You raise an interesting point. I have noticed a few times when cornering when the rear has come around a little quicker than I expected - not necessarily the rears breaking loose but acting more like a RWD car. This being my first Subaru, I didn't know if that was the AWD system working to help rotate the car better than a FWD car would, but now that you mention it, I wonder if what I felt can also be attributed to the tires because of the gearing in our cars.

Is there any way to recalibrate the speedometer for the taller tires?

 

The speedo settings can be accessed by the dealership to make the changes to the system. I had a Jeep Wrangler which I did on my own. You may have to tell the exact diameter of the tires to the system and measure the diameter, mark the tire at one spot and then roll it one complete revolution. When the mark comes back to the ground you can measure the distance between the marks.

 

You may have to tell the exact diameter of the tires to the system and measure the diameter, mark the tire at one spot and then roll it one complete revolution. When the mark comes back to the ground you can measure the distance between the marks.

This measures the circumference, not the diameter.

Easiest way to measure diameter, find center of axle, measure from it to ground, x2 give you tires diameter as the vehicle "sees" it.

 

Interesting.. i would have thought that the more aggressive a/t tires would make the car more swishy in the corners, glad to know it actually improves handling.. that plus the fact will be superior offroad makes it a winner for when the stockers wear out

 

I have the Toyo AT/IIIs on my Wilderness in the OEM size. They stick solidly in wet/dry conditions and grab rather well in the fugly ugly stuff. They are stiffer sidewalls and do not have the floaty boaty fill that the Geolanders had.

 

I am contemplating the purchase of a set of Method MR 502 wheels (bronze or gold) for my white 2021 Touring, so I'd need to change tires as the wheels are 17" as opposed to the stock 18s which came on the car. The Wildpeak AT/Trails come with a 65K mile tread life specification, which seems fairly decent for a more aggressive tire (compared with the Michelin Defenders which have a 90K mile tread life).

How is the ride and quietness with the Wildpeaks? Almost all of my driving is on asphalt/concrete, so I probably would not need an off-road tire, just something which does OK in occasional light snow conditions.

 

I am contemplating the purchase of a set of Method MR 502 wheels (bronze or gold) for my white 2021 Touring, so I'd need to change tires as the wheels are 17" as opposed to the stock 18s which came on the car. The Wildpeak AT/Trails come with a 65K mile tread life specification, which seems fairly decent for a more aggressive tire (compared with the Michelin Defenders which have a 90K mile tread life).

How is the ride and quietness with the Wildpeaks? Almost all of my driving is on asphalt/concrete, so I probably would not need an off-road tire, just something which does OK in occasional light snow conditions.

Put 235/65/18 on the Forester and really like how they grip.

Noise and ride are non issue for me, though I don't recall any noise from Wildpeak A/T Trail tires on either vehicle. In the Forester, on newly ground pavement surfaces, ahead of repaving, there is a hum.

 

The other thing to consider is that with the 1.5" wider tires, there is 6" more tread stopping and turning my OBW over the OE tires.

OE is 6.7" tread width.

245 A/T Trail is 8.2".

 

If using on snow and ice, you want narrower tire for better traction and handling.

 

Also note the very few H rated SUV tires. I think that H rating is important if driving across the desert in the summer.

Note the load rating of tires too. The OBW doesn't need to have an XL, or worse yet a LT, rating. SL is plenty to offer a nice stiff sidewall for the 65 profile.

I might have considered a 255/60/17, if one was available.

 

 

Do you have a matching 245/65-17 spare tire and does it fit in the spare tire well? Some tires in that size will not fit unless the tire is essentially completely deflated and even then it requires force to push it in. The Wildpeak A/T3W in that size is like that. A 235/65-17 will fit with no issues. Curious if the Wildpeak Trails fit better in 245/65-17?

 

No, I didn't get a spare. Instead I carry an air compressor and Safety Seal tire repair kit. If, I have to use the OE spare, it would be the first time, after many years of trail and backroad exploration.

 

I have had a lot of very slow leaks over the years, but no tire tears requiring replacement with a spare. Flint doesn't seem to tear through tires on lighter weight vehicles, like it does with big fat trucks.

 

In 45 or so years of driving I have never had to change a spare tire at the side of the road either - but I don't off-road and when my tires are damaged it's only a slow leak from a nail or screw, giving ample time to deal with it.

 

With this generation of TPM it would take effort to ignore pressures so low as to damage the tire or break the bead.

 

Just put 235/65/18’s on mine no issues at all. I do have a 2” lift.

 

Nice!. Reviewing my tire options on my soon-to-arrive OBW; considering changing brands and sizing between 235/65/17 vs 245/65/17. Did you go through a similar analysis? Any more pics/angles to share of your beast with the OEM wheels? Cheers.

 

More of a comparison than on page 1?

OE tires:

 

Click on photos for full size.

 

When 'investigating' tire size options, more specifically sizing up, multiple tire calculators indicate the 235/65/17 and 245/60/17 are optimal from a safety perspective when compared against the OE sizing 225/65/17.

"When changing tire sizes, we recommend staying within 3% of the diameter/height of the original tire. Any more than this and you face the risk of brake failure"

That said, is the Subaru AWD system calibrated to accommodate a certain tolerance of tire size modifications before affecting either drivetrain and/or performance? And why can't I seem to find any brand of tires with 245/60/17 sizing?

 

"When changing tire sizes, we recommend staying within 3% of the diameter/height of the original tire. Any more than this and you face the risk of brake failure"

3,500 pound towing capacity, thus 350 pound tongue weight, and >3% diameter matters as it relates to braking?

Curious. Sure seems like lawyers wrote the warning. CYA

 

What website is this from?

 

TireRack.com

 

@GentleBreeze, it looks like you mounted the 245/65R17 Trails on on the stock wheels. Do you have any rubbing or fitment issues? Considering the 235/65R17 A/T3W for a new wilderness and want to make sure I don't have any problems with those. Thanks.

 

Hey FISubie - if you decide to go with 235/65/17 I may be doing the same - would like some pics if you pull the plug - I imagine you should not have any issues with that sizing on stock wheels.

 

@neilmimi, I've been researching tires for a new OBW also. Mostly driven on-road, but daughter (her car) wants a good tread look. (Her other car choice was a 4Runner.) I'm pretty much down to Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail in 225/65R17 (stock) or Falken Wildpeak A/T3W in 235/65R17. Weight is important to me (and vehicle dynamics), so the Trail is 30lbs and the A/T3W in that size is 31 pounds. (OEM is 29.5lbs.) They're the top two rated at Tire Rack in that category.

 

OE: 6.7"
235 3W: 7.3"
245 Trail: 8.2"
245 3W: 8.3"

 

Updated comparo with OE tire.

 

Updated comparo with OE tire.

Good argument to ditch the OEM tires!

 

Hi, realized I never posted my results in this thread. Check it out here: Gen 6 - 2020 Outback Aftermarket Wheel & Tire Thread

 

I love my Nokian Outpost AT 245/65r17s! Perfect for the OBW with zero rubbing on stock rims. Tough look and lightweight.

 

Seems like a good option: Nokian Tyres Outpost AT - All-terrain tire for SUVs, crossovers and light trucks / Nokian Tyres

 

@ShadowfaxOB your post was correct that the listed specs were not for the Geolandar meant for the Outback - that E spec is for an LT version.

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