive modifications commonly found on track cars.

Aftermarket coilovers with a slimmer silhouette in comparison to the stock struts are required. Not all aftermarket coilovers provide a slim enough silhouette to accommodate 9.5” wheels without the use of spacers, so please contact an APEX product expert if you have any questions.

Wheels

• Front & Rear: 18x9.5" ET40
• • Available in VS-5RS, SM-10RS

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick: Front & Rear: 255/35-18
• • A minimum of approximately -2.5º of camber is required both front and rear, depending on vehicle ride height and tire model.
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Hankook Ventus R-S4 (200TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200TW), Yokohama A052 (200TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect (240TW), Yokohama AD08R (200TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW)
  • R-Compound: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (180TW), Nankang AR-1 (100TW), Toyo Proxes R888R (100TW)
  • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7 (40TW), Hoosier A7 (40TW), Toyo Proxes RR (40TW)
• Wider Alternative: Front & Rear: 265/35-18
• • A minimum of approximately -3º of camber is required both front and rear, depending on vehicle ride height and tire model.
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Hankook RS-4 (220 TW), Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken Azenis RT660, Nankang CR-1 (200 TW) 
  • R-Compound: Nankang AR-1 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Goodyear Supercar 3R (100 TW), Pirelli Trofeo R (60 TW)
  • Semi-Slick: BFGoodrich R1S (40 TW)
• Narrower Alternative: Front & Rear: 245/35-18
• • A minimum of approximately -2.5º of camber is required both front and rear, depending on vehicle ride height and tire model.
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW)
  • R-Compounds: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 (180 TW)
  • Semi-Slicks: Hoosier R7 (40 TW), Hoosier A7 (40 TW), Hankook Z214 C51

Brake Clearance Information

In the engineering phase of wheel development we 3D scan factory brakes and review 2D aftermarket brake templates in order to optimize our barrel profiles and spoke curvatures. As a result, our wheels offer massive brake clearance so you can run the smallest possible wheel diameter. The following brakes have been tested and confirmed to clear our wheels.

*Coming Soon

Should I Dial in Negative Camber, and How Much is Right for me?

Whether you are a casual weekend track warrior that still enjoys your car on the street, or a hardcore racer competing for a spot on the podium, negative camber is a vital part of chassis setup that has many benefits. Not only will adding negative camber create more room for wider wheel and tire configurations, it more importantly improves handling, turn-in and tire longevity. Learn more in our blog article The Positives of Negative Camber.