New wheels for 98 GT L

[jhip20]

I am going to be purchasing a new tire and rim package for my car (98 subaru legacy 2.5 GT Limited Sedan) What is the largest rim i could get on my car without suspension or body work having to be done? I would REALLY like 20"s all around... Any help would be great!

Anyone know where i could even find 205/25 RS 21" or RS 22" tires??

[blueb3]

How do I subscribe to this thread to watch the inevitable beating and flaming?

Let me nicely say that "no, 20" rims will look REALLY bad on your car" The dimensions would look wacky and there would need to be a TON of modification to fit them under your car. I wouldn't go bigger than a 17" rim and tire package (for ride quality, you really suffer with anything bigger) and with the money you saved, you could do a whole new lowered suspension set up.

[jhip20]

i thought this may be the case but i checked a few different places and IF you can find the right tires, you could mount 20" rims on the car... that being said, i would never buy rims without seeing what they might look like on the car first... tirerack.com is an awsome site that lets you see rims on almost any car before you buy them.

I dont think that it would look that bad on the car if the rims looked decent enough... but thats just my opinion... any others feel free to jump in on this

[blueb3]

What kind of rims are you talking about? Any pics or ideas?

[scottzg]

fender roll will comfortably fit 225/45/17. use http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html to figure out what 20 will fit.


20's are gonna look god-awful on a car that came with 14-16's. Please consider 18's, they should be adequitely goofy.

[ivwarrior]

Personally, I think 20s would look stupid, but hey, it's not my car. It definately will make the ride harsh as hell, though. And greatly increase the odds of wheel damage from potholes and such. If you doing this, I hope it's either gonna be a trailer queen, or you live somewhere with super-smooth roads.

[jhip20]

im not exactly sure what type of rims to get yet... i know a lot of people on here like fewer, but bigger, spoked rims - but i kinda like the look of the multi spokers that came stock on the car... I just wish i had something simmilar that was bright (chrome possilbly) and go low profile with the tires...
These will only be for use durring summer months has it snows a lot up here in the farthest eastern corner of the US

I also thought about the lowerd suspension setup but i cant really sacrifice ground clearence because of the snow...

[blueb3]

Once you get into big chrome you start = Big $$$ If you still want some chrome, go with the 17" or 18", get a set of springs to lower it nice and tight, and buy a used suspension from an outback to change over to in the winter time.

[Huffer]

you could go from 205/55/16 to 225/30/20

:lol:

[sansMYSTi]

I would say that 17's have the right proportion. Here is a pic of my car - 17" Rota Tarmac II's with 225/45/17 tires....

http://www.subaruclub.ca/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=2232

[jhip20]

i sorta like the looks of that... couldnt do gold on red though... 17" huh? would 18" look really rediculous?

[Wiscon_Mark]

i sorta like the looks of that... couldnt do gold on red though... 17" huh? would 18" look really rediculous?

I've seen 18s that look good, some that look awful. I'd go with 17s, they're more than big enough.

[Huffer]

how much are you planning on spending on tires?

[jhip20]

I was thinking these...
http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/kazera/swap/ka_kz_s_chrome_ci3_l.jpg
18x7"

For 4 of these with tires mounted, balanced, and shipped it would be around $1400

[Plays_with_Toys]

As others have said, 20" would be a too big. I've seen a few legs with 18's and they look like they are pushing the limit. On certain cars it can look good though.

What kind of an over all look are you going for on your car? If you look in the member's rides area at alot of the international members' cars you'll see alot of street tuned cars with large chrome wheels. Its especially big in australia.

Have you looked at maybe a set of O.Z. 18 spoke wheels in white? They are what the old BTCC touring cars used to run (or very similar). Here's some pic of the ford mondeo to give you an idea:

http://www.simontan.co.uk.nstempintl.co ... btcc-9.jpg (http://www.simontan.co.uk.nstempintl.com/images/mondeo-btcc-9.jpg)
http://www.simontan.co.uk.nstempintl.co ... tcc-21.jpg (http://www.simontan.co.uk.nstempintl.com/images/mondeo-btcc-21.jpg)

The few tuned cars I've seen with a multispoke setup in a silver or white just popped. Just a suggestion. Also with a solid paint/powdercoat, you have a much easier wheel to take care of. I'd be afraid of the pitting, oxidation, and surface rust that some of the cheaper chromes get. Powdercoat can be stripped and changed to a new color at will, and white on red would look hot.

[jhip20]

again let me say that im open to any and all sugestions... this is going to be for a "summer" set only though... i want to keep my stockers for the winter months.

Anyone have pics of rims they like on your cars?

[micro]

I can't wait to see how FUGLY 20" wheels are going to look on a Legacy!

[shooter]

Well ride quality went down hill when I fitted 18's however I also fitted coilovers at the same time so that didn't help.

Here's a pic of mine with 18's and to be honest I really want to try 19 or 20 just to see what it looks like. Clearance will be an issue with big wheels/tires unless you have coilovers as there is issues at the back of the wheel as well as the fender lip.

http://www.archery1st.com/legacy/pics/RIMG0032.JPG

[shooter]

Found a link which may also be of interest.....

http://www.modifymycar.com/home.html

Click on Subaru, then your model or as close as there is and play :D :-D

[jhip20]

Any comments on the 18" that shooter has?
Too much? I dont think id go any bigger because of ride quality...

That link was pretty cool but i like the way tirerack.com has it set up a lot more.