Anyone else's rear tires REALLY close to the stock struts?

[Heat Racer]

I have 225/50-16 tires on my stock wheels for my RS coupe. I am on a stock suspension with 1" lift spacer kit. I just discovered that my rear tires are REALLY close to the strut spring perches; I can barely get a fingertip between them! I was planning to get some slightly narrower/taller 215/60-16 (approx. 1/2" greater radius, but 1/8" narrower) offroad tires, but now I'm worried it'll rub. I'm actually really surprised the rear tires are so close, especially since I checked a friend's '00 RS with 17" wheels on stock suspension and he's got tons of room between the tire and strut.

So I'm wondering if anyone else is having issues like this, or if this' some kind of side-effect of being lifted 1". Would KYB AGX's have a slightly different perch shape (the conical-shaped underside of the spring perch) that'd yield me a little more clearance?

[omahasubaru]

your friends 17" wheels have a lower offset than what you're using obviously.

[AWD>FWD]

If it's the spring perches, it sounds like tire height + offset coming into play.
Both of my Subarus have their rear tires very close to the strut body (I needed 5mm spacers to clear 215/60/16 Blizzaks on a 7.5" +48 wheel on my Outback), but both have a fair amount of room between the tire and spring perch.

I know it's tight quarters, but can you get a pic of what you're seeing?

[Heat Racer]

Here's pics of what it looks like under there. What do you guys think? Would I be able to fit those slightly taller/narrower tires?
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206225_200552976651060_100000890763405_567981_3082 706_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/205483_200553003317724_100000890763405_567982_5603 55_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/208467_200553056651052_100000890763405_567984_7092 724_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206800_200553076651050_100000890763405_567985_4877 849_n.jpg

[Kostamojen]

For taller tires in your situation, you probably need something like Forester struts.

[lorenkb]

The 1" strut spacers do nothing to affect this clearance. From the pictures it's a close call... still within reason but likely tire dependent. Your best bet is to order one tire, mount it, and see if it fits in the back. A tight fit, right up to just barely touching the perch, is acceptable.

[DiiselDrisl]

Yeah i have 17's and they touch the rubber tabs ever-so-slightly. but hey coilovers will fix that.

[Dirtyimp21]

I have a 1998 outback sport with 225/75/15 stock everything right rear rubs bad/ smokes....hopeing a forester strut upgrade will help this i threw my "right sized tires" out so im stuck now..anyone know if the forester struts will fix this?:cuckoo:



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