good lift/ wheel package combo?

[tnrknght]

Okay so my plans have changed with the 1998 legacy wagon since I got my hands on a 99 impreza.. with the impreza sitting low Ill most likely be lifting the legacy. I have a set of 17" rims that can go on from a 05(ish) WRX but again if its getting lifted Im not putting low-pros on it.. any thoughts what would be a good size tire with a decent lift? Im thinking of going with the baja suspension

[legacygt4]

I have a 1998 outback with a Subtle solutions lift 1 1/4 front 1 3/8 back, for tires I have 215/65/16 geolander ats, if you run 15s you can run 215/70/15, or maybe 215/75/15.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/05/20130521_131055_zps378ad010-1.jpg (http://s913.photobucket.com/user/CAMRYGT4/media/Outback/20130521_131055_zps378ad010.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/07/20130627_133521_zps1ee872df-1.jpg (http://s913.photobucket.com/user/CAMRYGT4/media/Outback/20130627_133521_zps1ee872df.jpg.html)

[tnrknght]

I admit I do like that look but my snowflakes are staying on the impreza while the 17s go on the legacy. I want a thicker tire that I can take onto rocky dirt roads in the middle of nowhere without worrying as much. I also wanna make sure that whatever size I use will have clearance, or otherwise adjust the body to do so.

At this point Im also wondering if it might just make more sense to keep the 15s on it and just get the bigger 15" tires, but even then what size? At least a spare 15" rim will be easier to locate

[legacygt4]

You defiantly have more options for serious offroad tires with 15s. The biggest you want to go without rubbing is 215/70/15 but with a little help you could do 215/75/15. There are a few reasons I went with the snowflakes, 1: I'm doing a WRX swap so i wanted bigger brakes, 2: the Geolanders ATS are H rated in a 215/65/16 so it will be a better tire for a faster car, 3: I just happened to have five of the snowflakes sitting around. Don't under estimate this combo my Outback climbs like a goat with these tires and I have out wheeled the Toyota in the picture below on several occasions with them, you can air them down too, the sidewalls are reinforced.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/08/20130722_131058_zps64620adc1-1.jpg (http://s913.photobucket.com/user/CAMRYGT4/media/Outback/20130722_131058_zps64620adc-1.jpg.html)

[86bratman]

You won't put baja rear suspension on a 98 legacy. You can use 96-99 legacy outback struts with your springs for roughly 1.5" lift or 98-03 forester for about 2" with some rear butt sag, 04-08 forester will give you almost 3" also with some butt sag. I ran a combination of 96-99 outback struts and 98-03 forester springs, roughly 3" lift not butt sag. I comfortably ran 27.4" tires on stock 96 outback wheels.

[Wiscon_Mark]

If you want a lift, you can't use a Baja suspension. The rear uses a completely different design (same as 00-04 Legacy). If you'd like some lift, I'll echo what 86bratman said - get some SG Forester (03-08) suspension. It'll give you some nice lift, and there are spacers to give you additional lift beyond the 3" or so you'll get with it in stock form. There are also king lift springs available for that strut setup.

Plenty of FXT owners take their stock struts/spring off at low miles to upgrade their suspension. I've seen some young, fully assembled sets on subaruforester.org for less than $250.