Fitment Question - 215/65/15 on 95 Legacy L

[95legacy]

I have some 15" outback rims, i was wondering if 215/65/15 will fit and not rub on my car? 95 Legacy L sedan not lowered.
Thanks,
Kyle

[Wiscon_Mark]

Why not 60/15 instead? I doubt you'll find much for 215/65

Anyways, I was wondering the same thing about 205/60/15 on my 15" outback rims. I have no idea how wide they are, and I didn't see any marking concerning that.

[95legacy]

I saw 65's today so I was just going with the biggest that I could find as a test, not sure what I'll do though.
Peace,
Kyle

[Wiscon_Mark]

Well, here's how I see it:

If you want a winter tire, you don't want wide for snow traction.

If you want a summer tire, you don't want such a tall sidewall.

[Sarra]

Go to Tirerack.com and try to find tires in the desired size(s). That's how I decided to go with stock size instead of some whacko size.

And yes, Mark is correct. Get a fat tire for summer, and a narrow tire for winter. But, it's not that simple. I ALMOST got a thinner tire for winter, but I was told by an Employee at Tirerack that my car exceeded the weight limit of the tires. Also be aware that a wider tire may want to rub more...

Mark: 205 60r15 is stock size for first/second gen legacies and first gen outbacks. Your car should have come with 15X6 wheels from factory, 16x6.5 for the Legacy GT.

And last, be aware that running 215 65r15 will mean your speedo will be more than 5% off. If you have an auto tranny, it will shift down a lot more for hills, and your gears will be taller as well. Regardless of tranny, if your first gear topped out at 30, after putting these tires on, you'd actually be going 32-33 mph at the top of first. Your car will also handle more like a truck, those sidewalls will flex a lot more than a stock size tire.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Actually, 195-60R-15s are the stock size on my 95 Outback. But I'd imagine 205s would work fine. The rims are the same that are used on the 96 Outback and they have much larger tires.

[Sarra]

Actually, 195-60R-15s are the stock size on my 95 Outback. But I'd imagine 205s would work fine. The rims are the same that are used on the 96 Outback and they have much larger tires.

Ahhh, sorry. Forgot they bumped up the tires from 195 60r15 to 205 60r15 in like after 1996. :-)

I've still got a set of tirechains from our 1995 Legacy, they most definatly don't fit either of our new wagons. :wink: Maybe I should sell them, they're doing nothing for me laying around, and I'm not planning on running 195 55r16 tires any time soon...

As for running 205 60's on your outback, I think it wouldn't be a problem. Just take into account that your speedo will be off slightly.

[ivwarrior]

Weren't the 95 Outbacks just a Legacy with different trim? You'd probably need the newer suspension to fit the bigger tires of the newer Outbacks.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Weren't the 95 Outbacks just a Legacy with different trim? You'd probably need the newer suspension to fit the bigger tires of the newer Outbacks.

I'm not trying to go taller and wider though, I just wanted to go up to 205 width, and it'd work fine at stock height since that's what the newer BD/BKs were. I just wanted to know how wide I could go on the rims...

[95legacy]

Height wise I wont be going up much from my 16" rs rims with 205/55. So my real question is whether 215's on these rims will rub.
Peace,
Kyle

[AussieDan]

Yes, most likely you'd rub as they are appreciably bigger than a 205/55R16.

The correct aspect ratio if you wanted to maintain the same size as the 205/55R16 would be 215/60R15.

I made a calculator that answers these kinds of questions, have fun ;)

http://mr2.phpwerx.net/turbocalc/tiresize.php

[Sarra]

Weren't the 95 Outbacks just a Legacy with different trim? You'd probably need the newer suspension to fit the bigger tires of the newer Outbacks.

I'm not trying to go taller and wider though, I just wanted to go up to 205 width, and it'd work fine at stock height since that's what the newer BD/BKs were. I just wanted to know how wide I could go on the rims...

195 60r15 will fit on rims from 6.5 inches-7.5 inches. 205 60r15 will fit on rims from 5.5-8 inches. Green for go. ;) And going from 195 to 205 width is only 2% difference, your speedo and odometer should be relativly accurate. I think that's within the built in adjustment for the VSS in your car, just ask about it when you get new tires.

Tire calculators:
http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalcul ... ion=submit (http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp?action=submit)
Way more advanced, includes offsets: http://www.rims-n-tires.com/rt_specs.jsp

[96legwag]

I have 205 55 16's mounted on my 96 L wagon, 215 45 17's on my 96 GT wagon. No clearence issues on either car. Since the diameter is less than 3% off factory, the only thing that determines clearence issues is wheel offset. If the car hasn't been lowered, there is no issue with fender clearence (at almost any diameter for that matter), the only issue would be with inside clearence - offset determines that. Best "standard" wheel for fitment going to 16" is the early WRX wheel, they mount right up with the 205 55's which is plenty of width both for looks and performance wise.
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