Winter shoes

[Reason]

I'm going to get a jump on this so I have what I'm looking for by snow fall. I'm looking to get rims that have a narrow width size. How small can I go with f'ing anything up? Matched with a good set off snow tires I will be all set.

[GT Wagon]

You could safely run a set of 195/60/15's, even 185's if you wanted. Any Subaru steelie or factory alloy will do just fine.

[Reason]

Well I'm looking for steelies that can fit with no issues offset and such and have a narrow tire mounted. I just figured I do this the other day. I have looked into it much yet.

[losdiosdeverde86]

Well I'm looking for steelies that can fit with no issues offset and such and have a narrow tire mounted. I just figured I do this the other day. I have looked into it much yet.

195/75's might even work.

i don't think there's a problem with narrow rims as much as there is with rims that are too wide (rubbing etc.). i havn't thought about it a whole lot, but outside of handling with narrow tires, i can't see any negative from going narrower than stock (possbily speedo readings, but that's not a big deal).

[GT Wagon]

I for one am running tires which are a tad "too wide". I bought wheels/snows from a WRX owner who sold his car. They're 205/55/16 and when you fly across an intersection with a dip they rub for a brief second. Has that been a problem wiht wear, no.

One word of advice, just be carefull with the large sidewall ratios like a 205/70/15. Snow tires have lots of squirm to begin with and that kind of tire will make it feel like you're driving on marshmellows. Handling goes to hell very quickly. I'd go skinny with low profile as well. Previoulsy I ran 195/50/15's on the older Legacy and the handling was WAY better.

[losdiosdeverde86]

I for one am running tires which are a tad "too wide". I bought wheels/snows from a WRX owner who sold his car. They're 205/55/16 and when you fly across an intersection with a dip they rub for a brief second. Has that been a problem wiht wear, no.

One word of advice, just be carefull with the large sidewall ratios like a 205/70/15. Snow tires have lots of squirm to begin with and that kind of tire will make it feel like you're driving on marshmellows. Handling goes to hell very quickly. I'd go skinny with low profile as well. Previoulsy I ran 195/50/15's on the older Legacy and the handling was WAY better.


i'm running 205/75r15 as my year 'round size. stock is 195/60. no rubbing. oh, and i autocross with them too.

[Huffer]

I'd attack this from another angle, work out what rubber you want, and buy according to the sizes they offer.

I'm staying stock size on 16x6 rims, 205/55R16 on Hankook Icebears.

[Wiscon_Mark]

You could safely run a set of 195/60/15's, even 185's if you wanted. Any Subaru steelie or factory alloy will do just fine.

I run 185-65-15s for Winter. Gives me a bit more height, and breaks through snow quite well. I use Michelin X-Ice tires. Great snow/ice tires.

[scottzg]

One word of advice, just be carefull with the large sidewall ratios like a 205/70/15. Snow tires have lots of squirm to begin with and that kind of tire will make it feel like you're driving on marshmellows. Handling goes to hell very quickly.

FEEL goes to hell very quickly. High slip angle makes for some fun dynamics.

[AussieDan]

I rock a set of Nokian RSi 205/55R16 on the stock GT rims for winter, couldn't be happier.

Bear in mind that 15" rims won't clear anything larger than stock brakes, especially as once you have the new motor you'll want to at least step up to a WRX/H6 setup.

[losdiosdeverde86]

One word of advice, just be carefull with the large sidewall ratios like a 205/70/15. Snow tires have lots of squirm to begin with and that kind of tire will make it feel like you're driving on marshmellows. Handling goes to hell very quickly.

FEEL goes to hell very quickly. High slip angle makes for some fun dynamics.

like i said....i autocross with 205/75

[GT Wagon]

like i said....i autocross with 205/75

I auto-x'd my '91 for fun with something like 185/75/14's while my other car was in the shop. I'll tell you right now you run the risk of blowing out a sidewall. Tires like that are not made for agressive driving and won't take the continual stress.

[losdiosdeverde86]

like i said....i autocross with 205/75

I auto-x'd my '91 for fun with something like 185/75/14's while my other car was in the shop. I'll tell you right now you run the risk of blowing out a sidewall. Tires like that are not made for agressive driving and won't take the continual stress.

um...i don't think that reaching the massive speeds of 38mph will pop a sidewall of 112mph rated tires.

last time i raced, i got 3rd in my class too :grin:

[Reason]

I rock a set of Nokian RSi 205/55R16 on the stock GT rims for winter, couldn't be happier.

Bear in mind that 15" rims won't clear anything larger than stock brakes, especially as once you have the new motor you'll want to at least step up to a WRX/H6 setup.

Yea maybe to avoid headaches I will just keep the stock GT rim and put some really good snow tires on.

[Wiscon_Mark]

or pick up a set of 16" steelies or something...they're cheap. Switching tires off the same rim is a PITA and will probably end up costing more.

[Reason]

I have my 17's that will have a performance tires, most likely Potenza 4's

[Wiscon_Mark]

oh, right. Then use your GT rims for winter...I wasn't aware that you had another set of rims.

[Reason]

I had them for a few months now. Everytime it's time to buy tires I use the money for something else. :-?

[GT Wagon]

um...i don't think that reaching the massive speeds of 38mph will pop a sidewall of 112mph rated tires.

last time i raced, i got 3rd in my class too :grin:

Its not the speed, its the flex force on the tires going sideways that will weaken them. I did pretty well when I took the 91 LS wagon out as well, showed a lot of newbies with riced out Civics etc... that its not so much the tricked out car as the driver.

[losdiosdeverde86]

um...i don't think that reaching the massive speeds of 38mph will pop a sidewall of 112mph rated tires.

last time i raced, i got 3rd in my class too :grin:

Its not the speed, its the flex force on the tires going sideways that will weaken them. I did pretty well when I took the 91 LS wagon out as well, showed a lot of newbies with riced out Civics etc... that its not so much the tricked out car as the driver.

yeah, that's true. i'd love to (not to pat myself on the back) see how i'd do in a car that was built for autoX. with how well i did in a car that's made for offroading, i think i'd be a pretty good driver.

[phi11]

I had them for a few months now. Everytime it's time to buy tires I use the money for something else. :-?



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