[inzomniac]

So this is the first time I've driven a car with such low profile tires, currently I'm taking advice from a friend of mine who has been doing the "street" thing for a while. These rims came with my wife's WRX and I've wanted a set for ages but never could justify forking out the money on them.

I'm just curious how careful I have to be... Since they're not in produstion anymore I'm being super careful, but if I don't need to be this careful with them I'd be nice to being a little less paranoid every time I go driving!

They're 17" OZ Superleggeras, with 215/45/17's and I'm currently avoiding just about every manhole and slowing RIGHT down for bumpy looking train tracks... I'm used to being on the stock 205/55/16 profile tires and driving through/over everything (within reason)... usually speeding up for traintracks to smooth them out... Any help from people on here would be greatly appreciated. I just spent $200 getting one of the wheels fixed from the previous owners (bent lip and cracked spoke) so I don't want to repeat that!

 

[Do It Sidewayz]

dude..you have some of the strongest street wheels you can find.

run reasonable tire pressure, and you'll be fine.

obviously....trying to miss the HUGE stuff is benefitical, but don't sweat over every little crack in the pavement.

 

[robk0000]

ive had 17" Rotas now for 4 years, 215-45-17.

Ive hit SO Many holes, and no dents. Heeves here are horrible and there is always construction in the city areas. 45's are a pretty big clearnance if you do hit somehting. If i wer you, avoid Big holes and objects protruding the surface of the road. Divits and small holes arent that big of an issue. Maholes especially.

 

[eastfreestyler]

^werd

i'm Running 215/45/17 on my V7 wheels.

no problem so far

 

[Numbchux]

me too. same size on my rotas. be a little careful, but you don't have to drive it like a trailer queen.


watch out for those curbs though!

 

[Joshua]

I was told once to brake just until you hit whatever it is, then let off the brake completly.

I dont know if it works or not but I always drive that way...

 

[RFFG]

You gotta hit something really really hard to bend one. Just be careful.

 

[inzomniac]

Thanks alot guys! The friend I was talking to used to run really low profile tires on his GTi so I thought his advice may have been a little on the cautious side. Makes me wonder how hard the previous owner hit the one to bend it and crack the spoke! Tire pressure was probably an issue...

 

[seanski06]

im sure u had enough opinions...but im running 45's on p7's and i beat the shit out of them with no problems at all

 

[AcquaCow]

I don't consider 45 to be low profile.

Lots of cars are manuf'd and sold with that profile or lower...

35 is pretty low though....

I've been driving on 225/45/17 and running rocky rally roads and driving through DC potholes... no wheel issues to report.

-- Dave

 

[xilles]

i ran a pole over at 65mph on stock re070s on my sti ..forged bbs bent the hell up but still hold air i forgot what size stock tires are on a sti..please chime in

 

[AcquaCow]

i forgot what size stock tires are on a sti..please chime in

That would be 225/45/17

-- Dave

 

[Richard L.]

Yeah, but OZ Superleggeras are very light. Wouldn't super light = less structural integrity? SSR Type C RS wheels are just as light (around 15 lbs each), but there were reports of them bending.

 

[poleboy90]

One of my superleggeras had a bent lip and cracked spoke as well though both the crack and bend were very small. I dont think the are the strongest rims although they are supposed to be titanium alloy but as long as you keep your tire inflated to the proper pressure you should be fine.