Subaru GD WRX Sedan Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide

If you’re looking for fitment advice for your 2002 - 2007 Subaru GD WRX Sedan, you’ve come to the right place. Our GD WRX Fitment Guide contains tailored information for a wide range of wheel and tire setups specific to the WRX. With wheel fitments ranging from our OEM+ 17x8” ET40 to the more aggressive 18x9.5” ET40, our Fitment Guide will have a solution for your needs. 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 wheels are designed to clear Subaru STI Brembo brakes as well as a variety of aftermarket big brake kits. Our Subaru GD WRX Sedan 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? Check out our VS-5RS and SM-10RS. Flow Formed Wheels? Our ARC-8 is the one that started it all. Have a GD WRX Wagon? Check out our Subaru GD WRX Wagon Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide. Have a 2005-2007 GD WRX STI? You’re looking for our Subaru GD WRX STI 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 bolt-on wheel fitments are ideal for Subaru GD WRX owners enjoying their car day-to-day on the street, and they are typically paired with all-season or performance oriented summer tires. These wheel and tire configurations will improve the appearance and performance of the car without requiring modifications to the factory suspension or alignment. Just bolt-on and enjoy!

While these wheel fitments can be used for track days and AutoX, performance will be left on the table. Drivers that prioritize performance should review our Performance Street & Track and/or Hardcore Track & Race sections below.

Wheels

• Front & Rear: 17x8" ET40
• • Available in: VS-5RS, SM-10RS

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick: Front & Rear: 225/45-17
• • Direct fit
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: No options currently available
  • Max Performance Summer: No options currently available
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama AD08R (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200 TW), Nankang NS-2R (200 TW)
  • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Toyo RA1 (100 TW)
• Wider Alternative: Front & Rear: 235/40-17
• • Direct fit
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: No options currently available
  • Max Performance Summer: No options currently available
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama AD08R (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200 TW), Nankang NS-2R (200 TW)
  • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Toyo RA1 (100 TW)

Wheels

• Front & Rear: 17x8.5" ET44
• • Available in: VS-5RS
  • Popular Fitment

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick: Front & Rear: 235/40-17
• • Direct fit
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: No options currently available
  • Max Performance Summer: No options currently available
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama AD08R (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200 TW), Nankang NS-2R (200 TW)
  • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Toyo RA1 (100 TW)
  • Semi-Slick: Toyo RR (40 TW)
• Wider Alternative: Front & Rear: 245/40-17
• • Typically a direct fit, but an increase in negative camber is encouraged for wider compounds or lowered vehicles
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
  • Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW)
  • Extreme Performance Summer - Hankook RS-4 (220 TW), Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200 TW), GT Radial SX2 (260 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW)
  • R-Compounds: Nankang AR-1 (100TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Goodyear Eagle SuperCar 3R (100 TW)

Whether you enjoy spirited street driving or you are a weekend track warrior chasing lap times, these wheel & tire configurations are ideal for WRX owners looking for a more dramatic improvement in performance and they are typically paired with performance oriented Summer tires or track oriented R-compounds.

Wheels

• Front & Rear: 17x9" ET48
• • Available in: VS-5RS, SM-10RS, ML-10RT
  • These wheels require 7mm spacers for OEM strut clearance.
  • With aftermarket coilovers 5mm spacers may be required for clearance.

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick: Front & Rear: 245/40-17
• • Increased negative camber may be required for wider compounds or lowered vehicles
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
  • Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW)
  • Extreme Performance Summer - Hankook RS-4 (220 TW), Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200 TW), GT Radial SX2 (260 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW)
  • R-Compounds: Nankang AR-1 (100TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Goodyear Eagle SuperCar 3R (100 TW)
• Wider Alternative: Front & Rear: 255/40-17
• • Increased negative camber is typically required
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
  • Max Performance Summer: Continental ExtremeContact Sport (340 TW)
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Hankook RS-4 (220 TW), Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW)
  • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (180 TW), Pirelli Trofeo R (60 TW), Toyo RA1 (100 TW)
• Narrower Alternative: Front & Rear: 235/40-17
• • Typically a direct fit, but an increase in negative camber is encouraged for wider compounds or lowered vehicles
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: No options currently available
  • Max Performance Summer: No options currently available
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama AD08R (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200 TW), Nankang NS-2R (200 TW)
  • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Toyo RA1 (100 TW)

Wheels

• Front & Rear: 17x9" ET42
• • Available in: ARC-8
  • Popular Fitment

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick: Front & Rear: 245/40-17
• • Increased negative camber may be required for wider compounds or lowered vehicles
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
  • Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW)
  • Extreme Performance Summer - Hankook RS-4 (220 TW), Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200 TW), GT Radial SX2 (260 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW)
  • R-Compounds: Nankang AR-1 (100TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Goodyear Eagle SuperCar 3R (100 TW)
• Wider Alternative: Front & Rear: 255/40-17
• • Increased negative camber is typically required
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
  • Max Performance Summer: Continental ExtremeContact Sport (340 TW)
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Hankook RS-4 (220 TW), Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW)
  • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (180 TW), Pirelli Trofeo R (60 TW), Toyo RA1 (100 TW)
• Narrower Alternative: Front & Rear: 235/40-17
• • Typically a direct fit, but an increase in negative camber is encouraged for wider compounds or lowered vehicles
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: No options currently available
  • Max Performance Summer: No options currently available
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama AD08R (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200 TW), Nankang NS-2R (200 TW)
  • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Toyo RA1 (100 TW)

Wheels

• Front & Rear: 18x9" ET42
• • Available in VS-5RS, SM-10RS, ML-10RT

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick: Front & Rear: 255/35-18
• • Increased negative camber is typically required
  • 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)
• Narrower Alternative: Front & Rear: 245/35-18
• • Increased negative camber may be required for wider compounds or lowered vehicles
  • 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

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. 17” wheels keep weight and tire costs to a minimum, allow for taller tire sidewalls, and will still clear factory STI Brembo brakes as well as a variety of aftermarket BBKs.

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: 17x9.5" ET40
• • Available in VS-5RS
  • Popular Fitment

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick: Front & Rear: 255/40-17
• • A minimum of approximately - 2.5º of camber is required up front, and approximately -2º in the rear depending on vehicle ride height and tire model.
  • Max Performance Summer: Continental ExtremeContact Sport (340 TW)
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Hankook RS-4 (220 TW), Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW)
  • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (180 TW), Pirelli Trofeo R (60 TW), Toyo RA1 (100 TW)
  • Semi-Slick: Toyo RR (40 TW)
• Narrower Alternative: Front & Rear: 245/40-17
• • A minimum of approximately - 2º of camber is required up front, and approximately -1.8º in the rear depending on vehicle ride height and tire model.
  • Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW)
  • Extreme Performance Summer - Hankook RS-4 (220 TW), Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), BFG Rival S 1.5 (200 TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200 TW), GT Radial SX2 (260 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW)
  • R-Compounds: Nankang AR-1 (100TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Goodyear Eagle SuperCar 3R (100 TW)
  • Semi Slick: Hoosier R7 (40 TW), Hoosier A7 (40 TW), BFG R1 (40 TW), BFG R1S (40 TW), Toyo RR (40 TW)

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.