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Bigger tires?

20047 Views 36 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  NinjaTurtle2.5
Has anybody uses a 245/55 or 245/50 on stock wheels? how about a 235/60 vs the 235/55 that is a popular size. Id like to get something wider and better looking on the car and use the stock wheels if possible. Wife isn't going to take well to spending even more money on wheels, but we agree on how terrible the stock tires are. '12 Outback 3.6R
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id stick with 225, thats a lot of sidewall flex. i was in your shoes and just ended up getting wider wheels. theyre almost 9 lbs a piece lighter too. better tires even in 225 will make a huge difference. those contis are awful! maybe get a tire with a shorter sidewall.
id stick with 225, thats a lot of sidewall flex. i was in your shoes and just ended up getting wider wheels. theyre almost 9 lbs a piece lighter. better tires even in 225 will make a huge difference. those contis are awful! maybe get a tire with a shorter sidewall.
Well the 235/55 is pretty dang near the original height and a little wider. I think the 225s look a little silly on the car. I would rather have the wider wheels too, but they are not in the budget this winter.
235/55 is what i have. about an inch wider. i have kumho ecsta 4x, i love em but the ride is a bit firmer now, but my ultra bitchy wife and stepdaughter haven't said anything.
I just got a set of 235/60/17 Michelin Primacy mxv4 tires, love them
Do the 235/60/17 primacys fit on the stock rims? I had michelin primacy mxv4s on my 05 and they were great.
So the 235/60 17 works with the stock wheel I imagine? I'll have to look tghem up to see the difference in diameter. I'm leaning towards the 55 AR over the 60 slightly just because the car is already a little floaty but the 60 would fil up the wheel arch nicely. No issues rubbing with that large of a tire?
I've learned long ago not to alter the original design of the running gear of a car. I'm certain if any problems arise as a result of the customizing the warranty is in doubt. I'm no engineer but I' also certain when you alter one aspect of something mechanical it will have an effect somewhere else.
I've learned long ago not to alter the original design of the running gear of a car. I'm certain if any problems arise as a result of the customizing the warranty is in doubt. I'm no engineer but I' also certain when you alter one aspect of something mechanical it will have an effect somewhere else.
X2, especially on a car that already has steering issues like shakes and wandering.
Clearance it tight in both wheel wells to start with. At the very least, different size tires will change speedometer and odometer readings. Full lock steering might also be compromised.
I love custom wheels and tires but I think the OB is best left alone.
Wont bigger tires mess with the tranny/4wd system by adding stress to the cv boots ?
Wont bigger tires mess with the tranny/4wd system by adding stress to the cv boots ?
CV boots are simply pliable rubber dust and dirt covers to prevent contamination of the constant velocity joints. The boots also contain the grease within the CV joint. Size of tires will have no effect on them.
I've learned long ago not to alter the original design of the running gear of a car. I'm certain if any problems arise as a result of the customizing the warranty is in doubt. I'm no engineer but I' also certain when you alter one aspect of something mechanical it will have an effect somewhere else.
This is a bit extreme. A dealer would need to show that your modification caused the failure. Oh sure, they will say not to modify anything, but they can't blame a faulty A/C unit on the fact that you put wider tires on your car for instance.

As far as excess wear, you might be putting a modicum more pressure on the bearings if you alter the wheel offset, but you wouldn't see any effects of this for over 200k miles.

As far as speedometer and odometer, you are taking about a 1-3% difference in diameter. Instead of going 100 mph, you will really be going 97. Really not much to worry about IMO.
Do the 235/60/17 primacys fit on the stock rims? I had michelin primacy mxv4s on my 05 and they were great.
Yup, stock 2011 Limited 17's, fit fine. Love them, just took them up to South Lake Tahoe without chains.
So the 235/60 17 works with the stock wheel I imagine? I'll have to look tghem up to see the difference in diameter. I'm leaning towards the 55 AR over the 60 slightly just because the car is already a little floaty but the 60 would fil up the wheel arch nicely. No issues rubbing with that large of a tire?

No rubbing issues. Even turning all the way.
Wont bigger tires mess with the tranny/4wd system by adding stress to the cv boots ?

Find something important to worry about.
I will post photos of my tires later today, if anyone is interested.
Jeez. This is what I get for asking about car modding on a weenie car forum. :)

I've been lifting and 4X4ing and real trailing my Toyota trucks for years and I've lowered and resprung etc my cars forever. If you're careful and do things right, you're going to be fine and usually better than stock. Stock is meant to be conservative, soft and mainly cheap to produce. Aftermarket parts and tuning are nearly always better unless you do something wrong. Bigger tires when going from stock 265 to 305 like my FJ, yes, to you put more strain on the hubs axles etc but you learn to accept that for the better performance where you want it with that vehicle. Off road. Subie needs to be better in snow and rain and on the road. Slightly wider tires that are a much better tread and compound should help out quite a bit.
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I'd like to see those photos.

Here are a couple photos of my meaty tires. Good quiet ride, very capable tires, loved them in south lake this past weekend.

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I just got a set of 235/60/17 Michelin Primacy mxv4 tires, love them
Where did you find these? Tire rack isn't listing that size.
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