Question: Lug bolt pattern for US 2004 STi vs 2005 Sti.

[Philip Procter]

I just bought a 2005 STi (USA) and then bought a set of snow tires and
rims from a guy who had sold his 2004 STi. I assumed the lug bolt
pattern for the 2004 and 2005 STi's would be the same.

Nope!

The rims will not fit, the diameter of the bolts is much smaller than
my 2005. I'm now have a set of rims that don't fit that I'd like to
sell on ebay. Before I do, I'd like to be certain that these were from
a normal US spec 2004 STi.

Could one of you fine, upstanding citizens of the USA measure the
diameter of the bolt pattern on your 2004 STi so I don't make an
expensive boo-boo when I list them on ebay.

Thanks loads for your help!

Philip

 

[FNO]

I just bought a 2005 STi (USA) and then bought a set of snow tires and
rims from a guy who had sold his 2004 STi. I assumed the lug bolt
pattern for the 2004 and 2005 STi's would be the same.

Nope!

The rims will not fit, the diameter of the bolts is much smaller than
my 2005. I'm now have a set of rims that don't fit that I'd like to
sell on ebay. Before I do, I'd like to be certain that these were from
a normal US spec 2004 STi.

Could one of you fine, upstanding citizens of the USA measure the
diameter of the bolt pattern on your 2004 STi so I don't make an
expensive boo-boo when I list them on ebay.

Thanks loads for your help!

Philip

Are you sure they were off of an 04 STi? The 05 is supposed to be the same

 

[Patrick Fisher]

They're different. '04s are 5x100, '05s are 5x114.3.

Don't let anyone tell you different

 

[Xtranet]

Are you sure they were off of an 04 STi? The 05 is supposed to be the same

05's have larger bolt patterns than 04's.

 

[Gadgets]

04 STi wheel specs from service manual:
http://jaswebpics.com/wheel.pdf

PCD is 100, is this what you mean?

Cheers, Jason (remove ... to reply)
Video & Gaming: http://gadgetaus.com

 

[Patrick Fisher]

04 STi wheel specs from service manual:
http://jaswebpics.com/wheel.pdf

PCD is 100, is this what you mean?

Yes. PCD is bolt circle diameter (I forget what the P really stands for), or
the second number in 5x100. The '05s have a bigger PCD - 114.3. Both have
five lugs, hence 5xPCD

 

[Hallraker]

Yes. PCD is bolt circle diameter (I forget what the P really stands for), or
the second number in 5x100. The '05s have a bigger PCD - 114.3. Both have
five lugs, hence 5xPCD

Any idea why they changed this?

-Matt

 

[Patrick Fisher]

Any idea why they changed this?

-Matt

They switched to wider wheels as well - 17x8, rather than 17x7.5. I suspect
they felt the larger bolt circle would provide a bit of added robustness to
the hubs and wheels.

The net impact is that us '04 STis are left with relatively few choices of
wheels in which the offset and spoke design will clear the brembos, and it's
now a dead-end line to bother making more. Meanwhile, the '05 guys get
screwed with very poor aftermarket coverage of their bolt pattern in
subaru-specific offsets for the time being.

Oh well. I'm happy with my sets of wheels

 

[Gadgets]

From the press release:
"A unique wheel mounting and bearing design produces optimum strength and
stability between axle and wheel, raising the cornering threshold."
Doesn't seem like something they'd change for little reason, so long term we
may see all models go this way...

Cheers, Jason (remove ... to reply)
Video & Gaming: http://gadgetaus.com

 

[Hallraker]

From the press release:
"A unique wheel mounting and bearing design produces optimum strength and
stability between axle and wheel, raising the cornering threshold."
Doesn't seem like something they'd change for little reason, so long term we
may see all models go this way...

I think the wheel mounting has always been "unique". I know from my recent
two flat tires ordeal that spares from several other makes and models will
not fit.

-Matt

 

[Philip Procter]

Given the expense for BBS to retool for a new wheel and for Subaru to
carry a spares inventory of two sets of wheels, rotors etc. , I, too,
can't believe Subaru made this change without reason. I'd just love to
know the reason!

It could be a subtle improvement in 'cornering threshold' but the evil
in me suspects warrantee returns due to some design weakness.

Speculation is fun, that's my moto!

Philip

 

[hippo]

http://www.tyresave.co.uk/fitments.html
Maybe sell them to someone with a Voyager? P = Pitch.
At least Subie cente bore is smaller than most other things they could
theoretically fit.

 

[CompUser]

Given the expense for BBS to retool for a new wheel and for Subaru to
carry a spares inventory of two sets of wheels, rotors etc. , I, too,
can't believe Subaru made this change without reason. I'd just love to
know the reason!

It could be a subtle improvement in 'cornering threshold' but the evil
in me suspects warrantee returns due to some design weakness.

Speculation is fun, that's my moto!

Who knows...

Are the WRX wheel sizes still the same? Maybe
next year, the WRX will bump up to a 17x7 wheel.

I finally put some 17x7s on my 04, and
yowsers...no, I don't need to be thinking about
suspension *anything*, not for a while. The
immediate need became "how do I secure all this
crap in the trunk", which suddenly became
extremely mobile, on every drive.

World of difference to those tire/wheel sizes.

 

[Ken Gilbert]

Any idea why they changed this?

-Matt

bigger wheel hub bearings.

a common point of failure on subies pushed hard in the corners.