Tire Sizes and Rubbing

[T-Heineken]

I'm looking for some winter tires to run for Tahoe and RallyX so i stop eating up my other tires....
Planning on putting these on the '04 wagon stockers 5x100 bolt pattern (which are running 205/55/16 tires right now

I'm on stock suspension now, but planning on a suspension swap that will keep stock height, or possibly greater.

Would a 225/50/16 be able to fit the rears without rubbing (looking at used Blizzaks and Nokian)?

How much allowance is there between running a 215/55/16 vs 225/50/16 and so forth on the wagon rears (since the fronts seem to be less of a problem)?

...feel free to point me toward another post...I just couldn't find the answer among all the lowered vs 17" wheels stuff...

[I Like It Sideways]

I'm pretty sure 215's will clear, but 225's might rub. I'm not sure on that though.
Also, if you get struts with a wider housing, 225's will rub, I'm sure of that.
KYB Group 2's rub on 225 width tires on stock wheels.

[ten80]

I run 225/50/16 all-seasons in the summer and 205/60/16 snow tires in winter with no rubbing issues on my 03 wagon. Fit is close to the rear struts with the 225's, but they work ok. I'm going to try 225/55/16's for this coming summer, albeit using sedan control arms and adjustable rear lateral links.

Sideways, I'm not certain why you say that KYB GR2 struts will cause rubbing. They have the exact same dimensions as OEM struts. However, add lowering springs and rubbing might occur.

[I Like It Sideways]

Sideways, I'm not certain why you say that KYB GR2 struts will cause rubbing. They have the exact same dimensions as OEM struts. However, add lowering springs and rubbing might occur.

Girlfriend's father owns an 02 WRX, installed Gr2's, and now his 225 wide slicks rub in the rear, whereas they didn't with the OEM struts.
Maybe it's because slicks have more sidewall bulge? I don't know.

[JacksonRally]

I'll tell you the rears actually rub on mine where as the fronts don't. Yes this is with the BFG's....the fronts totally clear even at full lock. So sense your probably not going as big as mine you will be ok with the front, just keep an eye on the rear at the "lip" on the fender. It wouldn't be a bad idea to roll the rear fender lip.....(I did mine with a hammer)....(not recommended)

[ten80]

(I did mine with a hammer)....(not recommended)

you seem to do lots of things with your car that aren't "recommended", but that's why your wagon is so awesome :lol:

I can confirm that OEM, KYB AGX, KYB GR2, and Tokico HP/DSpec have identical dimensions as stock struts. I've had them all side by side at some point. I think the problem with tire fitting is that width and height are not consistent between brands for a given size. I always look at the manufacturer's tire data sheets to compare exact tire diameters and widths, rather than looking at the printed size (ie 225/50/16).

[I Like It Sideways]

My AGX's are noticeably wider in diameter than my OEM struts for my RS, but I do agree that sizes are different amongst tire manufacturers, and that could be the problem.

[Rally OBXT]

I run 205/60/16 and have no rubbing issues.

[T-Heineken]

hmmm....now I'm regretting not getting my fenders rolled at one of the local i-club roll-parties....

Keep in mind I'm looking at the 225/50/16 Blizzaks for RallyX...so they'll see alot of every kind of motion, but I'm on 12" springs @ 225lbs in the rear on GC sleeves, so I can increase ride height...but they aren't installed yet, so I'm actually not sure how much extra height I can get.

And also....what would be a competitive offer on these:
ebay Blizzaks (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330211999850&rd=1)

[JacksonRally]

you seem to do lots of things with your car that aren't "recommended", but that's why your wagon is so awesome :lol:




That my friend is the beauty of it :lol2:

[JacksonRally]

hmmm....now I'm regretting not getting my fenders rolled at one of the local i-club roll-parties....

Keep in mind I'm looking at the 225/50/16 Blizzaks for RallyX...so they'll see alot of every kind of motion, but I'm on 12" springs @ 225lbs in the rear on GC sleeves, so I can increase ride height...but they aren't installed yet, so I'm actually not sure how much extra height I can get.

And also....what would be a competitive offer on these:
ebay Blizzaks (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330211999850&rd=1)


I wish I had the GC sleeve type setup, it gives you a smaller dia. spring and more room for larger o.d. tires....but keep an eye on the width. Definetly check the "actual" specs from the manufactures web sites.

[WRXCMM]

on my 02 i got 225 and the back rubbed like a bitch when turning hard...(and i'm sure in rallyx would bring alot of that) ok guys correctme if i'm wrong but i think the reason being is if you use aftermarket wheels the offset (at least for the 02 wrx) is like 53 and the biggest offset i found was like 45 when purchasing for wheels. .02

[ten80]

but I'm on 12" springs @ 225lbs in the rear on GC sleeves, so I can increase ride height...but they aren't installed yet, so I'm actually not sure how much extra height I can get.


The answer is "A WHOLE LOT!" Here's my car on 250/200lb'in GC coils with only .5-.75" preload on the rear springs and 1" preload on the front, rolling on 225/50/16 all seasons:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/ski1234/diamond%20plate/IMG_0707.jpg
I probably could have gone up one more inch front and rear without running the risk of the springs bottoming out before the struts.

[Rally OBXT]

^^^ This is just perfect for the ride height I want my RS at in 09'. What set up is this again?

[ten80]

12" Ground control springs on Tokico D-specs with front spring perches lowered 2" and rear tophats (04-07 style) "trimmed" to make room for the 12" springs. My tires definitely looked too small with that ride height!

[T-Heineken]

How big of a deal is the height of the sidewalls. Looking at a set of used Blizzaks which are 205/45/16, so a 3.63" sidewall versus the 4.44" sidewall of the 205/55/16s.

Once again...use will be for RallyX and Tahoe on occasion.

Would they work?

[Jard]

I wouldn't go shorter than stock.

'02 WRX wagon here and I was constantly beating off the rev limiter in 1st gear last year during rally-x. A slightly taller tire will help get a few more MPH out of each gear.