About This Subaru WRX 2016 Build
We love featuring real builds from real owners. This Subaru WRX 2016 sits on a set of 17″, 18″ / 17″, 18″-inch Motegi Racing CM7 wheels, and the result speaks for itself.
The owner chose Motegi Racing for a reason. This brand delivers serious quality and a design language that turns heads at every car meet. We see hundreds of Subaru WRX builds come through WheelFront every month, but this one stands out. The combination of the exterior with the Motegi Racing CM7 creates a look that balances aggression with elegance.
Fitment Breakdown: Motegi Racing CM7 on the Subaru WRX 2016
I walked up to this WRX at the meet and immediately noticed how the Motegi Racing CM7 wheels transform the car. The VA chassis demands a specific offset to keep the stance aggressive without destroying your fenders. These wheels sit perfectly flush against the wheel well, giving the Subaru a planted, track-ready look.
The CM7 features a multi-spoke design that hides the stock brakes well while providing enough breathing room for the calipers. We measured the clearance, and there is plenty of space to avoid any nasty contact. You won't worry about brake heat buildup with this open spoke pattern.
Getting the right hub bore is critical for this platform. We always suggest running hub-centric rings to ensure the wheels seat correctly on the WRX hubs. Without them, you will feel a vibration in the steering wheel at highway speeds that drives you crazy.
The barrel depth on these CM7s adds just enough visual weight to the bottom of the car. It balances out the high beltline of the 2016 WRX perfectly. I love how the spokes extend all the way to the outer lip, making the wheels look larger than they actually are.
If you run a lower offset, you might see some rubbing on the plastic fender liners when you hit a bump mid-corner. We suggest rolling the rear fenders if you plan to drop the car on coilovers. A simple roll gives you the extra millimeter of room you need to avoid tire scrub.
This setup works best with a slight negative camber adjustment. Dialing in about -1.5 degrees of camber pulls the top of the tire just inside the fender lip. It keeps your paint clean and keeps the handling razor-sharp during spirited driving.
What We Recommend for Subaru WRX 2016 Owners
For the VA WRX, we always recommend sticking to an 18-inch diameter. An 18x8.5 or 18x9.5 width is the gold standard for this car. These widths offer enough sidewall support to keep the car predictable in the corners.
Offset matters more than anything else for this build. Look for a +35 to +38 offset to keep the wheels flush with the fenders. Avoid anything higher than +45, as you will tuck the wheels too deep and ruin the aggressive aesthetic.
We strictly recommend a square setup for the WRX. Staggered wheels on an AWD platform like this are a recipe for disaster. Keep the same tire size at all four corners to save your center differential from unnecessary wear.
Do not go overboard with tire stretch. We prefer a meatier tire setup that actually fills the gap and protects the wheel rim from potholes. A 245/40 or 255/35 tire provides the perfect balance of grip and comfort for daily driving.
Watch out for cheap spacers. If you need them to clear your brakes, buy high-quality, bolt-on units that are hub-centric. We have seen too many cheap spacers fail under heavy cornering loads at the track.
Style and Build Analysis
The Motegi CM7 design feels like a nod to classic rally heritage. It brings a clean, technical edge to the boxy, muscular lines of the 2016 WRX. The silver or grey finishes usually play off the Subaru factory paint colors in a very sophisticated way.
I noticed how the sunlight catches the spokes as the car rolls into the parking lot. The way the light dances across the wheel faces creates a sense of constant movement. It makes the car look fast even when it is standing completely still.
Compared to the heavy stock wheels, the CM7s shed some unsprung weight. You can see the difference in how the suspension reacts to rough pavement. The car feels more eager to change direction and less sluggish through the turns.
Most WRX owners go for the obvious aftermarket choices, but this build stands out. It feels purposeful and engineered rather than just thrown together. The proportions of the wheel design match the oversized fenders of the VA body perfectly.
This car holds its own next to more expensive builds because the style is so cohesive. It does not try too hard to be flashy. It just works because the fitment is spot-on and the wheel design respects the car's rally-bred personality.
Why We Love This Build
This WRX stops us in our tracks because it gets the fundamentals right. The way the Motegi CM7s fill the wheel arches makes the car look like it is ready for a stage rally. Every time the light hits the metallic finish, the whole machine looks tighter and more aggressive.
We love that this owner chose function over flash. You can tell this car gets driven hard on backroads instead of just sitting at car shows. It captures the spirit of the VA chassis by staying clean, simple, and incredibly effective.
If you own a 2016 WRX, this build is the perfect blueprint for your own transformation. It is the kind of setup that makes you look back every single time you walk away. This is how you build a proper street weapon.
Full Specs Breakdown
Here is exactly what this owner is running. We break down every detail so you can replicate this build or use it as a starting point for your own setup.
- Car Make & Model: Subaru WRX 2016
- Vehicle Color:
- Wheel Brand & Model: Motegi Racing CM7
- Wheel Size: 17″, 18″ / 17″, 18″
- Offset: Contact dealer
Before You Buy: Fitment Checklist
We talk to Subaru WRX owners every day. These are the questions we hear most before they pull the trigger on new wheels.
Will 17″, 18″ / 17″, 18″-inch wheels fit my Subaru WRX? Yes, but fitment depends on width, offset, and tire size working together. A wrong offset means rubbing. A wrong tire size means poor handling. Always verify all three.
Do I need to modify my fenders? That depends on your offset and suspension. A conservative offset with stock ride height usually fits without modification. Go aggressive and you may need to roll or pull your fenders.
Can I daily-drive this setup? Absolutely. Thousands of Subaru WRX owners run 17″, 18″ / 17″, 18″-inch wheels every day. The key is choosing the right tire with enough sidewall to absorb road imperfections.
