Subaru WRX / STIVA

Know this generation.

Keep VA WRX and VA STI records recognizable even when they use the same wheel dimensions. Apex publishes separate guides for them and qualifies clearance against the installed brakes. Its wider tire examples also distinguish ordinary use from combinations that need additional alignment or fender work.

A useful VA comparison includes a suspension-compression clearance check, not only a parked “flush” shot. A tire that clears at static ride height can contact the body as the suspension moves. Record the tire model, camber and actual rubbing conditions so a wider track-oriented build is not mistaken for a stock-alignment daily-driver fitment.

Before you choose wheels.

A good-looking setup is only useful if the details match your car. Start with these generation-specific checks.

1. Identify WRX or STI and the actual front brake package, including four- or six-piston Brembo hardware where fitted or swapped.
2. Treat wider tire alternatives as separate setups: the manufacturer’s guide flags increasing camber and possible fender work as tire width grows.
3. Document rubbing under compression and whether the arches were rolled; a standing photograph cannot establish loaded clearance.

Record the complete setup.

Track front and rear separately, even on a square setup. Wheel diameter and width alone cannot establish clearance.

Wheels

Exact brand and model, diameter × width, nominal offset, bolt pattern and hub bore.

Spacers

Explicit front and rear thickness in millimeters. Enter zero only after confirming there are no spacers.

Tires

Brand, model and full size on each axle. Nominal sizes do not guarantee the same measured section width.

The car

Market, model year, trim, body style, brake package, suspension, alignment and any fender modifications.

Real-world result

Rubbing at steering lock, under compression and with passengers or cargo. Include conditions, not just “fits.”