Subaru Impreza WRX Wheels and Rims

Subaru WRX Aftermarket Wheel Fitment

The Subaru WRX has one of the most-loved aftermarket wheel followings of any car we sell. Four chassis generations cover the platform. The GD-chassis Impreza WRX and STI (2002-2007) introduced the WRX to the US market. The GH/GR-chassis Impreza WRX and STI (2008-2014) added the hatchback. In 2015 the WRX separated from the Impreza nameplate and became a standalone car on the VA chassis (2015-2021), no longer an Impreza trim. The current VB chassis (2022+) continues the WRX as its own standalone model. This Element parent hub covers all four WRX generations and every STI from 2004 forward. The standard, non-WRX Impreza lives on a separate hub at our Impreza parent.

The bolt pattern situation is the single most important thing to understand on this car. The base Impreza WRX from 2002-2014 ran 5x100. Every STI from 2004 forward, and every standalone WRX from 2015 forward, runs 5x114.3 (also called 5x4.5 because 114.3mm = 4.5"). These are two distinct bolt patterns separated by about 14mm. They are NOT interchangeable. A 5x100 wheel will not bolt onto a 5x114.3 hub safely, and a 5x114.3 wheel will not bolt onto a 5x100 hub. Element tracks both patterns separately in the catalog, and the Year/Make/Model search will only return wheels in the correct pattern for your specific car.

Find Your Subaru WRX Generation

Pick your chassis and trim to see wheels and rims that fit your specific WRX. Pay close attention to the bolt pattern. Base 2002-2014 Impreza WRX is 5x100. The 2004-2007 GD STI is also 5x100. Starting with the 2008-2014 GR STI and every standalone 2015 and newer WRX (base and STI), the pattern is 5x114.3.

The Subaru WRX Bolt Pattern Split

Two bolt patterns cover the WRX family from 2002 to today. The base Impreza WRX from 2002-2007 (GD chassis) and 2008-2014 (GH/GR chassis) runs 5x100, and the 2004-2007 GD STI also runs 5x100. The pattern moves to 5x114.3 starting with the 2008-2014 GR STI.

When the WRX separated from the Impreza nameplate for the 2015 VA chassis, the standalone WRX also moved from 5x100 to 5x114.3, matching the GR-and-later STI pattern. The 2022 and newer VB-chassis WRX continues on 5x114.3. The imperial nickname for 5x114.3 is 5x4.5 (114.3mm = 4.5 inches).

Important safety note. 5x114.3 is not the same bolt pattern as 5x115. They are separated by about 0.7mm. A 5x115 wheel (used on cars like the Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Charger LX) will not safely fit a 5x114.3 hub even though the patterns sound similar. Element does not recommend forcing a 5x115 wheel onto a 5x114.3 car; the stud-stress load is real and can fail under driving load.

The hub centerbore on every WRX and STI from 2002 forward is 56.1mm, consistent across every chassis and trim. Compare across the rest of the Subaru lineup at our Subaru wheels and rims hub.

Why 2015 Was the Biggest Year in WRX History

Before 2015, the WRX was a trim of the Subaru Impreza. The 2002-2007 GD car was an Impreza WRX. The 2008-2014 GH/GR car was an Impreza WRX. The STI followed the same naming convention: 2004-2007 Impreza WRX STI, 2008-2014 Impreza WRX STI. Starting with the 2015 model year and the VA chassis, Subaru separated the WRX from the Impreza nameplate. The 2015 and newer WRX is its own standalone model. The base Impreza continued as a separate car, but it is no longer the chassis donor for the WRX.

For wheel fitment, the 2015 split mattered in two ways. First, the base WRX moved from 5x100 to 5x114.3, finally matching the bolt pattern the STI had been using since 2004. Second, the VA chassis is wider and longer than the GH/GR Impreza-trim WRX it replaced, with a stiffer chassis tuned around a more aggressive wheel and tire package. Most aftermarket wheels designed for the 2002-2014 cars do not have offsets in the right range for the VA, and the 5x100 versus 5x114.3 split means the older base WRX wheels are mechanically incompatible regardless.

The 2022 VB chassis continued the standalone WRX naming and kept the 5x114.3 / 56.1mm pattern. The new VB-only WRX TR trim added Brembo brakes from the factory, which tightens the inner-clearance window of the wheel and limits the offset and inner-spoke designs that will clear those calipers.

The STI Has Tighter Brake Clearance Than the Base WRX

Every STI from the 2004 GD onward shipped with larger Brembo brake calipers than the same-chassis base WRX. The Brembo caliper is taller and sits further outboard than the base brake caliper, which means the back of the wheel needs more clearance behind the spokes for the caliper to fit without rubbing. Element tracks the STI fitment window separately on every chassis (GD, GR, VA) for exactly this reason. A wheel that fits a base 2015-2021 WRX may not clear the same-year STI Brembo caliper. The same logic applies to the new WRX TR on the 2022+ VB chassis, which also has Brembo brakes from the factory and uses a tighter wheel window than the base VB WRX.

For aggressive lowered builds on the 2015-2021 VA WRX and STI, Element tracks a dedicated "aggressive lowered fitment" window in the catalog. These are wider widths than the standard window and may require minor fender trimming to clear the tire at full lock or full suspension compression. The aggressive-lowered window is only appropriate if the car is actually lowered and the owner accepts the trimming. It is not the right window for a stock-height WRX or STI.

How We Confirm Fitment on Subaru WRX Wheels

Element Wheels measures fitment on the platforms we sell wheels for, including every WRX and STI generation back to the 2002 GD car. For the WRX that means clearance from the wheel to the fender, gap between the back of the wheel and the strut and control arms, brake caliper clearance (especially on the STI Brembo and the VB WRX TR Brembo), hub bore fit, and the front-and-rear backspace appropriate for the chassis. At our fitment facility in Chandler, Arizona, the Element Wheels team measures directly on the physical platforms we support. We don't pull specs from manufacturer sheets the way most retailers do.

Every wheel we recommend is backed by our Fitment Guarantee. If a wheel does not fit, we pick up the wheels and refund 100 percent. No risk to you.

Subaru WRX Wheels and Rims FAQ

Get Subaru WRX Wheels Right the First Time

Pick your chassis and trim above to see wheels and rims that fit. We measure on the WRX platform across every chassis from 2002 forward, track STI and WRX TR Brembo brake clearance separately, and call out the 5x100 to 5x114.3 split that catches new buyers off guard. Find your fit and start enjoying your build sooner.