What fits a Brighton?

[dereku]

Just picked up my second Legacy. For the last two winters I had a 97 Legacy GT sedan. She was a little ripe, and pretty beat, so this year I picked up her replacement, a 1996 with a very good body.

What I am looking to do is put different stock Subaru wheels on the car, and ditch the steel 14's. Will all stock tires and wheels from the outback, and the GT from the same generation fit?

[Huffer]

Yep. Brightons have the tiniest brakes, so there's no problems with clearance. The issue will be that the tire size on an Outback will throw your speedo off quite a bit.

[dereku]

Great so if I use a stock size outback tire I will gain a little ground clearance as well huh? What would be the tallest tire I could fit?

[lord flashheart]

define "fit"...

[dereku]

Doesn't rub, lol.

[lord flashheart]

then no bigger than the stock outback tires.
the outback you can go a tiny bit bigger, but it has taller suspension and stiffer springs.

[dereku]

Perfect, thank you!

[dereku]

What are the chances that these would fit? Almost the same diameter as a 205 70 15.

225 55 17 Legacy BH 17" 55mm offset.

http://imgc.classistatic.com/cps/kjc/110909/970r1/8553c19_20.jpeg

[Huffer]

They'll fit on stock suspension but if you're lowered you should expect to roll the rear fender.

[GTDrifter]

They'll fit on stock suspension but if you're lowered you should expect to roll the rear fender.
grab a baseball bat and some rustoleum black primer

[dereku]

It's not lowered. If anything it will be getting lifted this year. Thanks alot guys, I might look into these. I like that they are legacy wheels that you don't see around often. I would have liked a 15 but if I can get the right price for these I'll have to grab them.

[Huffer]

^^ They are found on the JDM B4 models, and were also an USA-Subaru Accessory item from 2002-05. You can still get them at the dealer for around $225 each. I sold a set of 4 with all season treads to Markus about 3 years ago.

[dereku]

So are they worth anything? Fella is asking 500 bucks for the wheels and tire. Not a real bad deal but I am not sure if I want 17's yet. I fell like these would rob a bit of power away from the ole 2.2.

[Huffer]

So are they worth anything? Fella is asking 500 bucks for the wheels and tire. Not a real bad deal but I am not sure if I want 17's yet. I fell like these would rob a bit of power away from the ole 2.2.

That's the golden question huh? They're worth what someone is willing to pay. I sold mine for $600 and they were in mint condition with more than 50% tread left. The set you posted look pretty dirty and the tread looks good.

Honestly, unless you're set on getting 17s, I would find a nice set of 16s and save some cash. Especially if you plan to lift the car, you'll want more tire options to play with.

[dereku]

These is what I am thinking as well. I'm not set on 17's as I have another car that is my "tuner" so this is the tank. I was thinking stock outback size would be better for me as it would have more sidewall to handle the abuse I want to throw at it.

If I could find a set of GT wheels like I had on my last legacy I would go for them, but people want too much money for them. There is another fella locally though that has what I think look like Forester rims for sale.
http://imgc.classistatic.com/cps/kjc/110912/726r1/98098bh_20.jpeg

[dereku]

Oh I want those 16's now!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/09/AT_wheels-2.jpg

[Huffer]

If you're offroading, maybe you should consider a set of Forester 16" steel wheels - these ones have been painted:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/09/DSCN9848-2.jpg

[dereku]

I wouldn't really call it offroading... I call it Subaruing lol. Those steel wheels are few are far between as well. So my options are limited to whatever someone has for sale locally. The mild lift with Forester suspension is just something I have wanted to do since I had my last Legacy.

With those 16" Forester wheels, would I be able to run the same size as a stock forester? A 215 60 16 is the same diameter as a 205 70 15. Basically I would buy them now and use the all seasons that are on it, but I need to look for winter tires soon.

Anyone know where I might be able to find a pic of a 2nd Gen Legacy with those aluminium Forester rims?

[Huffer]

Look at the SL-i.net member "masube81" or similar... he had the 16x6.5 alloy wheels.

And those steel Forester rims are 16x6.5- and very common. Junk yards have them aplenty. You can run whatever tire profile fits your suspension and wheel size... it's not just wheel size that matters.

[dereku]

I'm not shopping around by wheel size, I'm just shopping around for what's available. If a guy had of e-mailed me back I would have had outback wheels with tires this weekend. The 17's I thought were just sort of neat because the wheel is uncommon. I do like the Forester wheel though, I have a thing for a simple 5 spoke wheel.

A 215 60 16 sounds good to me though if it will fit, and give me the same clearance as 205 70 15. My LGT had 205 55 16's which I won't rule out yet, but they are just a bit shorter. Although my LGT was old and saggy, this Wagon already sits higher than it naturally.

[dereku]

Ok I am back to 15's now, but from a Neon instead. I had a set of "snowflake" Neon wheels that my girlfriend was useing as her winter wheels. The wheel is a 15x6, hub bore is 57.1 so that's fine, it's 1mm bigger than the Legacy, but the offset is 40. Is that too far out towards the fender to run stock 205 70 15?

[mycargoesvroom]

The wheel is a 15x6, hub bore is 57.1 so that's fine, it's 1mm bigger than the Legacy, but the offset is 40. Is that too far out towards the fender to run stock 205 70 15?

I would think at stock height you should be fine.

[dereku]

Huffer, a set of those 16" steelies just went up for sale for $200 with half used tires. I thought it was funny since I told you they were few and far between. I might go look at them but tires on them are 225 60 16

[Huffer]

Huffer, a set of those 16" steelies just went up for sale for $200 with half used tires. I thought it was funny since I told you they were few and far between. I might go look at them but tires on them are 225 60 16

Tire size is neglible - and for $200 you're getting $50 wheels. Throw whatever tires you want on them.

[dereku]

So I bought them, tried to fit them on but the tire is just a little too tall and rubs the spring perch, even at 50% tread. It is a retread tire though, so it could be larger than it is supposed to be.

The tire diameter of the 225 60 16 is not that much taller than a 205 70 15 so that leads me to believe I wouldn't have been able to fit the outback size on my brighton wagon either eh? Looks like I have to find some outback struts or forester...

[mycargoesvroom]

Forester springs/Struts all the way :D

[dereku]

I would love to be able to find 4 complete forester struts and just bolt them in. With these wheels and tires I would be gaining multiple inches of ground clearance!