15 inch wheels/winter tires

[pakeharugger]

Hello all, I am trying to decide if this combo makes sense to you.
I am looking for 15 inch wheels so I can get a taller tire for winter. I am going to eventually do a Forrester suspension swap and use the same wheels to put some BFG All-Terrains 215-75-15 a la 06drtywgn. Do you think the wheels would work?
The winter package is $552.00 from Tirerack


Sport Edition F2
http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/sportedition/swap/se_f2_ci3_l.jpg

Blizzak WS-50
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/bridgestone/bs_blizzak_ws_50_dir_ci2_l.jpg

[JacksonRally]

Looks great as long as the offset is good.

[pakeharugger]

I want to go with these wheels since the Team Illuminata are a bit out of my range.

More specs on the wheels.
Finish: Silver Painted
Size Selected: 15x6.5
Price: $69 (each) Special
Recommended Tire Size: 205/60-15
Wheel Offset: 50mm
** Lightweight: 17.5 lbs. **
Bolt Pattern: 5-100
Finish Warranty: 1 Year
Country of Origin: CN China
Construction Type: 1pc. Cast

[BlueREX04]

That is a good price. especially if they fit over the WRX brakes. But the tires I would have to say would be the best! WS-50 you cant beat them in the snow.

[martinus]

Have you priced some hankook ice bears ( v-rated ), they are the cheapest I found, in my area ... maye that way you can get some pro race-es from Paul ( team illuminata. )

[Team Illuminata]

It is a great price and you can trust that they will fit however, I agree with your choice except for one thing-the tires. The WS-50 are awesome snow and ice tires, I have some for winter rallycross. The problem with them for you is that I believe you will be using them as "winter" tires as oppossed to "snow" tires and you live in Indy. Ask yourself this question: how many days of the season will you be driving on snow or ice? I suggest the answer is not many. The majority of your driving will likely be on cold dry or wet tarmac with only the occasional snow encounter. The problem with "snow" tires, and you can confirm this in Tireracks review section, is that they give up a lot of wet and dry traction for brilliant, near amazing snow and ice traction. My experience with the WS-50 is one of walking with gel insoles in your boots: kind of squishy and disconnected feeling and dont even think about trying to stop in the wet with them.

No, I think your purposes would be much better served with "performance winter" tires which still retain enough traction and response for spirited driving in the cold, midwest winters with improved snow and ice abilities when you ocassionally need it. What's more, I would even suggest retaining the oem size for the very same reasons-most of your driving will not be on snow.

Now, you may have some other criteria in mind not spelled out previously in this thread but from the information so far presented this I think is your best approach.

[UP2MTNS]

It is a great price and you can trust that they will fit however, I agree with your choice except for one thing-the tires. The WS-50 are awesome snow and ice tires, I have some for winter rallycross. The problem with them for you is that I believe you will be using them as "winter" tires as oppossed to "snow" tires and you live in Indy. Ask yourself this question: how many a days of the season will you be driving on snow or ice? I suggest the answer is not many. The majority of your driving will likely be on cold dry or wet tarmac with only the occasional snow encounter. The problem with "snow" tires, and you can confirm this in Tireracks review section, is that they give up a lot of wet and dry traction for brilliant, near amazing snow and ice traction. My experience with the WS-50 is on of walking with gel insoles in your boots: kind of squishy and disconnected feeling and dont even think about trying to stop in the wet with them.

No, I think your purposes would be much better served with "performance winter" tires which still retain enough traction and response for spirited driving in the cold, midwest winters with improved snow and ice abilities when you ocassionally need it. What's more, I would even suggest retaining the oem size for the very same reasons-most of your driving will not be on snow.

Now, you may have some other criteria in mind not spelled out previosly in this thread but from the information so far presented this I think is your best approach.

I agree. check out the snow tires I use......Dunlop Winter Sport 3D. V-rated tire...great on wet, dry....and snow. I drove on them for 4 months straight in San Francisco....performed great daily, and were great in the snow when I went up to Tahoe.

[pakeharugger]

Everyone, thanks for the info.
Team Illuminata, you are right about the snow in Indy. I live in Fishers, just outside of Indy and on a different county. We still have some emergency snow days but lately the winters have been dry and the roads are cleared quickly which makes for a boring drive to work and back. I would not want to feel I am driving on gel, so I thought about it and I am going to keep the stock rim size 16 and go with a performance winter tire.

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D
Size: 205/55HR16, maybe 205/60HR16
$90 a tire is a good deal.

One of the guys in our local subaru club has set of 16"
Forester steelies for $50, just got to check the offset and bore.

I'll keep you all posted.


www.indianaimpreza.com

[Team Illuminata]

They will be great and I bet the Forester wheels will fit. Good choice.

They'll make for a great rallycross setup too.

[409industries]

I rock cheap ass General Exclaim UHP M+S for "winter" driving in california. Since they only see snow when i head up to the mountains for snowboarding, the rest of the time its just rain soaked highway or even melting snow slush. They perform very well in the snow and you can pickup a set for about $400!!! I prefer them over my Kumho ASX's that i had. They do much better in the dry.

my $.02

They are now my rallyx tires... muhhahaha

[pakeharugger]

I found this post on a Subaru Forester forum. It tells of rim size/offset/weight.

Wow, 23lbs for steeles, a bit heavy isn't it?

03-07 Forester X (steel wheel)
16x6.5 +48 offset 23 lbs

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=19106

[Team Illuminata]

23lbs! OMG

I'm surprised to see they are 48mm but that will work nicely.